The Magnificent Seven

[kamagong]

Let's do a thought exercise. If you had to cull the herd, which ones would you keep?

These are mine. A couple of sentimental favorites, the rest I just really like a lot. They are all perfect-pocketknife-sized at ~ 3 3/4" closed. There is enough variety in the covers and blade shapes to keep me content (I hope).

 

[Modoc ED]

EDIT: See page two.

 

[J_Curd]

I've been thinking about this lately with well over 100 knives in my collection currently...that quantity sure seems excessive to me. Let alone that we could all use the freed up resources for other things.

The first goal is to trim to half!

I can't even trim my current EDC box down to 7, but I can list what I would have to have if my limit was 7 total...

Here are my 7 Trads, all GEC and one custom:
15 Boy's knife - Single Blade Longpull Spear, Antique Yellow Jigged Bone (I FINALLY got this one yesterday from my pal Tim Tsai!)
92 Eureka Jack Spear in OD micarta (I carried and used this one at dinner on our 1st anniversary; it will be in my casket)
85 Bullet End Jack Easy Open in Antique Yellow Jigged Bone
57 Geppetto Whittler in Cocobolo or maybe Buffalo horn...decisions decisions!
38 Grinling Whittler in Blood Red Jigged Bone - Absolute perfection!
Northwoods Norfolk Whittler in Elephant Ivory
And my Esnyx Texas Barlow!

P.S. - I know this is the Trad forum, but I'd have to have one good modern folder (ZT 0452CF/0454 would do just fine).

 

[kamagong]

Thanks Ed and Joe. Just to clarify, I'm not asking you guys to narrow it down to seven. That's the lowest number I could get it down to. I'm merely curious as to how small people can whittle their hoards. I'm sure there is going to be great variety in the responses.

 

[Peregrin]

I'll play with the following exceptions;
1. I can change my mind in one nanosecond.
2. I haven't included keepsake knives as they don't get carried and are more family heirlooms then knives.
3. I'm including the traditional pocket knives that I find have been my choice for edc over a period of time, except the Laguiole which I just got.
4. I would never, ever really just choose 7! I have a hard time parting with just one let alone 100+.
Tada!

 

[joeradza]

I'll play with the following exceptions;
1. I can change my mind in one nanosecond.
2. I haven't included keepsake knives as they don't get carried and are more family heirlooms then knives.
3. I'm including the traditional pocket knives that I find have been my choice for edc over a period of time, except the Laguiole which I just got.
4. I would never, ever really just choose 7! I have a hard time parting with just one let alone 100+.
Tada!

I agree with your position Gary. I reserve the right to change my mind.......constantly.

 

[TAH]

Dang, I thought we were discussing James Coburn's knife in The Magnificent Seven. Carry on...

 

[JohnDF]

How fun ...
My Magnificent Seven wasn't that hard since I don't own as many knives as some of you. My criteria was: What knives would I, or do I, pocket the most. Those are the one's I would need to keep even though I have some that are much more collectible and valuable. But I'd rather carry and use my knife than just sit and look at it in a safe.

Without further ado ...
Case Pen Knife
Case Mini Trapper
GEC #15 Boy's Knife
GEC #66 Stockman
GEC #66 Jack
GEC #44 Gunstock
GEC #48 Weasel

 

[JohnDF]

That's a sexy peanut! I'd bump one of mine off the list if I had that too.

 

[sXePhenomenal]

Don’t have that many atm been buying expensive modern knives but this would be my 7. Am planing on getting more def a Case/Bose Cattle Knife after selling my dogleg. Probably more Bokers and a 110 custom with a s30v droppoint and oak scales

 

[redsparrow]

If for some reason it became necessary to reduce my collection to a minimum number of knives, I should be able to do well with only three (not including keepsake or vintage). A medium fixed blade, a small pocket knife for dress carry and a medium folder for EDC. So with the following seven I'm sure I would get along quite well. The only real reason for me to have more than three knives is; I like a wide variety of knives therefore I enjoy having more than just the bare minimum.

 

[Will Power]

Interesting albeit ghastly idea I of course have far more knives than I can use, often lose track of what I've got, rationally I could make do with far less. However, I remember the Wilderness Years when I had hardly any knives and prior to the Internet, getting hold of foreign knives (American to me) was hellishly difficult. I have no nostalgia for those frugal years hence it's difficult for me to meet this challenge. But I'll have a go

Here's a trio I put together a few months back due to handle, type and steels. Small Puukko in carbon, wood handle. Small locking Laguiole in Sandvik stainless, horn handle. Small Stockman in D2, jigged bone handle. All small compact knives. 1 for firesticks or heavier cutting, one for food use and locking, one for general purposes with 3 blades in edge retaining steel. I thought about some kind of SAK instead of the Stockman but rebelled, too utilitarian aesthetics must triumph in times of knife drought

As for Seven Favourites or Seven Samurai I'd have to rethink a bit as I'm away from my knives & camera.

 

[joeradza]

redsparrow and Will Power Some dandy knives and ideas there guys. It's an exercise in fun because my signature says it all.

 

[Will Power]

OK thought it over but it's subject to violent or irrational change

So many knives left out that have very positive associations or were presents, not feeling easy with that...

GEC 92 Eureka Tidioute Green Bone
GEC 82 Dixie Stockman Blackwood or Osage...
Lick Creek 38 in Yellow Pick-Bone
Winchester Black Box Swell Centre Penknife
Queen Cutlery No.6 Teardrop liner lock ACSB or WCSB D2 blade
Fontenille-Pataud 9cm XS locking Lagioule Horn handle
CASE/Bose Pruner

3 Spear blades, I Wharncliffe, 1 Drop-Point, 2 Turkish Clips, 1 Coping, 1 Budding, 1 Pen, 2 Pruners. Not too bad

To be honest, I would MUCH prefer if all the GECs were in 440c, Sandvik, 154 or something that doesn't turn rusty but they refuse to be reasonable beautiful and unusual patterns though

Thanks, Will

 

[Will Power]

joeradza You are absolutely on the money with that signature Alan!

Imagine if every art-gallery in the world had only seven exhibits !

 

[Lhpanther]

Couldn’t narrow it down to 7...would have a hard time narrowing it down to 15. That would be tough

 

[black mamba]

I could never, I mean NEVER! get down to just seven knives, but for the sake of the thread, and with great pain and anguish, I got down to these ten, which are at or pretty near the top for me. I tried to pick a variety of covers and sizes, to cover all situations. Here they are!

2nd Generation Bulldog Trapper in MOP

Northfield #53 Burnt Stag Furtaker Trapper (a birthday gift from my wife!)

Tidioute #53 Cuban Stockman in Bark Ram's Horn

Northfield #72 Mini-Hunter in Red Stag

S&M File & Wire English Jack (modified by master smith Don Hanson III)

1st Generation Frank Buster Fight'n Rooster Stag Stockman

Mid 1970s Boker Indian Trails Jigged Bone Stockman

Queen Curly Zebrawood #3L Mountain Man in D2

GEC #74 Mustang in Elk Stag and 440C

Schrade Cut. Co. #2564K Equal End Jack in Butter & Molasses Celluloid (a surprise from Duncan!)

 

[joeradza]

black mamba
I only like 3 or 4 Jeff. Find more. Hahaha, it's hard to narrow it down.

 

[black mamba]

Alan, I was literally in pain as I passed up photo after photo in my Imgur account, trying to narrow it down. I couldn't take it anymore.

 

[DelOro]

Good Grief Charlie Brown! This is like Sophie's Choice on steroids!

I picked 7 that were handy and then tried to narrow down to just 3 knives.

When I think about nearly 30 knives down to 7 --> I just simply ended up aggravated (with a slight headache).

For me, it's much simpler and far less stressful to keep these 2 steak knives and be done with it.

- Del