The "One".

M

McFeeli

Joined
Feb 13, 2017
Messages
2,674
Well as many of you probably know I've fallen in love with my CruWear Manix 2(it's the only knife I've taken pictures of since I've gotten it, haha). So much in fact that it really curbed that certain urge to buy more and more knives. Don't get me wrong, there's a few out there I know I want to get my hands on, a Beer Scout and a Gollik, but overall I'm almost relieved I've found my perfect EDC knife.

Since I feel I've found what I was looking for, I thought I'd ask all of you if you happened to do the same.

For me it's not so much a "Grail" knife, but one I'm 100% happy to carry and use. The steel fits perfectly with what I tend to use my knives for, the platform is absolutely perfect to me, and it's just plain ol' fun to play with, haha.

So if any of you have anything similar I'd like to hear what that perfect knife is for you and why that is. You can add a picture if wish as well!

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I've mentioned this knife A lot and It's not an innovative trendy knife or anything, but my Buck 482 is the only modern folder I've bought in the past 3 years or more.
It's everything I need and nothing I don't.

For traditional folders I'm definitely not done yet.
 
Yes. Multiple times. But "the one" for me right now is the steelcraft bodega. I have wanted a bodega since they were first released. But I struggle with carrying and using a knife in that price range. I was hoping that they would make a more cost effective alternative and I thought that was going to be the field grade. But I was not able to get one in the configuration I wanted and the one I settled for I wasn't super thrilled with. But looking back on it I do feel I made a poor choice with the blade grind I chose as it really reduced the weight of the blade making the guillotine drop bodegas blades are known for not possible.

I REALLY got excited when Begg knives started dealing with Reate for the steelcraft series. But they explored other models like the field marshal and Todds newer Kwaiken design. Then they announced the mini and I was like "COME ON YOU ARE ALMOST THERE!". The wait was long and frustrating but man was it worth it. I really have never been so happy with a knife. It really is a Chinese custom in my eyes rather than a production piece. And I must admit when I saw the prices on the steelcraft bodegas I wasn't super excited just because it was sebenza money. But once you see it in person and you hold it, operate it and cut with it you see that not only is the knife worth the price of admission but actually offers the buyer and amazing value that I honestly cant say is shared by any other knife. At least not that I have seen. Now that I have it I feel the majority of my collection just isn't up to snuff. So I am actually planning on selling off everything with the exception of a couple knives that really mean a lot to me and I'm going to invest in another Steelcraft when another model I like is made. I realize that these are made by Reate but with so much input the Beggs have given David on how to improve his products I almost look at David as a member of their team who just happens to do his work in china. I simply love the business model they are running with and I really hope other companies follow in line. Companies in the guitar business have learned the hard way that you can have two identical models, with the only real difference being country of origin and they will find their intended audience. Everyone wins. I have said some tongue in cheek comments in the past with this company. But they have certainly won me over and I cant remember ever being so happy with a product.
 
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I have two. Chris Reeve small sebenza 21 and spyderco ladybug serrated hawkbill in h1 steel. I use plenty of other knives for larger or more specific tasks like cleaning fish or cutting duct work, but these 2 cover 99% of my cutting tasks day-to-day and are always with me whether I'm at work, home, shopping, the beach, camping etc. but these two stay on me and continue to cover the majority of my cutting tasks. I'm like you OP where there are more I want cause I'm a major knife nut :rolleyes: , but I'm definitely covered with these! :D
 
Haha, I knew a Sebenza would make it into the first 5 posts! I'm too broke to buy one myself, but just from it's notoriety I'm sure it could become a new favorite for me.

The Reate/Todd Begg would be a great collaboration. I honestly didn't even know they did one. I've looked through his website drooling many times, but he's out of my price range as well. I'd bet that'd an amazingly fun EDC blade.

And to Hickory, it doesn't have to be a folder, if you have an absolute favorite traditional feel free to share! I'm not a blade-cist, haha. Traditional's and fixed blades are welcome in this thread just as much as moderns. I bet it'd be a tough choice to choose between a collection of traditionals to be "the one", though!

I knew a Gayle Bradley would be making a stop in here too! Lots of love for that blade(sadly I don't have any experience with it yet). That ones on my short list for sure.

Great entries so far!
 
I'm a manix guy so I'm pretty jealous of you cruwear . My favorites are my manix in maxamet and my blurple 110v. Just a bit better than my 940 I have to admit. Congrats on finding the one.
 
Cpmd3v said:
I'm a manix guy so I'm pretty jealous of you cruwear . My favorites are my manix in maxamet and my blurple 110v. Just a bit better than my 940 I have to admit. Congrats on finding the one.
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I kind of took a gamble on mine. Never owned a Manix, and CruWear was new to me too so after reading that everyone who got one loved it, I felt it would be a good buy. Super glad I did, I did not expect to love this knife as much as I do.

I almost feel like that one guy who won't shut up about his new girlfriend, because I can't shut up about this knife, haha.
 
I don't know if I will ever consider a knife "perfect". But, the knife I enjoy the most, that is extremely close to perfect and cannot think of any knife I would prefer XM-18 3.5 DLC coated, M390 steel and no choil.
 
McFeeli said:
I kind of took a gamble on mine. Never owned a Manix, and CruWear was new to me too so after reading that everyone who got one loved it, I felt it would be a good buy. Super glad I did, I did not expect to love this knife as much as I do.
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Can't believe that
McFeeli said:
I kind of took a gamble on mine. Never owned a Manix, and CruWear was new to me too so after reading that everyone who got one loved it, I felt it would be a good buy. Super glad I did, I did not expect to love this knife as much as I do.
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That's awesome that it's your first manix . What an awesome choice!
 
PURPLEDC said:
Yes. Multiple times. But "the one" for me right now is the steelcraft bodega. I have wanted a bodega since they were first released. But I struggle with carrying and using a knife in that price range. I was hoping that they would make a more cost effective alternative and I thought that was going to be the field grade. But I was not able to get one in the configuration I wanted and the one I settled for I wasn't super thrilled with. But looking back on it I do feel I made a poor choice with the blade grind I chose as it really reduced the weight of the blade making the guillotine drop bodegas blades are known for not possible.

I REALLY got excited when Begg knives started dealing with Reate for the steelcraft series. But they explored other models like the field marshal and Todds newer Kwaiken design. Then they announced the mini and I was like "COME ON YOU ARE ALMOST THERE!". The wait was long and frustrating but man was it worth it. I really have never been so happy with a knife. It really is a Chinese custom in my eyes rather than a production piece. And I must admit when I saw the prices on the steelcraft bodegas I wasn't super excited just because it was sebenza money. But once you see it in person and you hold it, operate it and cut with it you see that not only is the knife worth the price of admission but actually offers the buyer and amazing value that I honestly cant say is shared by any other knife. At least not that I have seen. Now that I have it I feel the majority of my collection just isn't up to snuff. So I am actually planning on selling off everything with the exception of a couple knives that really mean a lot to me and I'm going to invest in another Steelcraft when another model I like is made. I realize that these are made by Reate but with so much input the Beggs have given David on how to improve his products I almost look at David as a member of their team who just happens to do his work in china. I simply love the business model they are running with and I really hope other companies follow in line. Companies in the guitar business have learned the hard way that you can have two identical models, with the only real difference being country of origin and they will find their intended audience. Everyone wins. I have said some tongue in cheek comments in the past with this company. But they have certainly won me over and I cant remember ever being so happy with a product.
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Purple, with that glowing review you have almost talked me into one although mine would be the mini.
if it came with a non coated blade in M390 I think I would have one on the way. Going to sleep on it lest I blow my bankroll saved for a Shiro Neon in my 390. I have a Neon in S90V and it is the only knife I want to carry. I don't know if any knife can check all the boxes for me like the Shiro Neon. Perfect size fabulous action and just oozes class!!
 
Honestly I go through cycles between different ones.

If I had to chose a One to rule them all it might be underwhelming but an Emerson CQC7 has been one of my favourite knives for a long time now. I just feel like it is the perfect balance of a knife for urban self defense and urban utility, at least for my needs. There are knives that are better at self defense like the Spyderco P'kal, and there are knives I rather carry for utility like the Gayle Bradley, but the CQC7 hits that sweet spot.

I have the ZT 0620 which is gorgeous but I find abit too heavy. What I really want is an HD-7 which is one of my absolute grail knives for a knife I would be willing to use. (I don't think I could bring myself to use a custom Emerson)
 
Benchmade 707. For everyday use, I only need a 3 inch blade.
It's small, light, easily replaceable, easy to resharpen, looks awesome, isn't going to scare people and draw unwanted attention, and it's relatively inexpensive. But best of all AXIS makes it fast and easy to use.
 
For me, this is IT! At least for a while. I just picked up this CRK/Wilson collaboration at the P.O. at 5 p.m. today, and I love it. The action is CRK-smooth; it has a very sharp 1/8" hollow-ground blade; the grip striations now allow for a more firm hold.
The S35VN blade has been stepped up to RC 59-60...a welcome change although meaningless for casual use.
I keep falling back to CRK...Zaans, small and large Sebbies, even their fixed blades, but the plain titanium slabs on the large CRK folders have been my long-time favorite...until right now.

Large Wilson Combat Starbenza ...

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I've looked for and found "the One" several times over the years. :D

It's happened often enough that I've made peace with it: My One today may not be the One in a year, and that's okay. My needs and tastes change, and I enjoy the hunt -- ogling knives, reading reviews, trying something new, getting familiar with it, making it a part of my daily life; the whole process is fun, as is carrying my One of the moment.

Left to right, my Ones from oldest to current:

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They're all in the photo except for two: my first One, a Benchmade 690, which I carried for a couple of years in the '90s but subsequently sold; and my seventh, a Spyderco Manix 2 (also sold). Pictured are a Spyderco Delica 4 (my second, replacing an identical lost knife), which I carried for several years, and then -- since 2015 -- a Hiroaki Ohta custom friction folder, Case/Bose Coffin Jack, Case Peanut, John Lloyd custom shadow Dogleg Jack, Emerson Mini CQC-7BW (10 months), and now a Spyderco Para Military 2.

Apart from all having from three months to several years of pocket time, depending on the knife, they share what I guess is the defining trait of my Ones over the years: While holding each of them, I thought, "I'm never going to buy another knife." :D

They were each the only knife I wanted to put in my pocket every morning, and they each brought me joy whenever I had the privilege of carrying them -- and that feeling is also a key part of it for me. I like to be aware of how lucky I am to be carrying my favorite knife, how fortunate I am that I can afford it, how fortunate I am to be alive and able to worry about little things like carrying my favorite knife. Maybe that's weird? I don't know.

Not shown are all of the other knives that have passed through my hands on the search for the One, including a couple that came reeeeeally close to being the One for a little while. I've kept a few, but most of them have been sold or given away.

That got long, sorry. Great idea for a thread, near and dear to my heart. :thumbsup:
 
For the longest time the ZT 0560 was THE knife for me. I carried it every single day, no other knife caught my eye for years. Then one day I loaned it to some moron who cut a live wire and destroyed the blade. I wound up scoring anther on eBay for way more than I originally paid, but sometime shortly after that I came upon a thread here about the Olamic 247. Up until this point the most I had ever spent on a knife was $300, but I went from never hearing about Olamic to dropping $465 on a 247 in less than an hour (all documented here) without batting an eye. As soon as I got it and held it in my hand I knew it would be the knife that's in my pocket every day. I love every single thing about the knife and it's really the only one that almost literally jumped out at me at first sight, having every single quality I look for in a knife.

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Well, as a knife nut like the rest of you, I don't know if I will ever not want more knives. My Emerson Horseman is as close to "the one" as I've gotten for a modern folder. I've had it two years now, and even more recent purchases are kicked out after the newness wears off. For my everyday uses, when paired with another folder, the Horseman is pretty perfect. As described by another in this thread, it's one of those knives that I have to convince myself not to carry at times, to give use to my other blades. Also, spending a great deal of my time around horses, I get a certain satisfaction out of using the knife for exactly what it was made for. All this being said, the real "one" for me is quite unexciting. About 4 years ago, before I really carried an EDC blade, I received a Victorinox Champion Plus as a gift. This blade has been on my right hip or in my pocket probably an average of 5 days a week for those 4 years and I don't see that stopping anytime soon. I hardly ever use it, and often go without when I'm trying different EDC combos, but it always comes back. It seems like the second I go out without it, I need it. It doesn't get used often, but it has never let me down, and I don't see it going anywhere soon.
 
image.jpeg This Benchmade came to me from a trade. I had never handled a full sized Griptilian and mostly just wanted to give it a try. I figured i would have no trouble moving it on after i was finished checking it out.
Ive had it at least three months now and its been in my pocket 9 1/2 days out of 10. Its definetly a keeper and for now is the one.
 
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