The Purpose Driven Knife

JackstrawIII

JackstrawIII

Joined
Jan 25, 2015
Messages
429
Would love to hear what your top 5 most often carried/used knives are, and for what purpose you carry/use them. This is NOT a list of your favorite or nicest knives, these are the ones you actually USE the most.

Here's my top 5 most often used:
1. Benchmade HK 14715 - this is my beater that gets carried any time I'm doing outside work or carpentry. It's a tank, and D2 is awesome steel.
2. Spyderco PM2 Black - this is what I carry when I'm casually dressed and can carry whatever I want. It cuts like a lightsaber.
3. ZT 0770CF - wore this one to church this morning. It's my "business casual" type attire knife.
4. Mora Companion Stainless - I have like 10 of these: in vehicles, bags, drawers, the shop, etc. Today I used one to open many bags of concrete... cuz I could.
5. Spyderco Dragonfly 2 - I keep this one in the drawer at work. It's pretty non-threatening and great for small stuff.

So, that's my list. Obviously I make my own knives and use them often, but I know that reading about customs you've never seen before is kind of boring, so I kept them off the list for you.

Looking forward to reading your lists. Thanks guys and gals.

Ps. Yes, title pun intended. Happy Sunday.
 
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My work/yard knife is a Kershaw Zing blackwash for opening boxes, shrinkwrap, zip-ties, everyday dirty tasks. I beat the snot out of it. I think I have some deep dark wish to actually wear a knife out and the Zing is the sacrificial knife in this experiment. For $20 it is holding up fantastic.

Second is my yellow Case Peanut in CV as it does just about everything I need done when in public. Safe to be seen with in CHicago too.

Third, like you, the stainless Mora companion in bright orange. It's my fishing knife and always in my car.

Fourth, Spyderco Centofante III. Sometimes carried at work but usually carried when hiking, bike riding, fishing, and places where the Peanut just wouldn't be enough.

Last, a recent addition, the Becker BK15. It has been doing kitchen duty and a pretty good job of it too.
 
My main EDC is an Umnumzaan, though I just got a custom Crawford Falcon, so that may change. My emergency SHTF knife is one of several Emerson's that rotate in and out of my LFP. I also carry a traditional for small tasks when I don't want to whip out the 'Zaan in public.

I don't have have a yard, so no yard work, but when I go camping, it's a BK9, an Esee 3, and a Mora Companion. Maybe a folder too.
 
I do not have 5 knives that I use often if I do I have to include my butter and steak knife.

The only knife I use at this time is an old American made Uncle Henry Senior Rancher. It is the only knife I need. If I need anything bigger I use a hatchet.

2nd would be my steak knife

and 3rd would be my butter knife.

I have no 4th and 5th.

My Uncle Henry Senior Rancher I use for everything from cleaning my fingernails to cutting boxes and packages to cleaning game.

I need to edit this as my Uncle Henry Senior Rancher is three blades or knives in one case.

The clip point I use for cleaning my fingernails and game.

The sheep's foot blade I use for really thick cutting into harder stuff such as piles of cardboard or carpet and game.

The spey blade I use for anything I want to but it is meant for cutting around the neck on game so you do not rip thru the skin and also castrating.
 
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EDC is a Buck 830 Marksman. I just like how it is unique and disappears in my pocket.
EDC2 is a Leatherman Juice c2.

Favorite "tactical" folder: Spyderco Military.

Favorite stainless beater: Mora 2000.
Favorite carbon beater: Ka Bar USN MK.1, tied with the Becker BK-15.

Favorite knife overall: Skookum Bush Tool MK.1 in CPM3V.

Best bang for the buck: Fiskars X7 hatchet.

More than 5, but they all get used heavily.
 
1. Spyderco Delica 4 with a Krein Regrind: Best performer I have as far as folders at the moment .007" behind the edge
2. CRK Sebenza Large Insingo: Not the greatest performer but it cuts well and is nicely built
3. GEC #77 Sheepsfoot: Sheeple friendly and cuts well

4. and 5. are normally another traditional, or whatever new has came in that week.
 
#1 used blade is a snap off razor knife. I am a painter by trade so I always have one during work hours

#2 I carry a Kershaw Rake Composite almost anytime I am wearing street clothes. This replaced an S30V Blur.

#3 Spyderco Endura SS anytime I am traveling out of town. I love this knife because it is flat and low profile. If I am in a non permissive environment, I'll tuck it in my waistband. If I end up losing my luggage at the air port or I have to dump it for some crazy reason, I won't mind snagging another.

#4 DPx Heft Mil Spec has been my go to fixed blade the last few years. Haven't got to try skinning with it yet. I think it may be a little thick.

#5 I have rusty old hickory skinner that I keep in the garage. I use it for cutting cardboard, opening bags of soil and whatever other dirty job I may have for it.
 
I pretty much use a GG SMF for everything in and outside the house.

When I travel I always have a fixed blade and a multi-tool along but they don't get much use.
 
My top 5 change quite a bit but at the moment it is these:
Untitled by Danny Nystrom, on Flickr
1) Cold Steel Mini Recon 1, my beater knife.
2) Spyderco Domino, always in my rotation.
3) Spyderco Sage II, new to me and so far loving it.
4) Böker Solo II, one of my favorite smaller knives EVER.
5) Böker Tree Brand, keep it classy.
 
DFCustomKnives said:
3. ZT 0770CF - wore this one to church this morning.
Click to expand...

Figured this out from your thread title... nice church-knife.
I never rotate. I always carry my favorite folder, and only switch when/if I find a different "favorite."
Usually it's CRK, but all this year it's been my Southard AVO. Great knife; does it all.
 
Office knife= GEC 15 ebony single sheepsfoot
Weekend/chore knife = BM/HK 14715
Yard knives = SY 1311 (chopper) or Valiant golok (machete)
I have modified all but the Golok to suit my tastes
 
Most often pocket knives i use.
Large sebenza 21 gabon. Used at work to open boxes, packages, zip ties, plastic wrap, plastic yellow box ties, and other random things.
Small sebenza 21 bocote. Same
Spyderco southard. Same
Spyderco southard carbon fiber. Same
Sebenza 25. Same

I basically use it to open boxes majority of the time.
All of them have widened bevels, convexed, and polished so it glides through materials. I like flying though cardboard rather than cutting it see saw.
 
I have a lot of knives. I just grab one in the morning, and use it all day. Tomorrow will be a different knife.
 
1)Large Sebenza 21 plain regular - I have 2, perfect everything knife that goes out with me all the time
2)Large Sebenza 21 plain Insingo - perfect utility EDC (kitchen, whittling, opening boxes, etc)
3)Spyderco delica ffg - Sebenza accompaniment knife (relatively socially acceptable, great slicer, doesn't hog pocket space and not hard on the wallet to replace)
4)Sak alox pioneer - unbeatable quality to price ratio, a design that nobody even second glances at, and a great beater EDC
5)BM 275 Adamas - beater/work knife, it'll take anything you throw at it
Special mention goes to my waved matriarch 2 black, and waved endura 4. They're great fast access EDCs.
 
Purpose: EDC
Knife: Strider PT
Reason: Small but capable
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Purpose: Car glove box
Knife: SAK
Reason: Scissors, Files, Overall flexibility
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Purpose: Wood splitter, backyard hero
Knife: Busse NMFSH
Reason: Best im my hand, indestructible
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Purpose: Garage shop
Knives: Boker VoxKnives MTT Mega Tanto, Boker Todd Begg Kiridashi, Busse Basic 4 magnum
Reason: #1 great for any type of wittlenign or wood work, #2 great cutter small and capable, #3 tough and easy on anything
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Purpose: Personal protection while hiking, camping, etc/
Knife: Hinderer xm18 3.5 fatty
Reason: the most of knife you ever need in the pocket
2ngadyc.jpg
 
Great thread, thank you.

After many years of going through so many knives that I can't remember most of them I almost didn't think I would find a knife that would fit everything that I personally wanted one to do.

My philosophy was simple. If it's going to be in my pocket 24/7 I want something that can do a lot of things really well as opposed to being just an exceptional cardboard slicer.

That knife turned out to be an SMF.
I had tried SnG's and just found the blade length too short. I never really considered an SMF (spent a lot of time and money using customs) until I traded for one as just one more thing to 'try'

It just turned out to be everything I was looking for.

It was a very capable slicer (edge at 18DPS)
It excelled at chores that required chopping.
It excelled at any type of prying.
Very easy to take apart and clean/service.

Most importantly, in my experience, an SMF does all these tasks with confidence.
I have yet to feel like I was pushing the knife/blade/lock to the point where I felt it would fail on me.

 
I'll give it a shot...

Best "all-round cowboy...anywhere; grab it and go" EDC: Folder: Emerson micro-Commander.
Fixed: original DPx HEST fixed blade by Rowen.

Primary urban EDC: Folder:Grayman Dua. Because I just can't get any vibe from my remaining Sebenza--great knife, cold fish. And IMO the Grayman is as good.
Fixed: original Tekna dive knife. Might be my soul knife, no idea why.

Latest 'going through a phase' EDC: Folder: Emerson karambit. I hope I come to my senses soon. I made a thread about it.
Fixed: BK-14 as a necker.

Outdoor/survival: Folder: DPx HEST 2.0. Because I have Sebenza Syndrome where my Grayman is concerned and don't want to sacrifice or mar it due to abuse if necessary. The HEST will be given a special retirement if it survives. Hell of a knife for years now.
Fixed: A Nordic leuku I've had a long time.

On the water: Folder: Benchmade Panther (if not the HEST).
Fixed: original Tekna dive knife.

Road trips by car: Folder: Emerson Karambit, clipped in pocket, for easy reach seated.
Fixed: Buck CSAR-T Liason carried horizontal belt, same reason...and great concealment when walking into those Shell Food Marts at 3am.
• in addition to the Ka-Bar Acheron fitted neatly into my sun visor.

Road trips by motorcycle: Folder: Emerson Karambit or Super CQC-7.
Fixed: TIE: Gryphon M-10 in Boltaron; Tekna dive knife.
• fixed is usually boot carried.

Current property knife (for when I'm slummin' in the house or yard) Folder: Boker Kalashnikov AK-74 automatic.
Fixed: BK-11 san mai.

Slacks/dress attire: Folder: original Masters of Defense Trident. Because it's slim, classy for a tactical, and sheeple-friendly.
Fixed (rarely): J. Rozich custom dagger in 154CM/carbon fiber....IWB. A gentleman's tool. :cool:

Too many more knives, not enough categories. I quit. :confused:
 
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- Ka-bar f/u
General Outdoors
- Mora companion
Trail Hiking
- opinel #9
EDc Tinkering
- victorinox gak
Edc long distance
- Leatherman wave plier multitool
Travel
 
#1 Blur - I have an OD green in sandvik that I EDC most frequently, however now that I recently bought 2 more ELMAX models (3 total now) I find myself edc'ing one of those more frequently as well.

#2 - CRKT free range; it's my beater of choice, I like the size and feel of it all around, a very comfortable grip, sturdy blade, and for the price and steel, I'm not afraid to give a bit more abuse then the regular day to day tasks if need be.

#3 - Schrade Lady Leg; I actually own a few of 'em, and outside of work I almost always have one down in my pocket, a great little (cheap) 440c slip joint AND bottle opener.

#4 - BK15 - when in need of (or in the mood for) a fixed blade, you can't go wrong here. Sometimes the Mora will slip in to do some jobs, but the "15" is the go-to fixed for me in most circumstances.

#5 - SAK Huntsman or Leatherman Wingman; two totally different multitools that are great for different jobs. Don't always carry a multitool, but those are the two I go for when I do, and it often depends on where I'm going, and what I anticipate encountering along the way.

*(not mentioned; standard black Blur combo edge x-blem-x and Schrade sch220bk, 3.5" liner lock that I never EDC on my personal time, but I do carry 5-6 days a week while at work. The only two knives I bring to the job).
 
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