Torn between to lovers

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
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Do you ever feel torn between deciding which knife or combo to use? I don't like hauling lads of steel out into the bush...ujnless I;m specifically going to test knives.. so in an effor to keep my gear streamlined.. I try to keep it to 2 cutting tools and 1 back up..

I've been quite happy for a while with my 7 inch blade heavy knife and a locking sak combo.. this handles most things I do when out..part of the allure to this as well is that I EDC the sak.. which means I am only adding 1 tool to my belt when I head out.

But sometimes the sleekness and wicked carving edge of a scandi beckon to mee fromacross the hills....tears me apart sometimes.. What about you..have you ever been torn between2 lovers?
 
I'm constantly torn!

I'm headed out on a trip next week and have to pack a lot of gear (camping gear, bow, five days worth of food and a 20-pound climbing tree stand for bow hunting). One of the biggest questions in my mind as I plan the packing list is "What cutting tools will I take along?" I have a Vic Huntsman and a Mora already in my pack. Should I bring a big Busse chopper? A folding saw? A small axe? A pocket chain saw?

Even when I go out for a day hike there's a problem choosing a knife to carry. In a way, it reminds me of the old saying, "A man with a watch always knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never really sure."

"A man with one knife always knows which knife to bring...." :p

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
All the time. After many years of buying, selling and trading I have a selection of several knives that I consider perfect.
 
I used to be but nowdays I'm quite happy to take my Booshway everywhere.
Only reason I really carry any others now is to make my pics a little more interesting.

p9160003.jpg

By pitdog2010 at 2010-09-16
 
It is sometimes painful. For a few months now I've been carrying a Vic OHT and then whatever knife I think is most appropriate for primary. Oh, there has been some hand ringing for sure. :)
 
I am not torn Riley - I have a love for all of my knives - but USE only a few. I can't stand to rid myself of the rest of my knives.

I worked hard to find the right knives - and all of the ones I have fit me, were often tweaked or designed partially by me - and I don't want to let them go.

BUT - when I walk into the woods - there is one of three knives on my hip - and all three feel like an extension of my hand.

I think, however, that I am answering the conundrum you posed - just in a different manner.

TF
 
whew...am i glad i know aaron went home before night fell during our hiking trip a few days ago :eek: that title is a bit mis-leading.

i was torn between the bk-9 and junglas & rc-5 and bk-2 a few weeks ago. after a few hiking trips i quickly found out i'd rather have the junglas and the bk-2...i sold the esee rc-5 along with the rc-3 along with it. i might get rid of the bk-9 next.

i'm far from a collector. i tend to get rid of knives if i haven't brought them along the previous 2-3 hikes. ideally, i'd rather be down to my victorinox sak, 2-3 knives, and a machete, period...i'm getting closer.
 
Every time I walk out the door. I have to admit that life would be a lot less complicated if I only had one folder and one fixed blade.
 
i was torn. but now not so much...i edc some sort of SAK and when out i take my brkt golok and my koyote busheuku.
 
right now my trio is my RC 3, ESEE 5, and my machete, and I'm pretty happy with that....although I do have the RC 4, and Rat 7 I never pack over 3 knives......
 
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In terms of pure function I have a hard time going out to the bush without these two. The necker is my Livesay NRGS. Most often I will throw a Mora in my pack as well because I enjoy working with them. For me that's the bottom line, I enjoy my machete, necker kit, and carving with a Mora #2, so that's what I take along.

I only really get torn when I toy with the idea of leaving one of these home and carrying something else. I haven't arrived at these three tools out of a void. Mac
 
I'm human, therefore, never satisfied:D

For specific activities, I have my regular go-to tools; hunting, fishing, backpacking, going into town, traveling, work, etc. For day hikes or out practicing some bushcraft or other camp bobbies, I'll switch things around a little.

I have found you can have too many "tools" for certain activities...such as rock climbing, hunting, backpacking or mountain stream fishing.

Seasons will impact some decisions. During the spring and summer, my main chopper or large blade is typically a machete of some type. As fall turns to winter, I often will switch over to an axe, khukuri or heavy bladed parang.

No issues with these kinds of relationships...think "mulitfunctional" Harem:D No need for any monogamous relationships when it comes to blades:thumbup:

ROCK6
 
Yea, i appreciate having found too many good solutions for what i want to have available to me. However, i've been at this stuff for 20-25 years and have finally made peace with 1 -ONE- kit!!!

I've done a knife re-fit this year (though i have 2 hold-overs from years past) and i'm quite pleased with my choices. As to fixed blades, I'm back to carrying a big knife AND will also carry a smaller knife too (as was my practice for many years).

Typically for overnight hiking sort of activities, i carry my CS Trailmaster, a Buck Paklite "Skinner", Leatherman "Wave", and a Spyderco "Delica" (1st edition) as well as folding saw. This Kit is great for fire-making and whatever else i need.

For when i'm in the mountains, i leave the Trailmaster and folding saw home as i'm not likely going to be working with wood.

It really is just that simple. Unfortunately for many, they have excellent options in all the various "job" categories and deciding exactly which one to choose becomes excruciating. I have this problem in photography - which lens to choose for the days shooting? which film (yup, i shoot film and digi when i have to) will be best in that days light? I have excellent options in all the focal lengths i like to shoot, the pain is in the deciding.
 
I mix up my fixed blades with the SAK as a constant. Really, the one kit thing doesn't make too much sense to me because I don't go out and just do 'one kind of thing' when I go out. Each time the events are a bit a different and I taylor my choices to suit my needs. Dayhikes require something different than an overnighter. Base camping requires something different than packing in. Winter damands something different than spring or summer. Anticipating doing things like prying out fatwood demands something different than carving spoons. Bushcraft meets demand something different than a fishing trip. Its okay to share the love....
 
Do you feel you can handle most situations with any knife you own? I would think so, John. So what's the problem?..... Go FREEBLADE, man. Mix it up. Take whichever knife tickles your potatoes because you CAN. Infact, you can do a 180 and have "fun". If you see an situation when a chopper would make things easy... DON'T BRING IT!... you already know it'll work. Use something that will challenge your skills. Whenever I can afford to, I push the boundries of my comfort zone. Take advantage of learning opportunities.

Rick
 
To OP,

Not really, I either go EDC, small or Big and keep it simple.

EDC=A folder and Multitool
Small=7" or Less (Regulator or Entrek Scout) and a folder or necker
Big=Chopper plus CS Master Hunter and Folder or Multi.

Never torn, each one pairs well in my mind at least, the Brkt Necker loves the Regulator, the Dogfather has been seeing the Master Hunter for awhile and the Chunk Munks get lonely if they're pal the CS AK47 or Rajah 3 doesn't come out to play.
 
I'm having trouble as of late too, nabbed some awesome stuff from HI this month and all the sudden thick choppers are thrown into the picture with thin ones...
 
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