We all could survive with a small slip joint, kitchen knife, saw, and axe.

[Chase_ck]

We could all seriously live with just these tools. I own way too many knives of all shapes and sizes as well as many other sharpened tools as I assume most of you do too. Let’s have a fun, banter filled discussion on why I am wrong on this assumption.

 

[not2sharp]

We could all seriously live with just these tools. I own way too many knives of all shapes and sizes as well as many other sharpened tools as I assume most of you do too. Let’s have a fun, banter filled discussion on why I am wrong on this assumption.

I agree. Most of the population gets along fine during their lifetime with a few inexpensive knives purchased for a few bucks at the nearest big box store. Most knife collectors add a few knives from the local gas station or flea market. Relatively few get into the kind of knives we like to discuss here. They are not necessary, but they are fun, interesting, attractive, intriguing, decorative…and useful.

N2s

 

[jux t]

Hear, hear. I’ve been on a crusade to limit what makes me happy, too. Recently sold 3/4 of my knives. Next on the chopping block is music, I’d like to pare down to maybe 3 or 4 songs to keep things simple. Have a contractor coming in a few weeks to discuss removing unneeded bathrooms.

Makes me dizzy having to pick from the multiple pairs of footwear I have, too. And the pets? I mean, I’ve gotten along just fine without them so they’re starting to look like excess as well. As long as I have an axe and a kitchen knife, I can probably undertake removing my home and installing a lean to.

Edit: had to get rid of unnecessary words, too

 

[oldmanwilly]

Maybe, but I still prefer a bowie for finishing boars (or angry sows, as the case may be) and a drop point fixed for cleaning and breaking down deer. Plus, nothing clears brush like a good machete. Some tools tackle certain tasks better than others.

 

[Chase_ck]

Hear, hear. I’ve been on a crusade to limit what makes me happy, too. Recently sold 3/4 of my knives. Next on the chopping block is music, I’d like to pare down to maybe 3 or 4 songs to keep things simple. Have a contractor coming in a few weeks to discuss removing unneeded bathrooms.

Makes me dizzy having to pick from the multiple pairs of footwear I have, too. And the pets? I mean, I’ve gotten along just fine without them so they’re starting to look like excess as well. As long as I have an axe and a kitchen knife, I can probably undertake removing my home and installing a lean to.

Edit: had to get rid of unnecessary words, too

Yeah, a lean to can be made with a slip joint and an axe. 3 or 4 songs? All anyone needs is Rush’s Tom Sawyer on repeat. Don’t be greedy.

 

[Chase_ck]

Maybe, but I still prefer a bowie for finishing boars (or angry sows, as the case may be) and a drop point fixed for cleaning and breaking down deer. Plus, nothing clears brush like a good machete. Some tools tackle certain tasks better than others.

No doubt, but you can knock one of those piggy’s in the head with the back of an axe and break it down with a stockman style slip joint.

 

[David Mary]

Two knives, a saw, and an axe? Survive? You have to be kidding. You can build an empire.

 

[hugofeynman]

I buy knives, axes and saws because I like them, but you're right, OP.

 

[jfk1110]

Very true but why bother when there's SO MANY different things to try!!!!

 

[1911bphil]

I agree with the OP. I have way too many knives (according to my wife). I enjoy the different blade types and potential uses for each one. I certainly don't NEED as many as I have, but again, I enjoy knives.
The bills are paid, we have food in the refrigerator, and I'm not taking money out of my retirement fund.
I'm not buying a lot, but if I see something I like, I will probably buy it.
Just my humble opinion though.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

This topic was literally on my mind this morning. I was going to start a thread called something a long the lines of "Are we overthinking it?"
Like most of you, I have more knives than I can remember but totaling in the I don't want to think about what I have spent levels of money. Currently, I'm planning a week and a half hiking trip (day hikes with evenings at a cabin) coming up next year. I don't want to pack a bunch of crap. I don't want to carry 5 knives. I just want something light and sharp and large enough to use in an emergency if we get turned around and have to make camp for the night. So far, I've settled on a stupid cheap BPS knife. $39 with a great sheath and a fero rod. Pair that with a multi tool, and I feel like I can augment the world long enough for me to not die for a day or two

I like all my crap. I will buy more crap. I will probably buy 9 more knives before my trip, but if I am honest with myself a piece of thin carbon steel and a set of pocket tools is more than enough.

Great thread.

 

[beeinak]

We can live on water and peanut butter too, but I like variety and choices

 

[skirm]

That’s true.
If you have a saw and an axe, then a smaller cutting tool is enough. However, there’s a idea behind a survival knife.

Survival situations are mostly unplanned, and no one carries an axe "just in case." So, we take a hunting/bushcraft knife and make it stronger. You may lose some slicing ability, but it can almost replace an axe and a saw.

 

[Delgadonine]

Two knives, a saw, and an axe? Survive? You have to be kidding. You can build an empire.

Ah, you'll need a sword too, then!

Sword! Add it that list.

 

[ferider]

Why a slip joint ? Make it a small paring sized knife plus an 8" blade, also usable in the kitchen Otherwise I agree.

 

[Culprit99]

and no one carries an axe "just in case."

Some of us do, right next to the folding saw and the entrenching tool in the back of the Suburban - and they come in quite handy. In the last six months, alone, I've used the axe to free a man from an overturned truck and clear a tree down across the road.

 

[GB940Rookie]

Put the pipe down Chase.

 

[GmpaJim]

We could all seriously live with just these tools. I own way too many knives of all shapes and sizes as well as many other sharpened tools as I assume most of you do too. Let’s have a fun, banter filled discussion on why I am wrong on this assumption.

I wonder, how many hide scrapers a successful Indian would have accumulated?

 

[l1ranger]

drop the slip joint and give me a fixed blade suitable for processing game and fish

probably don't need an axe and a saw.

also, a lot of people struggle with all the modern amenities - they've be lost day one without their ninja creami

 

[SharpBits]

I smash everything with a rock. What's this "cut" and "chop" nonsense?