What are you seasoned guys carrying?

I started out in the late 70s/early 80s with Bucks, Schrades, and Cases.

I've been through tons of folders. You name it, I probably had one or handled one. I only own a few folders with clips now. Al Mar Sere 2K, Kizer Vanguard Intrepid, and a Varga Vesper (custom Ti framelock). I have an alox pioneer and a Buck 110 in my pocket right now.

I carry a lot more fixed blades than folders. My first good fixed blade was a spec plus marine combat knife. Still have it. For a few years, it did everything a knife should or shouldn't do for me and my family.

Now, my favorites are a Busse Anniversary Mean Street, Basic 9, BGASH, an Allen Blade MEUK, a Greco Companion, two custom Phillip Bures kwaikens, and a Buck 102 in 5160.
 
I have tried to carry a small fixed blade, but always end up just putting it back on my desk in favor of a folder in my pocket.

I don't really care if one knife can do it all. But honestly, a simple SAK can do it all most of the time. There is a lot of personal preference involved.

If I lived or worked in NYC, I would probably carry a fixed blade to avoid all the BS about gravity knives (what is and what isn't).
 
I went from junk to Chinese Kershaw to USA made Kershaws and China/Japan Spydercos...today I almost exclusively carry Spyderco and occasional Benchmade.
 
First ever given to me st age 8 Colonial Coyote.
First I ever bought approximately age 12 Imperial lockback. - Both are replacements as the originals were lost through time. 80’s
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First fixed blade, Buffalo skinner - also a replacement.
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Through the 90’s I had a couple Gerber Gators and a couple Buck Odyssey.

2000’s I went through a couple of CRKT, still LOVE those VEFF serrations
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Now I rarely carry a fixed blade but when I do it’s this Joe Hoover
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When I want to feel classy I carry my Case Bose Tribal SpearE2461D60-769E-4958-AB03-6DB36DF2A55A.jpeg
My all day-every day is a Spyderco K2 that I reprofiled the tip on.
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A SAK Spartan is with me most every day. By far the most used knife I've ever owned.

During the weekends or when I suspect I'll need something more, I typically grab a Rat 1 out if my kitchen junk drawer. I have much more expensive folders with higher end steels, but the size, ergos, ease of maintenance of the blade... it's just a great combo for me personally. I also love never bring concerned about using it and dinging it up a bit..
 
Gary W. Graley said:
I resemble that remark, 'seasoned' and lately I like a folder that doesn't wiggle around in your hand during use, the Benchmade Mini Freek seems to fit that pretty well, the texture, size and action on both opening and closing make it a no brainer for my EDC, everything else has cameo appearances just to fill in the gaps, but the Mini Freek is what I reach for when something needs to be parted.

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

and for my really seasoned carry, my recently acquired Lionsteel Bolus from @knifeswapper is key and will soon have a vertical sheath made to ride along.

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

G2
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Beyond jealous of that bolus... she's a beaut!
 
Yeah. Once you get used to the SAKs, it's hard to change because they are so darn useful. I prefer the two blade 301 I have (forum knife). Just a really nice folder.
 
Pretty much settled on thin and slim knives whether folders or fixed. Ideally I like a knife that has a thin slicy blade without too thin and weak a tip.

Since I am pretty much always carrying in the city folders are clipped to pocket and fixed blades are tucked in waist band. If it’s bulky and pokes into me I won’t really carry it. 3.25 inch seems to be the sweet spot for folders too.

For example some of my favourites are:

Folders:
Benchmade 940
Small Sebenza 21
Spyderco Southard
3.25 inch Shamwari
Boker Exskelibur 1 Ti framelock
HD7

Fixed:
Spyderco Street Beat (wanna try a white river backpacker pro which looks very similar)
Brous Silent Soldier Ranger
Fred Perrin La Griffe

There are lots of cool knives out there but after some time in the hobby I know what I like now and don’t feel like I need every cool knife I see. If it wasn’t for that earlier phase buying every knife that caught my eye I wouldn’t know what I liked.
 
I carry knives.
I have a bunch of them, so narrowing it much past that is futile.
 
I started carrying in 1972. My favorites as a preteen were Barlow’s and Texas Toothpicks.
As a teen I tried a lot of different folders, locking and non locking, but always seemed to find my way back to the venerable Case Canoe. Had my first encounters with a company called Kershaw during those years also. I was very impressed with their value.
Bought my first “high end” in 2002, Spyderco POLICE SS.
Nowadays, the 940-1 is my default carry followed very closely by the Gayle Bradley 2.
I keep a couple of traditionals for nostalgia, and whittling.
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MattWRog said:
I’m noticing a trend here, and if not I’m mistaken, I’ve yet to see an over-built “hard use” type knife mentioned. Almost as if folks who considered themselves “seasoned” have figured something out.
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Exactly brother!
 
Started with a Case Medium Toothpick/Fishing Knife, moved on to a Schrade 34OT (went through 3 of them), Schrade Sharpfinger for my 1st fixed. Lusted after the Buck 110, got a Craftsman clone. Then moved on to Butterfly knives, then Spydercos, Benchmades, Emersons, and then customs.

A few years ago I traded into a Case Medium Stockman and my love for traditional knives started again. I picked up a couple of GEC knives, a CSC, even found me an old Schrade 34OT & Sharpfinger. They still work for my day to day knife needs.

Still like my modern knives though. In fact my first knife of 2019 is a Spyderco Rhino. I still like my Spyderco Delica - carried one of every version till the current Delica 4. My Benchmade 531 & Bugout see a lot of carry time (though the Bugout is seeing more now). I still like the Emerson CQC-7, but I just hardly carry my larger knives anymore. Small, light, and unobtrusive works best at my job.

I envy the younger knife-nuts nowadays. The variety is huge, and thanks to the internet it is easy to read up on them, and obtain them. I'd of loved to had some of these knives during my time in the Army. Who knows though, I might not of spent the money. I was foolish and decided not to get a custom Emerson CQC-7 for $350. I probably ended up spending more than that on a bunch of other knives I can't recall.

Probably the biggest change is I try to be a lot more selective on how I spend money on knives. I already have more than I really use. Some are sentimental so I hang on to them. Others will get passed on to my boys, especially the oldest who got the knife-nut gene. Others will get sold after they go unused for long enough. Then the money gets used on the next "OOoo shiny" I feel will be the one.
 
I've carried a knife since I was 5 years old. It was a little tiny thing,just an old no name but then it was priceless to me,still is for that matter.
I've carried traditional most if my life. A stockman from case buck or schrade were what you would find in my pocket.
I have begun to carry a modern folding knife because occasionally the longer blade comes in hamdy. However I have a buck 301 and a Vic electrician that one or the other is always in my pocket as well. Don't carry case knives as much as I once did, i don't think the quality is as high as it once was. I've spent alot on knives over the years, some cheap and some expensive. Honestly though a buck vantage a tenacious or 99 percent of the time a sak or an old stockman trapper etc. Will do most work I do. Hunting and fishing something like a tenacious or a buck 112 .
I've learned I don't need really expensive knives,I just need a knife that is built reasonably well and will cut when I need it.
That doesn't mean that there isn't 1 or 2 semi expensive ones that my eyes turn towards every now and again :D
 
The knife that survived the pig pen.....that's amazing because pig s*** is pretty corrosive stuff, to put it mildly.

Like most here, have carried a knife of one form or another for too many years to remember sometimes.

The first "modern" folder was a Spyderco Native III in full SE when it was first released. Helluva cutter and I still carry it occasionally, though with the laws and attitudes, that's getting tougher to do.
Tends to catch some attention at times....

Mainly because of that first Spyderco, I've obtained a small collection.... couple versions of Enduras and Natives in there. I find the Spyderco Cat or Lil' Native to be more socially acceptable. Simple steels only, easy to maintain.

I have three or 4 traditionals, however those don't get carried often mainly because of their sentimental value.
 
I started out in the 1950s with a Barlow hand-me-down from my Dad & always had either a Barlow or a scout-type knife on me whenever I left the house. The first knife that cost me over $25 was a stockman that I bought in 1970 & carried every day for about 30 years. I still love my traditionals & could get by just fine with only a Barlow or stockman. I just find the one handed opening modern folders a bit more convenient for my everyday needs, so they're what I usually carry. My preferences vary from Spyderco to Hinderers & almost everything in between.

It's nice to have choices.
 
shinyedges said:
And how has it evolved if at all from your choices when you were a novice? I'm interested in what guys who have been around a few years and have gone through many knives have dialed in on for their needs.

Personally, I shifted to fixed blades nearly exclusively. I also shifted to handmade over production. I like cutting performance more than shear pry ability that I used to lean toward.
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Well . . . if you were to look at what is in my pockets the last week or so you would call me a liar.
All I can say is do as I say and not as I am doing this week.

I started out with a Buck 110 back in '81. I had a few before that but that was my first "big deal" EDC.
Now ?
I like thinner blades, 2.2mm even down to 1.9mm for the same length and up to four inches.
I found I like textured handles.
I got a Griptillian with M390 steel. I like the handle and the M390. I can do without the tall blade. Give me a trapper clip point or a spear point any day. Longer and skinnier than the Griptillian. The Grip has a super nice lock though.

The 110 handle shape (thickness, height, width, length) really is perfection though :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I like even better alloys now though the Buck was great. I like / must have blades that are harder with more edge stability and more wear resistance . . . in a word M4.

I found about that time that I don't give a hoot for stainless steel. Sure M390 and N690 is really great stuff. I just find I like even more the alloys that happen to tarnish. I don't need to always force a patina but that kind of alloy tends to feel better to me. Cutting with them AND sharpening them.

Of course I have use for shorter blades too but I have gone longer now compared to back then. Four inch I like a lot; or there a bouts.

So . . . what am I carrying this last week that is so blasphemous / out of character for me ?
Kershaw / Emerson CQC 4KXL : Thicker blade than I like with a thinner, taller, more slab like handle that is slick polished stainless steel on one side, with pretty tame steel in the blade. Why ? It is a throw away knife I plan to abuse in a business building remodel. The blade length is good though, really, really good ! ! ! About four inches. Really good blade shape too !
and
I'm carrying a Delica HAP40 Carbon Fiber handled dude : Blade a bit short, handle is way thinner than I like (I had no idea it was going to be way thinner than the FRN). The handle is Carbon Fiber that is way down there in a layer of super slick highly polished epoxy. To be fair the steel is great ! The knife is very solid ! Locks up like the preverbal "Bank Vault" Whammo ! Why am I carrying this ?
HAP40 . . . I wanted to try HAP40 and can't really stand orange handled knives.

To be honest I do look forward to getting back to carrying my Grail : Brad Zinker Urban Trapper with big fat grippy, textured KreyEx handle scales.
and
My Para2 with M4.

Custom ? ! ! !
That's where I should be too ! ! !
An Urban Trapper ( or some kind of large trapper) with M4 and lots of texture on the handle. Single blade of course.

It's got to happen.

As far as fixed blade; yeah I went there for a while . . . 3V . . . ground fairly thin . . . talk about performance ! ! ! Oh Yeah Baby ! ! ! It was fun accidentally running into some mild steel something or other while working with the knife and looking at the edge . . . no damage . . . and looking at the thing I ran into . . . V dent in that ! ! !

I found that I prefer folders. The edges stay sharper (I like polished and "stupid sharp") and I need the blade to stay cleaner for food prep than my sheaths would do for me.

For me :
  • Folders
  • Single blade
  • Blade length 3.5 to 4 inch
  • Thin blade (1.9 to 2.2mm)
  • Alloy must be high wear and exceptionally hard (62 to 65) I like M4, ZDP and HAP40 seems good too . . . NOT a fan of high Vanadium S___V alloys (though M4 has some vanadium).
  • Handle shaped like a 110
  • Textured
Not that I'm opinionated or picky or anything like that ;) :rolleyes:
 
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