Of all the blades you own, what are your top 10? It's an interesting thought process to evaluate one's collection in this manner. Obviously, this list also says a lot about oneself as a blade user. Please post your musings (photos are a plus).
10 . Victorinox Bantam
This is my "party" knife. It's small, compact, non-threatening. Always ready to crack open a brew. The blade is just big enough to do serious work, and the multi-function combo tool is a marvel of engineering.
9. Buck 309
It was a tossup between this and its big brother, the single bladed 302. Either way, Buck's 300 series deserves a nod. These folders are handsome, solidly constructed, and have beautifully flush back springs. The 309 is perfect for a pair of dress slacks, a true gentleman's folding knife.
8. Buck Vantage Select Large
When I'm around the house, I often have the Vantage in my hand. It is so addictive to flip, and I love admiring the very thin hollow grind Buck managed on this blade. It does well in the kitchen, as well as the various odd jobs around the house. I find the 420HC easy to sharpen, and takes a fine edge.
7. Opinel paring knife, INOX
I just got this knife, and its already a favorite. This is what I would use in a dictionary to illustrate a knife, because it only has the essentials: a blade and a handle. The flat ground blade is thin with distal taper, making a fierce slicer. Its Sandvik 12C27 blade takes a fine edge and is low maintenance, which is good because I share it with my wife. The handle is a bit on the small side, but I can fix an entire meal with this 3.75" blade, whilst barely wanting my full-sized kitchen knives.
6. Fiskars Hatchet
This is my no-nonsense, wood processing tool around camp/cabins. It's easy to sharpen, and is great for making kindling. All the weight is concentrated at the bit due to the nyglass handle, which makes it lightweight and efficient. I would have no qualms entrusting my life to this tool.
5. Cold Steel Frontier Hawk
This hawk is not as keen as the hatchet at chopping/splitting wood, but it gets a higher rating because I will grab it before the Fiskars. I love its more traditional materials, and holding it in hand conjures up The Last of the Mohicans and the frontier days. Plus, I enjoy the challenge of making this Hawk work. The hatchet works so well, it's boring.
4. J.A. Henkels Twin Signature 7" Santoku
This is the kitchen knife I use, day after day. I grew up using the Chinese cleaver; after losing mine during a move, I replaced it with this Santoku and never looked back. It's Friodur steel is easy to maintain and keeps a good edge with a few licks on a fine ceramic rod. The blade is quite thin, which makes it a mean chopping machine.
3. Victorinox Tinker
This is the knife I've always had, before I was interested in knives as a hobby. It's easy as pie to sharpen, and its packed with functionality for a pocket knife. I always bring this camping to open cans and prep food. Even though I don't carry this knife every day, it's the knife I'd choose if I could have only one knife. It does everything I'd want from a knife, and then some, in a package that is easy to carry.
2. Victorinox Classic
I love this little guy, and it's carried with my keys whenever I leave the house. Every tool gets used at work, and when I travel overseas, I rely on this knife exclusively to get the job done. It's one of those tools that makes you wonder "how did I ever get along without it?"
1. Svord Peasant Knife/Mini Peasant
Simple things are best, and it doesn't get simpler than the Svord Peasant knife. I'm cheating a little here, because I am referring to both the Mini and full-size version here. I have EDCed the mini daily for 3 months now, and I can keep going if not for giving my other knives some pocket time. Svord's L6 tool steel has excellent heat treat, and the thin geometry make this blade a good cutter. This is a sound, robust knife, and any slack can be taken up by tightening 2 screws. It's a one-hand opener, which makes it fun to cycle while you're daydreaming. Since it's carbon steel, it takes on a lovely patina after cutting fruit. I love using this knife.
10 . Victorinox Bantam
This is my "party" knife. It's small, compact, non-threatening. Always ready to crack open a brew. The blade is just big enough to do serious work, and the multi-function combo tool is a marvel of engineering.
9. Buck 309
It was a tossup between this and its big brother, the single bladed 302. Either way, Buck's 300 series deserves a nod. These folders are handsome, solidly constructed, and have beautifully flush back springs. The 309 is perfect for a pair of dress slacks, a true gentleman's folding knife.
8. Buck Vantage Select Large
When I'm around the house, I often have the Vantage in my hand. It is so addictive to flip, and I love admiring the very thin hollow grind Buck managed on this blade. It does well in the kitchen, as well as the various odd jobs around the house. I find the 420HC easy to sharpen, and takes a fine edge.
7. Opinel paring knife, INOX
I just got this knife, and its already a favorite. This is what I would use in a dictionary to illustrate a knife, because it only has the essentials: a blade and a handle. The flat ground blade is thin with distal taper, making a fierce slicer. Its Sandvik 12C27 blade takes a fine edge and is low maintenance, which is good because I share it with my wife. The handle is a bit on the small side, but I can fix an entire meal with this 3.75" blade, whilst barely wanting my full-sized kitchen knives.
6. Fiskars Hatchet
This is my no-nonsense, wood processing tool around camp/cabins. It's easy to sharpen, and is great for making kindling. All the weight is concentrated at the bit due to the nyglass handle, which makes it lightweight and efficient. I would have no qualms entrusting my life to this tool.
5. Cold Steel Frontier Hawk
This hawk is not as keen as the hatchet at chopping/splitting wood, but it gets a higher rating because I will grab it before the Fiskars. I love its more traditional materials, and holding it in hand conjures up The Last of the Mohicans and the frontier days. Plus, I enjoy the challenge of making this Hawk work. The hatchet works so well, it's boring.
4. J.A. Henkels Twin Signature 7" Santoku
This is the kitchen knife I use, day after day. I grew up using the Chinese cleaver; after losing mine during a move, I replaced it with this Santoku and never looked back. It's Friodur steel is easy to maintain and keeps a good edge with a few licks on a fine ceramic rod. The blade is quite thin, which makes it a mean chopping machine.
3. Victorinox Tinker
This is the knife I've always had, before I was interested in knives as a hobby. It's easy as pie to sharpen, and its packed with functionality for a pocket knife. I always bring this camping to open cans and prep food. Even though I don't carry this knife every day, it's the knife I'd choose if I could have only one knife. It does everything I'd want from a knife, and then some, in a package that is easy to carry.
2. Victorinox Classic
I love this little guy, and it's carried with my keys whenever I leave the house. Every tool gets used at work, and when I travel overseas, I rely on this knife exclusively to get the job done. It's one of those tools that makes you wonder "how did I ever get along without it?"
1. Svord Peasant Knife/Mini Peasant
Simple things are best, and it doesn't get simpler than the Svord Peasant knife. I'm cheating a little here, because I am referring to both the Mini and full-size version here. I have EDCed the mini daily for 3 months now, and I can keep going if not for giving my other knives some pocket time. Svord's L6 tool steel has excellent heat treat, and the thin geometry make this blade a good cutter. This is a sound, robust knife, and any slack can be taken up by tightening 2 screws. It's a one-hand opener, which makes it fun to cycle while you're daydreaming. Since it's carbon steel, it takes on a lovely patina after cutting fruit. I love using this knife.
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