What would you take?

T

Tracks

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Feb 7, 2010
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My band is going on tour tomorrow for the rest of the year and I'm just realizing that I have to pick which knives to take with me! I've been pretty spoiled in New Mexico cuz I can carry whatever I want with lil issue. But now I have to take into consideration big city laws AND at the same time we're going to be camping a good portion of the time. We're starting off the tour in just the western states and then eventually heading east. Playing everywhere from Dallas to Salt Lake, Seattle to San Diego for now. Lots of small towns in between. I'm a huge traditional knife fan but I also carry a spyderco and a BM Griptilian at times when I don't have a belt. Usually though its a leatherman along with some type of folding hunter (Buck, Case, Boker) and even a medium stockman rides most times in my pocket. (Yeah i know ..overkill) Anyway I'm thinking the 110s and rest of the large folders aren't gonna work in most of the big citys :-(. Sucks! I'll have a fixed blade with me for most of camp chores (Still gotta choose which one!) but for EDC what would you guys do? Knowing how much the laws vary from state to state and town to town. I was thinking about putting away the large folders and carrying some type of non locking edc knife like a trapper or stockman. They still have a bit of size to em but easier for pocket carry and less problematic with laws. I'm really wanting to stay a bit traditional. So what would you take? I have a lots of nice traditional safe queens but can't decide!! haha. I don't want to lug a bunch of knives around just cuz I can't make a decision. The life of a knife nut! What do you think is good all round traditional edc that is legal and useable in most cities? Gonna have to be a work horse too.
 
I would go with a stockman three blades and can handle just about anything, and most places have size restrictions on locking blades. Reading knife laws can be so vague, you can get a serious headache. Have fun on tour.
 
+1 to the stockman. Based on my own habits, that's 'the one' I'll always fall back on, if forced to limit myself to only one. I usually carry a large stockman (4"+), but a medium sized one might be safer in some urban locations, depending on what blade length restrictions are in force.

Edit:
I'm comparing three stockman models I happen to have in-pocket today (Case 6375 SS, Queen #49 Cattle King, and my Schrade 8OT Old Timer). The 8OT might just fit the bill. The clip blade is just a hair under 3" in length, which ought to be safe in most locations.
 
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+1 to a Medium Stockman in carbon steel blades (for sure ;) ). I don´t know the laws in the US, but I´d choose a Med Stockman because it´s more pocket friendly than a big chopper - I would choose a knife with roundabout 3,5".

Kind regards
Andi
 
Well, it completely depends on the type of music you play, and instrument! So?

-- Mark
 
I don't mind carrying slip joints if and only if I have a locking knife close at hand for larger chores.

As much as I love the the 110 and it's hunting heritage I only carry mine hunting. A) The clip point isn't that useful for EDC use. B) The clip point and size scares the locals. C) It like way, way, way heavy.

Sounds like you want a knife that:
+ Will be likely to be within most legal restrictions (blade under 3")
+ Looks friendly and non-threatening
+ Cost relatively little so you won't be bummed it if it lost, broken or confiscated
+ (and perhaps...) Has a locking blade like you're used to.

The Opinel #7 and #8 are cheap, very durable, very, very people friendly very light.

The Buck Bucklite Max Medium is inexpensive and offers a 3" blade with clip and thumb studs. Not that pretty of a knife though.

The Buck Ecolite 112 offers a 3" blade but in a prettier, more traditional look. Sort like a Buck version of a locking sod buster (with a clip blade).

Small folding lockers like the Buck 501 work above their weight and length due to the lock, look very traditional and carry easy.

GEC has folding lockers but they move up in price.

I'm carrying a slip joint as I type this and I like them just fine for doing small stuff. But that's because I carry a big Opinel #10 close at hand (same size as a Buck 110 at less than 1/2 the weight). On times, I can't carry the Opinel #10, I carry a locker. My Schrade 5OT and trimmed down Opinel #8 are the most people friendly.

If I had to carry only 1 knife and it needed to be pocket friendly, easily replaceable, functional, capable of fairly big cutting and still people friendly, it would be the Opinel #8. It's the most knife ounce for ounce.

Here's Opinel #9, 8 and 6. These have been modified to drop points (10 minutes with a hand file and vice) and the handles reshaped a bit. The 8 is in the middle.

opinel easy opens by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
Tracks said:
What do you think is good all round traditional edc that is legal and useable in most cities? Gonna have to be a work horse too.
Click to expand...

My brother-in-law is a musician (Plays with the Dave Grisman Quintet.) He travels with a multi-tool. But he's not a knife knut, so he doesn't need anything traditional.

A medium stockman should be legal in most cities. I'm partial to Buck 303's.
 
Knarffeng I hope you get to see them play, your brother-in-law must be a great musician, cuz that is all Grisman surrounds himself with.
 
Thanks a lot for all the great input fellas! Hadn't thought of opinel, nice size blade for such a light/ old school knife. I'm pretty accustom to carrying a stockman so that may be my best bet. Carbon for sure! I'm gonna ponder it the rest of the night!
 
knarfeng said:
My brother-in-law is a musician (Plays with the Dave Grisman Quintet.) He travels with a multi-tool. But he's not a knife knut, so he doesn't need anything traditional.

A medium stockman should be legal in most cities. I'm partial to Buck 303's.
Click to expand...
Wow that's a great gig!
 
I would toss my hat in with the stockman as well. For years, that was all I carried and I never felt lacking in cutting power.
I would probably be more concerned with the sharpening device I would be taking along if I were going to be away for that long.

Robert
 
dude you should so hook up with a spyderco ukpk legal almost every where except larger citys with wacky laws like philly, detroit ext and shes a work horse the cts bd1 steel is easy to sharpen and holds edge for a while i got this knife cause i travel a lot and its legal almost everywhere nothing to worry about with this knife other then the blade length that is it its light weight but she knows how to work its a slip joint style but she feels like a lock back when in use the place your fingers go holds the blade in perfectly its amazing check it out dude you wont go wrong
 
sodbuster jr in yellow... carbon steel blades....it is not the tactical black color and it can get so sharp
 
I'm lucky, I only play dives in the boonies so I imagine most of the customers' knives are bigger than mine ;) For gigs I usually have a SwissChamp in my gig bag or on my belt, and/or a Case Camper with pliers. I need the pliers to tighten up the occasional loose fitting on my drums.

For most of the last decade those were the only two knives I carried. It's only since I stumbled upon the Case Trapperlock and research here that led me to renew my interest in slipjoints.

Have a great tour!
Griff
 
Slipjoints make excellent "low profile" and universal EDC choices. I'd recommend you go to a brick and mortar store and find "the one" slip joint pattern that fits your needs best. Traditonal patterns are very subjective and personalized. I'm a bit partial to jack knives and Barlows.
 
Stich2442 said:
Knarffeng I hope you get to see them play, your brother-in-law must be a great musician, cuz that is all Grisman surrounds himself with.
Click to expand...

Seen them several times over the years. He joined up with Grisman in the mid 80's, a couple of years after I married his sister. And yes, he is a top notch musician. He can play (has played) everything from avant garde jazz to bluegrass.
 
A SAK Swiss Army Knife
With bottle, can openers and a corkscrew
Two blades and Scissors
And it will have awl you will need

You can cut things and use it as a picnic knife
And it will pass thru knife laws as it will be see by LEOs as a picnic knife
 
I know you likely already decided, but my first thought was like neeman's. Get a SAK. They are people friendly, and won't raise eyebrows in most places. I have the larger Tinker, which doesn't have a corkscrew. I hate the dang cork screws. It is a nice thin slicer, and is handy with the tools, which might be nice for when youre not carrying a multitool because no belt.

Other than that, I like (in order) the peanut, the small stockman, and the sodbuster JR.
 
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