Which is your GOAT???? [greatest of all time]

Going to be a Stockman, in my mind that pattern is the quintessential pocketknife. My first Stockman (and my sentimental GOAT) was this Buck 301 I picked out for my birthday (or maybe it was Christmas) in 1972, a gift from my Grandma, I carried it daily until she passed in 1989 - only comes out now for special and guarded occasions. I carried several Schrade USA small Stockman penknives after that, for maybe 18 years, but gave up on the smaller size after I lost the last one and shifted to a Medium Stockman as the right size for me. My GOAT, most carried and most favored, is the Case 18 pattern, and of my dozen or so Case 18's, this 1976 SS with brown Delrin handles is Number 1 in my pocket, a real workhorse of a pocketknife. OH
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In "if you can have just one knife" threads like this one, I usually conclude that even though my favorite patterns are probably canoe and sowbelly stockman, if it came down to just one knife I'd probably stick with the first knife I ever owned, and my only knife from 1960 to 2014. Go home with the one who brung ya!
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- GT
 
Ace Krampus said:
If I'm being practical, probably the Cadet (if I'm being extra practical then it's a BK-15...), but where's the fun in that?

I'm thinking GEC 15. To me it's just the epitome of the pocket knife. In my head when I think pocket knife, I think this one. Looks the part, feels the part, excellent to carry, great size. I could've stopped collecting when I got it nine years ago, and nearly did, but I am alas back.
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A superb option. I was lucky enough to receive a very similar one from an old forum member, the BigBiscuit BigBiscuit who saw my plight on carrying my one deleted end capped 15, a knife I treasure greatly as ive never seen another one.
 
Sigh... Questions like this make me look through my knives, and then I start wondering why I have all these knives that I seldom carry or use. Well, because I like them, that's why! Sometimes I pick up a knife and I'm eight years old again, marveling over one of my father's USN Mk2 Kabars. Anyway... After some deliberation (but it didn't take very much) I've decided that for me there's not just one, but maybe one each in a few categories. So here goes.
I seldom use a fixed blade, but I feel that I must have at least one (heck, ten or so) around. So, my recently acquired Buck 117 will be my fixed blade GOAT. It's the Goldilocks of fixed blades -- "just right."
I've struggled for a long time to decide on the ultimate slipjoint. Is is a muskrat? A swayback? A stockman? Or what? Just in the past few days it's hit me: my Wharncliffe mini copperhead. Why? Single spring. Threaded bolsters. Wharncliffe main and pen secondary. Great swedge on the main. Vintage Sambar stag ("vintage" is how Case has designated it, even including a "V" in the pattern number). Elegant. One of 350 made. It's pretty special, and deserves to be my slipjoint GOAT.
And then, well, every boy needs a Buck. I carried a 110 for decades, wore out the original sheath. Finally stopped carrying it. Then a few years ago I found this 112FG and it felt as if it had been custom fitted to my hand. I wear it every day. Love the shorter (compared with the 110) blade. I have four 112s, but this one is definitely my if-you-could-have-only-one-knife knife. This one is without a doubt my lockback GOAT.



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After some consideration, id have to say its probably some form of gec 15, or the boys knife. Currently they are the makers of some of the finest examples available, with close consideration being CSC and ea42 ea42 's independent alber's knives. That pattern dominates my collection, that and its derivatives. Another close option is single blade trappers as its what bought here.
 
I'm fortunate to have had some of my most often carried and highly regarded knives pilfered from me a couple years ago. They were a Huntsman (my most traveled knife of all time), a modern (the most EDC'd of all but one that will not be named here in traditionals ;) ), a Farmer (a most favored SAK) and a GEC stag 74 (favorite traditional) along with 10-12 other knives of varying value and appreciation.

Thieves suck but I say I was "fortunate" because since the theft I've become less attached to things and much more able to enjoy what I do have while remaining free from emotional involvement.

For me when considering the scenarios presented, knives were not the answer but quoting the OP I determine the following;

1) "...all-time favorite knife...

2020 GEC 74 Mustang​

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2) ...your favorite carry of all time."

Victorinox Blue Executive
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Today's choice (may change tomorrow) for favorite carry has to be the easily pocket-able Executive! The Exec is so incredibly capable that mine is in near constant use. It is also a pure delight to carry thus making it a literal favorite carry. :)
 
I wasn't sure how to approach this thread. I've got a lot of knives that kind of fall into the GOAT category for me.
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I decided to not post the other contenders. I didn't want to take away from my choice. I'd also add that there was a little eeny, meeny, miny, moe involved!

I chose this Jerry Halfrich Small Rounder. I've had it for years, it's definitely mine as I dropped it on the driveway years ago, and ended up with a ding in the bone and liner. Really small, but there none the less.

CPM-154, one of my favorite blade steels, made right here in Syracuse by folks I used to do business with. I love the shadow pattern, the double bomb shield, the modified Wharncliffe blade, the excellent jigged bone and at 3 5/8" it's the perfect size for me. It wasn't cheap, so I use it gently. It's certainly capable of much more.
Jerry has made some nice knives, and this is one of them.

I'm happy to say it fits my Sharp & Fiery Sharp & Fiery Bunny sheath perfectly! Maybe it should be a GOAT sheath! :D ;)
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17016473977056382944235446255841.jpgsingle parent,3 back surgeries, broke as a drunken Jerry Lewis joke,this buckmasters was with me through it all lol.but I have to say in the past few years this has only seen the light once.wth the gec 86 hj,47 viper and a 85 this old boy don't stand a chance compounded by case 62087 and mini trapper,so next year will be the time to pick
 
Peregrin said:
I wasn't sure how to approach this thread. I've got a lot of knives that kind of fall into the GOAT category for me.
TLqTbDA.jpg

I decided to not post the other contenders. I didn't want to take away from my choice. I'd also add that there was a little eeny, meeny, miny, moe involved!

I chose this Jerry Halfrich Small Rounder. I've had it for years, it's definitely mine as I dropped it on the driveway years ago, and ended up with a ding in the bone and liner. Really small, but there none the less.

CPM-154, one of my favorite blade steels, made right here in Syracuse by folks I used to do business with. I love the shadow pattern, the double bomb shield, the modified Wharncliffe blade, the excellent jigged bone and at 3 5/8" it's the perfect size for me. It wasn't cheap, so I use it gently. It's certainly capable of much more.
Jerry has made some nice knives, and this is one of them.

I'm happy to say it fits my Sharp & Fiery Sharp & Fiery Bunny sheath perfectly! Maybe it should be a GOAT sheath! :D ;)
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I could have picked it for you Gary, although that stag Lloyd ain’t bad either.
 
Prester John said:
That might be my greatest "slipjoint", but gotta go with this:
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I ended up with a 06, 07 & 08. I had to loosen up the pivots on all of them, but the dumb things just plain work. The 08 sits on the table beside my chair & usually cuts up snacks, opens packages & envelopes, etc; but the 06 & 07 get carried & used a lot.
 
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