You can only keep 1 EDC. What is it today? Yes, I searched similar threads. I'm downsizing my life. Photos in thread.

If I could only keep one, it would hands down be an SHF. Not the best slicer, but well made, large and robust enough to tackle nearly any knife chore. If 1 were the option, I'd personally settle for larger over smaller, because I'd rather butcher a smaller knife task with a larger blade, (but still accomplish it), than ever be left with not enough blade to accomplish a task that requires more blade. Rather have and not need, than need and not have.
Deciding which one would be an issue, (I currently have 4), but thankfully I'm not in a position where I can only have 1.
 
For me, my one EDC would be a Buck 112. If I had to make do with just one knife altogether, it would be a 110, but the Ranger fits in my pocket.
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I've sold every knife I have that had any cash value and I've given away others. I have a few keepsakes that only mean something to me and maybe 5 knives that see pocket time. I have no heirs, so the sentimental value of anything I own will end with me.
 
If I had to pick just one it would be a small fixed blade that I can pocket carry. It would be hard to choose but out of the ones that I actually own it would be either a Buck, ESEE, Becker, or LT Wright.
 
dialton said:
It’s all a matter of personal choice and freedom. Of course the accumulation thing is in my case a gradual thing over decades. I have backpacks, knives, binoculars, and so on that I picked up over the years and still have, even though newer ones, possibly better but certainly different in some manner, have been acquired thinking I had some use for it over what I previously had or in some cases for a different task. If it were a matter of getting rid of the previous stuff for the new and improved ones then it would be fine and we would end up with things that are more suited to who you are today and what your perceived needs are. That hasn’t happened for the most part in my case. I stated in another post somewhere that I collected nothing. In my mind I’m not a collector as I don’t purchase things with “adding to my collection” mentality but when I took a hard look at my fixed blades and counted them, It made me rethink that statement, intent or not. Possibly many of us have bought into this apocalypse thing a bit and want to be prepared for every scenario that could be thought up. Hey, the unthinkable is happening in Ukraine as we speak. Some get a buzz off the next hunt as soon as the latest acquisition is on the way. I write this because I can totally relate to the difficulty felt when you finally realize that you have 50 knives, 10 ink pens (not counting the 30 cheap or free ones in the cup) way too many of everything and it’s time to slim it down and try to keep what you need, will actually ever use, will absolutely regret letting go of, and not what you have merely accumulated over the years. It’s a difficult process that has one looking into the mirror about who and what you are and likewise want to be going forward. For some, realizing that you have a totally ridiculous pile of “stuff” for one person is enlightening at the least and others don’t think a thing about it. I find it both liberating and difficult at the same time to let go of some things. I have yet to regret things that I have sold, given away, or donated in an effort to trim the excess and yet regularly fight the urge when viewing this and any other forum like it to purchase yet another thing I absolutely don’t need. Very thought provoking subject.
Of course do what you want.
Clinic is open and the couch is available.
Reading back through this post, I might try decaf!
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Exactly this.
 
Bastler said:
For me, my one EDC would be a Buck 112. If I had to make do with just one knife altogether, it would be a 110, but the Ranger fits in my pocket.
IadjnFxl.jpg

Bu8Uf59l.jpg

I've sold every knife I have that had any cash value and I've given away others. I have a few keepsakes that only mean something to me and maybe 5 knives that see pocket time. I have no heirs, so the sentimental value of anything I own will end with me.
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Well put. I posted a photo of my 112. You can leave yours to me and then I'll have two. But seriously, that 112 is owed a second life of use. Maybe find someone to secretly leave it to.

This has me thinking..I'm going to specify individual items to individuals who are not my heirs. Hmm, that's not part of my estate planning yet. I was just going to let my brother wing it.
 
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Peregrin said:
Today it would be the Malibu. Tomorrow, who knows? As far as knives go, my boys can pick what they want to keep, box up the rest and send them off to one of the reputable knife dealers that will sell them. Odds are I'll go before my wife, she'll love getting rid of my stuff! ;)
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That's what we think happens. What's more likely is they keep everything after figuring out how to divide and then are followed around the rest of their lives by those boxes, unwilling to part with something from their dead Dad; knowing they were important enough to you that you died still owning them. .....or not. I could be wrong. 🤣

While you're at it, do your friends a "favor" and specify to your Executor/Personal Representative some specific items. I'm going to work on that - possibly. Maybe none of your friends are sentimental but it might be nice to receive something "you specified in your Will that you wanted them to have" should you die. I realize this is a completely nerdy level of estate planning that quite literally maybe nobody does. I have at least 7 close friends I may specify items to as well as another 10 close relatives (sibling, nieces, nephews, kids). I don't know. But it's really just a single page Addendum I'll throw in the estate paperwork with a list of 20 or so items to distribute. Seems easy enough? I know not one of my friends has done this. Maybe it's pathological. :eek:💀
 
AmericanEDC said:
That's what we think happens. What's more likely is they keep everything after figuring out how to divide and then are followed around the rest of their lives by those boxes, unwilling to part with something from their dead Dad; knowing they were important enough to you that you died still owning them. .....or not. I could be wrong. 🤣

While you're at it, do your friends a "favor" and specify to your Executor/Personal Representative some specific items. I'm going to work on that - possibly. Maybe none of your friends are sentimental but it might be nice to receive something "you specified in your Will that you wanted them to have" should you die. I realize this is a completely nerdy level of estate planning that quite literally maybe nobody does. I have at least 7 close friends I may specify items to as well as another 10 close relatives (sibling, nieces, nephews, kids). I don't know. But it's really just a single page Addendum I'll throw in the estate paperwork with a list of 20 or so items to distribute. Seems easy enough? I know not one of my friends has done this. Maybe it's pathological. :eek:💀
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I get where you are coming from. Truth be told, I've gifted many, many knives to my boys already. They probably have more knives then many who frequent this forum. I also am working on a data base that will include all my sharp stuff. They can figure what they want to do with them. I'm about a third of the way through. I may or may not designate gifts for other relatives, friends etc. Not high on my list of to dos.

I'm also googling "Can I get buried in my car with all my stuff". Maybe I can't take it with me, but I can try! 😂;)
 
Busse Combat used to have a tshirt with a skeleton laying in an open coffin holding a fixed blade to his chest best I recall.
Text said “just in case you can take it with you” or something like that. Wore it till it was too thin to wear
 
dialton said:
Busse Combat used to have a tshirt with a skeleton laying in an open coffin holding a fixed blade to his chest best I recall.
Text said “just in case you can take it with you” or something like that. Wore it till it was too thin to wear
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At a minimum I'll have a knife in my pocket!
 
SHF. Was a struggle between that and my seb 31 insingo but what someone said a few posts up is the same reason I would pick SHF; it's big, built like a tank and I would rather have a larger than a smaller knife if I only had one.
 
I would pick my American Service Knife Jefferson. I only really need a Victorinox style knife. The blade is plenty capable, and reliable. The tools are icing on the cake being in a CPM steel and made exceptionally well. I love the action on my Smooth Criminal, but for a real everyday tool, a SAK is unbeatable in being compact and capable. The ASK is just an upgraded version of a SAK that is able to be taken apart and serviced. Just my opinion of course.
 
Chocula said:
I often think that if I could only have one knife
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(I still don't see the point of just one knife, even if a person wants to cut back, they could still keep more than 1 knife.)
Mostly though I'm posting because I wanted to say that I like that Alias. It's a clean design and I like that blade shape. I had one at one time, I don't know why I sold it. I have a Benchmade 913 that is somewhat similar. I've admired the Benchmade 470 and 473 which are also fairly similar.
 
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bdmicarta said:
I don't know how we got to talking about keeping just one knife, did I forget something from the OP?
I think even if a person wants to cut back, they could still keep 2 or 3 or 5 knives.
Mostly though I'm posting because I wanted to say that I like that Alias. It's a clean design and I like that blade shape. I had one at one time, I don't know why I sold it. I have a Benchmade 913 that is somewhat similar. I've admired the Benchmade 470 and 473 which are also fairly similar.
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It's only a thought experiment to laser focus on one's favorite knife. I'll probably keep 10 or more.
 
In addition to being a thought experiment, it is an exercise in appreciating what you have and may help in developing an understanding of your taste. I can look at a knife design and know I won’t like using it because of something like the grind or blade shape, for example (but I might still want it for the collection…)
 
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