Carry multiple knives or a knife with multiple blades? Why?

JasonPaul

JasonPaul

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Nov 28, 2016
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I've always wondered what the rationale is for carrying multiple knives or what uses knives (usually traditionals) with multiple blades serve?

I carry two typically; one single blade knife and one multitool. I have traditionals with two blades but typically only use the one larger blade. Havent found a use for the second blade.

Anyway just curious and I'm hoping to hear uses I havent thought of so I can sound more informed as a knife guy who has way too many knives like many of you on here.
 
Different blades for different purposes, or always having one blade that's razor sharp. Many multi blade traditionals had very specific purposes for those blades. They can be spent blades used on livestock, blades for whittling purposes, and many things in between.
I like having a main blade and small secondary blade on my knife, the main for most things and secondary for times when I want a small blade that affords more control.

As for carrying multiple knives, if I'm carrying a single blade knife I feel is sizeable I'll also carry a small knife for those more detailed tasks or just to use around people.

I've also always got my Leatherman on me and often a Vic classic, yes those are additional blades but their blades are not why I carry them and their rarely used.
 
carsnrockmusic said:
I've always wondered what the rationale is for carrying multiple knives or what uses knives (usually traditionals) with multiple blades serve?

I carry two typically; one single blade knife and one multitool. I have traditionals with two blades but typically only use the one larger blade. Havent found a use for the second blade.

Anyway just curious and I'm hoping to hear uses I havent thought of so I can sound more informed as a knife guy who has way too many knives like many of you on here.
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I vacillate back and forth between carrying one, two or three knives. I started carrying multiple knives after taking the Filipino martial arts of Escrima and Arnis, which are bladed arts. At the time I was taking lessons from three different groups at the same time, 6 to 7 days per week, some days up to 3 hours per day.

Most often I carry a folder in my left and right front pockets, and if I carry a third knife it is in the middle of my back. The knives up front are usually of the same knife design.
 
I rarely use the blade on my LM or Vic's since I often carry a dedicated knife. Exceptions would be my LM Crater and Vic OHT. I also have a LM Squirt on my keyring but use the wirecutters and scissors more on that for cutting than the mini knife blade.

I will say that on occasions I will carry a second main blade. This is usually because I need a more specific style of knife for whatever I'm working on. So, for example, I often carry my ZT 0909, but will also carry a box cutter when I work on the houses (an inexpensive box cutter will easily cut 30+ times in R15 insulation, but my ZT lasts about 3 cuts). Or if I need a knife for food, I prefer not to cut food on ceramic/porcelain plates with my EDC knife if I can help it (plus bacteria, oil, lint, etc. on pocketed items is disgusting). I also don't like using my EDC knife for openning salt bags or cutting roots in dirt. In this sense, my EDC serves as a backup knife or a knife that will do if I don't have a more job-specific knife.

Old traditional slipjoint knives would often have multiple blades, each with a different shape, e.g. sheepsfoot, traditional point, spear point, for different job duties. Each blade shape has it's pros and cons for any particular task.
 
Reasons:
1. Large knife for larger jobs plus a small knife for smaller jobs
2. Knife you like to use but don’t want to lend plus a knife you’re not afraid of losing/breaking
3. Your favorite stab by ninja knife plus a knife that won’t scare the neighbors
4. Cuz you like to
 
I generally have two knives on me. Of late, it has been three. Either a Steel Will Mini Cutjack in M390 or my newish Boker Urban Trapper, my 111mm SAK, and a Case peanut which has two blades. I mostly use the SAK for most cutting, but I find the the Cutjack or Urban Trapper very useful. I also have the Leatherman Ps4 Squirt on my keys which has a small blade that I have never used. The peanut is an add-on about a couple months ago to try out as I have never owned a peanut.

Most traditionals aren't made from high end steel and they dull relatively quickly with use. Having the second very sharp blade available is useful and sometimes comforting. One person as I recall kept one blade on his traditional razor sharp for potential medical emergencies. If you have the second blade and you know it's razor sharp, your more likely to do what needs doing with the other blade on a traditional. I generally don't care for Stockman's with three blades.
 
Everyone has a purpose and I've used all of them many times.
6LWZh4j.jpg
 
I typically carry two: Spyderco Paramilitary and Victorinox Soldier. The Soldier is always a "clean" blade, meaning i can cut food with it without worry. Anything else that needs cutting the Paramilitary handles.

If i carry a multi blade folder, i like either the stockman or canoe pattern and each blade is sharpened differently for different tasks.
 
Multiple single blade knives is what I prefer.
At least one blade, fixed or folder of about four inches for cutting though larger wads of stuff.
Usually one of these
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One blade about three inches for more control when detail cutting; often a Warrencliff blade shape is good here.
IMG_4369.JPG

One about three inches of extra tough steel such as M4 for cutting the challenging abrasive stuff I have to cut most work days. Usually one of these. This can take the place of #2 I suppose though so far I don't have a knife in M4 with the superior handle shape of the one above.
IMG_4693 2.jpg

Then I carry a Mini Champ SAK that has thin, extra narrow tiny blades for cutting small curves. The other blades don't stick up like a larger multi blade so it works for me (has a light and a ball point pen and tiny scissors too). The tiny blue knife in this photo.
IMG_5274.jpg

Usually to this I add my Cold Steel Razelized Ti Lite in CTS-XHP for really tough cutting; think hammering the blade through a hunk of mild steel wire or deburing mild steel and aluminum parts. Shown here with one of my rotation EDCs for lighter cutting and food.
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Then my Grail or rotation of the day usually reserved for light cutting such as plastic bags, food containers and food.
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Of course I'm not all that into knives and like to keep things simple.
If I were really into this knife hobby thing I might carry a couple of more.
Like a Marlin spike sailor's knife for untying tough knots and a super thin knife with super thin geometry for super clean slicing of say . . . rubber tubing.
A dedicated box knife like the one with the tiny blue knife so I don't have to get box tape glue on my other knives.
Oh . . . wait . . . I carry those every day to in my "man purse".
anyway I hear dinner calling and a movie
gottago.
 
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Two top reasons I'm now considering carrying knives for - food prep, loaner. Food prep is something I often do with my single blade carry but it's sometimes dirty to the point I'll just use my hands to break food up for my little ones. An excuse to buy a ceramic blade!
 
I've gone back and forth on this.

The reality is, I don't need more than one knife. I want more than one knife.

So my EDC at work consists of a neck knife and one mini pocket knife.

My EDC on days off consist of a small fixed blade on the waist, a neck knife and a medium pocket knife. Just because I want to.

Really, the neck knife is pointless, never use it. Really the pocket knife is useless, the fixed blade does any and everything I could ever need of it.

I'm not the type to care about using different blades for food and work. I just wipe and go, besides I clean my blades after use each time.
 
Since it seems like no one has directly said it yet; because one is none and two is one! I'm always carrying a SAK, and lately, I made the switch to the Cadet from the Classic. My other knife is a folder ~2.5"-~4" depending on whether I'm at work or it's my day off.
 
Two . One for work , utility beater in plain edge and a second full serrated reserved for emergency , SD , and backup duty .

 
Well if we’re counting multitools than I guess I carry 4. Because I usually carry my Skeletool and a leatherman Squirt on my keyring. And I carry an edc folder and have a Spyderco Ladybug on my keyring also. My Squirt serves as a backup to my Skeletool and my Ladybug is for when sheeple are around or if someone asks to “borrow” my knife to cut something:)
 
No one blade profile/shape is ideal for every purpose.
I carry a 3 blade stockman (clip point, spey/budding, and Sheepsfoot)
a canoe (spear point and pen blades)
a SAK Huntsman, usually for the tools, not the knife blade, although I sometimes leave the canoe at home since the Huntsman has the spear point and pen blades,
and for heavy cutting, a Buck 110 or 112.
If I know I'll be doing a lot of pruning or rope work on any particular day, I'll add a folding hawkbill or Marlin Spike to the day's carry.

Multi blade knives are more versatile, and "people" do not find them as "threatening" as a single blade "tactical" knife.
 
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