Cult of the one knife man

[bt93]

Now and then I'll hear someone talk how life was less complicated back in the good old days. Best I can tell the good old days sucked. No microwave, three tv channels, and when people wanted to play HALO, people actually died. Good thing the XBox changed that.
Anyway,even way back people had a knife for everyday and a hunting or camping knife.
I carried a SAK Tinker Deluxe exclusively for 5 years. Found I hardly used the small pliers and didn't like the philips screwdriver. I recently got an Explorer Plus. It has the philips that folds out on the end so it'll get into recesses better, a magnifying glass and an ink pen. In 5 years I'll decide if I like it and maybe try another out. I don't lose knives as often anymore and this was the first time I bought a new SAK without losing one I had.
Anyway this thread appeared on the main page. If SAK's aren't considered traditional then I'm sure I'll be informed. Otherwise I'm in for the one knife thing as long as my folding hunter which is only used when I go play Outdoors Dude doesn't disqualify me.

 

[arizonaranchman]

Now and then I'll hear someone talk how life was less complicated back in the good old days. Best I can tell the good old days sucked. No microwave, three tv channels, and when people wanted to play HALO, people actually died. Good thing the XBox changed that.
Anyway,even way back people had a knife for everyday and a hunting or camping knife.
I carried a SAK Tinker Deluxe exclusively for 5 years. Found I hardly used the small pliers and didn't like the philips screwdriver. I recently got an Explorer Plus. It has the philips that folds out on the end so it'll get into recesses better, a magnifying glass and an ink pen. In 5 years I'll decide if I like it and maybe try another out. I don't lose knives as often anymore and this was the first time I bought a new SAK without losing one I had.
Anyway this thread appeared on the main page. If SAK's aren't considered traditional then I'm sure I'll be informed. Otherwise I'm in for the one knife thing as long as my folding hunter which is only used when I go play Outdoors Dude doesn't disqualify me.

SAK's are most certainly Traditional knives! :thumbup:

I and many others here love our SAK's. I'm very rarely without my Vic Farmer. It resides in a belt sheath and is a part of my pants basically - always there regardless of what slip-joint is in my pocket.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

With a couple of SAK's which I consider more tools than knives, as I never seem to use the blades on them for regular cutting chores, just the screwdrivers, scissors or fingernail file, I always use another knife to do my cutting and this Case medium stockman I think would handle most any every day chore nicely, sure sharpened up well !

G2

 

[Primble]

I have been carrying the same pocket knife every day for the last 18 years; it's now as comfortable as a broken in pair of shoes. Why would I change that?

n2s

No need to change that, if that is what you like. I have many old knives which were obviously carried by the same person every day. I really appreciate them too.

Times have changed. When I was young, I did carry the same knife every day, but, I had a keen interest in others. There were a few hardware stores around that carried the better brands of knives. Compared to today, not anywhere close to the selection. Not as much spare money for me back then, either.

So what used to be a small store with maybe a couple dozen knives has evolved into many stores, Platinum dealers, Master dealers, etc. that carry over thousands of knives. Add in the internet and a person can find just about any knife imaginable.

To the large majority here, knife collecting, accumulating, etc. is a hobby. There are a very few minimalists. There are a few that think they are a minimalist and then one reads their posts over time and finds that they are not. One needs to be careful about claiming that status. Maybe you have a few knives and a newer thirty thousand dollar Harley Davidson you like to ride on weekends, or, you have a big fine dream home that others can only dream about. So, if you fit that category, you are not truly a minimalist - you just found something else to spend your money on, which is fine with me, btw, but, you are not a minimalist.

I pay as I go for my knives and I enjoy the hobby. I have for many many years. I just placed my available cash on knives instead of something else.

Whatever route one chooses, there should be no shame.

 

[texasbuck110]

SO this thread has spawned a mini bet between a friend and I. We were going to do it for a year, but thats just too long with so many great knives lying around. So....for 6 months I will accept the challenge. I will get pics posted up of before and during. One knife for everything. home cooking BBQ camping the whole bit from today till 6 months. IT will be a GEC either a Missouri Trapper or Workhorse Whittler....should be interesting. pics soon

 

[kamagong]

No need to change that, if that is what you like. I have many old knives which were obviously carried by the same person every day. I really appreciate them too.

Times have changed. When I was young, I did carry the same knife every day, but, I had a keen interest in others. There were a few hardware stores around that carried the better brands of knives. Compared to today, not anywhere close to the selection. Not as much spare money for me back then, either.

So what used to be a small store with maybe a couple dozen knives has evolved into many stores, Platinum dealers, Master dealers, etc. that carry over thousands of knives. Add in the internet and a person can find just about any knife imaginable.

To the large majority here, knife collecting, accumulating, etc. is a hobby. There are a very few minimalists. There are a few that think they are a minimalist and then one reads their posts over time and finds that they are not. One needs to be careful about claiming that status. Maybe you have a few knives and a newer thirty thousand dollar Harley Davidson you like to ride on weekends, or, you have a big fine dream home that others can only dream about. So, if you fit that category, you are not truly a minimalist - you just found something else to spend your money on, which is fine with me, btw, but, you are not a minimalist.

I pay as I go for my knives and I enjoy the hobby. I have for many many years. I just placed my available cash on knives instead of something else.

Whatever route one chooses, there should be no shame.

Yeah, I never understood the desire to do the one knife thing. If you are that guy, good for you. What are you doing around here though? This place is nothing but a fount of temptation.

One knife or a dozen, I'm glad I have the choice.

First world problems...

 

[jc57]

For the first half or so of 2014, I carried just these two, every day.



At the end of that time, I shifted over to a Buck 303 in place of the Case Small Texas Jack for another couple of months, then a Case Medium Stockman for another couple of months.

I now have a fairly small rotation of about 4-5 knives that get paired with the Vic Cadet (or sometimes a Vic Alox Bantam), and I may stick with the same one for a month or two before changing it up.

Sticking to a single knife for a long period helps quell the envy-driven consumerism that leads to having way more knives than you really need. I'm sure the manufacturers and vendors don't want you doing that, of course, but it's not a bad goal.

 

[not2sharp]

...Sticking to a single knife for a long period helps quell the envy-driven consumerism that leads to having way more knives than you really need. ....

In my case, I have more than I would need, even if I were a vampire.

n2s

 

[brianv]

Yeah, I've actually wondered why I stick around here. I've come to realize that I'm not a knife guy like many of you are. I do admire the knives very much and I occasionally buy one but I don't use them. I will pass them to my son or daughter. I've carried my stockman for the longest time but the bullnose is winning me over. It is a good, solid, honest working knife and I really like it. I can't think of anything that I would change on it. I do have multiple bullnose so in the off chance this one breaks or I sharpen it to nothing, I won't live that long, I do have one to replace it.

I do want to get an ebony knife when the right one comes around though.

Yeah, I never understood the desire to do the one knife thing. If you are that guy, good for you. What are you doing around here though? This place is nothing but a fount of temptation.

One knife or a dozen, I'm glad I have the choice.

First world problems...

 

[sitflyer]

I did the one knife thing back when I was working in a distribution warehouse, for about fifteen years I carried the same knife, every day, except for a brief time when it was sent back to Buck for a blade replacement. It wasn't a traditional knife though. It also wasn't planned or even a conscious effort, it was a tool that I needed constantly so it just naturally was always with me.

The closest I have come to something like this again was with my Powderhorn,

Which is my most carried knife. But at times I go through phases where I'll just grab whichever knife catches my fancy that day. But when the powderhorn finds its way back into my pocket, it tends to stay there for a month or longer, until my next phase kicks in. I guess if I was meant to be a one knife guy, it would just be that way, without effort or thought. Good luck to any and all who try this out though!

 

[James Y]

My late dad would carry a knife until it wasn't really usable anymore. Usually the blades would be sharpened down to nubs, play would develop, and the spring action would become weak. Then he would get another, different model of knife. He wasn't a knife guy at all; to him a pocketknife was another working tool. He had no particular admiration of a knife's beauty. The only knives I have of his that are in fair condition are a small carbon steel Camillus 2-blade Jack knife, and an older model, convex-ground Buck 110. Later in life, it became difficult for his hands to open a pocketknife. I'm sure the 110 was easier than the smaller slipjoints. But at his peak, there is no way that one pocketknife would have lasted him a lifetime of use. Maybe a couple or a few years at most.

He would think I'm crazy to have the number of knives I have. But things could be worse. I have lots of knives, but have only been buying infrequently for the last 10 years or so. Not so different from a lot of people's non-essential expenses. Even back when I was at the peak of my knife accumulating, I was still spending far less per year than your average guy probably spends on beer (I don't drink alcohol). Or a lot of people spend on cigs. Or what many people gamble away. Healthy perspective is good.

Sorry if I've gone too far off-topic.

Jim

 

[zharik]

Thank you, everyone. We have very interesting discussion.
I think the one knife man is not the man who does everything with one and only knife. It's a little bit ridiculous.
In my mind the one knife man is the man who has the knife which is already the part of him. And he is an artist in using this knife.
Sure this men uses another knives and tools. Just right tool for the job. Maybe collecting and reserching them. But this is the one.

So, I think there is no any conflict in beeing the one knife man and the knife guy simultaneously.

 

[Grateful]

I think it's a fine and sensible idea, one that i would really like to adopt and stick with. I tried a self imposed 90 day challenge last year and sadly could not stick to it. I think I made it about 60 days. Still tho the idea of trying again sounds good to me, the problem would be which one do I choose.
I will sleep on it then think it over a little. I carried a Case 3318 and a Buck 110 for 10 or 12 years and was happy as could be. Knives really do become familiar friends when carried and used that long. I wouldn't try only one and no others, but maybe a large locking folder and a pocketable slip joint like my old carry combo that served me so well.
Ah maybe, the idea always sounds good to me but sticking with it is tough these days as I really am a knife nut.

Jim

I must have been really tired last night. What was I thinking? I could never stick with one when I have so many that I like.

Jim

 

[supergnat]

For almost 20 years my Victorinox Huntsman was my only knife.

Now I have no interest in always using the same knife.

 

[Old Engineer]

From 1961 until 2003 I carried the same old Ulster almost every day because it was the only decent knife that I had. I used it for everything except cleaning fish.After I retired for good in 2003 , knives just kind of appeared as if by magic. I now like to carry my Northfield 73 in Stag every day plus 1 or 2 others just because I can. Before I got the 73 it was the 77 Barlow every day plus . I also firmly believe in having the right tool for the job , so I have some carving knives and some fixed blades that I use when I need to , but I still carry the current favorite in my pocket. I can see having a Current EDC but never again only 1 knife. I am too old to go back to only one again and because I can carry more than 1.

Harry

 

[Railsplitter]

From 1961 until 2003 I carried the same old Ulster almost every day because it was the only decent knife that I had. I used it for everything except cleaning fish.After I retired for good in 2003 , knives just kind of appeared as if by magic. I now like to carry my Northfield 73 in Stag every day plus 1 or 2 others just because I can. Before I got the 73 it was the 77 Barlow every day plus . I also firmly believe in having the right tool for the job , so I have some carving knives and some fixed blades that I use when I need to , but I still carry the current favorite in my pocket. I can see having a Current EDC but never again only 1 knife. I am too old to go back to only one again and because I can carry more than 1.

Harry

My hat's off to you as well, Harry! That's a very long time to carry the same knife. I would love to see a photo or two of that old Ulster if you still have it and if the mood should strike you.

 

[Old Engineer]

My hat's off to you as well, Harry! That's a very long time to carry the same knife. I would love to see a photo or two of that old Ulster if you still have it and if the mood should strike you.

Thanks Rick : I can not post a picture now , but I was carrying it yesterday and posted some pictures.


Harry

 

[Railsplitter]

Thanks Rick : I can not post a picture now , but I was carrying it yesterday and posted some pictures.


Harry

I just looked it up and I found your photos. Wow!! Just Wow!!

Decades of use and all by the same man. I find this so fascinating. I see a lot of photos of old worn out knives. I even own a couple myself but it's such a pleasure to see one posted by the person who put all that wear on it.

Thank you so much for sharing those photos.

 

[5K Qs]

Like Gary, Paul, Frank, and at least a couple of others, I'm really not interested in a "one knife challenge" at this time because I've been there, done that. Growing up on a dairy farm, I carried and used the same knife daily from 1960 to 1969; it was this Colonial Forest-Master:

I never even considered having another knife until that one was no longer usable. (Actually, my parents gave me some fancy little fake-pearl knife that I just carried to church; I don't think I ever cut anything with it except the wrapper on rolls of Life-Savers.)

In the fall of 1969, I went off to college and had little real need for my scout knife. I didn't carry it, but it was always nearby, in my desk drawer, for the next almost 45 years. Then, in January 2014, my wife showed me a beat up old jackknife she'd gotten from her dad. I had fun cleaning it up, and decided that I'd start carrying a knife again. That decision soon led me to Blade Forums, and, 1.5 years later, I have over 70 knives, all of which I try to carry at least once in awhile. I currently have no interest in carrying a single knife, either for a long period or even for a day. I usually carry an abnormally large amount of knives each day!

For what it's worth, I DO have several knives that I've carried almost every day since I obtained them. They're supplemented by a rotation of the rest of my knives; I usually rotate weekly. My "constant companions" are a Case SS Delrin Peanut (since early last September), a silver Alox Electrician (since early last October), and a chestnut bone CV Sodbuster Jr (since this past January):

But I also agree with Primble's post above: there's no shame in whatever route one takes with respect to pocket knives. (I knew Primble was a fabulous photographer, and am now discovering that he's also a more than competent philosopher, at least when I agree with him!! )

- GT

 

[texasbuck110]

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Day One, Im in....at least or 6 months