One Man, One Knife

L

LeatherMan64

Joined
Jan 15, 2013
Messages
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I've been both shamed and inspired by Carl, and decided to try carrying one knife and one knife only from now until the end of summer. The only non-negotiable would be that it has to be traditional. So, I need recommendations! The patterns I have to choose from are pretty basic: Soddie Jr. , lg trapper, med. stockman, whittler, TL-29, Opinel No. 8, Svord Peasant, 'nut sized jack knife. I realize that this is a pretty limited selection, but it's what I got and I don't have the money to purchase anything else. So which one should it be?

Edited to add: SAK camper
 
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Well what will you be doing this summer? What do you do for a living? How do you spend most of your spare time? A little background would help but just for well roundedness sake I would pick the stockman as its the most versatile knife I have ever used.
 
I'll be doing a fair amount of wood carving this summer, as I'm going to be apprenticing with a violin maker, but there are job-specific tools for that, so the work will be limited to yard work and general day-to-day stuff like food, packaging, mail, etc.
 
Not knowing what you will be doing with it makes it a challenge to make a recommendation but I will say that, in my opinion, the stockman would be the most versatile of the options given. Good luck on your search.


Have a great day,
Jeff
 
+4
yet another for med. stockman

btw im trying to last until September (makes a full year for the 6207 jack)
 
My choice would be a SAK farmer or boyscout. I find those some of the most useful for almost every task.
 
What's your price limit? If ~50, I'd go with a Case 63032 medium stockman in chestnut bone and CV or a 3318CV (yellow delrin). Maybe a USA made Schrade 34OT; can't go wrong there. If you're OK up to $100, Great Eastern makes some great choices. Buckaroo/Calf Roper medium stockman, the new Eureka Jack, the Conductor whittler, the Maverick. For somewhere inbetween $50 and $100, a Queen stockman or whittler in amber carved bone stag makes for a a beautiful EDC as well. And of course, don't overlook the Case Sway Back Jack in chestnut and CV. Or a wharncliffe mini trapper.

Obviously, my suggestions are biased towards a combination of multiple blades and pocketability. which is my preference. If you want to carry only one knife, then I suggest carrying one that's versatile. If you've never carried a knife like a stockman or whittler before, you'll be amazed at how useful the small pen/spay and sheepsfoot/coping blades can be. Especially if all you're used to carry is a large, thick, modern folder.
 
LeatherMan64 said:
I'll be doing a fair amount of wood carving this summer, as I'm going to be apprenticing with a violin maker, but there are job-specific tools for that, so the work will be limited to yard work and general day-to-day stuff like food, packaging, mail, etc.
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If you're going to be cutting wood, go with the Opinel. Those things love slicing wood. Or anything else for that matter.
 
Ridiculous! You have different knives for a reason! Carry what you think you're gonna need that day.
 
LeatherMan64 said:
I'll be doing a fair amount of wood carving this summer, as I'm going to be apprenticing with a violin maker, but there are job-specific tools for that, so the work will be limited to yard work and general day-to-day stuff like food, packaging, mail, etc.
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I still say the stockman! If anything after a summer of use you will learn a lot about blade selection and that earned knowledge will help you be a smarter more edgeumakated knife knut ;) :D

Good luck with whatever you choose and make sure to report back often with updated pics of the knife.
 
God knows I need some edgemukatin. Looks like I'm going with the Stockman! Here's an afore pic. it's had about 3 or 4 months of on again, off again use, and it's got the beginnings of a patina. Will check in again in a month or so. question for the guys that know CASE: should I expect the blades to thin noticeably with sharpening? On average, it gets stropped once every couple days, and may hit the fine stone once a week. Thanks
dscn0981o.jpg
 
LeatherMan64 said:
God knows I need some edgemukatin. Looks like I'm going with the Stockman! Here's an afore pic. it's had about 3 or 4 months of on again, off again use, and it's got the beginnings of a patina. Will check in again in a month or so. question for the guys that know CASE: should I expect the blades to thin noticeably with sharpening? On average, it gets stropped once every couple days, and may hit the fine stone once a week. Thanks
dscn0981o.jpg
Click to expand...

Good choice. When I made my suggestions, I didn't realize you were picking from knives you already owned. The 63032 is a great pattern. I prefer the older 6332 myself (same blades, but with halfstops). I've carried a 1974 6332 for a good amount of time. As long as you're not reprofiling it weekly on stone or diamonds, but stropping or using ceramic for touch-ups, it'll wear very slowly despite being a softer steel. The great think with multi-blade knives is that you can also use multiple edges. Give your sheepsfoot a coarser edge for cutting cardboard and packaging, the pen blade a finer edge for detail work and emergency tracheotomies, and a typical edge for the clip.
 
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