One Knife to Rule them all.

River Wraith said:

This has gotten ridiculous. I'm wanting a folding knife with a lock blade that doesn't have anything that can break like switch. That's the first thing, then a fixed blade, and a tomahawk...and that's just to start. I guess I'll start with the folder, but I can see how this could get expensive. How is United Cutlery as far as quality goes?

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This Ontario Land/Sea/Air knife has been a real trooper for a long time.
But, I do have a tomahawk too.
For a smaller folding blade, I just carry a Gerber multi-tool in the pouch on the knife sheath.

JShirley said:

There should be no problem with quality liner-locks, but on an inexpensive knife especially, or in an emergency, a back-lock is stronger.

I've seen liner-locks on $11 knives.

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To be fair, I've seen spine locks on $10 knives.

For a folder, if I could have only one, it'd be a toss up between my Shrade (Buck 110 clone) which has been my EDC for awhile, and my Benchmade Barrage.

Fixed blade, probably my current project. I just roughed out a copy of the VRKT Folt's minimalist Bowie. I think I'm going to really like this little blade when I get done working on it.

MINERAL MOUTAIN HATCHET WORKS OR BUSSE
so maybe 2 knives to rule them all.

Or maybe 2 knife makers to rule
there are others but not rulers.

Wolf,
That looks like an ATAC hawk. I have a couple. One lives in my truck.

Jim

JimStC said:

Wolf,
That looks like an ATAC hawk. I have a couple. One lives in my truck.

Jim

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It's a LaGana VTAC. It's been really good. I use it around here all the time. Tough as nails.

USAF Vet, my intended point was that it's easier to screw up a liner lock on a cheap knife than a back/spine lock.

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The liner lock on a cheap knife is often soft metal that wears quickly and becomes non functional. I have a couple that wore out in less than 6 months. OTOH, I have a Chinese made lock back I bought 10 years ago for 99cents. Still tight and secure (it even holds an edge).

(Yeah, I buy cheap knives sometimes just because I like the way they look...and they're cheap.)

^^^^exactly why I don't buy cheap knives

^^^Oh well. If I buy 10 99¢ knives and only one of them turns out to be any good, I have a good $10 knife that I can carry, use, and not be overly concerned if it is damaged or lost. OTOH, if I bought a $100 knife, I would be tempted leave it at home most of the time because it is too valuable to risk.

JRH,
And you have 9 knives that could have hurt you.

A knife "that is too valuable too risk"????? I don't get that concept at all. Just don't buy what you can't afford to lose. Or be prepared to lose a darn good knife. What is the point of tiptoeing through life to safely arrive at death? Get my point?
Owning an exceptional knife is a very good experience. Owning a bunch of cheap knives in hopes of getting a serviceable one is not at least to me.
Sorry Mods for the thread drift, although this thread has already drifted off the map.

Jim

Yes, Jim, I get your point. And I do own some very good knives. My EDC for years was a Buck 110. Now it is a Cold Steel Voyager or a Gerber LST. My favorite all time sheath knife is a Puma White Hunter that is over 40 years old and is irreplaceable (current ones don't match the quality IMHO and still list for over $300.) That one is, to me, too valuable to risk losing or damaging (the blades on those original ones were known to be somewhat brittle) so it doesn't get carried anymore.

Making a knife isn't rocket science but it does require consistent attention to detail. What makes good brands great is quality control. Cheap mass produced knives may have good materials but no QC in their assembly. So I do my own QC.

Any knife can hurt you if you aren't careful. The cheap ones that can hurt me get culled pretty quickly. The 9 out of 10 that break often do so because I am trying to break them and then I have a pretty good idea how much abuse the one that doesn't break can take. And then I have a knife I can keep in the truck or the toolbox and use without concern within the limits I am comfortable with.

Not everyone wants or has the time to do their own QC. It works for me.

hso, did you read my last post? I have good reliable knives. All the knives I use are reliable or I would not use them. Some I pay for QC, others I do the QC myself. Either way, I get a good reliable knife.

But there are some knives that simply cost more and thus have more value than I would ever get out of them in utility. Especially if I can get equivalent utility at a lower price. And I can.

But there are some knives that simply cost more and thus have more value than I would ever get out of them in utility. Especially if I can get equivalent utility at a lower price. And I can.

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I can understand this and it is not an uncommon belief. I feel sort of the same way, sort of... This is slowly changing for me. It's a difficult hurtle to make when you like knives simply because you like knives.

If you can get the same utility out of a lower priced knife, why would you even bother buying the more expensive one to begin with? Answer > "You like knives and can afford it."

This whole discussion goes to why you choose certain knives and why you choose to use certain knives over others. For me, certainly cost or the value I associate with a knife is one of the factors. But is this really rational? What on earth are you going to do with a blade if you don't use it and what is to become of that blade as you grow older? Think about it. Does anyone actually care except you?

Slowly I am getting to the use it or don't buy it philosophy.

would you buy 10 cheap guns hoping to get 1 good one? just like a gun, a knife is a tool and im a firm believer of buying good stuff one time and being done with it. I like to know my tools wont fail me when I need them RIGHT NOW!

rimfire,
Very well said. It was the point I was trying to make, just not as clearly.....

Jim

I really like knives and I appreciate a good knife with good steel. The funny thing is that I carry a $20-$25 SAK every single day. When others are brought in, the SAK is still in my pocket. I can't 'plain it.

the SAK, one of mans greatest creations. I carry an allox farmer everyday and wouldn't leave the house without it

For many, a SAK may in fact be the "One knife to rule them all" unless you are focused on a knife for self defense which is something I consider only as a fantasy when in most states you can carry a gun. A SAK is certainly not the best made knife in the world made out of the best materials.

SAK. Yeah, I've had 3 of them. Still have one.

Lee D, no, I wouldn't buy 10 cheap guns, but I have built my own rather then pay someone else to do it. Same with knives. I've built my own, so I feel comfortable doing my own QC control on the work of others. Since I retired, I find I have a lot more time to do things for myself. YMMV.

Thanks John. Something to live by for me.

Jim

One Knife to rule them all?

Probably this one!



I think Sauron picks his teeth with it.

Not exactly an "EDC" though.

VERY cool^^^^....care to share some details?

JimStC said:

What is the point of tiptoeing through life to safely arrive at death?

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OTOH, Why rush it? (which some here apparently think I'm might be doing by buying cheap knives.)