Original Post:
I'm looking for suggestions on a affordable fixed blade knife for EDC.
I do not mean any disrespect to anyone. I do have some thoughts I must share.
I am in my early 50s, and I grew up and around Veterans from previous Wars, and Polio Victims.
Some of the Vets had amputations, and some Polio Victims were physically limited in tool use, such as knife, fork and spoon to eat with.
These folks just wanted a knife they could carry, that they could safely open and close for everyday use.
Like cutting string, an apple, or slice of cheese and sharing with the dawg.
Hence the reason the One Arm Jacknife was used, as was Old Hickory, Case, Dexter, and Chicago Cutlery paring /steak knives carried in homemade sheaths.
These folks have a right to feel useful, independent, whole, and part of society and not dependent , "handicapped" (I hate that word) and a "burden to society".
Not on my watch anyway. A tomato from the garden might be best cut, so might a cantelope, or watermelon.
These folks I respectfully refer to as Mentors & Elders include men and women with physical limits, as I shared above.
Vietnam started, and some of "my kind" went to 'Nam. Some did not come back, and some that did, did not come back whole. The Older Vets, shared with the young 'Nam Vets, and I was bigger and assisting too.
Again, the simple fixed kitchen knifes in sheaths, and by now Buck 110, and similar offerings by Case and Shrade were used. The "pop" as we called the ability to open one of these lockbacks one handed, and close it safely, as the lock was near the back.
One rule of knife safety was, do not put body parts near blade. These lockbacks by design are safer than than those where one has to get body parts near the blade to close it.
This is where a non-locking knife has advantages, such as a Case Sodbuster.
This design is easy to open and close, and not having a lock, means not having to disengage one.
WE all grew up with knife safety with a pocketknife, and fixed kitchen knife.
The old -
learn correct basic fundamentals , as was the way it was done.
I would have one of these physically limited Mentors would assist me as kid getting something opened. I was being mentored knife safety and use by these folks, and some as I shared, were amputees.
John mentioned distance tools.
Well there were crutches, and canes used, and these folks had a distance tool.
Even the Polio victim with a leg brace(s) and using two arm canes, had a distance tool.
Sure, folks carried a gun, and we did not have licenses and permits back then.
Cops, Judges simply said "carry a gun" and if some could not afford one, one was obtained for them, with ammo and lessons.
Again,
how raised and what you do.
Now I was taught offensive shooting and knife use. We did not have political correctness back then, and I was born into a hi-risk life if you will.
If one learns offensive, then one learns how to defend , was the reasoning.
I am just a wittle kid, and the concern was real about me being nabbed and used to force others to do things. I am not as tall as an adults waist, so my lessons were what I could do at my size.
Distance tools were taught, heck it might be the kids lever action cowboy rifle that shot caps, or the one that shot corks.
A broom or mop cut down my size so I could do chores, or my wittle cane or walking stick, to be like big people.
Distance tools and gun were taught.
Yes, knives were part of everyday tools, heck one was not dressed without a knife, male or female.
As a kid, we carried knives to school, and be it at school, or anywhere , if an adult asked to see our knife , we handed it over correctly and it had better be sharp, and the pivots oiled.
Now my lessons were different than some kids, due to what all I was raised into.
Carl is familiar with some folks that carried Colt Woodsman's and small pocketknives like Case Peanuts, and Hen & Rooster.
Do not tell Carl or myself that these tools are not both offensive and defensive tools, as we had Mentors that had been there and done that.
Does anyone still do "newspaper knives"? Heck does anyone know what I am speaking of, besides Carl?
There was a reason Mentors shared lessons with those small , free, "adversisting" knives.
These lessons transition to SAK Vic Classic, and Wenger Esquire.
Not everyone is between the ages of 21 and 30, male, fit, in good physical shape.
Set aside having Military and/or LEO experience.
I don't do knife fights, that said, I have stopped a threat with a "advertising knife", Hen & Rooster small penknife, Case Peanut, and Case Slimline Trapper for instance.
I also have used a carton cutter, that uses a single edge razor blade, and screwdriver.
I had to do this as a kid, as I was in fear for me, or that of a Mentor, one physically limited.
I tried distance tools, and while I did in fact carry a gun concealed as a kid, and I have used it to stop a threat, other means, such as distance tools worked.
Yes I did use that Beretta Minx, and I was given to me to carry concealed in the 3rd grade.
Yes it will stop a threat.
If I am going to be offensive with a tool, I have some lessons with a screwdriver and I will be on and off you before you know it, and the screwdriver will be tossed away.
Lessons from Military, LEO and some ex cons shared with me.
I have come dangerously close to using that skillset, in a defensive manner to keep a partner safe.
Situations changed, still the bad guy never knew I was that close, never saw me, but I owned them.
I also know what a older male or female can do to defend themselves, both those whole and those with limits, be these limits temporary or permanent.
Not everyone is between the ages of 21 and 30, male, fit, in good physical shape.
In the blink of an eye, this could change, and if nothing else, keep living and the body will not do as it once did.
The only constant is change.
Improvise, Adapt, Overcome are three words that some find out the hard way, they need to do, after they Accept, where they are in a time of life.
Hence the lessons back then focused on what we often used the adage today: Software, not Hardware.
Times have changed.
There was a time I did not need a permit or license to carry a gun, or any weapon.
I used to go see Judges for instance with concealed firearms on person.
Heck, I have walked in with a cased rifle or shotgun to take to Judge, Baliff, or just one of the ladies that worked in a courthouse.
I cannot even have SAK Classic in a Courthouse today, not even nail clippers!
EDC has changed too, hence the reason I searched and found resources for UK knife laws some years ago.
The same things did happen here, as in the UK.
Some campuses now restrict fixed blades, locking knives, and the non locking [pocket knife/slipjoint] must not be over 3" total length closed for some places.
I cannot carry a Case Slimline Trapper, or even a SAK Pocket Pal, as the closed length of these are over 3".
Some places restrict, still allow a blade less than 2.5" to be on campus/property. This allows a Case Peanut or SAK Executive.
If the restriction says less than 3" for a pocket knife, the Pocket Pal and SAK Vic Spartan for instance is legal.
Small Tinker works too.
Now I was given a Spartan/Classic combo pack by some folks I assisted with during tornadoes, less than $20.
Now I shared with a fella in late 60's , and he has a cattle cane, and carries a Spartan now, the same combo I have.
He also carries a Revolver.
Cane is distance tool.
In most of his NPEs this tool and Spartan is legal.
Now I do not drink, this gentleman sometimes does, still his eyes lit up when I shared something I learned from my kind that went to Vietnam.
There were NO Weapon areas, for soldiers and others such as nurses, doctors and all.
Most often it was a "Sarge" that kept folks safe and alive, and Sarge would suggest the folks get a SAK , such as Tinker or Spartan.
Now, I personally prefer the Soldier, by Vic and I learned some lessons with it...
However most folks associate "Swiss Army Knife" as being the Spartan, since it is Red, and has various tools and the corkscrew.
The Spartan for most hands allow one hand opening of the corkscrew , even in a pocket a bit better than the Phillips on the Tinker.
During 'Nam folks were told to not go where trouble was, leave if it showed and deal with it if need.
Stop and get a Spartan before heading out if you did not already have one.
Distance tools such as tables turned over, chairs, stools, pool cues,...and if need, that SAK in hand with corkscrew. This was 1968.
"Sarge" was not the only one that shared with folks how to stay safe with EDC.
Some were the Older Veterans, that knew about those Red Swiss Knives, and these Vets also shared what other Older folks had known about EDC pocket knives.
Hemingway Knife was one term, referring to Ernest Hemingway and one of his most used EDCs.
His pocketknife had a corkscrew.
Many knives did back then, just some parts of the country called these "Hemingway knives" when it was shared what he carried.
SAK makes a "Waiter" which is a Bantam, with a corkscrew, to give one an idea of the pattern of knife.
My point is, while the only constant is change, the fact is, some things are not new, instead just re-discovered.
Not everyone is between the ages of 21 and 30, male, fit, in good physical shape.
Let us set aside having Military and/or LEO experience.
In the blink of an eye, life can change.
We have always had "restrictions" and some have more serious consequences than others.
Being expelled from College, differs from being fired from a job, which differs from being discovered in a Courthouse, or Secure area of an Airport.
We have an aging Society, and it will continue to be this way. Our older persons are our best natural resource, and one would be wise to spend time with them, and learn from them.
Oh one might think they are assisting them, trust me, I have come away learning more from them, than they received from me.
Distance is your friend, and everyone is different on what is "safe distance".
WE knew this, and had lessons and set up with this, long before Tueller incident and there was a drill named Tueller.
Twenty-one feet and one point five seconds...we never bought into that when we heard it. We were raised and mentored, there are no absolutes.
Life does not adhere to such "rules" so we were never to be "programmed" shooters, or anything.
We rarely used buzzers, as Real Life does not have "shooter ready?" and "beep".
Never has for me anyway when matters got serious and fast.
So the fixed blade is something I believe in. I do not own a locking knife, as I was raised on pocket knives /slip joints and fixed.
Fixed, are not legal in many areas today, which is sad, as we do have those besides our Aging Society with arthritis, that could really benefit from a fixed blade.
WE have not only folks returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with injuries, as we have always had with wars; we have younger folks that have been in car wrecks and other tragic events.
Legal some more...
Even the Grocer in a Mom & Pop Grocery store, that keeps that Old Hickory paring knife in the slot of his apron, or the Produce person, which keeps a produce knife in the slot of his apron, could technically be in violation if out of the store.
How stupid.
Hence the suggestion I have of DL Knives Small Skinner, or A.G. Russel's Woodswalker.
These are more traditional, and practical, for both younger and our Aging society.
If the law says you can have fixed.
One one's property, having a fixed may be fine, so these two knives for instance "blend in" just as using a Old Hickory , or Victorinox paring knife does.
If trouble should come to you, and you cannot carry a gun where you live, and you have used distance tools such as cane, garden hoe, or rake and ...you are in fear of ...
These are more court and jury friendly too.
Though I was once between the ages of 21 and 30, I did not fit in with my peer group in a lot of things,
I have always been a rebel of sorts.
One non conformist thing was hanging with a lot a folks older than myself.
There is a wealth of knowledge to be learned from one of the best natural resources - our Aging Society.
I ain't old, just started really young is all...*wink*
