Let's talk about knives..

[Ric O'Shay]

Hello, my real name is Danny and I'm a knife-a-holic.

If you are taking the time to read this post, you probably are too. Go ahead admit it. You are among friends here.

I like pocket knives (3 blade Stockmans), lock backs and fixed blades. I have a propensity for nice antler handles but depending on the purpose, am not opposed to any of the man-made materials.

I have knives that remain in the safe because to me, they are just too pretty to take to the field. This always creates a dilemma during hunting season. Which blade to carry? I usually have a fixed blade on my belt, a lock back folder on the belt of my backpack, a skinner in the pack and a folder in my left front pocket. Oh, did I mention the neck knife? And then there is the Leatherman....does it ever end?

Rule #9: Always carry a knife. - Leroy Jethro Gibbs

So, lets hear it. How bad is it and is there any hope for this malady?

Danny

[Lamey]

my obsession turned into a full time job of 15+ years  

[ChuckC]

I always refused to believe that I have a thing for knives and guns (and bows, and).  Then I look in my guy space.

But I don't have ANY polka dotted underwear. .  no sir, not a single pair.
ChuckC

[Soilarch]

Not a collector.  Can't explain why.  But I had a go at trying to be a professional full-time sharpener for awhile. (Mostly salon shears, clipper blades, and planer knives.) Always liked sharpening but really got into it when I took up restoring/using straight razors.  

Don't have very many, but I've very particular about what I do have/get.  Carbon has it's place, and I like certain stainless for certain things/uses.  I think knives are like a lot of other things out there: A lot of lore and hearsay, most of which is smoke.

Don't care the CroMoly steels a lot of production knives are using. Don't care for Buck's 420 (Heresy, I know) even though they take an otherwise worthless knife steel and make an "ok" one out of it.

Current "go-to" hunting knife is the Spyderco Featherweight "Moran" upswept kept on my knife. (VG10 steel)  I've tried neck-knives as daily carrr...don't care for it..maybe just haven't tried the right one.

SOG makes a nice daily carry using AUS8, I love that knife, it's the smaller TWITCH model. I love what SOG does with the steel, though others report not carrying much for it from other makers. Behaves just like carbon for me...minus the corrosion.

[Danny Rowan]

Custom Knives are almost as bad as custom bows, you can not have too many. I probably have 20 customs from some well known makers on here, Doug Campbell(8), Kevin Evans (1), Lamey (1), Karl Anderson(6), couple of  John Sevi knives, one from an Aussie maker, tippit (1) plus a few more including a western that belonged to my father.

[Hopewell Tom]

Well, you can't have too many knives. You can have too many to use at any one time, but that's about creating a choice for yourself. And choices are good.
I have one neck knife, several folders, pocket and belt type, but my preference is fixed blades and I'm a stag handle man, but not to exclusion of any good blade.
But, I'm not admitting to anything...

[WarDancer]

favorite carry right now is a Solingen eye brand yellow handle lock blade great size, good steel and fits the hand very well. Enjoyed shooting with you at Ft Worth. Bill

[mjh]

I usually pick a dedicated sheath knife for the hunting season, and carry that one through the end of the year....of course this does not include the cleaver and caper in the hunting bag, or the multitool, or the SAK, or other folder I might have on me at any one time...I do have a couple of lookers but most of mine get some use, I keep telling myself I've kinda stopped looking for that next knife...but I do have 2 or 3 on my list that I'd like to buy.....mostly custom makers...one has a two year waiting  list....kinda like some bowmakers...I've yet to get on the knife list though.....lots of good bladesmiths out there!

[Swinestalker]

The knife is the single most important tool mankind has ever produced in my opinion. A finely made knife is work of art to my eyes and inspires in me an ancient, istinctual fascination.

[toddster]

I always carry a knife, from going out to dinner to work, to woods.  Not really a collector, I purchase for more of function, and The Esee knives I have gotten last few years our my favorite I have ever used.

[Sean B]

Hey Danny, funny thing, I was just thinking of a thread like this!  I love the classic hunting knives, the Bucks, Western (my Bear Bowhunters Kit is my pride & joy), Schrade and Case.  I have them all.  I may be in the market for a custom soon!

[Marc B.]

Rule #9 is a smart one!

I am addicted to pocket knives in particular Case Trappers. I have a drawer full and will add more when the whim hits me. I tend to rotate through the ones I carry so they all get a turn.

On my belt when I hunt is normally a Buck 105 or 110, I have a few of those too.

[awbowman]

Feel naked without two!  I'll carry SS, but a good carbon steel is something special

[Ric O'Shay]

Marc B. - The Case Trapper is one of the "special" folders. They are hard to beat.

I have holes in my front pants pockets because of the knife I always carry. Can't get my bride to patch them up so now I'm carrying a CRKT Crawford Kasper (liner lock) with a clip so it hangs on/in my pocket and I don't worry about the hole.        

Bill - enjoyed the Ft. Worth Shoot also.

[awbowman]

I have beautiful knives and working knives, in all but one case, I prefer the working variety

[Ron LaClair]

Every day carry is a Swiss Army knife in my left front pocket, the model with the scissors, and a Case trapper in my right front pocket. When I'm hunting I also have my hand forged Skinner on my belt

   

[rbcorbitt]

Love knives (and hawks) as much if not more than trad bows!

Those of you who know me know how many trad bows I have, so what does that say about knives?                Have 2 more production knives on order currently, and commissions on two customs in the works as we speak.

May catch me without a bow, or, lord forbid, a handgun - but it's been gonna be a cold day somewhere really HOT before you don't catch me with at least two sharp knives with me.

I use the Sir Edmond Hilary philosophy when my wife asks why I have so many knives - "Because I can!"        !!

[Angus]

I've got a small folder I carry with me everywhere, but for hunting, I'll carry two; the Havalon Piranta, and a traditional metsa (forest) knife from Finland.  Both are high carbon, not stainless.  

I've got a bunch of other knives laying about, but the metsa is my go-to knife for forest work; I love it!

[DamselflyFarm]

I've had a pocket knife in my pocket continually since I got my first one in Cub Scouts in the late 60's. The current resident is an Old Timer I bought in the 1980's to replace the one I lost that Dad gave me.

[Paul/KS]

I was following Rule #9 long ago...
I always carry my beat up Swiss Army knife, with corkscrew     , and also a lock back. When hunting just add one of my assortment of fixed blades and we are good to go.