How much do we really need?

[LatinoHeat]

cgk's small fixed blade topic got me to thinking, how much blade do we really need?  The question is not how much we like, but how much do we really need?  I have discussed this before in other threads, in other forums.  We all plan for the end of the world.  We carry what we do with the thought that tomorrow, should TSHTF, we would be ready.  Well, I don't really live in that world.  I think about it, but i live in a quiet, suburban world full of twine, rope, envelopes, and other small chores that need to be taken care of way more often then killing a werewolf zombie.  My EDC for a long time has been my trusty Vic Classic.  Someone on another forum inspired me to try a little experiment.  No matter what else I carry, try to use my Classic first, and see how often I will need the help of my other knife.  I have to tell you, I have yet to come across a situation where I had to go to another knife.  Again, I am not out in the woods trying to chop down a redwood tree, or in the ocean tryint to skin a blue whale.  In my day to day life, the Classic has handled just about every cutting chore I have come across, including food stuffs.  Today, for example, we were at a community party and my wife asked me to cut up a hotdog for her.  Out comes the Classic, and before you know it the hotdog was in a bunch of smaller pieces.  I have used it to cut pizza.  Heck, I even used it to cut a steak a few nights ago.  Is it easy?  It's not too bad once you get the hang of using it.  i mean, it is such a tiny little knife, you know?  And when we talk about small knives, I think mre then anything it is the handle that needs to be bigger.  A human body is cut open by like an inch of steel during an operation.  I have always wanted to master things.  Like a Samurai of old, I want to learn and master my weapon before moving on to another one.  I figure if I can master the use of my itty bitty classic, figure out how to hold it, and manipulate it, I can then mnove on to something bigger.  Besides, it's small size will force me to just take my time and look at the task at hand and figure the most efficient way to handle it.  I know we all love our knives and carry what we damn well please.  That's one of the cool things about knives.  Different strokes for different folks.  However, how big do you truly feel you need to get by day to day?  If TSHTF right now, what is the smallest knife you think you could survive with?

[Sean]

interesting thread.

I have about 60 knives in my arsenal right about now.  Using the word "arsenal" though I should clarify that if it weren't for the preparation of food I wouldn't likely carry around much of anything either tool or knife.  I do enjoy the look of a good tactical knife but it's furthest from my mind that it would ever get used in a defensive situation.
I do have a variety of blade shapes and sizes.  I find that 3-4 inches of a flat ground blade serves me very well.  A blade close to 4 inches in length, thats lite in weight, perhaps made from zytel scales does a great job on chicken, a loaf of bread, and even a pineapple!  Sure you can get by with a smaller and slimmer knife but being a lover not a fighter I never want to be left undergunned!  

[Magic Bus]

Good question  I can get by with the blade on my U1 for just about anything I need to do day to day, and that's under three inches, although the handle is a little too small to be perfect for my hand. Come to that the Farmer or Huntsman etc is better in that respect. My day to day chores aren't that exciting, just opening boxes, cutting string, pencil sharpening and dealing with food sometimes.

[Freudian Frog]

Frankly I can get away with a well sharpened stick...

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

In a fixed blade about 4'' minimum. But in a folder 3'' is more than enough, and any more than that usually get's in the way

[Benner]

I could probably cope with a 2" blade, but I don't because A, I have plenty of other larger knives, B, I have no issue carrying a larger knife and C, quite a few tasks are easier with a larger knife.  So for that reason my preferred blade size it 3-3.75"

[Neil]

Most of the time the blade of a 74mm Vic. does me just fine. I can't be doing with dropping down to the size of a Classic though.  Its not for lack of trying but I just find it too small to safely use, I funble them and after the second blood loss incident I decided enough was enough.

[David Bowen]

I like anything from 3-4 inches and tactical, do I need it? Course I don't, I have gotten by for a week with just a vic solider in my pocket, heck I had a atwood in my pocket and didn't use it one single time. So I agree with you LH, we all really don't need a bigger knife but we sure like doing it.

[Benner]

I like anything from 3-4 inches and tactical, do I need it? Course I don't, I have gotten by for a week with just a vic solider in my pocket, heck I had a atwood in my pocket and didn't use it one single time. So I agree with you LH, we all really don't need a bigger knife but we sure like doing it.

That's what I think.  All these "experiments" and tests are nice, but unless you have an issue regarding carrying something say 3"+ I don't see the issue.

[Mr. Whippy]

On the farm, I gotta have a blade as long as the Wenger 85 mm main blade, a pliers, drivers and a saw.  I can get by without a file (knowing that there's one back in the workshop) or bottle openers.  Never need the can opener.  I use them for fun, but really, never NEED it.

At work, day to day, I just need a blade of any type and scissors.  But when something needs "adjustment", I'm the only source of tools in the lab 

Therefore, I always like to have pliers, drivers, file and saw with me.

[Splat]

I've used 2" to 4.5" folders and found that I like blades around 3"-3.5". Fixed blades I like 3.5"-4" for outdoors use.

[ringzero]

 That's one of the cool things about knives.  Different strokes for different folks.  However, how big do you truly feel you need to get by day to day?  If TSHTF right now, what is the smallest knife you think you could survive with?

For 20+ years my EDC consisted of nothing more than a Vic Tinker and I got along pretty damned well.

Before getting the first Vic Tinker, for years my EDC was a Case Camper or Camillus Scout.  Ultra-cheap, but made in America, Kamp Kings were carried on rare occasions.

In a SHTF situation I'd much rather have one of those Scout pattern knives in my pocket that some expensive tactical folder!

.

[Sea Monster]

Oh, is it time for this thread again?

Ohkay, time to measure once more!

I get away just fine with a 84mm SAK (Waiter), about 51mm-2" of blade for most duties.
I can and do use my Classic (~32mm- 1 1/4") where applicable, but (perhaps unnecessarily) avoid using it for heavier tasks.

After carrying an 84mm, I moved onto a Spartan (~57mm-2 1/4" blade), whilst I noted the larger size, I don't think I was any more capable with it.

Same applies for the Soldier (~61mm, bloody hell I don't know, 2 3/8"?), though I appreciated the additional heft of it.

& Lately I've been carrying a 111mm (76mm/3") which is noticeably more than I need for more tasks, but I enjoy it mostly when it comes to food.

My Primary Folder & Fixed blade are 63mm-2 1/2" & 89mm-3 1/2" respectively,


In Conclusion, my esteemed colleagues of the senate, somewhere between two and three inches (50-75mm) would seem to be supremely adequate for "EDC"

Which is convenient, because I believe a number of laws limit folk from places to that sort of size (Fixed, Locking, and Assisted opening blades being another argument all together)

[LatinoHeat]

I like anything from 3-4 inches and tactical, do I need it? Course I don't, I have gotten by for a week with just a vic solider in my pocket, heck I had a atwood in my pocket and didn't use it one single time. So I agree with you LH, we all really don't need a bigger knife but we sure like doing it.

That's what I think.  All these "experiments" and tests are nice, but unless you have an issue regarding carrying something say 3"+ I don't see the issue.

You don't see the issue?  Well, LET ME ENLIGHTEN YOU!! 
lol.

I often think about a SHTF situation.  Whether it's me in my car driving somewhere, hanging out at home, or walking to the store.  If I were to get in a situation where survival was necessary, would I be prepared?  Just to give you an example of how my mind thinks.  I am at work.  The weather turns ugly, and we get a tornado come through.  It happens here in Florida, and whole communities are destroyed.  Not to the degree of an Oklahoma twister, but damage is damage.  I end up under the rubble and debris and need to get out.  The only thing I have on me is my Vic Classic, as it is the only thing I can bring to work that is sheeple friendly.
What do I do?
Can I use it?
Do I know HOW to use it, or how to use it effectively?
If I had a Machete or a sodbuster, I'd be out, no problem.  However, since these are not the tools I carry on a day to day basis, I try to train my mind with what I DO have.  I learned this from a former special ops friend of the family.  He once told me it is easy to prepare for an upcoming disaster.  Car trouble.  Weather like Hurricanes which give ample warning.  Going into battle.  These things allow you to prepare.  What about the things that can happen to you without your advanced knowledge?  Can you survive with simply what is on your back?  Can you make a knife out of your credit card?  Can you survive in the woods with nothing but the clothes on your back, shoes on your feet, and no lighter?  THOSE are the things to prep for.  OF COURSE you can if you have a machete, or Bowie, or Swisstool.  What about when you don't?  These are the reasons for my "experiments".  It's training for myself.  I carry my Wave quite often, but then there is little I can't handle with one.  I carry a larger knife like a Sodbuster, but put me out in the woods with one and I'll come out the other side.  Not much I can't do with one.  I KNOW I can survive a SHTF situation with those.
But can I WITHOUT those. 
I've gone to weddings with nothing but a Case Peanut.  I've gone to government buildings and couldn't have ANYTHING on me.  What if something happened then?  Sometimes, you just don't have the right tools for the job on you.  That's when it truly matters.
Experiments = training for me.

[Sea Monster]

I've gone to weddings with nothing but a Case Peanut.  I've gone to government buildings and couldn't have ANYTHING on me.

My Ninja Senses just played out a scene where I commando roll* past the bride & grab the wedding cake knife, ready to fight terrorists and bears.


I don't really believe in "SHTF Situations", my knives, lighters, and multitools are convenient, and hopefully impress girls, but if for whatever reason there was an emergency, I'll be relying more on my tax dollars** and $1.20 a week "Ambulance Cover" to save me than the contents of my pockets.

I'm just that sorta guy.


*I'm not even sure if a commando roll is a real thing that people do.


**And the lovely boys & girls in the volunteer services!

[LatinoHeat]

I've gone to weddings with nothing but a Case Peanut.  I've gone to government buildings and couldn't have ANYTHING on me.

My Ninja Senses just played out a scene where I commando roll* past the bride & grab the wedding cake knife, ready to fight terrorists and bears.




*I'm not even sure if a commando roll is a real thing that people do.

See?  How painful would it be to commando roll with a big ole multitool on your side?  It would hurt like heck.
A Vic Classic, not so much.  LOL.
And yes, I commando rolled one time, but I haven't walked right since.
I think I broke something.

[665ae]

My Ninja Senses just played out a scene where I commando roll* past the bride & grab the wedding cake knife, ready to fight terrorists and bears.

Terrorists have Bears?!?  Crap... I'm gonna need a bigger gun!

[Benner]

I like anything from 3-4 inches and tactical, do I need it? Course I don't, I have gotten by for a week with just a vic solider in my pocket, heck I had a atwood in my pocket and didn't use it one single time. So I agree with you LH, we all really don't need a bigger knife but we sure like doing it.

That's what I think.  All these "experiments" and tests are nice, but unless you have an issue regarding carrying something say 3"+ I don't see the issue.

You don't see the issue?  Well, LET ME ENLIGHTEN YOU!! 
lol.

I often think about a SHTF situation.  Whether it's me in my car driving somewhere, hanging out at home, or walking to the store.  If I were to get in a situation where survival was necessary, would I be prepared?  Just to give you an example of how my mind thinks.  I am at work.  The weather turns ugly, and we get a tornado come through.  It happens here in Florida, and whole communities are destroyed.  Not to the degree of an Oklahoma twister, but damage is damage.  I end up under the rubble and debris and need to get out.  The only thing I have on me is my Vic Classic, as it is the only thing I can bring to work that is sheeple friendly.
What do I do?
Can I use it?
Do I know HOW to use it, or how to use it effectively?
If I had a Machete or a sodbuster, I'd be out, no problem.  However, since these are not the tools I carry on a day to day basis, I try to train my mind with what I DO have.  I learned this from a former special ops friend of the family.  He once told me it is easy to prepare for an upcoming disaster.  Car trouble.  Weather like Hurricanes which give ample warning.  Going into battle.  These things allow you to prepare.  What about the things that can happen to you without your advanced knowledge?  Can you survive with simply what is on your back?  Can you make a knife out of your credit card?  Can you survive in the woods with nothing but the clothes on your back, shoes on your feet, and no lighter?  THOSE are the things to prep for.  OF COURSE you can if you have a machete, or Bowie, or Swisstool.  What about when you don't?  These are the reasons for my "experiments".  It's training for myself.  I carry my Wave quite often, but then there is little I can't handle with one.  I carry a larger knife like a Sodbuster, but put me out in the woods with one and I'll come out the other side.  Not much I can't do with one.  I KNOW I can survive a SHTF situation with those.
But can I WITHOUT those. 
I've gone to weddings with nothing but a Case Peanut.  I've gone to government buildings and couldn't have ANYTHING on me.  What if something happened then?  Sometimes, you just don't have the right tools for the job on you.  That's when it truly matters.
Experiments = training for me.

Maybe it's a difference of location, but that is all way OTT for me.  If the SHTF I go into my trouser pocket, pull out my phone (one of any size  ) and call the necessary person to help me.  If my phone doesn't work then I walk 10 yards to the next house down the road and use their phone.  I have no need whatsoever to "train" myself with a smaller knife.  I know you disagree as me and you disagree a lot  , but that is just too much for me.  Hell I don't even EDC a saw because I see it as a complete waste for urban EDC, let alone feeling the need to develop my skills with all different blade lengths in case the SHTF and I only have a tiny blade.

All I'm saying is that all these little "experiments" are nice an all and may take some back to "the good old days" but if you have it and don't worry about carrying it just carry it.  I only see the need to test if there is a problem.

[LatinoHeat]

If there's a problem, it's too late to test anything. 
You're young.  You'll learn.
Whipper snapper.  LOL.

Don't know if that translates across the pond. 

[Benner]

If there's a problem, it's too late to test anything. 
You're young.  You'll learn.
Whipper snapper.  LOL.

Don't know if that translates across the pond. 

LOL  , no it does and in fact my last boss only called me that. I honestly cannot recall him ever using my real name.

[Neil]

If there's a problem, it's too late to test anything. 
You're young.  You'll learn.
Whipper snapper.  LOL.

Don't know if that translates across the pond. 

Something to do with S&M?   

[Benner]

If there's a problem, it's too late to test anything. 
You're young.  You'll learn.
Whipper snapper.  LOL.

Don't know if that translates across the pond. 

Something to do with S&M?   

I certainly hope not! 

[LatinoHeat]

If there's a problem, it's too late to test anything. 
You're young.  You'll learn.
Whipper snapper.  LOL.

Don't know if that translates across the pond. 

Something to do with S&M?   

 
I certainly hope not! 

Uhm..... hey, whatever tickles your pickle!!  LOL.

[Neil]

If there's a problem, it's too late to test anything. 
You're young.  You'll learn.
Whipper snapper.  LOL.

Don't know if that translates across the pond. 

Something to do with S&M?   

I certainly hope not! 

Uhm..... hey, whatever tickles your pickle!!  LOL.

No, that's what Mike gets up to (so I hear).

[Benner]

You ain't going anywhere near my pickle mate  

 

[Benner]

If there's a problem, it's too late to test anything. 
You're young.  You'll learn.
Whipper snapper.  LOL.

Don't know if that translates across the pond. 

Something to do with S&M?   

I certainly hope not! 

Uhm..... hey, whatever tickles your pickle!!  LOL.

No, that's what Mike gets up to (so I hear).

Just admit it Neil, you saw it and you were jealous. 

[Neil]

If there's a problem, it's too late to test anything. 
You're young.  You'll learn.
Whipper snapper.  LOL.

Don't know if that translates across the pond. 

Something to do with S&M?   

I certainly hope not! 

Uhm..... hey, whatever tickles your pickle!!  LOL.

No, that's what Mike gets up to (so I hear).

Just admit it Neil, you saw it and you were jealous. 

Brings a whole new meaning to ...

...  3'' is more than enough, and any more than that usually get's in the way

Almost back on topic there

[Benner]

LOL!! 

[665ae]

Maybe it's all just an issue of self reliance?  

I don't mean that in a bad way towards anyone that said they'd call for help.  There are probably a million different situations where that would probably be the best course of action.  (I'd probably call too)

I own/carry a firearm because I don't want to rely on anyone else to protect me or my family.

I own/carry a knife because I don't want to rely on anyone else for one if something needs cutting.

I own/carry a multi because I don't want to rely on anyone else to fix something for me.

I own/carry a flashlight because I don't want to rely on anyone else if I'm stuck in the dark.

I prepare for SHTF scenarios so I don't have to rely on Emergency workers to help me.  That way, they can spend their time elsewhere helping others that need it.

I also wonder what people think of when they think of a SHTF scenario?

[Benner]

Maybe it's all just an issue of self reliance?   

I don't mean that in a bad way towards anyone that said they'd call for help.  There are probably a million different situations where that would probably be the best course of action.  (I'd probably call too)

I own/carry a firearm because I don't want to rely on anyone else to protect me or my family.

I own/carry a knife because I don't want to rely on anyone else for one if something needs cutting.

I own/carry a multi because I don't want to rely on anyone else to fix something for me.

I own/carry a flashlight because I don't want to rely on anyone else if I'm stuck in the dark.

I prepare for SHTF scenarios so I don't have to rely on Emergency workers to help me.  That way, they can spend their time elsewhere helping others that need it.

I also wonder what people think of when they think of a SHTF scenario?

Considering that it was only me that said that  , I'll reply.

I'd do all the above as well (apart from the gun obviously) but what I was meaning was that if the worse came to the worst, I'd get on the blower or walk to get help as help is all around.  Training to use a smaller knife as in this example is for me OTT, but I still like to be independant.  I guess I don't see whether or not I can use a tiny blade like that on a Classic in an emergency situation as a necessity.