So what do you think about the Farmer/MiniChamp combo for EDC? Too much? Not enough? Just right?
…as an aside, it’s a crying shame that an alox Rambler isn’t offered as part of Vic’s regular line…
That Old Cross Farmer is so pretty I'd be scared smurfless to use it!
I think you've made a great choice, because life is just too short to keep the pretty ones in the drawer, IMO. They make a very capable pair, and I agree with you about that great "square" feel in the hand that the Farmer has.. Like you, I carried a farmer for many years, but I've moved toward fewer layers in the past few years rather than more as you have. I've always paired mine with a Rambler and don't own any 58mm ALOX, as I can't stand the thought of not having T&T on my keychain.I hope you don't mind me sharing a couple of my favorites as well. The hard anodized one on the right has been carried and used more than any other knife I own. (Image removed from quote.)
Great looking SAKs and a nice combo!I've carried a Mini Champ and 91mm (usually a Swiss Champ) for quite a while now. I like the combination of small tools for small things and big tools for big things.
By the way, I've found that the MC's cuticle pusher makes a decent slotted screwdriver and the picker tool is good for peeling oranges and opening plastic clamshell packaging.
The Minichamp may be a bit much, in the sense that a Rambler (as an aside, it’s a crying shame that an alox Rambler isn’t offered as part of Vic’s regular line) or even a Classic might cover most of the functionality of the Minichamp. I probably wouldn’t get much use out of some of those tools, but YMMV.
Lovely Farmers!!! I see that your OC has those wonderful brass liners. Mine isn't quite that precious, which made it easier to decide to carry. I was able to convince myself that my OC was of only minor value from a collector's standpoint, being of later vintage, making it somehow fine to put into use. I actually considered carrying my worn OC Vic Pioneer (brass liners) or Wenger SI, instead of a Farmer, since my pack usually has a large folding saw inside. But the grip felt so much more secure on the Farmer (I have crazy long fingers), that I decided that go with it for largely entirely ergonomic reasons.
When an old knife is in the condition it was in when it left the factory, I would at the very least be hesitant to carry it. However, I have no issues with occasionally and carefully carrying an old knife that comes to me with some wear. Perhaps I need to look around for a pre-owned OC at a reasonable price and give it some pocket time.
I just finished up a week of vacation, and the Farmer/MiniChamp combo proved to be quite good. The MiniChamp saw lots of use at the cabin in the mountains. Lots of food packaging to open. One doorknob to screw back together, as it was about to fall apart. Mountain knife wreaked havoc upon my nails, so the nail file was much appreciated. The Farmer proved to be an absolute lifesaver when I went camping on my own. I need to cut a dowel in order to hang my food bag, ala the PCT method, so the saw got some use. Then in the middle of the night, during a freak 55MPH wind storm, trees falling all around me, I was suddenly cutting cord with the main blade, to secure an extra ridge line mounted tarp over my tent. (Image removed from quote.)
Great thread....and a great looking Farmer! On the small, I vacillate between an Alox MC and a Rambler. I tend not to put anything on my keys except my 1R 2 EOS. The MC/Rambler hang in the watch pocket. Anyway that OC Farmer....oh my!!Peter