Doesn't Everyone Carry Two Knives?

[Mark Reich]

I haven't always carried two knives, but I've always carried more than one blade.

When I was old enough to take knives and sharpening seriously, around the age of 6 or 7, I graduated from the Camillus folders I got from the grain elevator, to a regular Schrade stockman. Each of the three blades has a function, and I sharpen them accordingly. The large clip point gets the coarse side of the carborundum, with a needle tip for dislodging splinters. The sheepsfoot gets the fine side, and does most of the cutting. The spey is obviously for trimming cuticles, or surgery, on anything from frogs and snakes to cattle, so it's polished clear up to the hard black Arkansas.

I was in 6th grade in 1979, when I got a Buck 110. It was my first single blade, lockback folder. Big old thing, pretty much needed the belt pouch. It took a while to get used to it, but it didn't take up pocket space, so I never quit carrying a stockman.

A few years later I got my first high quality folder. Oh my gosh, the Gerber Silver Night, designed by Al Mar, was like a Swiss watch. Tight, smooth and beautiful, it was too precious to do much cutting, but it was a pocket knife. I decided my left front pocket might as well be good for something, and I started carrying two knives. 

I still carry two knives, but I've pared myself down to just two blades. I have a bunch of really nice folders with pocket clips, and I carried one on each front pocket until I discovered Murray Carter's neck knives. That discovery impressed me so much, I decided I wanted to make the best neck knives that I could possibly make.

Since I started out using different blades for different tasks, I haven't ever carried two blades sharpened equally. I've always carried a coarse blade and a refined blade, and I always will. Neck knives make the most practical sense in the world to me. It's the first item I don in the morning, and the last item I take off. 

Sometimes I carry a refined, "dress" neck knife and a coarse folder, but normally I have a coarse neck knife and a refined folder. My neck knives are indestructible, and cut anything, but there are times when a refined edge is much better suited to the job. Some day someone will need field surgery, and I intend be prepared for the opportunity (yes, I carry sutures in every first aid kit, and know how to use them).

Refined edges are better for lots of things, from opening packaging and mail to cutting cloth (rags, gauze), thin plastic and tape (especially veterinary grade tape), to name but a few. 

I work with extremely sharp things, incredibly abrasive things, and extraordinarily hot things just about all day every day, and I can't wear gloves. But I can whip up an industrial band aid for anyone or anything at any given time too.  

I'm sure this is normal, and everyone carries a razor and a wicked slicer at all times.... right?

[wadebevan]

Well, I only carry one, a 3 inch Gerber folder.
But, after this post, I want to start carrying two, but, I need to learn how to suture proper first
Good post Mark, Thanks!

[Edgepal]

I think I have show this pic before in another thred... It shows my knifebelt with my two knifes + a small engraving knife. I also carry a Victorinox Champ - but that do not even count as a knife where I lived



The Victorinox Champ was veey useful once in a real imergency. I lead a group of tourists into the mountains and there was also a very good looking woman in the group, she come ro me the second day with her problem, the zipper in her jeans did not work ao she xould not Unio - and she was close to pee her self - could I help her?äi a a service minded human beeing so I give it a try. I place her standing on a stone so I,more ergonomi reasons could work in a functional position. I use my Victorinox Champ, my knifes was ro big for this type of fine mecanicel work, i use three different tools trying to get tye slipper working. She told me to take a step back when, and if, she could not hold the flod back. Suddenly i get tears in my eyes so I could not se properly and I start to laugh, she looken at me and ask me why I laugh.
I explain for her lauging that this was the first rime in my life I have use tang and other tools to get the pants of a woman - and she starts to laugh - and that waa not a good idea at all - but justvthen the zipper give up and she could get her pants down - just in time...

Small knifes are very useful sometimes also in the mountains...

Thomas

[Mark Reich]

Heh heh! That is a fine account of a sensative predicament to solve, Thomas, and it was most kind of you to assist this poor waif.

I commend your selection of the proper tools to carry, although a Victorinox Tinker has a wonderful small pliers that has actually been useful on stubborn zippers many times for me, though I may not have chosen to use it in this particular case...

It's good to hear harrowing tales, solved through the wisdom of calm, mature outdoors men, improvising and making do with only the tools you have wisely chosen to to carry.

Addled brained young bucks probably would have rushed in and botched the job with their heavy duty survival knives, which would have been an awful shame.

It is good to know you carefully judged the functional ergonomics, and solved this precarious situation in the nick of time, although you are slightly vague about how many hours the job required....