04-13-2018, 09:28 AM
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?
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?