Little Big Knife story collection

SaturnNyne · #1

To commemorate getting my first Ladybug today, and because I love both stories and small knives that perform beyond their size, I'm hoping to start a thread here for the collection of LBK stories. Anyone want to share some stories about tackling a big job with a small Spyderco and being impressed by how well it handled it? I'm not trying to limit to just exactly that kind of thing, but you get the general idea.

I'll go first. I don't remember anything very impressive right now, but I do have one that's always stuck out to me. About five years ago, I carried my first Spyderco, an FRN SE Cricket, exclusively. One day I was visiting someone's house that they'd just moved into and I was asked to break down the large pile of boxes that remained, since they weren't really capable of doing it themselves. I had only my little Cricket with me, but I set to it and was amazed by how ferociously it tore those boxes apart. It got the job done, it never seemed to dull appreciably, and I never felt like I needed anything bigger. That really solidified my appreciation for tiny but serious blades. It doesn't see much use now, but I still love that little knife; nothing else I have packs so much cutting power into such a tiny package.

I hope some of the rest of you will also contribute to and enjoy this thread. :)

SaturnNyne · #2

No one? :confused:

Well here's another Cricket story, this time from aj1985. Bisecting a queen size mattress with a 2" blade...
http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38777

Switchback · #3

I once used my byrd Robin to scrap 17 large boxed machines at work.

Prior to scrapping them I had to cut the boxes from top to bottom on each side and accross the top to get at the circuit boards to remove them. The machines were about 70 pounds each and this was easier than taking them out of the boxes.

I couldn't help but notice that my Robin still had a pretty good edge on it even after cutting all that cardboard so I figured up how many feet of cardboard I cut.

A total of 73 feet and the Robin held its own and never gave me any problems. I have always loved my Robins and the way it held up during this project just made me appreciate it even more.

I know this can't be considered "hard use" but I was impressed.

SaturnNyne · #4

That might not be hard use in general, but it's still a pretty big job for a less than 2" cutting edge. Thanks for sharing that!

dialex · #5

A Ladybug (black, CE) was my very first Spydie. It was the knife that opened to me the wonderful world of Spyderco knives. Still have it, attached to my keys, BTW. During those days, my wife used to differentiate the knives we had in: "the good knife" (which was the Ladybug), and "the rest"...

SaturnNyne · #6

A quick story. A few days ago I was out for a morning walk on the beach and came upon some trash. I grabbed a stick of driftwood to sharpen into a little spear/picker-upper so I could collect the trash and carry it home along with the other things I was carrying, but the only knives I had on me were my Khukuri and Ladybug Salt. Since it was raining, I went with the tiny Salt. A bigger knife would have been easier and quicker, but the Ladybug still managed just fine!

GG · #7

Hello All:
I just got a new job, and don't want to carry a "big" (read - 3"+ blade...) knife around until people get to know me. Well, had to spend the day doing quality audits on incoming product, which meant opening dozens and dozens of boxes, each one secured with 4 plastic bands embedded with dirt, along with gobs of packing tape. Only choices for opening them was a company supplied spring-loaded plastic utility knife or the Etched Spin I was carrying. Tried a few with the utility knife, and even with a new blade, using that spring-loaded POS was a pain. So I figured I'd at least TRY the Spin, knowing full well that given the short blade and overall length it wouldn't be the hot ticket for the job. Much to my surprise, it just CUT better and was overall easier to use than the 6" handled utility! By the end of the day it was gummed up and the fine edge was gone, but nothing some goo-gone and 3 minutes on the Sharpmaker won't take care of.

Thin blade + good geometry + good steel = a pleasant surprise! Thanks, Spyderco :D
gg

RJNC · #8

I was once on the Pecos river and made myself an impromptu fishing pole with some fishing line and a hook I found. I used my Ladybug Hawkbill and PE Ladybug Salt to make a nice fly pole.

FLYcrash · #9

My Lava's my EDC, so it gets all sorts of sundry use. Nothing too heroic yet, but it has been helpful numerous times.

Once, I was teaching organic chemistry lab, and a student was not able to set up his reaction because his cooling water hose was tattered at one end. It was a big, gnarly black rubber hose, but I pulled out the Lava and cut off the end, exposing fresh, clean rubber that would seal against the spigot. Problem solved.