The Power of Natural Selection

[Eli Chaps]

Yesterday as I stood at the recycling bin in my pj's cutting up cardboard and a plastic bottle, something occurred to me...

Just a moment before I'd stopped by my chair, reached down to the table next to it and plucked up my plain ole M2LW in BD1 that lives there. It more or less permanently resides next to the big heavy crystal bowl-o-stuff where my Dragonfly 2 lives. In the other room is a bowl of my daily stuff, keys, wallet, etc. and in there is my Chaparral LW.

Getting back to my epiphany...I have bunches of knives and many Spydercos but just through natural selection I reckon, these are the three that I use all the time, even though in some cases I have "better" versions. The D'fly is basically my little utility knife. It might cut a callous off, open a box or sharpen a pencil. Just whatever I need a blade for that doesn't require getting out my chair.

For other tasks, that do require getting out of my chair, I grab the M2LW. As said, it might break down recycling or do work in the yard or whatever but in my "off" time it is typically the knife I grab. Why the BD1 over the S90V? I don't know, just sorta how it worked out. Like I said, this really is a natural selection thing.

The Chaparral LW is my EDC blade that I grab every morning. It handles all my five-day-a-week type stuff. It's sleek but large enough to have versatility and is just a great knife.

When it comes to folders, I have to make a conscious decision to use or grab something other than these three. I've had many knives sitting on my table next to my chair at once and I have rotated through many, many more and some how, all of them have found their way back into boxes or drawers or what have you.

Of course there are knives that all of us don't like as much as others but for the most part, these are the knives that rose to the top without me really even putting a lot of thought into it.

Anyone have a similar experience? What naturally rose to the top for you? Does it surprise you somewhat?

[Evil D]

I'm more or less the same, it takes deliberate effort to rotate more than a few models. I'm a creature of habit though, I like consistency. If it isn't broke don't fix it.

[Pelagic]

I'm pretty picky and sell off any knives I don't constantly reach for.

[Evil D]

I'm pretty picky and sell off any knives I don't constantly reach for.

I keep saying I'm going to sell off a bunch of mine but they're all users and I hate feeling like I'm giving them away. My son will use them someday.

[holeshot]

Absolutely, my G10 Dragonfly is in my pocket for EDC does most of my cutting chores. I also carry a larger knife. I've been rotating an ATR2 and a Police 4 but now I'm going have to start working in my new PE Carribean. :)

[MichaelScott]

I’d say my most constant user is my Dragonfly although the Roadie is also along. If I grab or carry a larger knife it will be the Delica or the Para Military 2. Occasionally I will take the One-Eyed Jack as the “larger” one. It’s a sentimental knife for me but a surprisingly good use knife.

[TomAiello]

Anyone have a similar experience? What naturally rose to the top for you? Does it surprise you somewhat?

Almost exactly the same models for me, although I'm too much of a snob in my steel choices. :)

M2LW (although mine is Maxamet) is my "7 days a week". It's almost always what I'm carrying unless I'm making myself try something else.

Dragonfly 2 (mine is ZDP) is my "little utility". I keep one in my backpack and one in my glove box.

Chaparral (CF) is my "go somewhere people don't expect knives" (or somewhere the Manix is not allowed) knife.

I also have the Urban as my "go somewhere you can't bring a locking knife".

[Sjucaveman]

I'm pretty picky and sell off any knives I don't constantly reach for.

I keep saying I'm going to sell off a bunch of mine but they're all users and I hate feeling like I'm giving them away. My son will use them someday.

I can't justify getting rid of any of my 50+ spydies as I have 3 sons so I know how you feel

[Evil D]

I'm pretty picky and sell off any knives I don't constantly reach for.

I keep saying I'm going to sell off a bunch of mine but they're all users and I hate feeling like I'm giving them away. My son will use them someday.

I can't justify getting rid of any of my 50+ spydies as I have 3 sons so I know how you feel

Right. It's partly them and partly because I can't expect to get much out of them, and I really hate the buy/sell/trade process anyway, too many lowballers. Some of mine are out of production so my boy won't be able to get them easily once he's older.

[abbazaba]

I have a similar situation with Manix LWs and DF2s stashed all over my life. They are some of the most useful and easy to carry knives that I own. However, because there is always one in my bag/truck/kitchen/garage/basement/swim shorts/robe/etc I almost never "carry" one as my main blade. But they all get to see a good amount of use because they are always within reach and are pretty much beater status.

[Chef_Pappa]

Now that the weather is warm to hot and moisture/ sweat is a real issue, my Pacific salt has taken over as my main work knife (weather it's cooking or construction). Before that, in the cooler months it was my M4 PM2. Evolution of the season

By this point I think it's safe to say that my delica 4 will be part of my rotation until my son is old enough for me to pass it along. He already has eyes for it. It's great for travel or town runs, as well as just bumming around the house.

My wife stole my DF 2 ZDP. Which is kinda funny because she gave it to me in the first place, but I'm glad she has it. I've been debating on whether or not to pick up another Dragonfly (probably a salt) or try a Ladybug

[ThePeacent]

The Salts are into this category for me :rolleyes:

Be it the Pacific, Tasman or Spyderhawk they are always present on my person, my table, or my bag.
It is not until something/somebody reminds me of my other Spydercos that I am really aware that I own them and could carry them from time to time :D

I always come back to the Salts

[TomAiello]

My wife stole my DF 2 ZDP. Which is kinda funny because she gave it to me in the first place...

My Dad stole mine. And then he stole another one from me. And then my daughter stole one.

I've bought at least 10 of them. I know I've gifted two, and I think I have four left. Which means I've lost track of one somewhere...

[zhyla]

I have a lot of Spydercos. Not a lot by knife enthusiast standards, but like a dozen. Almost all of them will do most jobs. So rotating them is easy. Sometimes it’s nice to have a new thing to fidget with or pull out an old one I’d forgotten about. Any of them will work.

[jpm2]

All my knife use for decades has been determined by natural selection/survival of the fittest.

[ZrowsN1s]

The Salts are into this category for me :rolleyes:

Be it the Pacific, Tasman or Spyderhawk they are always present on my person, my table, or my bag.......

Same here.
I think it has to do with two things, 1st: the salts are the least expensive and therefore most easily replaceable Spydies in my collection. 2nd: The salts are the lowest maintenance knives in my spyder collection, you can use them hard and put them away wet (literally). I love tool steels, I prefer tool steels for most things, but you have to maintain them to keep them nice, and they are definitely not cheap to replace.

That's why much like yourself most of the knives I have lying around the house or stashed in bags are all salts. The more expensive models live in Pelican cases.

*Can not wait for the new Wharncliffe Salt!

[Calicoast]

The Salts are into this category for me :rolleyes:

Be it the Pacific, Tasman or Spyderhawk they are always present on my person, my table, or my bag.......

Same here.
I think it has to do with two things, 1st: the salts are the least expensive and therefore most easily replaceable Spydies in my collection. 2nd: The salts are the lowest maintenance knives in my spyder collection, you can use them hard and put them away wet (literally). I love tool steels, I prefer tool steels for most things, but you have to maintain them to keep them nice, and they are definitely not cheap to replace.

That's why much like yourself most of the knives I have lying around the house or stashed in bags are all salts. The more expensive models live in Pelican cases.

*Can not wait for the new Wharncliffe Salt!

Salts need more love.

Pac Salt: been carrying / using it all day today.
So light, backlock, solid lockup, H1, good grip, solid.

Jumpmaster 2: is just scary crazy sharp. Whoever does not have this one, should take another look.

Wharncliffe Salt: looks great, wish it came in black though. How often do you have to rit die those scales from yellow to black before it starts fading?
-C

[ZrowsN1s]

...
Wharncliffe Salt: looks great, wish it came in black though. How often do you have to rit die those scales from yellow to black before it starts fading?
-C

My 'Blue fade' RIT dyed HBDfly from KP has held it's color pretty well and I've EDC'd it since it dropped. Only got one little spot of yellow showing through the blue part were I dinged the FRN on something.
KP only charges like $10 over stock cost for a RIT dye, I let them do it and save myself the hastle. Already emailed them to request a 'Blue Fade' Wharndelica when it drops to match my HBDfly :D

[Evil D]

Dang, the Salt I carry was like $230 :D

[Doc Dan]

If I grab a knife it is almost always a Chaparral, Urban LW, Manix 2, or a DF. I simply do not use the many other knives that I own, unless I just do so to be different, and that is not a common choice.