A woman who loves IPA is a keeper! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Very impressive knife collection Vic. You've got great taste. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Thanks, Kraz. I guess it is beyond a hobby and bordering on an obsession. I just enjoy knives. I try not to buy too many that I would never use. I like to take them out back and try them out. You'd be surprised how many "ordinary" knives actually work better than very expensive ones. The little SOGs are very handy around camp. The thin bladed Blackwater is a real slicer, as is the Al Mar. I am getting one with the more useful drop point or spear point. Of course, the sharpened crowbars like SYKCO, Swamp Rat, Busse and Cold Steel are tougher. I would not try prying with the Al Mar or Blackwater (which is 154CM and made by Benchmade).My new Buck Strider is most impressive and useful. It is both rugged and a good slicer. The LMF II is a pure survival knife. The very common and ordinary Gerber Gator is a joy to use. The Air Force knife is nice and rugged, but not a very useful slicer. It doesn't hold an edge very well, either. I forgot to include my CRKT Partner, which is really nice as a hunting and camp knife, and very inexpensive. I meant to get a RAT-5 or TAK-1, but ended up getting the HRLM and Ratmandu instead. Those are two outstanding knives. I guess I'll have to try a Mora next just to see what all the fuss is about.

What I like about your collection Vic is that it shows an adventurous spirit...so many different styles and vendors. And, oddly enough, all the choices make sense to me. I see your collection and say "hey I'd like to try one of those too" very very often. As best as I am able to describe, I see a real sense of curiosity in your choices. I like that! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I am curious. I am amazed and surprised by so many different ideas about how a knife should be made. The fun part is, most of them work quite well. You just can't tell looking at them. You must use them to find their strengths and weaknesses. Which one is the best? The Scrap yard SS4? The HRLM or RMD? The Buck Strider? The Dumpster Mutt? The Gerber LMF II? The Badger Attack? I think it would be one of those, if we are seeking a do-everything survival knife that is tough enough to take extreme use. For ordinary camping and hunting, any of them would do.

what a great collection. i've almost bought the gerber lmf a couple of times but was always sold out when i went to get it.

Vic, That is a very nice collection of 4's and 5's.

It never fails just when you think you've got everything you could want and need, they come out with something else that's almost impossible to live without... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Never heard it called that before.

thats fancy talk

we normally call it "bud heavy"
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/loopy.gif" alt="" />

I just call it Bud. My next door neighbor, Sissy, only drinks Bud Light in the bottles. My other neighbor, Tisa prefers my mead. My favorite light is Miller, unless you count Sam Adams light as light.

Nice collection! We have the same taste!

Interesting. I call Bud Light "A$$", but it is the only AB product I do not like. They are the hometown team around these parts.

I have been meaning to try the new Miller Chill. It has lime and salt added. Sounds refreshing on a Summer day. Today I had two beers. Been on antibiotics for a week fighting a nasty sinus infection. I feel a little better after having two Buds with Helen. First beer I've had in a week.