Knives vs Flashlights

[Remembertheslap]

I've been working on a theory - "exponential permutation and the elusive optimum ". It tries to understand why we are attracted to flashlights. The same hypothetical principle applies to knives, automobiles, firearms and watches, and many other things. I would appreciate your thoughts, maybe you can help me refine my theory.
Let's take knives as a simpler example.
Knives can be said to have categories of properties, and within these categories lie sub categories.
Construction: Fixed blade, Folder.
Within each of those categories lie sub categories: Folder - locking, slipjoint
Within, let's say, the locking category, are yet more sub categories: Back lock, frame lock, axis lock etc etc.
It's like a tree of differentiations. When the "construction" tree has been exhausted, we then find a whole other tree, that of steels. Then one of blade shape. Then grind. Handle material. And each of these trees are cross compatible with each other. Any branch on any tree can contact any branch on any other tree. The potential permutations are infinite.
However, the market is not infinite, and economics has pruned these trees to certain limitations. The reason for this is consumers are driven, as a collective, by their quest for the optimum.
Sometimes you need, or want, a product that pushes down one branch as far as possible - an obsidian scalpel, for example. Or a timbersports racing axe. These are "best for a certain task" options. The flashlight equivalent would be a Lazer. Best for throw/signaling. There are times when only the best will do, and all other considerations and handicaps are moot.
But for the vast majority of consumers, there exists the craving to find the optimum. That ever elusive balance point of personal needs. It's different for everyone, of course.
Now, considering flashlights: here we have even more scope for permutations. The "trees" would be:
Emitter type
Driver type
Tint
Cri
Cell type
Body type
Charging type
Metal type
Optic/reflector type
UI. type....
And many more. All these trees and sub categories can combine with each other to produce unique offspring. This is the blessing and the curse of being a flashaholic.
Within the economically limited field of choice, we still have a vast range of potentials. Where flashlights beat knives in this game is the ever advancing technology, which keeps raising the bar, year on year.
This was an ad-lib rant. Penny for your thoughts...

 

[bykfixer]

Speaking of pruning trees, I collect tree pruners too. Yikes! My neighbor uses a chain saw "BWAAHHHH" but I prefer to finesse the removal of excess limbage.

Like I said before, to me they are tools. And there are some I use more than others probably because they are about as close to optimum as I need them to be. But there are compromises.

My favorite lock back knife is the old fashioned kind of lock but does not hold an edge as well as the other lock back I also carry, which has the locking mechanism up front. Both are US made Gerber products.

For a watch I prefer simple analog face with a metel band that fits well enough to not twist but not squeeze my wrist when I'm active. Solar battery is preferred but wind up will do just fine. I bought watch tools for those with a replaceable battery. Now I have a small tool box just for watch repairs.

Pens, now for those the requirement is it must write right away and every time. I've been carrying a Cross clicky a few years now and keep expecting any day the cartridge to play out. I keep promo pens scattered throughout the house that I swiped from wherever because they write well. My dad carried the same inkpen, a Parker where you pressed on the upper half to click it for about 40 years. For years I carried a super fine point Pilot but replacement cartridges became difficult to find so I switched to the Cross clicky.

Flashlights? I carried an incan minimag for decades not knowing LED tech had gotten brighter. Nowadays I prefer one that starts on a low setting about as bright as a 2D incan Maglite did because that is usually all the light I need. To me the best flashlight ever made was the 320 lumen SureFire G2x Pro. I like the 2 brightness levels, the beam, the tint and the size. But with todays smaller, brighter lights it's not my EDC. I carry a 1x123 light that disappears in my trouser pocket even though it starts on high. Again, compromise plays a role.

I have lots of knives, watches, pens and flashlights but stick mainly with the same ones nearly every day. I do switch up watches though based on mood and people I'll be around. Dressy Bessie for times like funerals and dressy Bessy events. Rugged type for times when rugged is called for and sometimes just because I think it's a cool looking watch like a skeleton or military face.

 

[LGT]

While I generally use my knives a little bit more on daily basis, both are equally important. And while I do prefer mid to high end of both, about a half dozen ZL lights, three HDS and an Elzetta, half dozen or so Spyderco, three CRK's and a Hinderer XM-24, whichever I'm carrying is used to do what they're supposed to do.

 

[CNCman]

I use 2 knives everywhere except at work, a Spyderco Tenacious 3.39" Black SS Blade and a CJRB Gobi AR-RPM9 3.5" Black Steel Blade for self defense if needed. I just sharpened both with a Lansky 5-Stone Sharpening kit and may be of interest the AR-RPM9 powder metal blade took me 3 hrs to put a new 20 degree edge from the factory edge. I have to switch knives at work to a legal length blade Kershaw.

I can not wear a wrist watch and pocket watches were annoying, but I like wrist watches.

I use a Streamlight 66118 Stylus Pro EDC at work.

 

[jmoore]

I've been into knives for a while and just got interested in flashlights recently. I sure hope I don't find that flashlights I like can be as expensive as my custom knives!

 

[rdnzl]

I've been using and collecting knives for decades. Flashlights only recently. I think at some point I will have enough flashlights, but I'm not sure I will ever have enough knives. Knives can actually appreciate over time, and become quite collectable. I really enjoy flashlights. They can be used without changing their appearance. A new knife becomes "worn" and "used" as soon as you start using them.

I have maybe a dozen knives that I actually USE. The rest are in my safe because I don't want to ruin their collectable value. Pretty silly I guess. I might as well collect stamps. lol

I also collect antique tube radios. Don't get me started on those......

I used to collect watches, but I had to sell all of them 15 years ago in a divorce, and I never got back into it.

Now that I'm retired and remarried, I don't have the budget for toys I used to have, so I try be more selective in my obsessions.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

I've been using and collecting knives for decades. Flashlights only recently. I think at some point I will have enough flashlights, but I'm not sure I will ever have enough knives. Knives can actually appreciate over time, and become quite collectable. I really enjoy flashlights. They can be used without changing their appearance. A new knife becomes "worn" and "used" as soon as you start using them.

I have maybe a dozen knives that I actually USE. The rest are in my safe because I don't want to ruin their collectable value. Pretty silly I guess. I might as well collect stamps. lol

I also collect antique tube radios. Don't get me started on those......

I used to collect watches, but I had to sell all of them 15 years ago in a divorce, and I never got back into it.

Now that I'm retired and remarried, I don't have the budget for toys I used to have, so I try be more selective in my obsessions.

Good post. I started major interest in flashlights and knives after I retired. Older now, I still like to pull out my toys.

Bill

 

[jabe1]

I've carried a knife most days since I was about 10 years old, better than 40 years. I started carrying a flashlight in the late 80s; a miniMag Incan. I've gone on ad out of the wristwatch thing, but currently do wear one.
They're all tools.
I have numerous knives. Fixed and folders, as it took awhile to find the right work knife and the right weekend one. I settled on a kershaw blur for work and it is used frequently throughout the day. One of many Victorinox on the weekends, usually a very old pioneer.
My flashlight collection keeps growing, it's a disease. I justify with the advancing technology argument. Knives are advanced to a point that suits me, flashlights keep changing. Led quality and efficiency, programming, materials, battery tech, etc.
my problem is mainly having trouble selling off the excess…
Watches don't change that much except on the very high end which is out of my reach anyway. I own more than I need, all are quartz (I would like a nice deep blue or a Seiko 5 automatic), and they do what I need them to do. My latest is a Bertucci A-2T super classic. I probably won't need another watch ever, but they still call to me.
If I can keep referring to them as tools, I can justify the "upgrades".

 

[Olumin]

I will say that I use my flashlight dozens of times every day compared to my pocket knife which gets used one or twice a week. Some weeks not at all. I still wouldn't want to be without either.

 

[JimIslander]

Mild custom knife collecting habit. Very gratifying. I use knives and lights several times every day.

 

[Poppy]

That's a nice collection Jim.

 

[JimIslander]

That's a nice collection Jim.

Partial collection.

Many thanks.

 

[Poppy]

I have a partial collection of screwdrivers. Does that count for anything?

 

[Owen]

I always went the more ulilitarian/"tactical" route with premium stainless and G-10 or micarta for small to medium fixed blades, but always loved the look of Terry Primos' knives. Beautiful👍

 

[Poppy]

I had that old hickory since 1977. I don't know if I still have that SP-2, or if I gave it to my son. Lol... he gets lots of my stuff.

 

[kerneldrop]

Here's a fun one: It's a bottle opener and a knife made by D.W. Childress .
Bottom is a boot knife made by David Mary.

 

[Poppy]

I have two spiral knives, and each has a bottle opener. 🤣

 

[kerneldrop]

@Poppy - and the knife on the left has a gut hook. So versatile. lol

 

[rdnzl]

Small light. Small knife.

 

[Monocrom]

I'm greedy, so I've made sure to stock up on both!
🗡️ 🔦