A bit confused about "hard use" definitions.

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bladeboss

Joined
Mar 6, 2012
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Howdy all.
I'm having an issue here trying to figure out how to word this......

Obviously using a CASE Peanut to cut down a locust tree is abuse. Im not talking about using the wrong knife for the job here.
But when a knife like the Adamas/Contego/Hinderer/Strider/BK-2(etc.) have blades as thick as they do, they were obviously made for more than just opening letters and cutting your steaks.
So, speaking of knives like the ones mentioned, is anything considered abuse?
My cousin truly gets his money out of his knives and abuses them like crazy. (I have referenced him many times on this forum.)
His latest victim has been an Ontario RAT-1.
Thrown it, stabbed it, pryed with it, cut metals with it, dropped it, hammered with the handles and otherwise makes me cringe.
Nothing wrong with it. No play, no chips, not bent, and very little rust.
I sharpen it for him and can get it back to acceptable within 15 minutes.
So, does the "hard use" definition vary between different knives?
I find myself scraping rusty metal with my knife alot.
What do YOU do with your knives? Maybe you're bad sometimes, or maybe definitions vary between different people too.

Maybe what would be normal to do with a Strider SMF would be rediculous to expect from a Kershaw Leek. Or maybe they should both be used for cutting only.
But if that was the case, why use such thick handles, bombproof steels, and 1/4 inch thick blades?
They must be able to handle more than us knuts are willing to give them.


What would you call hard use?
Would it be batonning?
Scraping?
Prying?
Stabbing?
Throwing?
Digging?
Using it constantly?
Chopping?
Cutting really heavy material/metals?
Or maybe cutting cardboard?



Bladeboss
 
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I tend to equate 'hard use' with frequency of use within the knife's intended design. Same with tools: you can use a wrench 'hard' by torquing bolts all day long but you're abusing the tool if you decide to pound nails with it. To me, a knife is primarily a cutting tool, but obviously some are more stoutly built than others and can take more use/abuse.

My analogy: an ottoman is primarily designed to be a footrest. If I were to use it as a stool and sit on it, would it fail? Probably not. If I set a cup of coffee on it and use it as a table, is it going to fall apart? Chances are remote. Would I expect it to hold up as a workbench? Not likely, and using it as such could potentially be dangerous and stupid. A little common sense can prevent catastrophe... ;)

Anyway, that's just how I see it. :)

-Brett
 
Personally I think knives are meant to cut things and that's it. I imagine hard use being using a knife to cut things that are difficult to cut or require more force than normal for cutting. Hard use marketing from various companies seems to suggest that hard use knives are ready for anything. They often come with thick blades and poor geometry for cutting tasks. I don't see the point of spending a lot of time putting a nice edge on a knife in order to use it for scraping. You can scrape with a butter knife or a scraping tool. I guess if I wanted to abuse a knife by prying, scraping, etc, I'd use a cheap $15 Enlan. YMMV.
 
I would like to hear why thick blades are appealing. I'm primarily concerned with joint integrity as I've 4 knives loosen up when cutting saplings and brush. All Bucks, for what it's worth.

I've not yet been able to get an Opinel to fail in any way and I use them really hard, even battoning on occasion. The thin blade goes through stuff that cause my thick bladed Bucks to hang up.

I'm getting to the point of thinking that the primary reason for thick bladed is to sell. Lots of features on lots of consumer items like that.
 
bladeboss said:
Howdy all.
Would it be batonning?
Scraping?
Prying?
Stabbing?
Throwing?
Digging?
Using it constantly?
Chopping?
Cutting really heavy material/metals?
Or maybe cutting cardboard?



Bladeboss
Click to expand...

IMO, for a folder 3 of those I would classify as hard use and the rest are abuse. I think the overbuilt knives are more "what if I have to pry a door open in an emergency" and less "I'm taking my knife instead of my prybar to the job site today." That's just me but I don't regard ANY folders as heavy duty knives like some do.
 
pinnah said:
I would like to hear why thick blades are appealing. I'm primarily concerned with joint integrity as I've 4 knives loosen up when cutting saplings and brush. All Bucks, for what it's worth.

I've not yet been able to get an Opinel to fail in any way and I use them really hard, even battoning on occasion. The thin blade goes through stuff that cause my thick bladed Bucks to hang up.

I'm getting to the point of thinking that the primary reason for thick bladed is to sell. Lots of features on lots of consumer items like that.
Click to expand...

Thick blades are for lateral force and when a "wedging action" is beneficial. That and the fact they "feel" manly is about it. :D
 
I like both thick and thin knives.

my outdoor knives usually are thick, 4-6mm spine. I think it is great for chopping since the heavy weight helps momentum im guessing.

I like my folders and kitchen knives very thin.
 
When I used my Spyderco Tuff to cut the veggies for dinner the other night (my wife wanted the prep stuff done), the "wedge" profile of the blade made it so the carrots and celery separated nicely when cut, rather than tending to lump together.
Not "hard use", but the blade capable of taking stupid use ended up having a neat side benefit. :)

"Hard Use" definitions will vary by person.
For me it generally means forceful cutting.
 
What would you call hard use?

Would it be batonning? yes
Scraping? no
Prying? depends
Stabbing? depends
Throwing? yes
Digging? depends
Using it constantly? no
Chopping? yes
Cutting really heavy material/metals? no
Or maybe cutting cardboard? no
 
I'd like to make it known that I scrape with the spine. :-)
The general consensus seems to be that hard cuts and chopping are somewhat acceptable and very thing else is not.
 
Throwing is one of the worse abuse a folder can be put through. I have broke many a fixed and folder doing it.
 
bladeboss said:
The general consensus seems to be that hard cuts and chopping are somewhat acceptable and very thing else is not.
Click to expand...

Well, I've scraped rust off with the edge of my SmF.
Light prying like for staples is just normal use...and when I helped out a cute Chinese girl at the university library by prying some staples out with my SnG, she was very appreciative. I could have had a coffee date if I weren't already married. :) (why they had a power stapler and no staple remover is beyond me)

Some light prying tends to happen in "woodsy" type of use. Not talking about prying open logs though.
"Drilling" with the tip is often something which comes into play.
Or cross-grain batonning for notching purposes when lashing stuff together.

Just use your brain, and you'll probably figure out what uses a particular knife can handle without breaking.

"Knives: Best used in conjunction with a brain." :D
 
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