A Disturbance In The Force...

Eli Chaps

Eli Chaps

Joined
Apr 20, 2018
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This thread is brought to you by: First World Problems Publishing

As some of you may have seen I finally got my Chambriard Compact. I've been drooling over this little gem for a long time and at last things came together for me to get one. And in no way did it disappoint. My non-knife co-workers were even impressed!

But then...

I'm up on a ladder cutting down some heavy plastic that had been hung as a temporary barrier. Much of it was just crudely duct taped around metal and PVC pipe just to hold it in place. I was trying to tear the tape when, I said to myself, "Oh to hell with this..." and reached for my knife.

And that's when Yoda gasped...

In my right front pocket was the Chambriard. I didn't care that it was in a slip. I didn't care that it wasn't one-hand opening. I paused because I realized I cared about the knife.

I have a couple folders that cost more than this one, but I bought them to be tools. Both are Spyderco's and so ya know they ain't winning beauty contests. They are function over form offerings and that's what I've always looked for.

I've always said I won't buy a knife I don't want to use.

But right then on that ladder, looking up into that dirty industrial ceiling of pipes and plastic, I didn't want to use my knife. These days, I spend the bulk of my time with my butt in a chair making slide presentations of the status of our projects. My knife duties are rarely tasked beyond the daily apple and the occasional box. So I don't think about having to put my knife to actual work so much any more.

I finished the task without using the Chambriard but the scenario stuck with me.

The next day I put a Case in my pocket.

This is the first knife that I've viewed as something of a... I don't know, treasure maybe? Keepsake? Not sure what the exact right term should be but I know I didn't want to risk marring it up.

So that then leads to the self-reflecting questions of...Do I want more knives like this? Am I willing to use these beautiful knives? Am I willing to recognize I'm not and be selective of my carry of them? If so, is that worth the money to me?

I think there's a balance in there but it really did make me think. I've never been reluctant to use a knife because of it's beauty and my adoration of it.

:)
 
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I can sympathize. I've posted this story before, so bear with me if you've read it. Early in my search for the perfect EDC knife, I decided I wanted a Buck 302 in yellow delrin really bad. I lucked upon what I thought was a 302, but it turned out to be a 301 build out knife. Further research in the Blade Forums Buck forum showed only 49 yellow delrin 301 single blade stockmans were produced before the 302 was introduced. The knife I received was unused in the original box. As much as I wanted to make it my EDC knife, i just couldn't do it. It's my only "safe queen."

Note: I've learned that the generosity on the Porch is among the highest I've ever seen and just mentioning you want a certain knife sometimes brings that knife to your mailbox, so I'll say I'm no longer looking for a Buck 302 in yellow delrin. My teardrop is just fine! :D

Buck301.jpg
 
I’m right there with you. I’ve only been collecting for a few weeks. My drawer has a user side and a “collection” side. I stare at it at least once a day trying to figure out what should go where. I guess I should just use them all but the day I ding that 85 in tiger maple will be a sad day indeed.
 
PaulS. said:
I can sympathize. I've posted this story before, so bear with me if you've read it. Early in my search for the perfect EDC knife, I decided I wanted a Buck 302 in yellow delrin really bad. I lucked upon what I thought was a 302, but it turned out to be a 301 build out knife. Further research in the Blade Forums Buck forum showed only 49 yellow delrin 301 single blade stockmans were produced before the 302 was introduced. The knife I received was unused in the original box. As much as I wanted to make it my EDC knife, i just couldn't do it. It's my only "safe queen."

Note: I've learned that the generosity on the Porch is among the highest I've ever seen and just mentioning you want a certain knife sometimes brings that knife to your mailbox, so I'll say I'm no longer looking for a Buck 302 in yellow delrin. My teardrop is just fine! :D

View attachment 1079575
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That is awesome!
 
I can understand collecting knives you won’t use, just to have. Like collecting coins or stamps, etc. But, for me, when it goes into the pocket it becomes a user. Doesn’t mean I will abuse it, but I will use it. If you aren’t going to use it, don’t carry it.:)
 
I generally have two or three knives with me. Often a small Case amber bone stockman, a Ritter minigrip and a SAK rambler on my key ring. Since I lost my William Henry, I don’t do “dress knives” anymore.
 
Well, it just shows there are knives and knives :cool: Same with clothes, tools, vehicles etc. Chambriard is a very nice quality knife, it will cut nearly anything but its primary purpose is more on the gent's side of knives, snack prep as well. Dirty jobs call for dirty methods :D I think a French worker wouldn't use it for beater tasks, they'd reach for an Opinel - a knife that can take more or less anything and is cheap to replace if needs be.

Horses for courses what?:)

We need many different knives for many different situations :cool:
 
The problem I see is that, when I don’t use a particular knife I don’t bond with it and even if at the beginning may have been precious to me, it ends up irrelevant.

It only happened a few times, one with the bladeforum’s 74 (2014?), it was so nice that I’ve never carried it or used it and in the end I sold it to another member here.
The other time was a mint Schrade Carpenter’s whittler, that was exactly what I was looking for for edc, but it was so new that I never had the spirit to use it. This one ended gifted to my brother in law.
So for me if I don’t use them, they end up going.
 
Will Power said:
Well, it just shows there are knives and knives :cool: Same with clothes, tools, vehicles etc. Chambriard is a very nice quality knife, it will cut nearly anything but its primary purpose is more on the gent's side of knives, snack prep as well. Dirty jobs call for dirty methods :D I think a French worker wouldn't use it for beater tasks, they'd reach for an Opinel - a knife that can take more or less anything and is cheap to replace if needs be.

Horses for courses what?:)

We need many different knives for many different situations :cool:
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Yep.
 
Will Power said:
...We need many different knives for many different situations :cool:
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Truth.

I wouldn’t perform a nasty, rough cutting task with a dainty, very sharp folder any more than I’d cut up a raw chicken with a stockman. You *can* turn a nut with a pair of pliers, but that’s what wrenches are for. It’s one thing to not want to use a thing for its intended purpose, but it’s quite another to not wish to subject a valued tool to abuse.

I’m sure most of us *try* to carry a knife that’s appropriate for the tasks we *think* we’ll face in any given day, but occasionally life tosses us a surprise. For that occasion a knife that has no sentimental value—and little retail value—can be a godsend.

I hate to think about the brutality with which I’ve treated the Victorinox Classics that dangle from my key rings. Curiously, I haven’t broken one yet (knock wood).
 
When a knife is new and shiny there can be this period where you wanna baby it, but you've just gotta force yourself to use it a few times and this will pass.
 
lutejones said:
The problem I see is that, when I don’t use a particular knife I don’t bond with it and even if at the beginning may have been precious to me, it ends up irrelevant.

It only happened a few times, one with the bladeforum’s 74 (2014?), it was so nice that I’ve never carried it or used it and in the end I sold it to another member here.
The other time was a mint Schrade Carpenter’s whittler, that was exactly what I was looking for for edc, but it was so new that I never had the spirit to use it. This one ended gifted to my brother in law.
So for me if I don’t use them, they end up going.
Click to expand...

The exact same thing tends to happen to me. As a matter of fact, it did happen to me with the 2014 forum knife. Whether it's a nice knife or a budget one, the knives I value the most are the ones that I actually use.
 
Like I said, I always buy a knife intending to use it, but I've also never bought myself a purdy knife before. It just caught me off guard and made me realize that as much as I like this knife, I need to think about carrying it.

That work task was unexpected but it's a good reminder that things pop up.

Did I mention anything about a Case Large Stockman...??? :D
 
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