Anyone else find themselves doing this ?

T

Tostig

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Jun 16, 2009
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whenever I go to someones house and food is being served , I usually offer to help make myself useful in the kitchen , even if it means just to wash dishes afterwards. My reason is because I cannot help but wonder what sort of kitchen knives they have.
For instance at my fiance's grandmothers house yesterday I was put on chopping onion patrol , my weapon was an old looking , yet formidable Paring knife. upon closer examination it is an Ontario Paring knife , probably 50-60 years old , it belonged to her mother. ( my fiance's grandma's , mom !).
I was instantly obsessed with this knife , to the point where I wanted it , or at least one just like it.
I imagined myself using it to hunt and fish with , puncturing car doors, felling whole stands of Fir and Pine , building log cabins and selling them for 10K only so I can buy more knives.

Seriously though , it was a neat and obviously used/loved little Paring knife , good old fashioned American carbon steel !!! I went on ebay to find a similiar one and put it in my Watch list , I have to have a knife like that now.

Ah my obsessions..

I also eyeball men's pants pockets whenever I see a clip to see if I can ascertain what brand knife they are carrying , trying not to look like i'm checkin' them out in the meantime , it's no easy feat.... :D

Well ?



Tostig
 
Having some cocktails with lunch again Tostig? :D I do admit that I do a double take when I see a clip hanging out of a pocket.
 
I can say that I do the same.

Perhaps the most awkward was in the men's restroom at a bar, some guy and I compared knives.;)
 
I usually end up sharpening all their dull kitchen knives with one of the stoneware coffee mugs. Seems like no one has old carbon blades in the kitchen anymore.
 
Cynic2701 said:
I can say that I do the same.

Perhaps the most awkward was in the men's restroom at a bar, some guy and I compared knives.;)
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LOL, I think I would of taken it out of the mens restroom first..:D

Seriously though, I tend to notice if someone's carrying, whether it's a sheathed knife or multi-tool or a pocket clip. I haven't gotten to the point where I can identify the knife by the pocket clip quite yet..:o
 
ono724 said:
LOL, I think I would of taken it out of the mens restroom first..:D

Seriously though, I tend to notice if someone's carrying, whether it's a sheathed knife or multi-tool or a pocket clip. I haven't gotten to the point where I can identify the knife by the pocket clip quite yet..:o
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You'd be surprised at how easy it is to recognize brands, at least, just by the pocket clip.

Then, as long as you are familiar with their product lines, you can determine the knife from what sticks out.
 
About 12 years ago, when I visited by grandmother, I saw that she was using some cheapie paring knives. After trying to sharpen them a bit, I realized they wouldn't take or hold an edge very well - so I decided to make her a paring knife.
Picked up a paring knife blade from (K&G or Koval - don't recall which) and got some lacewood for the handle. Lacewood is VERY light and thought that would help her with her arthritic hands while doing food prep.
I made the paring knife and gave it to her about a year later. She really liked that knife and used it every day!
She passed away about 5 years later (in her late 80's) and when my mother and her sister were going through all the belongings, they found that paring knife there in the kitchen. Well used, but not much wear at all. They returned the knife to me and it was retired then and there - it will always be my grandma's knife...

So yes, I do look in people's kitchens and offer to help so I can check out what they use for kitchen cutlery. And, if it's lacking - who knows...maybe I'll make 'em a knife to use. :)

Regards,
Mike
 
Tostig said:
whenever I go to someones house and food is being served , I usually offer to help make myself useful in the kitchen , even if it means just to wash dishes afterwards. My reason is because I cannot help but wonder what sort of kitchen knives they have.
For instance at my fiance's grandmothers house yesterday I was put on chopping onion patrol , my weapon was an old looking , yet formidable Paring knife. upon closer examination it is an Ontario Paring knife , probably 50-60 years old , it belonged to her mother. ( my fiance's grandma's , mom !).
I was instantly obsessed with this knife , to the point where I wanted it , or at least one just like it.
I imagined myself using it to hunt and fish with , puncturing car doors, felling whole stands of Fir and Pine , building log cabins and selling them for 10K only so I can buy more knives.

Seriously though , it was a neat and obviously used/loved little Paring knife , good old fashioned American carbon steel !!! I went on ebay to find a similiar one and put it in my Watch list , I have to have a knife like that now.

Ah my obsessions..

I also eyeball men's pants pockets whenever I see a clip to see if I can ascertain what brand knife they are carrying , trying not to look like i'm checkin' them out in the meantime , it's no easy feat.... :D

Well ?



Tostig
Click to expand...

Hmmm...take two Zyprexa and call me in the morning, Tostig. :p

I too have a strange affection for carbon steel kitchen knives and Old Hickory are da bomb!
 
Most folks do have crappy if not just dull knives in their kitchens. They end up in the drawers, the dishwasher, and often times the wrong knife is used.
You can only help so much sometimes.
I have a set of those Old Hickory Knives, some new ones aren't as thick as they used to be. I got a 5 pc. set from Knife Center that was the old style, just a few months ago. They have the worst edges on them, I've convexed 4 of them so far. Best "cheap" knives out there.
 
I don't look at kitchen knives, I usually bring up knives in general. The person pulls out a Frost or S&W, and I show them my GEC or Case and they piss there pants. They say whoa.... " I've got to get me some of dem' knives!". A long time friend works for a prison, and uses a knife everyday. I told him to look for a Kershaw or Spyderco.....instead of a S&W extreme ops! I think people buy what is in the stores, and do not look online. I have German steel in my kitchen, and others have PRC made POS. When I try to cut a steak, I feel like I need to buy a hobo knife and use it when I eat over someone's. I do not see a lot of people with pocket clips, though. People seem to be really scared of knives and guns in general near me, nowadays. Eh....
 
As far as kitchen knives go...no can't say I've had a curiosity to see what they've got.

But yes on checking out the pocket clip or sheath on the belt.

The other day a supplier (bolt guy) came to the shop and I was immediately drawn to his pocket because of his clip, trying to ascertain the make and model. It was like my eyes zoomed to 3X magnification, before I knew what I was doing, then I realized it was a cheap pocket box knife.:( Scott our bolt guy caught me and probably thought what is this guy looking at.:eek:
 
I found a very old rusty KJ Eriksson Mora in a jar of steak knives next to grandma's stove, i asked if i could fix it up a bit, and i took it home and gave it the best sharpening and polishing and rust removal i could and gave it back.
It was like brushing off a thick layer of dirt on top of a beautiful mirror.
Or something.
I look forward to inheriting it.




.
 
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most of the time when i see a pocket clip it ends up being a cheapo but at the DFW airport one of the TSA guards had a spyderco civilian, i was torn between laughter and jealousy
 
This is the funniest thread!
I compared folding kinves today when a salesman paid me a visit and we got on a rant about "good 'ol fashioned american craftsmanship", and where the hell has it all gone, and why the hell do we have to pay so much for what was considered commonplace skill in hand manufacture not so long ago...at which point he pulled out his imported Gerber edc, and I countered with my imported Spyderco. Then we both laughed and felt like we needed to justify why we sold the farm.
I guess the point I'm making is, classic values never go out of style. We all want good things at a good price, and will apparently sell out this country to get it. Perhaps this is why we get misty eyed about finding that antique gem...it signifies a time when people wholeheartedly invested thier blood sweat and tears into this country and were rewarded tenfold. It's called pride, and it's not as common as it once was.
 
Cynic2701 said:
I can say that I do the same.

Perhaps the most awkward was in the men's restroom at a bar, some guy and I compared knives.;)
Click to expand...

The real question is:

Was yours bigger than his? :eek::D

I'm always checking out knives where ever I may be. Yes, I always find a reason to hit the kitchen too.
 
Vanguard41xx said:
I don't look at kitchen knives, I usually bring up knives in general. The person pulls out a Frost or S&W, and I show them my GEC or Case and they piss there pants. They say whoa.... " I've got to get me some of dem' knives!". A long time friend works for a prison, and uses a knife everyday. I told him to look for a Kershaw or Spyderco.....instead of a S&W extreme ops! I think people buy what is in the stores, and do not look online. I have German steel in my kitchen, and others have PRC made POS. When I try to cut a steak, I feel like I need to buy a hobo knife and use it when I eat over someone's. I do not see a lot of people with pocket clips, though. People seem to be really scared of knives and guns in general near me, nowadays. Eh....
Click to expand...

Hmmm...with PRC made POS you are SOL when the SHTF. :)
 
I have this problem. it is even worse since i saw one girl wearing one, and now it just is that much more awkward. I am really dissapointed by the lack of knives i see on people these days. I am considering getting a boatload of kershaw scallions and just handing them out. that or the little leathermans.
 
My knife affinity doesn't really extend to kitchen knives much, but I definitely hear you on scoping out people's pocket knives. :D Despite lax knife laws and having Kershaw, Benchmade, CRKT, Gerber, and Al Mar (probably among others) based in my state, I don't see many knives around town. Being a student at a liberal arts college (surrounded by NKP), I see even fewer around campus. :thumbdn:
 
Here's a story: for Halloween, the accounting dept of my work all dressed up in a high-school theme. They pick a new theme each year. This one lady, who is definitely an NKP, dressed like a gang member, which is itself ironic. They each had their picture taken, and the pictures were posted online so we could all see what they look like. In her picture, she was definitely holding a CQC-8 as a prop, like that's something typically carried by the average gang member:rolleyes: Anyway, after some digging, I find out it belongs to this new guy in the accounting department, and we had a good conversation about knives and such. We were comparing techniques for how to use our impressive knives at our cubicles without causing a panic. The consensus was for peeling an apple. :D
 
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