Anyone else scared of carrying the nice knives they own?

[bpeezer]

Yes, yes it is my first post.

I think at least 70% of the posters on this thread own knives they don't carry... the the other 30% are BS'ing. I'm sure almost everyone (who is a knife-enthusiast) has bought a knife, simply because they liked it or wanted it. Then, they realized that it just doesn't work well as a EDC for whatever reason.

Example: I have a Gayle Bradley that I love, but I don't carry it because 1) it's too heavy. 2) I can't operate it well with one hand. 3) It feels too big in my pocket. 4) It's too pimpin' for me to lose

There's a difference between not carrying a knife because you don't like carrying it and not carrying a knife because you're scared to hurt it. I don't carry my small Kershaw junkyard dog because I don't like the pocket clip. I do carry my ZT 777 M390 BLK because it's a sweet knife and ridiculously light for its size.

 

[Charlie_K]

Having concern about carrying your nice knives is legitimate. Like it or not there's a certain faction of society, which shall remain without title, that is all too willing to forcibly liberate you or your hardware, and leave you no recourse in getting it back.

 

[kamagong]

Yes, yes it is my first post.

I think at least 70% of the posters on this thread own knives they don't carry... the the other 30% are BS'ing. I'm sure almost everyone (who is a knife-enthusiast) has bought a knife, simply because they liked it or wanted it. Then, they realized that it just doesn't work well as a EDC for whatever reason.

Example: I have a Gayle Bradley that I love, but I don't carry it because 1) it's too heavy. 2) I can't operate it well with one hand. 3) It feels too big in my pocket. 4) It's too pimpin' for me to lose

The question wasn't if you used/carried all your knives, but rather if you were scared of using and carrying your nice ones.

 

[gooeytek]

I don't fit into either generalized category you're trying to lump the posters of this thread into. I do carry just about all my knives. I can't carry fixed blades where I live, but I use them whenever I'm camping/hunting. As for folders, anything is fair game. From $2500 one-off folders, to a $10 SRM. Everything has gotten used and carried unless I've just gotten it to try out, and maybe later sell or trade.

Yes, yes it is my first post.

I think at least 70% of the posters on this thread own knives they don't carry... the the other 30% are BS'ing. I'm sure almost everyone (who is a knife-enthusiast) has bought a knife, simply because they liked it or wanted it. Then, they realized that it just doesn't work well as a EDC for whatever reason.

Example: I have a Gayle Bradley that I love, but I don't carry it because 1) it's too heavy. 2) I can't operate it well with one hand. 3) It feels too big in my pocket. 4) It's too pimpin' for me to lose

 

[AntDog]

"I only buy knives that I intend to carry and use, because I AM MAN"

Hey, by Jove I think you've got it!!! I AM MAN! Hear me ROAR! See me carry and use my knives!!!!! Arrrrrrgh!!!! Grunt, grunt, grunt!!!!!

Seriously, I do carry and use all my knives. I ain't bullsh!t'n.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

I carry all my knives regardless of price with the exception of about a half a dozen that I bought with the intention of selling down the road.

I just lost my wallet with 2 knives one was a custom Crawford and the other a $250 SS Damascus folder. Next mornin' I threw another $800 in knives into my pocket without a thought, (well maybe a little thought )

If all you wanna do is look at knives, look at pictures...

 

[AntDog]

I carry all my knives regardless of price with the exception of about a half a dozen that I bought with the intention of selling down the road.

I just lost my wallet with 2 knives one was a custom Crawford and the other a $250 SS Damascus folder. Next mornin' I threw another $800 in knives into my pocket without a thought, (well maybe a little thought )

If all you wanna do is look at knives, look at pictures...

Ouch... that had to suck. I'm glad to see you got right back on the horse though! I agree man - if you just wanna look, there's plenty of pictures out there.

 

[DrFish]

There's a big difference between carrying and using a knife and letting somebody else touch it though.

I was once putting together a gazebo with my father in law to be, and we had to cut open one of those cardboard blister packs of screws the cheap included hardware comes organized in. I hand him my Sebenza expecting him to cut the plastic around the bolts. Nope. Sticks the blade right through the plastic into the bolts and then slides it through them to the other side. Ouch. Lesson learned.

 

[Akapennypincher]

I do not own any knives work over $160.00, and most are under $75.00. When I hear about people with Rolex Watches, or a $1,000.00 Knife, all I can it is must be nice to be able too, or have that much. My cell phone tells me the time, and I have a watch when I need to have a watch from CVS that was under $20.00.

 

[DShiflet]

Ouch... that had to suck. I'm glad to see you got right back on the horse though! I agree man - if you just wanna look, there's plenty of pictures out there.

I'll carry any knife I own(well, within legal limits of course), but I don't buy the above argument. Yeah there are plenty of pictures, but looking at pictures is not the same as having it in hand, even if you don't ever take it outside your house.

Hell, I have a Cold Steel Hold Out 1 coming in the mail tomorrow. I know it's not a "nice" knife, but by the above argument, I shouldn't own it period. It is too big for me to carry here(6 inch blade, Texas limit is 5.5 inches), but I certainly want to be able to keep it here, open and close it, feel it in hand, even though legally I CAN'T carry it. And no, looking at a picture is not even close to the same thing.

 

[AntDog]

I'll carry any knife I own(well, within legal limits of course), but I don't buy the above argument. Yeah there are plenty of pictures, but looking at pictures is not the same as having it in hand, even if you don't ever take it outside your house.

Hell, I have a Cold Steel Hold Out 1 coming in the mail tomorrow. I know it's not a "nice" knife, but by the above argument, I shouldn't own it period. It is too big for me to carry here(6 inch blade, Texas limit is 5.5 inches), but I certainly want to be able to keep it here, open and close it, feel it in hand, even though legally I CAN'T carry it. And no, looking at a picture is not even close to the same thing.

I agree - looking at a picture isn't the same as holding it in your hand. I said "if you just wanna look, there's plenty of pictures out there". I'm talking safe queens. A knife that's put up for hopes of future increased value and never used. If you're not going to use a knife for anything other than "knifesturbating", what's the point?

So, you can't legally CARRY it, out and about. The real deal is, are you ever going to USE it? Maybe slice up some veggies in the kitchen? Maybe do some yardwork? As far as I know, you can carry anything you damned well please on your own property. I own tons of stuff I'm legally not supposed to carry, but I still use them all.

I was just saying it makes no sense at all to me why someone would want to own something (especially a functional tool, like a knife) just for the sake of owning it. If you never use it, you might as well have saved your money and just looked at the pretty pictures.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

I'll carry any knife I own(well, within legal limits of course), but I don't buy the above argument. Yeah there are plenty of pictures, but looking at pictures is not the same as having it in hand, even if you don't ever take it outside your house.

Hell, I have a Cold Steel Hold Out 1 coming in the mail tomorrow. I know it's not a "nice" knife, but by the above argument, I shouldn't own it period. It is too big for me to carry here(6 inch blade, Texas limit is 5.5 inches), but I certainly want to be able to keep it here, open and close it, feel it in hand, even though legally I CAN'T carry it. And no, looking at a picture is not even close to the same thing.

There a big difference between holding and owning a $75 knife that you can't take outta your home and a $500 Sebenza that sits in a safe, I still believe if you own it use it, I think the op was referring to more expensive knives and being afraid to carry them. If I lost my Opinel I'd be sad but I'd get over it pretty quick. Ya know what my wife said to me when she saw stick $800 with of knives in my pocket the day after I lost my wallet? She said, "didn't you learn yet, why take an expensive knife with you that you might lose again, haven't you learned anything?"

No I haven't, because I did nothing wrong, that's the first wallet I've lost in over 35 years, besides, I like my knives I don't carry the expensive knives because they're expensive, I carry then because they're the best for what I need and what I do.

My Old Man always told me, "...buy the most expensive tool you can afford to do the job, the less you spend, the more times you'll have to replace it."

 

[The Logical One]

Finally... one honest poster. Why didn't you join the "I only buy knives that I intend to carry and use, because I AM MAN" bandwagon?

That's simple.... because I classify myself as a knife collector now. I see nothing wrong nor shameful about buying a knife without the intention to use it. I especially won't use a knife that I intend to sell because as much as people love to say how scratches/wear marks give a knife "character" and blah blah blah.

When you put it up on the exchange nobody would want to touch it because it has been "used". Gosh forbid you sharpened the damn edge.... Oh man.... people act like your knife is diseased!

 

[DShiflet]

ISo, you can't legally CARRY it, out and about. The real deal is, are you ever going to USE it? Maybe slice up some veggies in the kitchen? Maybe do some yardwork? As far as I know, you can carry anything you damned well please on your own property. I own tons of stuff I'm legally not supposed to carry, but I still use them all.

I was just saying it makes no sense at all to me why someone would want to own something (especially a functional tool, like a knife) just for the sake of owning it. If you never use it, you might as well have saved your money and just looked at the pretty pictures.

Nope, I will likely never use the Hold Out. I have kitchen knives for cutting up food in the kitchen, and for yard work, I use a lawnmower, an edger, and a machete, there's no yard work I do that would be done with this:

I want to own it cause I LIKE it. I like holding knives, opening them, feeling them in hand...you can't do that with a picture.

 

[Jesse B.]

I own 2 kinds of knives: The ones I do or might use because I bought them for that purpose, and the ones I bought for their aesthetic, collector's, and/or financial value. The former comprise the majority of my collection and I don't mind using any of them; the latter I don't use.
Using every knife you own seems to be a point of pride for many folks on here. I can't directly relate, but I do appreciate and sincerely respect that approach. However, I cannot abide intolerance of knife collecting.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

Using every knife you own seems to be a point of pride for many folks on here. I can't directly relate, but I do appreciate and sincerely respect that approach. However, I cannot abide intolerance of knife collecting.

I think the term "using every knife you own" is a bit of an overstatement by some of us. What counts, is if you are willing to edc/use every knife you own.

I lately edc a southard, but that doesn't make my other knives safe queens or "collectibles". I am willing to carry any of them, however carrying all of them isn't an option unless its the apocalypse

 

[mrdabble]

There are some knives that get used a lot. There are some that I don't use at all. Sometimes knives go from one category to the other, and vice versa. I have one knife I won't ever be using for sure. There may be more in the future that sit, there will most certainly be more users to come. It works like that because it is how I enjoy my hobby the most.

Am I "afraid" to use my nice knives? No. I don't wish for them to become damaged or extremely dirty. I have been fortunate to be put on new construction atm but while remodeling forclosed homes, I run into the nastiest of nasty sometimes. I do not wish to expose my knives to that. I understand it can be broken down and cleaned and sharpened, but if there is a less expensive knife that I have dedicated for the purpose of not caring about its condition then I will use that instead. It's simply in the best interest of protecting my property.

I do understand that I can't take anything with me when my time comes, but I am 23 years young so I will assume that I have a few more years to go, and in the time the ones I've saved can come out to play and others can be put away and deciding which goes where is half the fun to me. When my friends began to ask me why I have SO MANY knives, I replied by telling them I officially considered myself a knife collector. And I'm comfortable with that. No fear, only fun.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Nope, I will likely never use the Hold Out. I have kitchen knives for cutting up food in the kitchen, and for yard work, I use a lawnmower, an edger, and a machete, there's no yard work I do that would be done with this:

I want to own it cause I LIKE it. I like holding knives, opening them, feeling them in hand...you can't do that with a picture.

Your knives, whatever works for you, my opinion as far as the pictures comment no one said you have to agree. I also agree, I like to hold knives and play with them too, have so since the 60s there's nothing wrong with that but aside from owning a knife you can't legally carry, if you had a $600 knife would you carry it or would you keep it at home afraid to use it or lose it? That I believe is the
OPs question and I may be wrong and if I am I apologize but I didn't think you ever answered it, just the comment about what I said.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

DShiflet, I apologize, I went back and re-read your reply, you did answer the op. My mistake, I misunderstood your reply.

 

[plue]

Finally... one honest poster. Why didn't you join the "I only buy knives that I intend to carry and use, because I AM MAN" bandwagon?

I'm not sure why you think this is impossible. A knife is a tool to be used, if you don't use it, then why buy it in the first place?