Anyone else scared of carrying the nice knives they own?

I wont even carry my Delica 4. Or my Native. Or my Buck Vantage. Or my Mini Cyclone. They all live safely in a bag in my desk.

I do carry my Vic SAK and the Ontario Rat 2 that I bought second hand.
 
This is a classic question, isn't it?

A knife can be bought as a user or as a piece of a collection.
Both reasons are legitimate.
While it satisfying to just own them, using them brings a special kind of experience.
One learns to apprechiate good quality and wokmanship.

I once bought a super cool flashlight (then one of the best in it's class). Because of the price I kept it well protected in a drawer.
Soon forgot about it. Years later I found it again. Now it is old and while it still works the performance is mediocre by todays standards.

Hope this helps
red mag
 
plue said:
if you don't use it, then why buy it in the first place?
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Because we enjoy owning them? Why buy more than 10 knives period? I mean, do you NEED more than say, a decent EDC folder, a set of kitchen knives, a machete, and depending on your habits, job, training, and personal beliefs, maybe a hunting knife, a small "bushcraft" knife, a dive knife, a "combat/fighting" fixed blade and/or a "tactical" folder? We buy knives cause we like them-the same reason people buy art, or collect stamps, or baseball cards, or coins, or whatever.
 
I use my knives, (see my sig) and if it doesn't get used it doesn't get kept. I routinely carry several knives or different styles, etc for different uses. Although lately I have been so pleased with the Spyderco Mules (the ultimate users if you ask me designed for exactly that, to use and try out various steels) that I have virtually done away with carrying folders when I have the Mule with me.
 
Keyman said:
Nope.
Not me.
But then again, $5.00 or $500.00, I buy my knives with the intent of using them.
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Me too. I use them because they make my life easier and not because I "love" them. They're just things. Take them away and I'll carry on with my life without skipping a beat.
 
I am user not a collector, & anything I don't use usually ends up getting sold or traded. So no, I don't have this problem.
 
TypeSly said:
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? :D
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Why is it so hard to believe that I/we use expensive knives?
My $180 ZT 0200 is a lot stronger and works better than my $20 RAT-2.
So why not use the stronger, better one?
 
bladeboss said:
Why is it so hard to believe that I/we use expensive knives?
My $180 ZT 0200 is a lot stronger and works better than my $20 RAT-2.
So why not use the stronger, better one?
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I'm with you on this brother, I've used all mine so far, and my favorites are my CF/M390 Military, and my ZT560 CFCB, I say use em!
 
bladeboss said:
Why is it so hard to believe that I/we use expensive knives?
My $180 ZT 0200 is a lot stronger and works better than my $20 RAT-2.
So why not use the stronger, better one?
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Some of us have $1500-2000+ knives. In that case it changes things a little when it comes to willingness to get it scratched up. I wouldn't hesitate to use a $180 knife... Heck my beater knife was a $800 knife.
 
I buy them to use 'em. None of mne are exorbitant, but a couple would be tough to replace.
Yesterday I carried my Vagnino custom.
My regular EDC is a sprint run PM2 with CNC'd micarta scales that cost as much as a standard-run PM2.
My favorite, prettiest fixed blad is a Fiddleback Forge. I keep it above the workbench for anything that needs cut in the garage.
I have a Buck knife (104, I think) I got as a kid (like over 30 years ago), and it always felt a bit fragile. So it still looks new. Always felt bad about that, but now I have much stronger users and I don't want to break that one.
 
Certainly, to each his own, but I like to use my knives. I fully respect everyones opinion, but for me I find I get a better sence of admiration and respect for a tool that way - more connected, if you will. I have used a Randall to skin two deer a year for the last 20+ years and numerous hogs, etc. This will be the first year that it doesn't go out with me because I have progressed to the point that my own knives out-perform the Randall. This year I'll be carrying my own drop point in D2 with Buckeye burl scales. My wife says, " life is too short to not use the fine china from time to time".
 
digitalurbancamo said:
If you are scared to use it then why buy it? From my least expensive to my most expansive I carry them all.
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My wife said this to me when I bought a BM 300 NS. So I did. The first day I carried it - at work...........GONE! Now, I have "work knives" and the other ones. :D

I use EVERY knife I own. If I don't it's in the exchange!
 
plue said:
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?
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I didn't say it was impossible... I just noticed that almostevery post up that point was from people who ONLY use and carry all their knives. I just didn't believe everyone... maybe that's just me.

Also, I knew there had to be people like me who have EDC's and have knives they won't EDC for one reason or another. Like the original poster, I have a few knives I'm scared to damage, therefore it's only for my collection and pleasure. Seems like I'm gonna get bashed on this thread for having this opinion.
 
The Logical One said:
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!
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Great response, I couldn't have said it better myself. That is so funny, that you mentioned the sharpened edge. I recently had a buyer back out of a deal to buy one of my Spydeys, because he noticed "non-factory" marks on the edge of the blade! I had never even sharpened it, but only stropped it. :D
 
I think if you buy a knife with the intention of using it, don't think about it, just use it. Did you invest the money into the knife or did you buy it to use it?
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
I think if you buy a knife with the intention of using it, don't think about it, just use it. Did you invest the money into the knife or did you buy it to use it?
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How about buying it just to HAVE it? I think somewhere along the way in this knife hobby some people have this solid notion that a knife is strictly a TOOL and it should be USED. You don't collect socket wrenches, or hammers, or crow bars. People collect knives and as mentioned earlier there is a broad range in terms of cost of the knife.

You wouldn't "collect" a $30 tenacious and have it be a safe queen, but it's a different story if you have a one off custom or even a mid-tech knife that is no longer being made and is hard to find. I went through a phase where I told myself I would carry every knife I own, but recently I came to a different phase of my knife collecting where I simply want to HAVE it, and that itself gives me enough justification to own it.
 
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