Anyone use their customs or more expensive knives?

I buy knives so I can enjoy them. And if I'm not using them... how can I enjoy them? My Dozier and Sebenza see regular use and carry.
 
Every knife I own gets used regardless of cost. If I purchase it, it's because I like it for one reason or another. My hunting buddie feels the same as I do. A few weeks ago he takes out a brand new CR Neil Roberts and takes down a small black birch for a walking stick during pre season scouting. We laughed for a good 2 minutes as he deflowered another safe queen from the prior owner. :D
 
I used a PJ Tomes trapper everyday, and thats what $400 new? Keep in mind however that I use the tool required for the job, my knife is to cut with! So other than a few scratches, and the blade having been shaarpened its in great condition!
Steven
 
I don't "put a hurt" on any knife but I have carried my Ed Fowler Gentleman's Pronghorn more than a few times and its value lies considerably above your "$200-$300"......
 
mhawg said:
My strategy has become, buy two of them if possible and use one then put one away. If I purchase a rare and beautiful knife and can't bring myself to go whack something with it I do like Antonio Luis and find a used one of that model and then I can check out the performance. I remember when I would use a $20 and store the $50 one away but now I use the $500 knife and put the $800 one away.
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I am guilty of that too. I have more than one of every knife I really like and only use one at a time. The others stay in the MFG packaging. Mainly because I've found that a lot of knives I really like are eventuallly discontinued or already were when I bought them so I'm guaranteed to have my favorites for years to come.
 
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Lemme ask a question here, then:

If you were getting a knife just to look at, why would you... for example, pay $200 for a Spyderco S90V CF handle Military when the regular model looks exactly the same? Answer: you're getting that S90V for higher performance, meaning you're getting it to use it! (Or at least you should be :p)
 
Some of my cheap blades are now $$$, does this count?, regardless of the price I love to use my knives, it seems like the blades that get boxed, are just the ones that don't measure up, buy a knife as a tool and use it...G.
 
I regularly use custom knives ranging in price from $250 - $550. I have a few "beater" knives that I use for rough work (cutting carpet, working in the yard, etc). I purchase nice knives because I appreciate the craftsmanship and performance. Not using my knives for their intended purpose seems like a waste. However, I can understand the hesitance many feel when using an expensive knife.
 
I use all of my knives custom and other wise. I am not going to buy a knife so someone else can use it first. Don't make sense to me.
 
Ed Fowlers knives are a great example of a custom that is meant to be used. It can also be made pretty nice again by Ed if it gets beat up and I am sure he would be happy to do it.

I took my new Caly3ZDP and put a scratch in her cutting up cardboard boxes.

I have had a Lambert Whar with all sorts of beautiful bits for a while and I am only now getting so I can use it.

I have a Busse SH-E that was a beat user I totally polished up and sharpened that i would definitly use.

I have a SS4 I have been using hard since it was released and is stripped and has a very thin zero convex edge.

I would not mind a nice top of the line custom of a 4 to 5 inch fixed blade even if it was a couple grand I would use it for 20 years.
 
I appreciate all of the responses. Some of you guys are more brave than I could ever be. I guess my problem is more with rarity than price. I have three customs where the maker has done that same style blade before and after mine, but if I damage the knife a replacement will mean a very long wait and perhaps a bigger price tag. Whereas if I ruin a production or semi-production piece, it can be replaced with an identical unit rather quickly. Maybe I'm just being silly and need to get over it and not worry about scratches or rust spots. I think that is the consensus amongst you all.
 
hudak said:
I appreciate all of the responses. Some of you guys are more brave than I could ever be. I guess my problem is more with rarity than price. I have three customs where the maker has done that same style blade before and after mine, but if I damage the knife a replacement will mean a very long wait and perhaps a bigger price tag. Whereas if I ruin a production or semi-production piece, it can be replaced with an identical unit rather quickly. Maybe I'm just being silly and need to get over it and not worry about scratches or rust spots. I think that is the consensus amongst you all.
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Just one small point here, while it's cheaper to replace, discontinuations do happen in the production companies, so you might be stuck if they do discontinue the particular model you like. Of course, there's the second hand market, but that's pretty uncertain and some models increase in price after they're disco'd.
 
I'm going to WY antelope hunting next month and will be wearing my Randall #25 which will hopefully get some gutting duties. We have a total of three tags so it should see some service. I always have a #1 with me as well.

I'm having a hard time deciding which custom shop Buck 110 to make an EDC.
 
I don't own any art pieces, so my knives are strictly users, even my Sebenza. I find that I enjoy using a knife much, much more than just owning it. That's why I sold my Spyderco Military and CUDA Maxx. Those were two great knives, but they just stayed in the safe because I never had occassion to use them. I took them out once a while to play with, but I never really connected to them. So I sold them and I've never regretted it.

I figure if I can't afford to use a knife then I can't afford to own it.
 
i paid a days wages for my first 110 and used the snot out of it..
of my collection of 110 i have a few i use..
most are art knives with gold or other looks only aspects...
a days wages for a using knife would be reasonable and i would use it ..
if it is an art knife then i got it for looks and not use..
to each his own...
if i use it then it is not in the display for show..
mine are bought for one or the other..
hard use or show only..
 
hudak, here i think is the "problem", quote "but if I damage the knife ".
what is "damage" to you ?
i don't consider scratches on the blade, scuffs on bolsters, some "grime" on scales, or enough use to eventually need a properly done re-sharpening, "damage".
just signs of good use. sure if i want to sell it, there most likely will be a 50% drop in price, but so what ?
lots of us have a vehicle that's org. price was $50,000 and use it "hard".
depreciates every day. so what ? money itself only offers potential for some enjoyment. i trade my money for the real thing.
roland
 
I use my own and my breeden. I like seeing that so many of the knives I make get used- and I see photos all the time of them.

I've sold a few that I know won't get used- number 100, for example went to a speculator this weekend. And honestly, I hope he sells it for $600 some day!

I don't know where i'd come down on it if I managed to own a really sweet custom from one of the famous dudes, but i'm not in the market for buying those anyhow :)
 
Ed Fowlers knives are a great example of a custom that is meant to be used.
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Everything I buy is meant to be used. I do not consider myself a collector at all. More like a user who appreciates a well designed , well crafted cutting tool.
My Erickson slippie has scuffs on the bolsters from use and some scuffs on the blade , it looks loved.
 
Some knives are for use, some are for collecting. There is a line that every person has where they say "ok this costs too much to use regularly" and it depends on the person. I know that some people would never hard use a 200 dollar knife and there are others who use their >1000 customs all the time.

I realize around here the idea is why buy it if you wont use it, but sometimes thats just how it goes.
 
My EDC is a custom that cost me $600, and that was discounted because I paid cash upfront when I ordered it (I trusted the maker pretty well).

I think it's fine to use an expensive knife, but the key is to choose very carefully and not flit from one hi-dollar knife to another. If you do, before you know it you'll have 2 or 3 thousand dollars worth of knives, only one of which you use, and you can't sell the rest for anywhere near what you've paid, because they all have minor wear & scratches from being EDC'ed. Not a major disaster, but not very smart either.
 
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