Are Knives Just Tools?

is this a car or a work of art?
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Tool mostly. Sometimes it's pocket jewelry. But I use them all.

That said - if I had a very rare knife I doubt I'd use it, but I'd move it to someone who's more of a collector so it's preserved.
 
Some Maydole hammers to illustrate my previous point. Just try and tell me these aren't beautiful!

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#60 in this image.
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FortyTwoBlades said:
There is a special kind of beauty found in tools and machines that I like to call "functional beauty." When a tool is refined in its design and superbly crafted to be idealized for its purpose it automatically assumes a kind of silent grace that no painting could ever hope to achieve.
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Couldn't agree more! I have a few artsy friends and the money they want for some of their fingerpaintings, is quite frankly, laughable. Of course, there is beautiful art out there but it doesn't do anything for me like music. A painting has never moved me like a great song on a killer system can. First post in ages and im already rambling :P

I think knives can in many cases be more than tools, but they are first and foremost a tool. In the end of the world total SHTF scenario that many out there indulge, most knives no matter their current value, would likely be considered valuable tools. I've definitely got enough knives for the rest of my life, but Ill always want more. Once your got your bases covered for the tasks you do in everyday life, your doing it because you enjoy it. I have way more knives than I need but I carry and use them all (15 highish end production folders/couple of fb's). Of course, I dont bring my spydie sprints to work in the shop to get all oily and such, but who knows, I may someday.

Point is, if they capture your mind and interest this much to join a forum dedicated to them, they are likely more than tools to you. Too bad 99.9% of people don't think like us :P

*edit After I posted, I saw the maydole's. They are exquisite tools. I would love to have a few. But unlike knives, i'd want just enough to cover my bases in everyday life.
 
powernoodle, I definitely relate to your insightful comments. I just bought my last one, till the next one. I think we are fellow travelers.
 
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leafstorm said:
Couldn't agree more! I have a few artsy friends and the money they want for some of their fingerpaintings, is quite frankly, laughable. Of course, there is beautiful art out there but it doesn't do anything for me like music. A painting has never moved me like a great song on a killer system can. First post in ages and im already rambling :P

[...]

*edit After I posted, I saw the maydole's. They are exquisite tools. I would love to have a few. But unlike knives, i'd want just enough to cover my bases in everyday life.
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LOL don't get me wrong, or course--conventional medium art is wonderful, and often times well deserving of the money asked providing that the artist knows how to price their work in accordance with its quality. But functional beauty is this whole different kind of beauty and artistry that's so far removed from traditional medium artwork as to make it, essentially, an apples/oranges comparison. And I place more value on functional beauty in my daily life than I do on traditional art (though I still value it greatly!) For some pretty dang cool modern art you should check out the work of our very own Andy Moon Wilson. :cool::thumbup:

Re: the hammers vs. knives thing, I treat both the same way. I rarely buy two of the same pattern, and when I do there's usually some significant difference between them, like size. My buying strategy is to put as many of the class of tool at my disposal to cover as wide a range of tasks as I can. So for riveting work, a couple of sizes of ball peins and a small cross pein cover me pretty good. For metal forming work I have a bulky scarred up "club" of a cross pein and a longer-handled lighter (though still hefty) cross pein with a polished face. Then for odd jobs around the homestead I have a variety of claw hammers, the most-used of which is an old Estwing rip-claw framing hammer. Etc. etc. :)
 
BladeChick777 said:
I buy mine as tools and with intent to use them as such.
However, do I truly need more than a SAK? Probably not.
Would I need more than one or two decent pocket knives?
Nope. Do I have more than that? Yes.
So while I do carry and use them, part of it will always be novelty for anyone that owns more than one or two decent work knives. Us people that have $1,000+ wrapped up in this... fixation appreciate our knives and our nice tools, but we truly don't NEED more than a couple hundred worth lol.
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I agree, but would like to point out that just like one screwdriver won't do every job, one knife won't either :D
 
People may buy or view their knives as just tools, but no. Knives themselves are not just tools. They are weapons, utensils, works of art, spiritual and cultural items.
 
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