Are we carrying tougher knives than are needed?

[vinprom]

Let's simplify for clarity that tougher is strongly connected with the size. To me the boundary is 4-1/8". The 4-1/4" or more are too long for pocket carry, even if the knife is thin. I am puzzled how is possible 1/8" to make such a difference, for knives over 4"?
Anyway, this is based on my experience. I have carried the Mercator and the big Squirrel only once and twice. The Sodbuster and Sperapint ( both Friedr. Herder, 4-1/8") are noticeably better for EDC. In my experience the tickness of the handle is not so important and critical than the 1/8" mentioned above. And, of course, the small Squirrel is good enough and tough enough (only the blade shape distinguish Squirrels from Douk Douk) for EDC. I do not have any knives with pocket clips, and the Mercator and Opinel #7 are the only lockinng folders I have. Ohh, and I never entertain the self-defence idea.

https://imgur.com/57nPrAF

 

[The Whip]

My grandfather carried one of these for his cutting needs.

He also cut his grass with one of these,

turned screws with these,

drilled holes with these,

loosened nuts and bolts with these,

and had one of these to defend himself and his home.

Does that history somehow make these items overkill?

I understand nostalgia and often long for simpler times and simpler needs, too. But I am very grateful for, and appreciative of, the tremendous advancements in technology, materials, capabilities, ease of use, and safety features that have arisen in all manner of tools and equipment in my lifetime, especially knives.

I grew up carrying small, carbon-steel friction folders. I happily retired them in favor of larger, improved models with every useful advancement the knife industry offered. I'll continue to assess my need for the state-of-the-art and buy accordingly. Follow the Luddite path if you wish, but please don't try to convince me that it's superior.


-Steve

 

[Wild Willie]

My grandfather carried one of these for his cutting needs.

He also cut his grass with one of these,

turned screws with these,

drilled holes with these,

loosened nuts and bolts with these,

and had one of these to defend himself and his home.

Does that history somehow make these items overkill?

I understand nostalgia and often long for simpler times and simpler needs, too. But I am very grateful for, and appreciative of, the tremendous advancements in technology, materials, capabilities, ease of use, and safety features that have arisen in all manner of tools and equipment in my lifetime, especially knives.

I grew up carrying small, carbon-steel friction folders. I happily retired them in favor of larger, improved models with every useful advancement the knife industry offered. I'll continue to assess my need for the state-of-the-art and buy accordingly. Follow the Luddite path if you wish, but please don't try to convince me that it's superior.


-Steve

Is that a forehand revolver? I inherited one that belonged to my great grandfather in 38 Smith. It's a fun little piece, and certainly better than nothing.

 

[norcalAF]

Is that a forehand revolver? I inherited one that belonged to my great grandfather in 38 Smith. It's a fun little piece, and certainly better than nothing.

I love inherited tools, I got a SKS that I remember shooting a few times in my youth when my grandfather passed. My pops has a few that I will probably end up with. Neither are/were as much of knife and gun nuts as I am, my daughter is gonna end up with a lot of cool stuff! I'm already getting her into knives, she thinks the Spyderco logo is "so cool" she is 5

 

[The Whip]

Is that a forehand revolver? I inherited one that belonged to my great grandfather in 38 Smith. It's a fun little piece, and certainly better than nothing.

I think it's a Harrington & Richardson .32 caliber five-shot. My grandfather's was not nearly as clean as that one in the picture. At some point in its life, someone had used the gun's butt as a hammer (I believe the abuse occurred prior to my grandfather's ownership, as I can't envision him doing such a thing).

After I inherited it, I tried shooting it...once. I got a couple pieces of bullet fragments in the skin of my hand because, as I discovered after the fact, the cylinder didn't seat properly against the barrel. Because of its sentimental value, I inquired about having a smith repair it, but it was ridiculously cost-prohibitive. I didn't want to keep a broken pistol that was dangerous to shoot, so I threw it away.

But I still have his three-bladed Cattaraugus (not that one in the photo; I didn't bother to dig mine out of storage), as well as a few other items by which to remember him. He'd probably snicker at me for holding onto such things, saying something like, "It's just a beat-up old pocket knife!" He'd be right, of course; it's not in great shape. It's special, but only to me.

-Steve

 

[norcalAF]

I think it's a Harrington & Richardson .32 caliber five-shot. My grandfather's was not nearly as clean as that one in the picture. At some point in its life, someone had used the gun's butt as a hammer (I believe the abuse occurred prior to my grandfather's ownership, as I can't envision him doing such a thing).

After I inherited it, I tried shooting it...once. I got a couple pieces of bullet fragments in the skin of my hand because, as I discovered after the fact, the cylinder didn't seat properly against the barrel. Because of its sentimental value, I inquired about having a smith repair it, but it was ridiculously cost-prohibitive. I didn't want to keep a broken pistol that was dangerous to shoot, so I threw it away.

But I still have his three-bladed Cattaraugus (not that one in the photo; I didn't bother to dig mine out of storage), as well as a few other items by which to remember him. He'd probably snicker at me for holding onto such things, saying something like, "It's just a beat-up old pocket knife!" He'd be right, of course; it's not in great shape. It's special, but only to me.

-Steve

My grandpa was fond of getting whatever chinesium multitool that was on sale at the feed store and using it till the blade got dull then sharpening it on his bench grinder. When he wore through the blade, the cycle would start again. I slipped one into his coffin with him before they closed the lid, I'm sure he got a good chuckle out of that.

 

[RugerNurse]

I like the thinner stocks

 

[shinyedges]

I like the thinner stocks

What's that snail on the stick?

 

[Wild Willie]

I think it's a Harrington & Richardson .32 caliber five-shot. My grandfather's was not nearly as clean as that one in the picture. At some point in its life, someone had used the gun's butt as a hammer (I believe the abuse occurred prior to my grandfather's ownership, as I can't envision him doing such a thing).

After I inherited it, I tried shooting it...once. I got a couple pieces of bullet fragments in the skin of my hand because, as I discovered after the fact, the cylinder didn't seat properly against the barrel. Because of its sentimental value, I inquired about having a smith repair it, but it was ridiculously cost-prohibitive. I didn't want to keep a broken pistol that was dangerous to shoot, so I threw it away.

But I still have his three-bladed Cattaraugus (not that one in the photo; I didn't bother to dig mine out of storage), as well as a few other items by which to remember him. He'd probably snicker at me for holding onto such things, saying something like, "It's just a beat-up old pocket knife!" He'd be right, of course; it's not in great shape. It's special, but only to me.

-Steve

Well that's a shame. I've been contemplating taking the one I have over to Doug Turnbull to have it restored (his shop is about 40 minutes away), but I'm afraid of what that would run...

 

[Wild Willie]

I love inherited tools, I got a SKS that I remember shooting a few times in my youth when my grandfather passed. My pops has a few that I will probably end up with. Neither are/were as much of knife and gun nuts as I am, my daughter is gonna end up with a lot of cool stuff! I'm already getting her into knives, she thinks the Spyderco logo is "so cool" she is 5

I have a couple of odds and ends I've scooped up from passed relatives over the years. Rescued a different great grandad's ka bar hunting knife and had a new handle and sheath made for it. I'm pretty much the only one that'll invest the time and money to maintain some of those heirlooms, my brother would lose them, and my cousin would just can them...

 

[The Whip]

Well that's a shame. I've been contemplating taking the one I have over to Doug Turnbull to have it restored (his shop is about 40 minutes away), but I'm afraid of what that would run...

If you look into it, brace yourself. My inquiry was thirty years ago, and the estimate was not only more than the gun was worth, but more than I would've spent on a decent modern revolver at the time. Sentiment only goes so far!


-Steve

 

[norcalAF]

I have a couple of odds and ends I've scooped up from passed relatives over the years. Rescued a different great grandad's ka bar hunting knife and had a new handle and sheath made for it. I'm pretty much the only one that'll invest the time and money to maintain some of those heirlooms, my brother would lose them, and my cousin would just can them...

Yea, such is life. My pops will likely leave behind a ton of glassware that is valuable, but hard to sell in a reasonable amount of time, and Lord knows I don't want his national geographic collection! One thing I really enjoy is inherited cast iron cookware, I have some of my mom's pieces that were her grandmother's, and I keep bugging Granny about a griddle that she still won't part with!

 

[knarfeng]

I was just perusing the EDC thread and came across this daily carry pic. Back in the day, my dad and granddad would carry either a traditional slipjoint or a SAK and that would address all of their needs. I was thinking that old Buck slipjoint would do most of what I need, and whatever's missing would be done by the SAK.

We now carry a heavy-duty locking folder + fixed or + SAK or multi-tool. The companies selling these to us advertise them as being capable of heavy-duty cutting all day long. Who among us are really doing that? (and it doesn't include LOOKING for things to cut, just to use our knives!)

I find myself going through these phases where I carry a tactical folder for awhile. I use it rarely, and realize a simple SAK would do me fine and be less conspicuous and take up less room on my clothes. Then, I carry a SAK for months or years. Then get the itch for a tactical folder again. Makes me realize that (for me at least) it is a hobby first and foremost, one that occasionally has another use.

Am I surrounded here with warehouse workers, farm workers and guys who spend all day in the woods?

MIne too,

As a young man I carried a Buck 303 every day for well over 10 years. That's a stockman with a 2 1/2" main blade, which in those days was made by Camillus and sported 440A blade steel. It did everything I needed done while working as a truck driver, construction worker, and engineering lab worker.

And I, too, as an old man who has a lot less use for a knife than I did as a young man, carry a significantly larger thicker knife with fancy steel.
Because it's fun and I can.

Which is not to say that I don't still often carry a slipjoint. I most often carry both.

 

[norcalAF]

MIne too,

As a young man I carried a Buck 303 every day for well over 10 years. That's a stockman with a 2 1/2" main blade, which in those days was made by Camillus and sported 440A blade steel. It did everything I needed done while working as a truck driver, construction worker, and engineering lab worker.

And I, too, as an old man who has a lot less use for a knife than I did as a young man, carry a significantly larger thicker knife with fancy steel.
Because it's fun and I can.

Which is not to say that I don't still often carry a slipjoint. I most often carry both.

I'm eagerly awaiting this year's forum traditional, it will be the first slip joint in my collection since I lost in a move the SAK Boyscout edition my dad gave to me upon attaining Eagle Scout. I also need to pick up a BSA slip joint at some point to replace the one I lost at scout camp when I was a yout.

 

[chalby]

My grandfather carried one of these for his cutting needs.

He also cut his grass with one of these,

turned screws with these,

drilled holes with these,

loosened nuts and bolts with these,

and had one of these to defend himself and his home.

Does that history somehow make these items overkill?

I understand nostalgia and often long for simpler times and simpler needs, too. But I am very grateful for, and appreciative of, the tremendous advancements in technology, materials, capabilities, ease of use, and safety features that have arisen in all manner of tools and equipment in my lifetime, especially knives.

I grew up carrying small, carbon-steel friction folders. I happily retired them in favor of larger, improved models with every useful advancement the knife industry offered. I'll continue to assess my need for the state-of-the-art and buy accordingly. Follow the Luddite path if you wish, but please don't try to convince me that it's superior.


-Steve

Gotta love the age and history though. I love the look of those hand tools.

 

[Roguer]

Pocket Carry I use a Code 4, Recon 1 (tanto oddly my drop point one seems gone missing again), small/midsized victorinox, and a OKC Wraith. The Wraith is the latest add on. Left rear pocket carry. Recon 1 right rear pocket carry and front pocket is the slim and trim Code 4 clipped to pocket that blocks wallet from pick pockets. Cold Steels for the strong blades and for the strong locking mechanism, the swissle one left front pocket. Learned enough knife also means enough knife means have enough knives.

Blade toughness for me got emphasized its importance with a few feral dog packs who over ran me, cougar conflict and a knife that broke when spearing it between two rocks after the branch I pulled my self to safety broke to get out of a breaking though ice on a rivers edge where the knife broke but gave me enough range to grab those rocks to pull my self up on in to the bank and not get swept under the ice. Got tried of knives breaking and been a fan of tough break resistance knives every since.

 

[Mikel_24]

I understand nostalgia and often long for simpler times and simpler needs, too. But I am very grateful for, and appreciative of, the tremendous advancements in technology, materials, capabilities, ease of use, and safety features that have arisen in all manner of tools and equipment in my lifetime, especially knives.

I grew up carrying small, carbon-steel friction folders. I happily retired them in favor of larger, improved models with every useful advancement the knife industry offered. I'll continue to assess my need for the state-of-the-art and buy accordingly. Follow the Luddite path if you wish, but please don't try to convince me that it's superior.


-Steve

None is talking about not embracing the improvements and advances in technology, materials, design, etc. We are basically talking about the current fashion of carrying a folding knife suitable for prying open a cast iron manhole cover and then chopping cinder blocks in half by the dozen... wich, in turn, cut much worse (due to the thick stock and more obtuse grinds) than thinner blades.

I love my Spyderco Centofante 3. Smooth FRN scales, thin stock, locking, hollow grind, one hand opening (with the hole), pocket clip, and a decent steel (VG10). I see a lot of improvements on this knife vs, let's say, an Opinel or Stockman tradditional pattern, and it is still a good cutter. That, I don't consider overkill.

Mikel