Carried but not used

[Lycosa]

I just like having a knife on me. It's a constant companion.
rolf

 

[jc57]

I carry a pocket knife (or two) every day. I may go a week without needing to use one. I work in an office, live in a city, and don't hunt or fish. A pocket knife is a convenience for me, not a necessity. I don't carry a big folder like a ZT. A Victorinox SAK or Case slipjoint covers my daily needs (or lack of them) just fine.

 

[Lost Cosmonaut]

For the most part, cities =/= knives. In Philadelphia, it's completely illegal to carry a knife.

But that would require politicians with common sense and knowledge. It's so much easier to just declare ALL knives and guns bad! Barely gotta do anything but say "AYE!" when it's time to vote, even.

 

[willc]

For the most part, cities =/= knives. In Philadelphia, it's completely illegal to carry a knife.

It is not completely illegal.
Tradesmen can be excempt during the course of work.
Having lived in Center City for ten years I am never without a knife in my pocket.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

People who carry high-dollar knives balk at many of the tasks they DO run into daily. Some carry a 'back-up' for that very reason. They carry it but don't want to get a mark or scratch on it. Then they feel sick once it happens.

I don't...

I carry many high-dollar knives to work and use them a lot. They're tools, not art...

 

[Bludgeon]

Rare exception to the rule.

 

[bt93]

I always have my SAK handy in my pocket. I couldn't imagine going anywhere without it. I also have a Buck 110 that I use for outdoorsy stuff and in kitchen duty, I don't like having anything that's not used so the 110 is going to get work.
I once had a job where a co worker suggested my SAK was a weapon. I had to point out all the scissors and box cutters being used on the job.
I only carry the one knife on me unless I'm hiking or fishing, then I have the 110 with me. I don't consider a knife to be anything for show. I've known a lot of people who carry sheath knives on their belt. There were a few though that worried me because they'd have to make getting their knife out of a sheath some kind of show, but it always made me giggle when they cut themselves because they were concentrating on looking good with the knife more than using the thing.
Anyway I can understand carrying more than one blade, I can understand collecting though I don't myself. I'll never understand why one would carry a knife and not want to use it. If it's so pretty or important leave it at home in the display stand, but I guess to each their own.

 

[James Y]

I've gotten a good amount of use out of my 2002 large regular Sebenza. Used it, not abused it. I really don't mind the "snail trails" (scratches) on the handles, and I had to reprofile the edge. I have far less expensive knives I've been more careful with. I figure that I might as well enjoy it while I'm alive. After I'm gone, I don't know what will become of my knives. None of my relatives care about this kind of stuff, and I have no kids. If I'm buying it, I plan to enjoy and benefit from it. If not me, then who? That might sound morbid, but it's the truth. I've never bought knives with the idea that their NIB value will grow enough to retire on someday, or for them to be treated as treasured heirlooms.

Is my Seb the best cutter I own? No. I own and use many knives, some much more than others, but they all get used.

Jim

 

[Hertz33]

I usually carry two knives on me. My knives starts from $150 and up and I'm eagerly awaiting a reason to use them. That said when someone at work asks "does someone have a knife?", I'm not the first one to jump. People who not used to knives don't know how to use them. I generally enquire what's need to be cut and prefer to do it myself.

 

[collim1]

I have a Benchmade Contego I have carried everyday at work for over a year. It is carried as a weapon, and has but one purpose. If I need to cut something I would use the Victorinox carried in the opposite pocket.

So I can see it. I have literally never cut anything with this knife except a little arm hair and a piece of copy paper just to see how sharp it came from the factory.

 

[brancron]

I carry many high-dollar knives to work and use them a lot. They're tools, not art...

What about art knives?

 

[Dantone05]

Guess it helps being a self employed tradesman…
Never a shortage of things for me to cut on a daily basis :thumbup:

 

[Jasonsdman]

All of my knives are either used or new. I have no grey area. I buy a knife because of well it looks like it can cut. The only way to find out is to use it to cut things when I get it. If it cuts well, handles well, and overall pleasing to my eyes then I would pick up a second one for a backup. The backups would be considered new. The grey area is for people who sell knives on a regular basis and I don't know anything about that.

 

[22-rimfire]

I am suprised by something. I have been browsing the ads for a new zt. The number of ads in general (not just zt) that mention "carried but never cut anything" astonish me.

This is not meant to be a jab at anyone, but it just seems impossible to do this. Every single day I NEED a knife. It may be cutting down a box, opening packaging, butchering our rabbits and chickens, cutting hay strings, working on small fix it items at home and work, camping, working in the garden, and so on, but every single day my knife comes out of my pocket and gets used.

How can people get by with a knife in their pocket and never use it.

I don't use my folder for kitchen tasks, and I don't make up work for it just to have it out. I also understand collecting with no intention to use it. I just don't know how anyone can not use a knife they have on them.

Anyway, I am just curious if anyone ever noticed it and thought it odd.

If I have a knife that I carry but have not used, it's because I carry another knife. I have a GEC #42 that I have carried but not used. The reason is simple; I carry a SAK and have been carrying a SAK for 25 years. My first impulse when I need to cut something is to grab the SAK and in most cases, it's all I need. My ZT has not cut a lot of stuff and I carry it often, I just always seem to grab the SAK.

 

[Quiet]

I freely admit that I usually carry a small traditional or SAK to use for general cutting chores so that my nicer folders aren't used for minor things. If I need to cut up boxes or whatever (a rare event at work), then I'd use the larger folder I usually carry strongside. Truth be told, I carry multiple knives for no real, tangible reason. I just like to have multiple knives with me, and that's not even counting the knives I carry in my gearslinger all the time. It's the Sickness of Steel. I hez it.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

What about art knives?

Honestly, if I could afford a $5,000-$30,000 knife, I'd have no qualms about carrying and using it. I'm actually really into art knives, but don't discuss them much since there is little to no talk about such knives on this forum.