Carry but will not use?

315

315

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Just curious if any of you carry a particular knife but won't actually use it? I see a lot of really good looking knives on here, both custom and production, that really appear completely unused. I'm not talking about knives bought just for collecting or display but actually knives that people will carry from time to time. If you wouldn't use it, would you carry a second knife to actually use?
 
When it comes to traditionals - if it's in my pocket, I'm willing to use it. If I won't put it in my pocket, it's because I don't like it. (I allow myself one "precious" that I keep as a personal treasure, which is the exception to that statement)
 
I do have some 15-20 yr old Case knives that I don't particularly like (patterns of which I am not fond ), but they're nice looking enough to occasionally use in pictures.
 
Pictured is the nicest and most expensive traditional I own. I carry it and use it. I do have safe queens. Typically though, those are knives that I'm not certain I am going to keep forever and don't have a need to use or carry. Certain GEC's for example. But I have three Davisons and carry all of them from time to time. You could not tell they have been used or sharpened.

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I suspect there are others here like myself that love knives, enjoy carrying them, and have no problems putting them to use, but in reality don't have much need for one other than occasional light use.

My knives would almost always appear new despite daily carry if I didn't go out of my way to put them to work.
 
I sometimes carry a recently acquired knife and not use it. It's like a trial run just to see if I want to keep it or not. I can almost always tell just by having it in my pocket for a day. Sometimes two days.

People probably see my pics and wonder this very thing about me. I do use my knives whenever required but that just simply doesn't happen very often and when it does, it's for something light like cutting string or shrink wrap. I have to use a company approved utility knife at work and that's where I encounter 95% of my cutting tasks.

I also carry each knife in a pocket by itself with no other items. Since there isn't anything else in there to damage the knife and I rarely use them, they stay pristine or close to it for a very long time.
 
A couple of responses here have already hit on it. Every knife I own I carry and use, but they see pretty light duty for the most part. I keep them all wiped down and oiled and very few have a patina formed.
When carried, if not in a pocket alone, then they are in a slip to keep from getting scratched up.
But then, I treat all of my gear this way...I have a Western Mountaineering winter bag that cost an arm and a leg, but has kept me warm on more winter backpacking trips than I can count. It is over 20 years old and still looks brand new because I take exceptional care of it.
(Speaking of not getting scratched, when taking photos of your favorite knives on a rock, which I often do, masking tape on the bolsters is your friend!)
 
Railsplitter said:
I sometimes carry a recently acquired knife and not use it. It's like a trial run just to see if I want to keep it or not. I can almost always tell just by having it in my pocket for a day. Sometimes two days.

People probably see my pics and wonder this very thing about me. I do use my knives whenever required but that just simply doesn't happen very often and when it does, it's for something light like cutting string or shrink wrap. I have to use a company approved utility knife at work and that's where I encounter 95% of my cutting tasks.

I also carry each knife in a pocket by itself with no other items. Since there isn't anything else in there to damage the knife and I rarely use them, they stay pristine or close to it for a very long time.
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With the exception of the work requirement, this is me. If I'm carrying it, I use it when needed. I do have certain knives I relegate to my boat. Those are stainless. It is crucial to have a very sharp knife at hand on a boat in big water. Anything can and does happen. Carbon steel does not handle saltwater environment well.
 
315 said:
Just curious if any of you carry a particular knife but won't actually use it? I see a lot of really good looking knives on here, both custom and production, that really appear completely unused. I'm not talking about knives bought just for collecting or display but actually knives that people will carry from time to time. If you wouldn't use it, would you carry a second knife to actually use?
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I think that in some cases, people take several pics of a knife when they first get it and just keep using those pics. Sometimes it's more convenient to use a photo that already exists instead of taking and uploading a new one.

I have no idea how often that happens but I'm sure that it does.
 
Not anymore I don't.
I used to be reluctant to use this 110 as it was my childhood grail but as you can see things have changed.


I may very rarely use the blade on my Vic classics, but everything else on them definitely gets used.
 
Carrying a knife, but not using it? That's nuts. Once a knife sees the inside of pocket, or even a sheath, it's used. The re-sale price has already taken a hit. Might as well enjoy using it.
 
Nope, if I own it I carry and use it, from a 200+ y/o knife

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...and 100+ y/o rare knives

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to a custom Lanny's Clip,

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all knives I normally couldn't afford or normally wouldn't run across but because of circumstances I found them in my possession and regardless of rarity, value or age, if I own it, I use it. I do own a few knives I bought 3 or 4 that were bought specifically for resale at a much later date like my Mint Benchmark Rolock or SOS, not worth a fortune but I bought them cheap enough to make a nice profit down the road.

Use 'em all regardless of what they cost, can't take 'em with you, right? ;)
 
Between some good friends and my off-spring , I have many knives that I may carry with no intention of using . That is because they will someday go back to whoever gave it to me . I also have some that I bought that fit in the same category . I am fortunate that I have enough knives that I can be a bit particular on what I carry when . Once spring gets here , I will normally carry one or two that I do not mind getting a little dirty and I have plenty of them too . Until 2004 I only had 3 or 4 knives and only knew where 1 was at any time .

Harry
 
zzyzzogeton said:
Took the words right off of my fingertips.:D
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Just to clear up any misconception over my previous statement - my statement was towards the original question - so if I carry it, I'm ready and willing to use it.

While I can legally carry them now (as of 01 Sept 2017), I just don't have a NEED to carry any USMC mamelukes, cavalry sabers, US Navy swords, faschinenmessers, sword bayonets, folding machetes,etc.:p
 
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