Carry but will not use?

In my opinion it seems silly to carry a knife and not use it, or not intend to use it.

If I don't intend to use a knife I will not carry it, even if you don't use it there will eventually be wear from carrying it around. I have no interest in doing that, I'd rather just keep those knives minty.
 
I have posted this a few times but some of the Northfields I have I am reluctant to use. It's just because they're so pretty- the polish and the cover material. Traditionals in 1095 patina easily, of course, and the blade etch is so fragile. However, I don't like to have knives I don't use. Typically I buy used knives so I never have to feel guilty for taking the shine off of them. Maybe I'll get over that one day.
 
Isn't great to be at a time when there are so many options available? I've been collectin'/accumulatin' since I was 9 or 10, after 40 some years I've managed to get some pretty cool knives, some rare knives and some really old knives and enjoyed carryin' and usin' them all.
 
315 said:
I see a lot of really good looking knives on here, both custom and production, that really appear completely unused.
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Likely because the owner photographed the knife shortly after getting it then never photographed it again. That's the case with my knives. But most of mine were bought used so even though new to me they were used when I photographed them.
 
solphilos said:
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.
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^ this. I have a few that you can see some use in pictures but mostly due to being carbon that has patina. A good 2/3s of my knives get carried but I work in office type environment, live in a suburb, etc. mine are primarily used in Daddy mode to cut open packages, tags off clothing, or sometimes in the kitchen. My wife and girls know I love any excuse to actually use them and go out of their way to find me little chores like that : ) But in general it all adds up to minimal wear and tear especially on my super steel stainless knives. My other 1/3 are not used mostly because they new knives in a state of “do I keep or sell” flux.
 
I absolutely use every knife I carry. I may not use a knife that day then it's rotated out and another knife replaces it. The rotation varies from a knife daily or some knives weekly to monthly. Some days it's a rogue thread to other days seeing zipties and heavy cardboard. Like someone mentioned above, tool, not jewel:thumbsup:
 
solphilos said:
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.
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This describes my situation. From the time I left the farm at age 17 until I decided on a whim at age 62 to start carrying a pocket knife again, I spent 45 years NOT carrying a pocket knife without any "hardship". I just don't have a lifestyle that requires me to use a pocket knife.

But for the past 4 years I've found pocket knives to be supremely fascinating, and maybe to "make up for lost time", I typically carry a dozen knives with me almost every day! :rolleyes: But mostly I just fondle them with my eyes and fingers because I still have few occasions when I NEED a pocket knife in daily life. I use pocket knives for food prep twice a day, and I try to find time (quite unsuccessfully for the past couple of years) for some whittling, but other than that, I carry lots of knives that I'm WILLING to use, but few of them actually see much use. I even have a "schedule" that prescribes what knives to carry each week so that EVERY one of my knives gets carried periodically and has the POTENTIAL for use, but that potential goes unrealized for the most part. :(

Railsplitter said:
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.
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leghog said:
Likely because the owner photographed the knife shortly after getting it then never photographed it again. That's the case with my knives. But most of mine were bought used so even though new to me they were used when I photographed them.
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These posts also describe me. I'm neither a talented nor an enthusiastic photographer, so each of my knives gets photographed when it's quite new and seldom, if ever, after that. I use the initial pics over and over for the vast majority of my knives.

- GT
 
dispatch184 said:
^ this. I have a few that you can see some use in pictures but mostly due to being carbon that has patina. A good 2/3s of my knives get carried but I work in office type environment, live in a suburb, etc. mine are primarily used in Daddy mode to cut open packages, tags off clothing, or sometimes in the kitchen. My wife and girls know I love any excuse to actually use them and go out of their way to find me little chores like that : ) But in general it all adds up to minimal wear and tear especially on my super steel stainless knives. My other 1/3 are not used mostly because they new knives in a state of “do I keep or sell” flux.
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Sounds like our knives live a similar life. I think the most use any of my knives had this month was conquering the mountain of presents my daughter received for her first birthday.
My little peanut worked its way through lots of tape, clothing tags and cardboard; hardly hard use and it would probably take me a hundred or so kids and birthdays for my knives to appear used much at all. (Let's not give the woman any ideas)
 
5K Qs said:
This describes my situation. From the time I left the farm at age 17 until I decided on a whim at age 62 to start carrying a pocket knife again, I spent 45 years NOT carrying a pocket knife without any "hardship". I just don't have a lifestyle that requires me to use a pocket knife.

But for the past 4 years I've found pocket knives to be supremely fascinating, and maybe to "make up for lost time", I typically carry a dozen knives with me almost every day! :rolleyes: But mostly I just fondle them with my eyes and fingers because I still have few occasions when I NEED a pocket knife in daily life. I use pocket knives for food prep twice a day, and I try to find time (quite unsuccessfully for the past couple of years) for some whittling, but other than that, I carry lots of knives that I'm WILLING to use, but few of them actually see much use. I even have a "schedule" that prescribes what knives to carry each week so that EVERY one of my knives gets carried periodically and has the POTENTIAL for use, but that potential goes unrealized for the most part. :(



These posts also describe me. I'm neither a talented nor an enthusiastic photographer, so each of my knives gets photographed when it's quite new and seldom, if ever, after that. I use the initial pics over and over for the vast majority of my knives.

- GT
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I'm thankful that some food still requires being cut considering how conveniently packaged everything has become.
Food prep is probably my favorite use of my pocket knives. There's something relaxing about it and I take pleasure in the patina that inevitably forms. Sometimes I even 'cheat' a little by neglecting to clean it right away. ;)
 
Use, never abuse.
If it is something nasty like cutting grass and roots from the tines of the roto tiller, where I know they’re full of dirt, sand, and grit, I have a Leatherman for that.

But like most of you, I look for excuses to pull one out.

Lots of food falls victim to my knives.
 
My philosophy is once I decide to carry it, it will be used. Like many others have stated, a majority of my EDC use will be forgiving to the blade's appearance. If I know I'm going to be doing heavy duty or dirty work, I'm probably using I knife that is already not very photogenic.

I don't blame anyone though for using - or not using - their knives as they wish.

The way I see it is I have plenty of users now that my kids will be able to have a few each someday. The ones I keep nice can either provide them, or their kids with their own new adventure, or be sold/given to someone very excited to find a like new "vintage" GEC.
 
If it is in my pocket, I am willing and probably want to use it. I carry multiple knives, so whether one actually gets used will depend on what needs cut.

O.B.
 
Pretty solid answers and as I expected use and not abuse is a common theme. Much like my desire to have a custom built rifle, or three, regardless of how beautiful they are they're meant to be hunted with.
 
If it's in my pocket it's fair game, no matter the cost, rarity, or sentimentality. If I don't plan on using it it will never see the inside of a pocket anyways. It's just a piece of sharp steel and whatever else it takes to make it a knife.
 
Like many, I don't really abuse my knives. Really in the modern industrial world most people don't carry a knife and get through like just fine. So there are few occasions to use a knife hard.
On top of that, a gentleman's knife like a Moki Serapis (lockback, not traditional) is something I carry on more dressy occasions, where there are even fewer reasons to take a beating.
 
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