Carrying and Using Slipjoints

I think any knife or tool should be used at it's intended task for which it was designed for. Gun, knife, handmade bamboo fly rod, it was made to be used. Alot of times somebody has wanted to show me a treasure, and they will take this package and gently unwrap all the cloth from around it. I look at the pristine new item laying there, and ask them why they have'nt used it. To me its just a souless new item that has not devoloped any personality yet.

Like other posters have said, if you want an investment then look elsewhere. They have very good proffesionals at places like Merril-Lynch and Smith-Barney to make you some money. But if you have something really nice, and think it's some kind of treasure and keep it as a safe queen, then all you've done is make some relitive a present of a new unused whatever when you die. You've lost, because you have never had the experiance of bonding with that gun, knife, rod or whatever out where it really counts.

In the 1960's when I had some extra money before my married days, I bought a very nice knife from a guy named Bob Ogg. It was a nice big slip joint folder like an old time clasp knife, whitch is what he made. For a long time it was a drawer queen and it was kept in a soft cloth and not used. Then I got to a point in life that I realized that we have a finite life span, and its going by faster than we notice. I started to use everything I had squirled away for God knows when. Guns, knives, that special bottle of French brandy. After that I had even more pleasure from them because I HAD used them. The Ogg knife became one of my favorite knives to take to the woods as it was big enough to do alot of things, yet would fit in the side pocket of my jeans. Just like my Bertram bothers knives, the stag turned a rich mellow golden being handled and the carbon blades got a nice grey patina, and they now have a history with me. They developed memories.

I can hold the Ogg and recall slicing bacon in a west Texas camp on a cold morning, and the way it smelled in the iron pan on the fire. Or my old grey Hen and Rooster stockman trimming some protuding brush limbs in the parking spot in the Mesa Verde National Park that was keeping me from parking my truck all the way in the space, when Karen and I were on a round the country trip to all the major parks in 1997.

I say use the things and cherish the memories that they will remind you of every time you pick them up. You will reach a point in time when those memories will be very important to you. When you get to a "older" age, what will you regret? I know when I got over 50, my outlook on alot of things changed dramaticly. I suddenly realized I had a smaller amount of time left than what I had used. Why hoard things? I gave away or otherwise got rid of everthing I felt I really did not use and then used the heck out of the rest. Shot those guns that were in pristine shape, carried those old pre WW2 Bruckman pocket knives dad brought home from his "trips" over there.

Go ahead and carry and use them, because no amount of money will be able to give you the pleasures of a well seasoned piece of equiptment that has been a partner in what ever outdoor thing you're into. In time the steel will patine, the stag will yellow, the wood darken, and something called charater will happen. It will be noticable to others as well. I think it was the Japanese that believed that the sword carried by your family has some of the chi, or spirit of that ansestor that carried it before you. That a bit of that spirit stays in the blade. I'm no samuri, but I won't discount a thread of that belief. When I carry one of my family's old knives I feel a bit of something. Inanimate objects can hold a memory I think. But they have to be used to do that. To have that thing called charater. But I am sure of one thing. There's no investment profit that can replace the moment when sitting by a fishing hole, and using the old knife with the charater of decades on it, to slice a bit of cheese for a Ritz cracker that your handing to your grandson, and he askes "How long have you had that knife, Grandad?" And you tell him about the time that...

I know I've been around on this planet long enough that the list of departed family and friends is getting depressingly longer. Once in a while I get something handed to me, with the comment that "He would have wanted you to have this." Sometimes it's something the departed really carrried. A few times its been something that they had bought for some reason, but never carried. You could tell by the fact that it as still brand new. It did not feel the same.

Well known gun author Skeeter Skelton was once asked by someone in the collum he wrote for the magazine he wrote for, about how to preserve a vintage Smith and Wesson tripple lock revolver, to hand down to thier family some day. Skeeter wrote in his typical style, that he would not worry about preserving it, and he had one just like it that he shot on a regular basis. He stated that he saw no reason not to shoot the heck out of a very nice gun just to leave his relitives a nice gun when he died. They had to find thier own treasures.

In a nutshell, if that idea was good enough for Skeeter Skelton, its good enough for me. I don't have anything but users these days in any thing. If it shoots, cuts, or does what it's supposed to, it gets carried and used. Even the oldies from the cigar box. I think that grandad, dad, Andy, and even Paul, would want it that way.

You always have the best posts. Boy oh boy do I agree with you on this post. For a long time I wanted to 'collect' knives. I did for a while, but now I use them. I don't have a single knife that has not been used. I think that I dishonor the knife and it's maker/manufacturer by not using the knife.

:thumbup:
 
I carried and used my Queen small stockman with coco scales, I wish I hadn't carried EVERY DAY, because the once lustrous coco is now dark black. I have thought about carrying a light SAK with me, but only the Swiss Champ has all the tools I want, and if I want to carry something that big, I would just carry my Leatherman Wave. I have thought about carrying a stockman again, maybe my Queen, or trading for a small Buck 303 made in America. I normally carry a Benchmade 705 in my right front pocket and a Benchmade 710 in my coat pocket, or in my right back pocket in warmer weather. I like the convenience of a one handed opener, but then I could get a Buck 110 with a thumbstud. I also have a Kershaw Splinter quincewood scales, a Spyderco Viele 2, Buck Prince and a Queen Mountain Man, all of which I consider to be traditionals, but I don't carry them on a daily basis. I would prefer that they did not get ruined through daily use, but the only knives I hard use are my Benchmade 210 and Leatherman Wave, and my fixed blades. The rest are casual users. While I know that slipjoints/traditionals are not meant to be used the same way as the new modern (tacticals if you wanna use THAT word) knives, I still think that most can handle a good days workout. While I still like modern designs and materials, I have developed a fondness for traditional designs. They just look and feel like they have more character. The stockman, my favorite, is timeless.
 
I guess I’ll be going against the grain a little here. While I do have a few customs that I carry, lightly, most of my stuff is in a collection. I realize knives are tools, but I really don’t have the opportunities to use knives now like I did in past jobs (Of course, back when I needed really good knives I carried crappy ones.)

I’m under no illusion that I’m smarter than everyone else and that my knives will be worth a fortune someday. After all, who wants a butterfly collection from the early 1900s? My hope is that the knives I do keep in my collection will go to my son and daughter, and that over the years they’ll go down to their kids as well. If they want to use them, great, they’ll have a great tool in their hands. I have my great-granddad’s knife, knives from both of my granddads, and my dad’s knife, and I carry them on occasion.

But what does make a mint Case XX so valuable is that they were made as working tools, and now there are not many left in great shape.

When it comes down to it, I really don’t need a lot of custom knives or production knives because I can only fit one in my hand at a time anyway. Whether we buy knives to collect or use, most of us probably buy more than we need because we like them. I like taking knives out of my collection, admiring them, cleaning them and putting them back. And I like being able to use a custom knife to cut something on occasion, at least, when I can’t use my teeth!
 
I used to keep all mine tucked away. Then I began asking myself what's the point? Sure, if you collect all old Remingtons or other cataloged knives it may be a good idea to keep them safe. But other than something like that I say screw it! You only live once. Let's give these things some mileage which will end-up adding to their character anyways. I'm carrying my new Ryu K as I type and plan on carrying the next custom. Maybe tomorrow i'll carry my case, schrade, queens or another custom? Who knows. That's what makes collecting knives more exciting and enjoyable to me.
 
I carry everything I have. My pocket may have a $10 Case small Soddie or a $400 original Remington Scout, but they all get carried.

I'd be honored to carry a Bose, or any other custom. To not do so is a tiny insult to the maker.
 
I've been carrying my Schatt & Morgan equal-end ebony handled Harness Jack lately (1095 high carbon). I'm not worried about it loseing "resale value" or any of that crap. It's mine - for me, and no one else. I am a big boy, and I deserve a good pocket knife.

I do collect, and I don't carry the knives I collect. I keep them in their boxes and take real good care of them. However, every so often I like to buy a knife just for me. Currently, I have three just for me. Two Schrade and a S&M. An old 4-pin LB7, a little 12OT and this new HJ.

I don't see any harm in collecting (as long as you don't spend what you don't have) and I don't see any harm in carrying and useing a good pocket knife. If it's a decent knife, it was made to be used as a hand tool. But, I think it's important to keep your "collection" and your "knives" seperate. I don't think it's a good idea to carry a knife and then sell or trade it as "mint". Nor do I think you should carry a knife that you are worried will get scratched.

Just an opinion, doesn't mean I'm right.
 
Well,I asked for your opinions and theories on this subject,Thanks for all the replies,it makes for good reading.I can reason with all of you.
Here is another question,and I know the answer is yes,but I'd love to hear about particular instances.....
Custom/Production - Did you ever buy a knife you intented to use/carry,and then when you got it,you didn't ? And why?
 
Tony Bose told me something about collecting and investing in knives I'll never forget. He said, and I paraprase, Don't buy knives with the idea they will increase in value because they might not. Buy what you like, that way you'll be happy with it regardless of it's value.

Tony told me he doesn't like to buy unused or socalled "mint" knives because he likes to pick one out occasionally and carry it to "chicken eye and coon finger" :) Sage advice from "The Old Dog".
 
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