Damaged Awl?

[Wiezed]

Hi, this is my first post on Bladeforums. I am quite a newbie with knives, just to make it clear (I do plan on getting a Spyderco sooner or lat. So the story is my mother borrowed my Victorinox Tinker without asking me, and used the awl to open a coconut. Yes, a coconut. This was when my blade was still a few days old. I opened the awl to take a look at it and to my surprise, it was sort of chipped. This probably doesn't do anything to affect how the awl works, but I'm just sort of annoyed by this fact that my knife has an imperfection that wasn't made by me and my stupidity. I will include pictures of what I am talking about. Is there anything I could do about it? The awl does have an edge, so could I use a sharpener to smooth it out somehow, even though it looks sort of impossible (for example, the Lansky turnbox), or is it just going to stay like this forever? By the way, the pictures are waaayyy too big, but that's just my mistake.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Welcome to the forums

It's not that bad, really. I know it's easy to get bent out of shape (pun mostly not intended) about dings on our multi-tools, but that's just part of the nature of a tool that is used. Is the awl of a SAK the best tool for the job? Not really, but I'd done worse with mine

I wouldn't try to sharpen it out with a sharpener. The awl doesn't generally require that much of an edge to poke and bore holes. I'd take a fine file to it to sort of push the mangled metal back into somewhat shape. Give it a few licks and leave it be. However, I have sharpened my files on a flat stone before too.

It's a bummer that your tool got damaged. I remember my mom used borrow my knives all the time. I'll never forget when I was living at home when I was 17. She used my balisong (admittedly a cheap piece of crap, but I didn't have money to spend on good knives) to cut carpet strips on the garage floor. Yes, she used my knife to abrasive nylon fabric by pushing down as hard as she could and cutting though it ONTO bare concrete

Anyway, the important thing is that you WANT to take care of your knives and tools, and that's a good thing. There is honest use and then their is abuse. I would put the damage your mom did to your knife in the "heavier use than for which it was designed" column. It's not THAT bad, and I tools that look worse. Just keep her away from your Spydercos It's a lot easier to forgive mom for buggering up a $20 SAK than it is a $60-$200 knife

Once again, welcome

 

[gadgetgeek]

I would gently smooth down any snaggy spots, just so it doesn't catch on things, but not worry about it too much. At the end of the day its a tool to use. If you want an art piece to keep in a safe, thats cool too, but I think you'll get more enjoyment out of using them. Also, it might be a good idea to "help" your mom pick out some better tools for that sort of thing, or heck, maybe get some yourself that can handle a bit of kitchen abuse! nothing wrong with victorinox either, they have a big following here, and I think you'll find some of the oldest and most experienced guys here reach for little jackknives and swiss armies before anything else.

Read lots, learn lots, ask questions, and Welcome.

 

[stvpourciau]

That's what happens to the awl on a victorinox. Idk why, I just know mine is worse, and yes it has a "chisel" grind of sorts so just sharpen it

 

[Wiezed]

Thanks for the responses. I know what I'm going on about isn't that much at all, but having a point of reference from other people really does help. And you guys are right, it's a tool, it's there for a reason, not just for looks.

 

[macdo]

Awl is the perfect tool for opening the eyes of a coconut to get the water out.
Hammer to crack it.