Do you love knives, but have difficulty finding uses in your lifestyle?

sgt1372 said:
I don't think it's hard to understand at all.

I am a "collector" of many things (beyond my basic needs) and the reason I collect things (beyond my basic needs) is because I have the $ to do so and because the things that I collect provide me with certain pleasures and enjoyment (beyond my basic needs).

It's as simple as that.
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Yep. I have 20+ lifetimes worth of knives and most are inexpensive. Just like my collection (accumulation?) of maybe 60 hammers and 24 firearms. But I'm not a true enthusiast/collector like Scotty Fulton, who has somewhere around 12,000+ hammers.

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/scotty-and-karen-fultons-hammer-museum/

Does anyone know who has the largest knife collection and how many knives?
 
I can live a life without carrying a knife. And that fact doesn't bother me.
 
I am a lucky one who gets to use his knives often and daily at work. I Am an electrician and my knives get used a lot. I carry a lefty Crk everyday and an Alox electrician in my right pocket. I keep it so if i need a sheepsfoot if I’m not carrying an insingo. That and I’ll Use the flat head for a pry bar. I get enjoyment out of using my knives. I don’t cut them any slack. They’re tools. Don’t abuse them but they get used with no hesitation. The edges hit metal, brick, concrete, etc., inadvertently. I will try to prevent it but if it happens it’s ok, just sharpen them back up. Normal use they’ll meet Sheetrock, zip ties, copper, wire insulation, tape, blister packs, pvc, scrape stickers off conduit, packages, cardboard and the list goes on. Now do I need all the Knives I own? Not at all. Around the farm and off of work my knives get used as well, Around the house not much at all. I have no safe queens. For me there’s no point In it. I completely understand it and get it for people who do. It’s just not my thing. I do have some wood inlays and Damascus that are casual carry’s. I also have plain handle Damascus that are workers. I’ll use my knives when a knife really isn’t needed, just as a reason to use it. I’m sure I’m not alone here on that :D
 
JK,wondered where you were.....you are missed...when you go off yonder! I have a "lot"of knives.JK an others mention tbl.with aged hands...welcome to the club!I'm 76 & had many yrs.of M/A (fingers put in positions they were NOT meant for)!Also lifting weights..!HANDS CRAMP UP DAILY...now have 2 knives that are always with me a pocket watch S&M3blade warncliffe(for small stuff)!AND a David Boye pocketknife(for any cutting)I sharpen knives & the Boye keeps & edge like no other knife I have ever owned!
JK ,it's light & easy to open...try one !
Jim
 
I'm fortunate that with my outdoor job I have at least 2-3 periods of slack time everyday, so I grab a stick and start whittling, and am always looking for something that needs cut.
I get almost as much enjoyment at home at night honing the edges back to as perfect as I can get them.
 
RayseM said:
Says the guy with over 5,000 posts on a blade forum. :rolleyes:

:) Ray
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What's your point? All I said is that my lifestyle doesn't require a pocket knife, just as is the case for most people. I carry one because I can, not because I have to. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
 
Kaizen1 Kaizen1 - No criticism intended - nothing wrong at all. In fact, I'm a bit envious of your detachment. I just found it a bit humorous that one who is obviously more into knives than the average bear, considering your involvement with BF, would be so casual about carrying a knife or not. I suspect you are a rare individual on Blade Forums. Pretty cool, really. Sorry if I came across as a wise guy.

Ray
 
Kaizen1 said:
What's your point? All I said is that my lifestyle doesn't require a pocket knife, just as is the case for most people. I carry one because I can, not because I have to. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
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Funny. I don't think anyone here thinks that there is anything wrong with carrying a knife just because you can. Many of us do just that.

My lifestyle doesn't "REQUIRE" a pocket knife either, and I don't use it quite regularly.

BUT, I carry one every day simply because occasions DO unexpectedly pop up where a use for it DOES occur. And the same can be said for the pocket light that I carry. And, possibly even (hopefully not) for the M&P40 Compact that I carry concealed.

So, even if a lifestyle doesn't "require" carrying a pocket knife, or a flashlight, or a pistol... occasions can and do occur when such items can be quite useful.
 
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RayseM said:
Kaizen1 Kaizen1 - No criticism intended - nothing wrong at all. In fact, I'm a bit envious of your detachment. I just found it a bit humorous that one who is obviously more into knives than the average bear, considering your involvement with BF, would be so casual about carrying a knife or not. I suspect you are a rare individual on Blade Forums. Pretty cool, really. Sorry if I came across as a wise guy.

Ray
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Oh, what I'm getting at is about whether I need to, and it's pretty clear to me that I don't. I just really really like to.
 
ZDHart said:
Funny. I don't think anyone here thinks that there is anything wrong with carrying a knife just because you can.

My lifestyle doesn't "REQUIRE" a pocket knife either, and I don't use it quite often.

BUT, I carry one every day because there are some occasions where a use for it DOES occur. And the same can be said for the pocket light that I carry. And, for the M&P40 Compact that I carry concealed.

So, even if a lifestyle doesn't "require" carrying a pocket knife, or a flashlight, or a pistol... occasions can and do occur when such items can be quite useful.
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We certainly have people on here like to remind others how they "really" use their knives rather than fidget with them. You'll see small comments that laugh at how a knife doesn't look like it's used, as if there's a hierarchy of activities that divide people who have knives for the right reasons from those who don't.

My point was given that I recognize my lifestyle doesn't require knives and I buy and carry them anyway, I'm okay with the idea that I don't rely on them more than I do. Sure, it would be nice to have a legitimate reason to beat the hell out of my INFI Ratmandu, but it's fine that I don't. I still get something from owning many of my knives anyway.
 
I use my pocket flashlight constantly. And I use my knife at work a lot...boxes!
And other things like plastic. Amazon mailers and various things get cut at home.
I always have a knife in my pocket. So no to ops question.
 
cbrstar said:
For me it's the old Boy Scout motto of always being prepared.

I think of times like when I was on a road trip and my friends car broke down and we had to cut the old radiator hose off.

Or when I went camping with some friends and no one but me brought cutlery. So my knife was used in all the food prep.

It's the small things like that which a knife has gotten me out of a jam why I always have one.
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This is kinda where I’m at. I’ve always carried one, and while it might not get used daily, it gets used fairly regularly. I also don’t collect, so while I like a nice knife, I don’t have a bunch sitting around that never get used.

I don’t need to go looking for reasons to use a knife. I’m always working on something, doing house repairs, working in the yard, under the hood of a car, or just tinkering in general. Only time I’m sitting still is when I’m actually at work, and chained to a desk... LOL

Fixed, folder, doesn’t matter. I never have to stretch to find an actual need for a knife - the need usually finds me.
 
Kaizen1 said:
We certainly have people on here like to remind others how they "really" use their knives rather than fidget with them. You'll see small comments that laugh at how a knife doesn't look like it's used, as if there's a hierarchy of activities that divide people who have knives for the right reasons from those who don't.

My point was given that I recognize my lifestyle doesn't require knives and I buy and carry them anyway, I'm okay with the idea that I don't rely on them more than I do. Sure, it would be nice to have a legitimate reason to beat the hell out of my INFI Ratmandu, but it's fine that I don't. I still get something from owning many of my knives anyway.
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I, too, get enjoyment and benefit from knives that I've never even cut anything with! :eek: Yes, I know that many of us share that experience. I do have the opportunity from time to time to use a knife... I just would enjoy having MORE opportunities to do so.

I'm retired now, and happily so. But the thought flashed across my mind - I could go back to school and become an electrician - so I can use my knives many times a day? On second though - nah - I am enjoying my life too much just as it is. Even if that means that much of my knife pleasure involves merely fiddling with and honing my blades.
 
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I should add that people collect many things. I have knives I just occasionally
look at and carry super rarely. So what? I have my workhorse stuff and knives
that are toys/jewelry. I will say I prefer Spyderco for working since they cut like mad
and are easy to sharpen. All my spydies are well and correctly ground which makes
sharpening a breeze with the Sharpmaker. I have a bench strop I use sometimes
when I crave a darksider edge!
 
I’ve been an outdoorsman my entire adult life. In my “serious” adult life I’ve grown to be a carpenter and builder. When I’m not building or upgrading folks abodes I’m usually out and about the trails. Life does not typically come to me pre packaged. That’s how I like it and using a nice knife to make it happen absolutely brings be joy whether I’m carving wood, preparing a charcuterie or cleaning my toenails.
 
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