found a knife while out hiking

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Apr 3, 2014
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So, I was out hunting recently when I came across a knife on the ground.

It got me to thinking that if I lost a knife, I would go back to where I was and backtrack until I found my knife.
So if it was my knife, I would hope if someone came across it, they would just leave it there.

This one was a buck folding knife, not sure of the model as I cant open it, its stuck shut and appeared to have been there for quite some time.

I opted to pick up this knife rather than leave it there. Even though I said I would hope someone would leave mine, I picked this one up becasue it had obviously been there for a few years which lead me to believe that someone wasnt going back looking for it.

What would you guys do?
Would you hope someone leaves your knife if you happened to lose it?
Would you pick up or leave a knife you stumbled across?
 
It would depend on the situation and the knife... If I saw other hunters around, I probably leave it tucked on the crotch of a tree limb above the ground in a small zip lock bag since I usually have such things with me and tie a piece of plastic flagging onto it to make it more visible.

Hiking situation... probably leave it now and do the zip lock-flagging treatment. Maybe somebody who needs the knife more than me or the owner will show up eventually. Years ago, I would keep the knife as sort of a trophy even if I didn't particularly need it.

If it's a cheap knife (<$50) or one I believe is inexpensive, I would almost always leave it as I have zero need for a knife like that (have plenty).
I clean out the contents of houses from time to time and seldom keep knives that I find there. They usually go into the trash along with all the other stuff. Again it depends on the knife....

What if the knife is one that I really like and in good condion? I'd probably keep it.
 
Think of it as a pay it forward. How many knives have you lost in the past? I've lost plenty, I'm sure someone is enjoying them. It's like finding a lost treasure. I hear that there are "magnet fishers" out there who fish for metal objects off things like piers and docks, sounds like fun actually.
 
Think of it as a pay it forward.

^That's what I do.

I've found a few knives over the years, mostly Victorinox SAK's. I've cleaned many of them up, and given them to folks who need a good pocket knife but don't happen to have one.

If that Buck has been on the ground for a while, spray it out with hot tap water, then spray WD-40 in the joint once a day and let it sit. Sooner or later it will start pivoting again, and you can always send it off to Buck for a spa treatment as well.

~Chris
 
I think the idea of the zip lock bag is a great one if it's not a very expensive knife. However if I found something in the high end category I think I'd try my best to get it back to its owner. I would think someone who is carrying expensive knives might belong to place like BladeForums so I'd post that I had found a high end knife and give the city or town but not the exact area and then see if anybody could tell me exactly were and what knife it was. Like was said before I to would not have done this in my younger years but time has taught me a few valuable lessons thankfully.:D
 
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