"Hard Use" knives?

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stabman

stabman

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Okay, we have a bunch of threads going about "hard-use, uber tough, folding-fixed-blade" knives going on right now. A bunch of people seem to like em, and a bunch don't. Nothing new there.
HOWEVER, the refrain "just because YOU don't see the need, blah blah blah" seems to be falling flat for the "hard use" crowd in many ways. These same "tough tough TOUGH!!!" users keep posting pictures of UNUSED knives, and in the threads devoted to what people use their knives for, they generally cut even less things than the "cheese cutting, letter-opener" crowd.
Hell, most Striders are used to cut AIR; at least some of the Spydercos are being used for something.:rolleyes:
So, other than just wanting one (a valid thing:thumbup:), or dreams of fighting off alley ninja-zombies, what DO people here use their "hard-use" knives for that wouldn't be possible with a normal knife?

For disclosure, I own 2 Strider SmF's which do get used, but my Spydercos can handle the same tasks (cutting fiberglass, rubber hose, 1/8" plastic, etc.), and for "alley ninja-zombies" my thinner, pointier knives are stabbier anyway.

OR, is "hard-use" a synonym for "I like to pry stuff for no reason and cut tires in my backyard just because it's Tuesday"?
 
I EDC a few Hard Use folders, Strider SmF CC and my Custom Demko are my main 2 Hard Use EDC's. :thumbup:

I carry the Demko more because I like it better and with the hollow ground blade it does certain EDC tasks better than the Flat Ground Strider. The .200" thick blade slices like a razor knife while still being super strong. :thumbup:

I use my Strider SmF RW-1 in the yard for certain types of yard work.

I use my AL and Recon 1 for Yard Work also and in the Garage cutting stuff.

I use mine all the time for different things is all that I am saying. :)
 
Well.......

My number one 'hard use' EDC as of late is a Kershaw JYDII with titanium pants's and
SG-2 laminate steel.
Thus far it has cut cardboard , various gauges of electrical and data cable, zip ties , carpet , dry wall , linoleum , retainer straps , rope and all this is work related. Home use has seen small branches and vines , rope , canvas tarp , camping use has seen trout , fishing line , rope , old t-shirts and cloth for gun cleaning rags.

Is all that considered 'hard use' ? The blade is scratched , smears of tape and plastics residue reside on it and yet it is a razor sharp implement that does nothing but perform.


IMO the vast bulk of the knives labled for 'hard use' never see anything tougher than the occassional piece of newsprint to impress the buddies , which makes me conclude that other great knives like Strider , Hinderer , Crusader Forge to name a few are merely show pieces for folks whose only interest in them is turning a ridicuously low profit....


:)
Tostig
 
Ankerson said:
I use my Strider SmF RW-1 in the yard for certain types of yard work.

I use my AL and Recon 1 for Yard Work also and in the Garage cutting stuff.

I use mine all the time for different things is all that I am saying. :)
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Hey, at least you're using them.:thumbup:
But would an Endura say, one of the saber ground ones, be insufficient to the tasks you do?
I've read enough threads where people had a SnG but reached for the Endura when it was time to scrape paint, pry open a paint can, or dig in the dirt; they didn't want to scratch their "Preciousssss..."

Now, I no longer own an Endura, as the G-10 and titanium bug got me:D, but other than batonning, I cannot think of too many tasks it wouldn't have been up to.
And that's my point; not that there shouldn't be "hard-use" knives (alot of mine ARE), but just that there doesn't seem to be a NEED for them for, well, practically everyone I've ever seen post here so far, to tell the truth.
 
I hard use my small sebenza on occasion. Gardening related mostly.

Whacked a concrete walkway when cutting once. Pretty much just put a small burr on the edge :-P
 
All things being equal, I'd take the stronger knife every time, but some of my hardest uses has been with "medium duty" knives. They were the ones in my pockets during times of need. I've used a Spyderco Spur to do the hardest cutting to date , from double-jacket 77mm fire hose to jacking up a door in an apartment to lift the door off its hinges. I'm only talking a fraction of an inch to get a hold on it, but the knife worked. I used it to cut a thick rubber chute similar in consistency and thickness to the hard rubber flooring you'd see in a hockey rink. Hacking and cutting that took two of us a number of minutes to accomplish in order to gain a purchase point for heavier prying tools. I don't know if my Umnumzaan is considered "heavy-duty" enough, but I don't shy away from using it. Just two nights ago, I used it to cut a lot of 3-M reflective tape that's used on garage floors for the firehouse. I didn't think much of it until I realized the reflective material is either glass or silica, so it's pretty abrasive. Couple that with the industrial strength adhesive and the fact it was attached to the concrete floor, my Umnum was in need of some TLC afterwards, but it handled the job not much worse for the wear.
 
Stabman, remember this thread? http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=755672

Only 16 replies, LOL! And I doubt a Strider was even close to making it in that thread!

Of course, I can't really talk, I have a Strider SA thats been sitting in the safe since the first day I bought it, haha! By the way, if anyone wants to make me an offer on it...

However, my current work knife is an Emerson Super Commander which I am not afraid to use and abuse. I work in the construction field and I put my work knives through the wringer. That doesn't mean I will do something totally stupid with it (like try to open a manhole lid with it) but I will push the envelope sometimes. After all, Emersons are the "#1 Hard-use knives in the world!" LOL.
 
stabman said:
Hey, at least you're using them.:thumbup:
But would an Endura say, one of the saber ground ones, be insufficient to the tasks you do?
I've read enough threads where people had a SnG but reached for the Endura when it was time to scrape paint, pry open a paint can, or dig in the dirt; they didn't want to scratch their "Preciousssss..."

Now, I no longer own an Endura, as the G-10 and titanium bug got me:D, but other than batonning, I cannot think of too many tasks it wouldn't have been up to.
And that's my point; not that there shouldn't be "hard-use" knives (alot of mine ARE), but just that there doesn't seem to be a NEED for them for, well, practically everyone I've ever seen post here so far, to tell the truth.
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My Endura is a FFG so I really can't say anything about the other ones. I definitely wouldn't use it for some of the tasks that I use the other knives for. I however EDC it or my Strider SmF CC on days when I am wearing slacks and a button down shirt because they are thin and light.

I wouldn't beat on any knife that wasn't rated Hard Use though, I learned that one the hard way with more than a few knives over the years.

I can see why some wouldn't want to use their $500 knife to scrape paint when they have a $60 knife that will do it just fine.
 
I think all this hard use knife stuff is total crap.

The only two hard use knives I have used, are a fallkniven F1, and a Bark river bravo 1. And the only reason in my opinion they can be considered hard use, is because I am able to use them in place of an axe, (not how the knife was intended) in an emergency situation.

I think the idea of a hard use folder is kind of a joke, given that any real hard use and you might as well just get a fixed blade.


-Freq
 
All I know is the SW Finish on my SmF CC is holding up extremely well to the point that it looks like I never used it. :eek: :D :thumbup:

So some finishes do hold up better than others. :)
 
freq18hz said:
I think all this hard use knife stuff is total crap.

The only two hard use knives I have used, are a fallkniven F1, and a Bark river bravo 1. And the only reason in my opinion they can be considered hard use, is because I am able to use them in place of an axe, (not how the knife was intended) in an emergency situation.

I think the idea of a hard use folder is kind of a joke, given that any real hard use and you might as well just get a fixed blade.


-Freq
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MOST people can't carry a fixed blade around with them due to a variety of reasons these days so your point isn't valid for the general public or the majority.

That FB won't do anybody any good if it's sitting at the house when they aren't home now will it?
 
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stabman said:
.... there doesn't seem to be a NEED for them for, well, practically everyone I've ever seen post here so far, to tell the truth.
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I carry a Glock and if you base my need on past actual usage, then there doesn't seem to be a need for it. However, I like to have it with me.
 
singularity35 said:
I carry a Glock and if you base my need on past actual usage, then there doesn't seem to be a need for it. However, I like to have it with me.
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LIKE is a fine reason.:thumbup:
Let's face it, once we get past $50 for a knife, it's into the realm of like much more than need, so none of us here can really look down on others for what they LIKE.:)
 
stabman said:
LIKE is a fine reason.:thumbup:
Let's face it, once we get past $50 for a knife, it's into the realm of like much more than need, so none of us here can really look down on others for what they LIKE.:)
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Agree with you on that stabbie and it cuts(pun intended) both ways doesn't it?
Is there really a need for an uber thin $200 knife with such and such exotic steel, that a box cutter can't do?
 
singularity35 said:
Is there really a need for an uber thin $200 knife with such and such exotic steel, that a box cutter can't do?
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Sometimes.
Hard to cut a sandwich properly with a box-cutter.:p
And extra length helps with cutting at times.
But yes, you can get by most of the time with a box-cutter, even though it feels like heresy to say so.:o
 
stabman said:
Sometimes.
Hard to cut a sandwich properly with a box-cutter.:p
And extra length helps with cutting at times.
But yes, you can get by most of the time with a box-cutter, even though it feels like heresy to say so.:o
Click to expand...

Point granted. But maybe the operative phrase should be "95 percent of the time". Cuts both ways too. :D
 
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