"Hard Use" knives?

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I don't have a hard use folder, and have no need for one, my job doesn't require me to cut anything. Sure we get boxes everyday, but its not my responsibility to open them. I mean I can get a sebenza and ask to open every single of them, but whats the point? I carry an Emerson and most use it got was from me going to someone's place and helping them cook, or cutting food on a picnic. It's not something i carry because its "the hardest used knife" in the world, its something thats ergonomically sits well in my hand.

Hard use is reserved for kitchen or camping knifes. Simply the amount of use makes it a hard use knife. With camping I was ax and small knife guy, now I switched to big knife. I do have two knifes I like, and I'm not going to use them. But I like over built knives, and the piece of mind they provide while I'm using them for what ever.
 
My two favorite 'hard use' knives are a Busse BAD and a Hinderer XM-18. I never worry about using them and I use them frequently for whatever tasks come up. I work industrial construction and my knives see all kinds of use during the day. I have been very surprised at how well my XM-18 has held up. The Sebenza shows wear much faster on the titanium scales and my old Strider showed rust on the blade after 1 day of carrying. No thanks. I have tried to show some of the wear on the XM-18 in the pictures below. Both are great knives with great warranties. Use them hard, break them during normal use, they get replaced. They are made to be used. They get carried to work, in the woods, hunting, fishing, and everywhere else. To me, this makes them hard use. I have gone through cheaper knives many times. I can hardly even get the XM-18 to show wear. Seems like it defines "hard use."
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Looks like I need to scrape the rest of the rubber from the tire plug from yesterday off the blade. That is some sticky stuff.
 
I have no "real need" for my "hard use" folders, but I sure to like them... so I carry them and use them for what ever comes up :D

Mostly light duty cutting a Vic Cadet could take care of, but I enjoy tough folders and that's what I carry, besides... I only cut tires for YouTubers :D

LOL, never had the need to cut the sidewall of a tire out... but it's nice to know I could or could cut some really thick rubber mats of needed :)
 
I used my BM 913 Nitrous Stryker to pry an antenna off of an MRAP once. It didn't scratch it or cause any damage. I didn't think it was very tough before that.
 
Severtech is a heavy duty user . I have hammered the blade and cut thru rusty steel with mine.I did have to resharpen though.
 
With the exception of a 4 bushcraft knives, all my knives, fixed or folders are classed as hard use because I cannot afford the consequences of a knife failing or breaking on me even though a box cutter will do 50% of the tasks I use a knife for.

I like the feeling of knowing that if I were to deploy one of my fixed blades, it will not let me down - And I do like them too...
 
I think hard use indicates work reliability. These knives are tough for the working man and the number one thing I see them with knives besides cutting is wedging and prying. The lock needs to stay strong as pieces of the knife flex. If screws and pivots start backing out of the tolerance, it's game over.
 
My go to is my Greco Folders. Scraping, minor prying and cutting stuff I don't normally cut with my other more delicate knives. Very rugged framelock.

My CS Pocket Bushman defines tough and begs to be used hard. However handles got some specks of rust, but it is a user and usage gives character.
 
stabman said:
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"?
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To me this is funny. I opened this thread and started reading because I get a kick out of the idea that "hard use" somehow equates to thick steeply ground/beveled blades with blunt tips. It seems that to be called "hard use" a knife needs to pry well, withstand batoning and percussive impacts that aim at lock failure.

I feel like I use my knives pretty hard most days (not just Tuesdays) and I do none of the things I mention above. What made me giggle is that I do perform a LOT of tire cutting. For the record I use what works best for me for this task.

Typically my choice is a FFG Endura 4. I have cut over a hundred tires with this knife and have yet to damage it in any way other than the edge needs sharpening occasionally.
 
unit said:
To me this is funny. I opened this thread and started reading because I get a kick out of the idea that "hard use" somehow equates to thick steeply ground/beveled blades with blunt tips. It seems that to be called "hard use" a knife needs to pry well, withstand batoning and percussive impacts that aim at lock failure.

I feel like I use my knives pretty hard most days (not just Tuesdays) and I do none of the things I mention above. What made me giggle is that I do perform a LOT of tire cutting. For the record I use what works best for me for this task.

Typically my choice is a FFG Endura 4. I have cut over a hundred tires with this knife and have yet to damage it in any way other than the edge needs sharpening occasionally.
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A Hard Use Folder is a fixed blade replacement for when people can't carry a fixed blade for whatever reason due to their situation, legal reasons etc.
 
Ankerson said:
A Hard Use Folder is a fixed blade replacement for when people can't carry a fixed blade for whatever reason due to their situation, legal reasons etc.
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Yes, totally agree with this. I would like my hard use folder to approach the strength of a fixed blade for whatever reason I need it for.
 
My hardest use folder is a serrated Spyderco Pacific Salt, easily one of the cheapest I own. Now my version of 'hard use' may not be the same as yours but it gets used in the kitchen a lot and anyone can tell you kitchen knives get hammered.

It has held up very well. The H1 scratches quite easily but otherwise its still going strong. Its a great knife!

My more expensive knives get babied, no question. They are used but not to the point where they may get damaged. I simply cant afford to use them like there's no tomorrow but it doesnt mean I can't get the pleasure of owning and using them.
 
Shown for side comparison, a hard use folder with a smaller heavy duty fixed blade.

Strider SmF with Busse Boss Street with it was new.



Here is what the Boss Street Looks like now, shown with Swamp Rat RMD.

 
Ankerson said:
A Hard Use Folder is a fixed blade replacement for when people can't carry a fixed blade for whatever reason due to their situation, legal reasons etc.
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With all due respect, I think this is a poor explanation.

If I need to trim my finger nails and can not carry a fixed blade, but I can carry a 1 inch slip joint, that slip joint by default is a hard use knife?

What if I do not own a fixed blade and frequently use my folder for all types of abusive tasks (stabbing car doors, prying starters off of trucks, batoning through cinder blocks, attaching to explosives and detonating, etc.)? I am not replacing a Fixed blade...so it must not be a hard use knife?

Your explanation seems circular. If I am replacing a fixed blade, it is hard use, but if I do not know what a fixed blade should do and a folder should not, it is not a hard use task, and finally if the folder can handle it...it is either NOT a hard use, or the folder is a hard use folder...but how can I tell which is the case?

What I am getting at is "hard use" is a subjective term that is about as well defined as "abuse". I am not trying to come off as a smart ass, I have a great deal of respect for you and your videos. I just think that "hard use" is a bad term that gets thrown around a lot when a knife succeeds in surviving a task (regardless of how badly it might suck at another fairly hard task that that particular user does not care to perform for whatever reason).
 
unit said:
With all due respect, I think this is a poor explanation.

If I need to trim my finger nails and can not carry a fixed blade, but I can carry a 1 inch slip joint, that slip joint by default is a hard use knife?

What if I do not own a fixed blade and frequently use my folder for all types of abusive tasks (stabbing car doors, prying starters off of trucks, batoning through cinder blocks, attaching to explosives and detonating, etc.)? I am not replacing a Fixed blade...so it must not be a hard use knife?

Your explanation seems circular. If I am replacing a fixed blade, it is hard use, but if I do not know what a fixed blade should do and a folder should not, it is not a hard use task, and finally if the folder can handle it...it is either NOT a hard use, or the folder is a hard use folder...but how can I tell which is the case?

What I am getting at is "hard use" is a subjective term that is about as well defined as "abuse". I am not trying to come off as a smart ass, I have a great deal of respect for you and your videos. I just think that "hard use" is a bad term that gets thrown around a lot when a knife succeeds in surviving a task (regardless of how badly it might suck at another fairly hard task that that particular user does not care to perform for whatever reason).
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With respect likewise, but I know exactly what Ankerson means in that context. Ankerson has also put forward the minimum characteristics that a "hard use" folder must be able to do. The capabilities must serve to define what a hard use folder must be.
 
unit said:
With all due respect, I think this is a poor explanation.

If I need to trim my finger nails and can not carry a fixed blade, but I can carry a 1 inch slip joint, that slip joint by default is a hard use knife?

What if I do not own a fixed blade and frequently use my folder for all types of abusive tasks (stabbing car doors, prying starters off of trucks, batoning through cinder blocks, attaching to explosives and detonating, etc.)? I am not replacing a Fixed blade...so it must not be a hard use knife?

Your explanation seems circular. If I am replacing a fixed blade, it is hard use, but if I do not know what a fixed blade should do and a folder should not, it is not a hard use task, and finally if the folder can handle it...it is either NOT a hard use, or the folder is a hard use folder...but how can I tell which is the case?

What I am getting at is "hard use" is a subjective term that is about as well defined as "abuse". I am not trying to come off as a smart ass, I have a great deal of respect for you and your videos. I just think that "hard use" is a bad term that gets thrown around a lot when a knife succeeds in surviving a task (regardless of how badly it might suck at another fairly hard task that that particular user does not care to perform for whatever reason).
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I don't think you understand what I mean. ;)

If a person is used to carrying a fixed blade and doing may tasks with them, these people know who they are and what and why they carry them. I am one of these people who always used to carry fixed blades, but now I can't carry one all the time. I didn't grow up in the city or Suburbs in some development, I lived way out in the country most of my life. Add in my Military background and you might start to get the idea.

Say the same person now can't carry that Fixed Blade for whatever the reason may be, but still needs to do those same tasks. The person will need a strong folder that can take the same use or nearly the same use that that FB did with out either breaking or falling apart etc.

This isn't about Slip Joints and cleaning fingernails.

This is about people who really do feel the need for a fixed blade or a folder approaching fixed blade strength.
 
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Buffalohump said:
My hardest use folder is a serrated Spyderco Pacific Salt, easily one of the cheapest I own. Now my version of 'hard use' may not be the same as yours but it gets used in the kitchen a lot and anyone can tell you kitchen knives get hammered.

It has held up very well. The H1 scratches quite easily but otherwise its still going strong. Its a great knife!

My more expensive knives get babied, no question. They are used but not to the point where they may get damaged. I simply cant afford to use them like there's no tomorrow but it doesnt mean I can't get the pleasure of owning and using them.
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My thoughts entirely (in this text in the above quote.)
 
To quote Ankerson:

A Hard Use Knife should be able to do some light prying, and a small amount of heavier prying, the pivot should be able to take some force without loosening up too much and the lock shouldn't fail the Over Strike and Spine Whacks. This should be able to be done with the same knife with no adjustments during the test.

These capabilities will serve well to define what a hard use knife is. Whether you need a knife like this or not is entirely another discussion altogether.
 
Agreed folderguy, but what do you use for the tasks that may damage your precious? If cutting a big 'ole dirty knot of rope in the shed makes you cringe, you need that hard use folder, guy.
 
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