"Hard Use" knives?

[Ankerson]

Well Ankerson, you've been here a long time, I'm new this year, so I'm not sure about what you've answered in the past. But in the threads I've seen so far, I don't see any answers, and I've read most of them.

For instance, really I have no idea what kind of knife task you can perform with your Strider, that I can't perform with my cheapest locking folder.

The OP just wants to see some hard use, as do I. People want to know WHY you folks hold these knives in high regard. It never gets answered, except in a situation where you are using it for something other than a knife, or in a hypothetical context. It feels like we are beating a dead horse at this point, and I don't want the thread to turn negative at all, but really I will retire while saying I find this entire topic incredibly bewildering, and therefore silly. I get that some people like big thick heavy folding knives, but I don't understand what makes them a better knife. Often times, it seems the reverse to me.

It's not about better, that's what seems to confuse people.

There are different types of knives for different tasks.

Knive A isn't any better than knife B taking into account both are quality knives to begin with.

Neither is better than the other, they are just different.

One type is built to take more abuse than the other, or harder use.

 

[Chris Pierce]

I equate toughness to durability and longevity. I have a Leek that won't pass an over strike test. It is used. My buddy bought a new one, it passes the test. I assume that wear has caused my knife to become less reliable. Therefore I prefer a more reliable knife, ie stronger lock, so I can get more use out of them.
I have read that a some people prefer a watch to be water proof to 400m. Not because they spend a lot of time at a depth of 400m, but because they think that a watch that will take 400m worth of pressure must be a better made watch and thus last longer. I hope that makes sense.

Here's the kicker, I actually prefer a knife that cuts well. That's why I don't own any striders. And why I generally carry a SAK along with my stronger heavier locking folder.

 

[Ankerson]

I equate toughness to durability and longevity. I have a Leek that won't pass an over strike test. It is used. My buddy bought a new one, it passes the test. I assume that wear has caused my knife to become less reliable. Therefore I prefer a more reliable knife, ie stronger lock, so I can get more use out of them.
I have read that a some people prefer a watch to be water proof to 400m. Not because they spend a lot of time at a depth of 400m, but because they think that a watch that will take 400m worth of pressure must be a better made watch and thus last longer. I hope that makes sense.

Here's the kicker, I actually prefer a knife that cuts well. That's why I don't own any striders. And why I generally carry a SAK along with my stronger heavier locking folder.

That's true.

Take two knives, say an Endura 4 FFG and a SmF.

We all know what knife is going to be the better slicer, at least I would hope anyway.

But take that Endura and SmF out into the field and start to use them for digging, prying, beat on them and see what knife still functions as a knife at the end of the day.

One is made more durable than the other, that's just how it is.

Now I know it's not really fair to compare a $100 to a $500 knife in any shape or form, but one should get the idea.

Like I said not better, just different.

As far as use goes I personally will never understand why people use their folders in the kitchen, that whole thing just escapes me.

THat's why I have kitchen knives and yeah they are sharp and I keep them that way.

 

[12Bravo]

stabman,

That looks like a hasty road crater......triple nickle forty

 

[Chris Pierce]

As far as use goes I personally will never understand why people use their folders in the kitchen, that whole thing just escapes me.

I used my brand new CS American lawman on food today. I pitted some cherries for my protein shake. I saved probably 4 or 5 steps that I would have had to take to get to my paring knife on the other side of the kitchen :thumbup:

Generally I don't use folders in the kitchen. Too many moving parts and little nooks and what-have-you to get filled up with raw chicken or whatever.

 

[Ankerson]

I used my brand new CS American lawman on food today. I pitted some cherries for my protein shake. I saved probably 4 or 5 steps that I would have had to take to get to my paring knife on the other side of the kitchen :thumbup:

Generally I don't use folders in the kitchen. Too many moving parts and little nooks and what-have-you to get filled up with raw chicken or whatever.

That's funny. LOL

The moving parts etc thing is true however.

That's also why I usually carry FB's out into the field instead of folders.

 

[cziv]

Hard use to me, is being stuck in a situation where you have to use a knife to endlessly cut hard materials like wood or metal, while retaining an edge, or used as an axe, prybar, etc. repeatedly without servicing or tools to repair the knife. Fixed blades are infinitely more capable when it comes to extreme abuse.

Show me a folder being "Used Hard" without refrain, and I'll show you a broken knife.

Show me a FB being "Used Hard" without refrain, as above, and I'll show you a broken fixed blade knife.

I think BluntTruth copped an attitude and took down his vids (we didn't give him a very nice "welcome back" because he said something about the hallowed turf of NnFncy.) He batons right through a good size board with a $24 Rat-1 folder and shares the trick to doing this is to "unlock the blade" before hammering it through. It was very cool to see him do it.

I like "hard use folders" because they make me feel like a macho man and if I go down while flying in my Cessna and don't have my battle mistress with me - I'd rather "attempt" some survival stuff with one of them than my Spyderco Centofante 3.

 

[Chris Pierce]

That's funny. LOL

The moving parts etc thing is true however.

That's also why I usually carry FB's out into the field instead of folders.

Most definitely. When I'm camping or fishing or whatever I always have a good small fixed blade along with my edc folder. Just yesterday I was fishing and had a choice between my Recon 1, Vic Farmer and Benchmade Fecas(?) for cutting bait. I'm sure you can guess which one I chose.

 

[Chris Pierce]

I think BluntTruth copped an attitude and took down his vids (we didn't give him a very nice "welcome back" because he said something about the hallowed turf of NnFncy.) He batons right through a good size board with a $24 Rat-1 folder and shares the trick to doing this is to "unlock the blade" before hammering it through. It was very cool to see him do it.

I'm going to have to find this video. I have had my suspicions about battoning it this way. But as of yet I only use slip joints to batton with

 

[cziv]

I'm going to have to find this video. I have had my suspicions about battoning it this way. But as of yet I only use slip joints to batton with

Here you go. The whole 2 part review is good but Part 2 at about 6 minutes 10 seconds he'll show you how to baton wood with a folder. I've tried it and it slides through like butter!!

$25 "Hard Use folder" and I'm going broke buying customs & semi-customs!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn4zLpd_Cks&feature=related

Think about this - within reason and with some common sense on wood selection - (size, speed of going through, not trying to murder the strikes etc.) there's a lot of potential hard use folders out there.

Do I think that tips need to be stabbed into wood (unless it's a big grub worm and I'm starving)? NO. Do I need to stand on by outstretched folder? NO.

Do I need to do overstrike & spinewack testing - H*LL NO.

I find tests like that entertaining but not germane to my ability to start a fire and perhaps fashion a minimal/makeshift shelter. I think an Ontario Rat 1 would do that job after watching this video. Not a fixed blade by any stretch but it's always nice to "at least" have a tough folder on you if possible.

 

[singularity35]

Yeah, its a sentiment that has to be repeated, because in every Hard Use thread, no one shows any evidence of Hard Use, that's why the OP created the thread. Because there isn't any.

So what is it to you? What gives you big butthurt if you don't see any evidence that you accept? It's not like someone is forcing you to accept that you need to buy one. Why take it personally? Most of all, why state this from an assumed position of moral superiority when expressing your opinion?

 

[Filip.J]

I've cut a copper electric cable and stripped it off its isolation rubber coating with my Busse Active Duty. Does it count as a hard use?

 

[thejamppa]

I've cut a copper electric cable and stripped it off its isolation rubber coating with my Busse Active Duty. Does it count as a hard use?

For any other knife, but if you talk Busse/INFI-holics that is just warming up Seriously, all Busse knives can take one heck of an beating. My Game Warden and Cultellus are not exception.

 

[GrinderMcgee]

9 pages of this and I am dizzy but entertained.

A hard use folder is one I can give to a brute like Jim Ankerson and it comes back in one piece.

Once it is destroyed than it is no longer a folding knife at all. It was a folder used to hard.

 

[philwar]

For instance, really I have no idea what kind of knife task you can perform with your Strider, that I can't perform with my cheapest locking folder.

Examples HAVE been given, multiple times, by me and others. You find them if you are in fact interested.
Don't keep repeating this falsehood.

 

[cziv]

9 pages of this and I am dizzy but entertained.

A hard use folder is one I can give to a brute like Jim Ankerson and it comes back in one piece.

Once it is destroyed than it is no longer a folding knife at all. It was a folder used to hard.

:thumbup:

 

[Lazydog1]

Hacked up a couple of peaches for lunch today. Used my full serrated Spydie Delica. Then my wife opened a lovely Madeira cake. Took the Endura IV VG10 to that.
Saving the watermelon for after supper. Will probably baton the Stryder through that tuff muther.

Seriously....it’s all about preparation.
I lived in Namibia (Africa) for about 18 months. In my vehicle I always had around 50 litres of water, a hi-lift jack, tire pump, mud mats, spare fuel, a tarp for shelter, spare engine oil and other parts, two small shovels, an axe, a toolbox, a bag of personal stuff including a 6 inch Ka-Bar fixed blade, 4 inch CS Pro-lite in my pocket, a mobile phone with 12 volt charger cable etc. I also had a couple of Masai lion spears in the back....but that’s another story.
Here in the UK all I need is my mobile with the AA number loaded. I’m not even allowed to carry a knife, unless it’s required for work and it’s a non-locking folder with a blade under 3 inches. Then I have to prove that I am actually going to or coming from work. *sigh*
So what’s my point?
The minimum knife I wanted in my pocket in Namibia was that 4 inch Cold Steel. It cut a lot of things – meat, wood, hide, bark, rubber, plastic, some thincopper cable. The lock never failed even when twisting the knife while cuttinng. I didn’t do anything ‘stupid’ with it and I still have it.
In the UK I can get by with the Spyderco Endura or Delica. But then I’m not out camping in the bush here. There is no hide or plastic for me to cut. Just those peaches.
Now here’s my point: If you were to ask me what folding knife to bring to Africa I would suggest you bring the strongest folder you can buy. For the UK I would recommend something lighter, even if you were going hunting stag. You are not likely to need anything heavier. And bring a heavy ‘tank’ into the UK the customs inspectors would probably view it as a ‘offensive weapon’ and confiscate it.
But, here’s the kicker....
I remember an ad by Victorinox in the 1980’s. Showed one of their SAK’s which had been used by some guy whose plane came down in the jungle of South America. He walked out over a couple of weeks and the only tool he had was that SAK. One of the blades was broken, the other was worn down and one of the scales was missing. It had been heavily used. It had probably saved his life and certainly gave him both physical and mental comfort.
You could say that it served as a ‘heavy duty’ folder.
The question is this – If you were him and about to fly over South American jungle, what knife would you take?

 

[Ankerson]

Strider SmF on the left, Spyderco Endura 4 FFG on the right.

One is heavy duty and hard use, the other is a slicer.

Not better, just different.

 

[cziv]

The question is this – If you were him and about to fly over South American jungle, what knife would you take?

Probably something like the KA-BAR - full size sheath knife - nothing huge like a big Busse and not too small like the SAK. The SAK would look bad in the "rescued pics," walking out of the bush with a broken tip and a missing scale.

 

[Ankerson]

The question is this – If you were him and about to fly over South American jungle, what knife would you take?

A Fixed Blade from 6" ~ 10".

Currently out of the knives I own:

Busse Tank Buster

Busse Basic 11

Busse BWM

Cold Steel Trail Master

One of them would be fine. :thumbup: