Having trouble making an Insingo my "beater"

arskrg

arskrg

Joined
Aug 15, 2011
Messages
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I traded for a large Micarta Insingo a few weeks ago thinking it would be a good knife to keep in my pocket when out in the yard or the woods, but it's so freakin' nice (and expensive) I kind of cringe a little at the thought of using it like I would a Griptilian I don't care about.
Anybody ever had similar feelings about an Insingo? Anybody have pics of one in action, or pics of a well used beater Insingo?
I can't justify a $400+ knife collecting dust in a drawer, somebody convince me so it doesn't end up on the exchange...
 
I have a small insingo and it is rotated with my mini-grip. Once you get a scratch or two you'll realize it's meant to be used. My struggle is to use my 2 that have graphics and wood inlays. They are currently parked in the safe. That insingo is too great a knife to not use regularly!
 
It's your call. Plenty of people collect some and use some or just collect or use em all.

I'm a user and in my opinion you have one if the finest users made today.

So use it and don't think so much about it, just enjoy and you'll see how nice it really is:thumbup:
 
Don't get me wrong, I wasn't knocking collectors. I just feel like I want to use them, but sometimes don't because of the $$$$$$...
 
Knives are built to be used as tools. If you bought it to serve that purpose, use it knowing you bought one of the best. That being said, it's your $400. Do whatever makes you happy. If keeping it in mint condition and occasionally glancing at it makes you happy, then that is not unreasonable by any means. My small african blackwood gets used, but not heavily. I keep it in a sheath to prevent it getting scratched in my pocket. But if I have to cut something I will certainly use it. If I want a safe queen...well I'll wait for that mammoth ivory river of fire damascus to come up in a lottery.
 
How much satisfaction have you had out of it, so far? $10, $20, by just admiring it? Use it a bit, you'll get up to $50 or $60 worth of use. Do that for a few years, and you are well over the price tag. :-)
 
You come to a point in your collecting, buying, and trading career when you get tired of the blade play, out of center blade, lock not working, sloppy finish, terrible sharpening and bad CS. Its nice to have all of that behind you and have a knife that I know will not fail me when I need it. The Sebenza does that for me and much more. I use my LG Micarta Insingo everyday at work and I use it on everything. I think once you start actually start using it you will find out the reason why they are so loved.
 
TMCGLASSON36 said:
I use my LG Micarta Insingo everyday at work and I use it on everything. I think once you start actually start using it you will find out the reason why they are so loved.
Click to expand...

Like what? I guess I'm just looking for some examples (or pics, even) of what it's capable of....
 
arskrg said:
Like what? I guess I'm just looking for some examples (or pics, even) of what it's capable of....
Click to expand...
At work I cut copper wire,strip insulation, trim shim stock, shave mold plates, cut pallet straps, slice fiberglass reinforced hose, just to name a few. At home trim bushes and tree limbs open boxes, mail. Camping make fire starter just for fun and any cutting task from food prep to cleaning fish. Makes a great fish scaler. Hell even trim a few cigars.:p
 
That baby was meant to beat! I have a large plain Insingo and I kinda wish I had waited to get a micarta one. I do like the slightly slimmer profile of the plain, my large Insingo is my primary carry. I don't beat it per se but i use it for openning packages and food prep and such. I've had it for over a year and it's been a great knife, easy to keep real sharp. I love it. Use it baby you won't regret it.
 
I had to start looking at it this way. I would rather use it and enjoy it the way it was meant to be than to let it sit or trade/sell it just so someone else could enjoy using it. I carry my small Sebenza and use it. Sine CRK refurbs their products you aren't taking a hit by using it. They retain their value if you are so inclined to sell it down the road. I say use it and enjoy it. That's what it's made for. They make great users after you get over that initial hesitation of using a knife that costs several hundred dollars. I had a small micarta refurbished and you can't really tell the difference now between it and a new one. (I also have a new one in box)
So use it. Don't let someone else get that enjoyment out of something you bought because you liked it.
If you don't use it, someone else will. Be it if you sell it, trade it, or pass it down to the next generation. Someone will use it eventually. And they may not enjoy it as much as you will. Especially if it's passed down and someone doesn't even know what it is.
 
I know how you feel about not wanting to use such an expensive knife. The first CRK I owned was a large unique graphic. I just couldn't make myself use such a great looking knife. I finally sold it because I couldn't justify having that much money just sitting around not being used. I felt bad letting it go though. The next CRK I bought was a small Insingo. It was still hard for me to use at first because it just looked too nice to mess up. But once it got a few marks on it, I had no more problems. Just the other day, I realized how far I had come on this issue because I found myself cutting off a twist tie with it. :eek: But hey, no problem, the Insingo cut right through that sucker! :D

All that to say, use it, use it, use it. You will love it even more once you do! :thumbup:
 
I use my CRKs and infact as far as folders I carry CRK pretty much all the time now. IMO a Sebenza is a well made piece of machinery and deserves to be used. My chainsaw was expensive but I used it for my work for years, a theodolite is even more expensive but I had to use that too, my cars/vans were more expesive yet and those have to be used also. My CRKs were the least expensive out of that short list so I don't mind using them at all. :p:thumbup:
 
I got my Large Insingo about a week or so ago and I've used it for everything imaginable, short of batoning. A knife is a tool and it's meant to be used as such. Use it with the assurance that it will never fail you. And if it ever does, lifetime warranty. A knife not being used is a knife that should be sold. That's just my opinion though.
 
I use my small Insingo as part of my EDC rotation and it gets used for opening mail, opening packages, and any other mundane tasks I assign it. It is getting a little pocket worn on the scales and has a few scratches, but the more used it gets the more it becomes mine. I compare it to a favorite pair of blue jeans--the more you wear them in the more they become yours and the more you love them.

I also have a small regular Native American as a user and the same philosophy is applied to that knife.

On the other hand I have a couple other Sebenzas that are mint NIB and when I desire to handle and view something pristine I take those out for a gander... Its the best of both worlds!

Bottom line--go get another Seb and have a user and a keeper!
 
There's a difference between using something and beating on something. Go with the former for now, then move on to the latter when you're comfortable with it.
 
I say use them. Carefully and responsibly, like any fine tool, but use them. Every couple years send them back in for refinishing and tuning.
 
I carry my small Insingo most days. I pulled off the clip and it gets thrown in my front pocket with my keys. I was also not happy with the original edge so reprofiled with my Edge Pro. I'm not afraid to use it because it just works so well.

IMG_0192.jpg
 
tomsch said:
I carry my small Insingo most days. I pulled off the clip and it gets thrown in my front pocket with my keys. I was also not happy with the original edge so reprofiled with my Edge Pro. I'm not afraid to use it because it just works so well.
Click to expand...

Same here! Small insingo, clip insert, but I Scotch Brited mine so it doesn't show scratches from my keys. One day I may put it up for sale and buy one new with silver hardware. The blue is the ONLY thing I don't particularly like about it.

Alright, I'll take the LG Micarta out in the woods to help clear some brush and whatnot this week. Just got a ZT0303, too.
I'll report back later with comparisons...
 
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