Buzzbait
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2001
- Messages
- 6,751
I just wanted to thank everyone that posts here at BladeForums. I stumbled upon this board last night, and just basked in all of the knowledge and good humor.
I'd been using the same old Barlow jackknife for about 15 years, when the blade became horribly dulled after sawing through a 2 foot walleye's spin column while on a night fishing trip last year. I'd never, until this happened, ever had trouble sharpening it, but this time was different. My father-in-law grabbed the Barlow and proceeded to teach me his age-old method of sharpening a blade with the bottom of a coffee cup. Let's just say that it did more good than bad.
Figuring that it was about time to get a new knife (finally!!!!), I started checking out web boards, online stores, and magazines this weekend. The wife is off to Florida for a wedding, so yesterday was a great day to learn all I could and drool over everything I saw; not to mention making a purchase before she had a chance to complain. My birthday is next week, so I figure I've got a good excuse when the bill arrives.
After reading everybody's comments on different subjects, and reading over knife reviews, I placed an order for a two kives. I picked out a small Spyderco Navigator for an everyday carry-around. I just wanted something really small, which wouldn't turn heads at work. The other was a carbon fibre CRKT M-16 for future outdoor trips. I was after something tough enough to mow through those walleye, while still gentle enough to clean tiny brook trout. While I was at it, I also grabbed some Tuf-Cloth to help keep the M-16 from rusting.
Okay, I'll admit it. My decisions were biased towards the looks of the knives. Call me a cheese-head, but I love the muscular look of a good knife. The look of the M-16 just screamed of big cajones, and the Navigator was just very too nifty looking not to get. I'm a pretty utilitarian kind of guy, so I don't need any of that ornate stuff, just something sturdy looking.
For some odd reason, I have a feeling that more purchases may come in the future. I'm just one of those guys that eternally searches for that holy grail of tools. I started off with some comparatively inexpensive knives, but those big boys look just right for future treks through the Adirondacks.
Just between you all and myself, I read through the great info on knife sharpening this morning. With all of that great teaching, I managed to get my Barlow back to "better than brand new" working condition. I'll have to forget to mention that to the wife. When I have a kid down the road, a great old Barlow pocketknife of his dad's will be waiting for him.
Oh yah. I've got a couple questions. If I ever go looking for something to replace the M-16 on my fishing trips (shhhhhh!!!!), do you have any recommendations for a liner lock that has outstanding corrosion resistance? The lakes are wet, and so is the weather generally. My gear seems to be in a continual state of drying out on the back lawn.
Also, which mags are good to read? Are any of them oustandingly more knowledgable and unbiased than the rest? My local bookstore carries 'Knives Illustrated' and 'Tactical Knives'. I really enjoyed reading through 'Knives Illustrated'.
Thanks again everybody!!!!
I'd been using the same old Barlow jackknife for about 15 years, when the blade became horribly dulled after sawing through a 2 foot walleye's spin column while on a night fishing trip last year. I'd never, until this happened, ever had trouble sharpening it, but this time was different. My father-in-law grabbed the Barlow and proceeded to teach me his age-old method of sharpening a blade with the bottom of a coffee cup. Let's just say that it did more good than bad.
Figuring that it was about time to get a new knife (finally!!!!), I started checking out web boards, online stores, and magazines this weekend. The wife is off to Florida for a wedding, so yesterday was a great day to learn all I could and drool over everything I saw; not to mention making a purchase before she had a chance to complain. My birthday is next week, so I figure I've got a good excuse when the bill arrives.
After reading everybody's comments on different subjects, and reading over knife reviews, I placed an order for a two kives. I picked out a small Spyderco Navigator for an everyday carry-around. I just wanted something really small, which wouldn't turn heads at work. The other was a carbon fibre CRKT M-16 for future outdoor trips. I was after something tough enough to mow through those walleye, while still gentle enough to clean tiny brook trout. While I was at it, I also grabbed some Tuf-Cloth to help keep the M-16 from rusting.
Okay, I'll admit it. My decisions were biased towards the looks of the knives. Call me a cheese-head, but I love the muscular look of a good knife. The look of the M-16 just screamed of big cajones, and the Navigator was just very too nifty looking not to get. I'm a pretty utilitarian kind of guy, so I don't need any of that ornate stuff, just something sturdy looking.
For some odd reason, I have a feeling that more purchases may come in the future. I'm just one of those guys that eternally searches for that holy grail of tools. I started off with some comparatively inexpensive knives, but those big boys look just right for future treks through the Adirondacks.
Just between you all and myself, I read through the great info on knife sharpening this morning. With all of that great teaching, I managed to get my Barlow back to "better than brand new" working condition. I'll have to forget to mention that to the wife. When I have a kid down the road, a great old Barlow pocketknife of his dad's will be waiting for him.
Oh yah. I've got a couple questions. If I ever go looking for something to replace the M-16 on my fishing trips (shhhhhh!!!!), do you have any recommendations for a liner lock that has outstanding corrosion resistance? The lakes are wet, and so is the weather generally. My gear seems to be in a continual state of drying out on the back lawn.
Also, which mags are good to read? Are any of them oustandingly more knowledgable and unbiased than the rest? My local bookstore carries 'Knives Illustrated' and 'Tactical Knives'. I really enjoyed reading through 'Knives Illustrated'.
Thanks again everybody!!!!
