Hi all, am I the only one that only sees knives as tools?

A

AJPeacock

Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Messages
49
New to the forum, thought I'd introduce myself.

Grew up on a farm/ranch in western Colorado, always had a knife with me.

Live in Michigan now and typically have a sub 3" fixed or folder with me and sometimes a simple pocketknife.

A knife is a tool to me 100%, which doesn't mean that I mistreat them or don't appreciate the lines of a well made/designed knife.

But honestly, until I started reading this forum, I never once considered a scratch on a knife to be anything different than a scratch on a shovel, axe, screwdriver or hammer!

I feel the same way about firearms and I've done some serious shooting with rifles that cost more than a lot of cars I've owned!

I don't 'mistreat' firearms either, but never really worried about a scratch here or there (other than making sure they were cleaned up so they wouldn't rust).

So, am I the only one?

AJ

ps: mighty nice forum you have here, so much great information available via the search facility, that there is almost no reason to post anything!
 
Some knives I own are tools, others I collect and never use. Two different things to me, users and collectors.
 
No you're not alone. I don't have any knives that I'm afraid to scratch up. I'm a minimalist by nature so the idea of collecting anything is something I just don't understand. When I see guys showing pics of their collection I'm happy that they're happy but even the thought of having a box of stuff I don't use bugs me.
 
Welcome!

Only crazy people run around cutting things up with knives. A good knife is designed to be purchased for a large sum of money, lovingly caressed, then locked away forever where it can't hurt anyone or do anything remotely useful.
 
Sikael said:
Welcome!

Only crazy people run around cutting things up with knives. A good knife is designed to be purchased for a large sum of money, lovingly caressed, then locked away forever where it can't hurt anyone or do anything remotely useful.
Click to expand...

You forgot "flicked open endlessly while watching TV and eating Hot Pockets." :D

I have knives I use, knives I will not use, and knives that I don't use, but would if I could find a reason to.
 
Knives... one of our oldest tools and now they can become investments.
rolf
 
Welcome to the forums ... I'm more along the lines you are I use but take care of my knives or firearms... I grew up in the country working on farms and around livestock too. But I have a few of both I no longer use that were given to me by someone special in my life and I have retired them ... and some of the imperfections in them bring a smile to my face remembering how it got there and makes it no less valuable to me just more so. so I guess I can see both sides. And yes there is alot of info if you look around hope you enjoy.
 
Almost all of my knives are available for use. I just can't use them all unless I just use a particular knife simply to use it. That makes no sense to me at all. I have not sold any knives. Have sold few firearms in the last 15 years (probably one). So, any knives or firearms I purchase are available for use. I do like to admire an well made knife or a collector grade firearm. I've cut back on firearm purchases simply because I have enough for my needs and my taste in collector stuff tends to exceed my financial ability of late. If they needs change, like a trip to Alaska hunting brown bears, then I'll buy another firearm.

Owning knives or firearms that I don't use or have any intention to use does not bother me in the least. My edc SAK gets used everyday.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
I use all my knives, but if you own as many knives as I do you see them as more than just tools.
Click to expand...

Well put.

Marcinek said his part well also i can reflect the same scenario, i have knives that i will use but haven't realized a function for them yet for instance i have a hollow handled survival knife which i anticipate will make a real good spearhead just havent found the time and place yet for that.
 
You just never know when you might need to make a spear. I have been considering one of the Condor hollow handled ones just for this purpose. But you know, I haven't made a spear since I was a kid and not likely to either.
 
Spears are a link to the past a powerful form of blade and maybe the best possible self defense weapon in for example a dark hallway of your home, even better than a firearm in some ways in that situation i imagine. There was an article on a country guy who repelled a mountain lion from his yard with a spear we dont always have our guns right when we need them i suppose.

I have my 3X great uncle's sword from the civil war but can make do with a home made spear to remind me of my long ago ancestors.
 
Last edited:
It's all about swords.
 
AJPeacock said:
New to the forum, thought I'd introduce myself.

Grew up on a farm/ranch in western Colorado, always had a knife with me.

Live in Michigan now and typically have a sub 3" fixed or folder with me and sometimes a simple pocketknife.

A knife is a tool to me 100%, which doesn't mean that I mistreat them or don't appreciate the lines of a well made/designed knife.

But honestly, until I started reading this forum, I never once considered a scratch on a knife to be anything different than a scratch on a shovel, axe, screwdriver or hammer!

I feel the same way about firearms and I've done some serious shooting with rifles that cost more than a lot of cars I've owned!

I don't 'mistreat' firearms either, but never really worried about a scratch here or there (other than making sure they were cleaned up so they wouldn't rust).

So, am I the only one?

AJ

ps: mighty nice forum you have here, so much great information available via the search facility, that there is almost no reason to post anything!
Click to expand...
But would you join a shovel forum, or a screwdriver forum, or a hammer forum. The fact that you chose to join a knife forum leads me to believe that you regard a knife as more than just a simple tool. :D

Welcome to Bladeforums, I commend you for stating your feelings on this matter without suggesting that your perception of knives is right and anyone who thinks or feels differently is wrong.

As for myself, I have several knives, more than I could ever use (and I use knives regularly at my construction job as well as everyday utility away from work), and I keep buying more. Although all of my knives could be used for something, many never get used because I don't have a use for them. Some of my knives are scratched up from use, but some are pristine from not being used. I also have a few knives that I regard as "treasures", and though I could and might use them for some tasks, I would never choose to use them for anything that might cause them to get scratched.

I like a variety of knives. For example, I like daggers. I have absolutely no use for daggers, but I still like them. As long as I can easily afford to buy the knives I like I will buy them, regardless as to whether I have a use for them.

I have knives that cost as much as $300. I would never pay $300 for a shovel, or an axe, or a screwdriver, or a hammer, and I do construction for a living and perform my own mechanical work on my motorcycles (as well as other peoples).

I'd wager that the vast majority of people on this forum could get by just fine with a cheap box cutter from a 99 cent store to perform all of the utility cutting that they do. But where's the fun in buying, owning, carrying, or using a 99 cent box cutter?

Knives mean different things to different people. To some a knife is just a tool to be used as a tool. But some other people appreciate knives for different reasons. Perhaps they just like the way they look, or the mechanics of them, or the sheer quality of them. Some people (like myself) appreciate knives for a variety of reasons. In any event, how people appreciate knives is entirely subjective. No one should ever be criticized for how they choose to appreciate knives. As far as I'm concerned, no matter how a person chooses to appreciate knives, they can never be wrong.

How boring would the knife world be, and how boring would our knife choices be, if everyone looked upon knives as nothing more than cutting tools and had the attitude "As long as it cuts, I don't care about anything else". :)
 
Last edited:
Frankly speaking, I don't need knives beyond a box cutter through my daily life if I think they are just tools. For a long time, I had actually carried a box cutter until 9/11. Even now the only time I actually carry my knives is when I am on a hiking or hunting trip.

I bought some knives, mostly production knives, as tools and others as collectible. For example, I ordered a few Survive Knives. They are fairly expensive but they will be used hard. The collectibles are mostly custom knives. I enjoy handling and looking at those knives. Because of the amount of engineering, blade smith, design, and effort put into those knives, there's no way I'd use them as tools.

I guess for the OP, once you grow the appreciation of the aesthetics of knives and swords, you won't think they are as "just tools." In the old time, we used to say our knives or swords have souls.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top