How do you deal with EDC Anxiety?

Not really a problem for me. Put my 73 Stag in my right pocket and any one of the other ones in the left pocket. Try to never over think it.


Harry
 
So I've been thinking about this question since I posted it originally. Thank you all for the great advice. After much thought I think it comes down to this: I like this knife so much, I don't want to wear it down. I try to strop often, sharpen rarely, but I don't know how long it will last! Stupid thought I know. It's since become a trusted friend, and I can't imagine not having it with me. I've tried carrying other knives, but at some point in the day, it always ends up back in my pocket. So I suppose the next questions is this: with the theory I've applied above (and I strop at least daily, sometimes more as I whittle a fair amount) how many years can I expect this knife to provide service until it hits the point that I have to sadly retire it, and find another? I AM looking for a second of the same pattern to hold on to, or rotate with so I always have it, and I figure with two of them, I'm pretty well set for life.
 
Habiru I wouldn't worry on how long it will last. Unless you are taking it to a stone everyday with corse and then fine this knife in all reality should well out live you. Now this is just my opinion but I have knives that are over 65 years old that belonged to my grandfather who was a user and there is all kinds of life left in the blade. I would say you have a better chance of losing the knife before you wear the knife down to unusable. I would relax use the knife and not worry about it you'll be fine.
 
i guess if i truly do love the knife that much, i buy one to use, and one to store
 
Habiru said:
So I suppose the next questions is this: with the theory I've applied above (and I strop at least daily, sometimes more as I whittle a fair amount) how many years can I expect this knife to provide service until it hits the point that I have to sadly retire it, and find another? I AM looking for a second of the same pattern to hold on to, or rotate with so I always have it, and I figure with two of them, I'm pretty well set for life.
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Lol...that's a nice problem to have. I already own enough knives to last several lifetimes, so the thought of wearing one out doesn't weigh on me. But, should that ever happen I'll gladly take that as a good reason to buy myself a new knife, not that I ever needed any.
 
is there a traditional with very thick blade stock? almost to the level of a modern folder's thickness
 
My grandfather carried the same Case jackknife every day of his life for at least 70 years. It went through WW2 with him. It has been in my possession since he passed and it has a lot of life left in it. I would not treasure the knife nearly as much had he not used it every day.
 
I kind of had the same problem, after using a small case peanut, ...but carrying it since 2011, i can barely say it's been used, except the patina, so that experience alone changed my mind on the subject.
Of course, it all depends on how it's used, how many sharpenings, and so on, anyway, I'm sure I will retire long before that peanut, and i'm 35.
And the peanut has a very thin, very narrow blade.
 
mrknife said:
is there a traditional with very thick blade stock? almost to the level of a modern folder's thickness
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Thicker even. The "traditional" khukuri on the right has a spine that's almost 1/2" thick! :eek:



If you are asking about slipjoints specifically, there are knives that use thicker stock, but you're going to have to look past GEC's offerings. I don't know why you'd want such a thick knife though, the reason why slipjoints cut so well is because of their thin blade geometry.



The knife on the left is a Northwoods Scagel. The blade on that one is 5/32" thick.
 
kamagong said:
Thicker even. The "traditional" khukuri on the right has a spine that's almost 1/2" thick! :eek:



If you are asking about slipjoints specifically, there are knives that use thicker stock, but you're going to have to look past GEC's offerings. I don't know why you'd want such a thick knife though, the reason why slipjoints cut so well is because of their thin blade geometry.



The knife on the left is a Northwoods Scagel. The blade on that one is 5/32" thick.
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the oldest of traditionals! looks like that knife can be passed on for generations!
i hear ya, that looks just as thick as the Schatt and Morgan heritage jack blades. that scagel might be thicker tho. for some reason im stuck on the stubborn belief that blade stock is equal to blade life/knife life. i guess that harkens to the days when i was younger and sharpened on those carbide sharpeners :barf:
 
mrknife said:
for some reason im stuck on the stubborn belief that blade stock is equal to blade life/knife life.
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I don't know what blade thickness has to do with longevity. Width, sure, but I don't understand how thickness is a factor. Please enlighten me.
 
kamagong said:
I don't know what blade thickness has to do with longevity. Width, sure, but I don't understand how thickness is a factor. Please enlighten me.
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well that too i mean, the width of the blade. i suppose how long you can sharpen it or often. you are right, width then
 
jacktrades_nbk said:
I kind of had the same problem, after using a small case peanut, ...but carrying it since 2011, i can barely say it's been used, except the patina, so that experience alone changed my mind on the subject.
Of course, it all depends on how it's used, how many sharpenings, and so on, anyway, I'm sure I will retire long before that peanut, and i'm 35.
And the peanut has a very thin, very narrow blade.
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That was very reassuring, thank you! I have a peanut myself, so I know exactly what you mean.
 
mrknife said:
well that too i mean, the width of the blade. i suppose how long you can sharpen it or often. you are right, width then
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I mostly carry an Opinel. Very narrow blade. Spine to edge. I maintain my blades on a diamond credit card stone. About as aggressive as you can get. I think I can spot a bit of blade loss on knives over 2 years old.

So what?

It's a $15 dollar knife and meant to be used and frankly to be used up.

For me, if a knife is so dear that I don't want to shorten it's life more by sharpening it, something has gone askew in my relationship to it. It's now a possesion, and not a tool. I treat my Grabdfathers Bowie that way but that's it.
 
pinnah said:
For me, if a knife is so dear that I don't want to shorten it's life more by sharpening it, something has gone askew in my relationship to it. It's now a possesion, and not a tool.
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Thanks Pinnah. This should be repeated occasionally so as to remind us to keep things in proper perspective.

My primary carry is a GEC #73. I've been carrying it for over two years now. It experienced some blade loss on its initial reprofile, but little since. Of course I keep it sharp with a strop and either 2000 grit sandpaper or a translucent Arkansas.

Knives are a durable good. That may be a strange concept in our disposable society, but a well-made knife should give decades of service if given a modicum of care. Kitchen knives, with their relatively soft steel blades, last a long time despite constant touch ups. If a knife wears out, no big deal, get another. Simple as that.
 
pinnah said:
For me, if a knife is so dear that I don't want to shorten it's life more by sharpening it, something has gone askew in my relationship to it. It's now a possesion, and not a tool. I treat my Grabdfathers Bowie that way but that's it.
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I wouldn't go so far as to call it anything but a tool, but it was how I grew up. I grew up "depression poor". We had literally nothing growing up. If I wanted something, I usually found it broken and learned to fix it. That mentality led me to want the most bang for my buck as it were, and anything I can do to prolong the life of a tool means less I have to spend in the future. Now that I have a family of my own, and have to rely on the VA for a paycheck, that comes VERY much in handy, and is still something I hold on to.

Adding to that the fact that I tend to use my knives as a painter would use a brush, and one can get attached to the way a tool works in their hands. You get used to the different grips you use and the way it cuts. To have to relearn muscle memory for things like that... well, imagine having to type all of your daily correspondence on a keyboard that doesn't have all of the letters in the same place. Doable, but relearning disturbs everything you know. Make sense? :D
 
I like this thinking ^, it's a bit obsessive, yet totally understandable to a knife nutty!
 
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