How do you initiate a new knife?

[scubisino]

Usually by taking a few pics and post it on Instagram, then showing the new knife to my wife and lie about the price.. check the factory edge and if needed put a new beautiful mirror polished edge on it.....

 

[lieferung]

Usually by taking a few pics and post it on Instagram, then showing the new knife to my wife and lie about the price.. check the factory edge and if needed put a new beautiful mirror polished edge on it.....

Most of my knives cost $50.....

 

[BadComrade]

It's never truly initiated until its lifted out of your pocket and drops on concrete.... Inevitable for every EDC knife I've owned.

 

[ChazzyP]

Usually by taking a few pics and post it on Instagram, then showing the new knife to my wife and lie about the price.. check the factory edge and if needed put a new beautiful mirror polished edge on it.....

Unfortunately, I helped get my wife into knives enough--carrying, using, and admiring--that she's got a pretty fair idea what's worth what. Hinderers and Chris Reeves don't cost 200 and Shiros aren't 400, so I've got no one to blame but myself for having squandered that tactic.

What I generally do when I get a new knife is spend a bit of time with it deciding if it's a keeper and something I'll want to carry and use. Some knives are really nice, but just not for me, and I'd just as soon not mark them up, reducing their $ value, if I think I'll be listing it on the Exchange. I'm not way into catch and release, and sometimes I hang onto and handle one for a few weeks before deciding to put that $ somewhere else. Some knives I like, but just don't see myself carrying and using, so I'll make myself move on.

I'm also trying not to accumulate any more drawer queens, so if that initial assessment is favorable, as it usually is, then the knife goes into my pocket and gets used--some into light use and others right to work. A fair number of the former turn into the latter, and if I don't or can't sell a drawer queen, then I'll start carrying and using it, except for a few that remain just to be fondled and admired.

 

[herisson]

Of course trying to cut thin strips of paper and/or shaving arm hair are out of the box requisites. Just to know where we stand. But the most significant first task (IMO) for a knife is to cut meat. If it slices and dices cleanly, it's all good. If there is any drag, it gets touched up until perfection is obtained.

 

[strategy9]

I like to give all my new knives a nice hearty hard AF spine whack!!!

j/k... just carry and cut something...

 

[woodsmanoh]

Usually if I really love the knife and it really loves me I will get a little cut from it. Once it cuts me I know we were meant to be.

Ok I feel better now I thought it was just me. All my favorite knives have nicked me sometimes I don't notice until I see all the blood. Those are my special keepers.

 

[Larrin]

 

[Lapedog]

Ok I feel better now I thought it was just me. All my favorite knives have nicked me sometimes I don't notice until I see all the blood. Those are my special keepers.

I find that what ends up happening is you are playing with the knife way past your bed time and that’s when disaster strikes.

Either that or just the fact that I love the knife so much means I am carrying it (and often playing with it) often which means there is a higher percentage chance I will cut myself.

 

[DRLyman]

I check it for fit and finish and make sure there’s no blade play, centering is how it should be, and that the blade is even on both sides and sharp. I learned to start doing this after buying my first Benchmade knife. Then it goes in the pocket to get used. I’m done with keeping knives in a drawer and not using them. That now seems pointless to me.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Essentially two things initiate my knives into the fold and afford them the status of bein' owned by me. Both aren't planned, they just happen but when they do I know the knife is fully owned.

First is bein' bit/cut by the blade, essentially if it draws my blood then the first condition is met. I just wanna add that cuttin' myself isn't reserved to just once and done. Most knives in my regular rotation draw my blood fairly regularly.

The second thing that makes the knife mine is the first ding or scratch in the blade or scales. Once they are no longer pristine I own it because I don't own any pristine knives, maybe a few that are in transition waiting to be sold when I need some ready cash but other than that they all are used and show it and they've all tasted the metallic copper taste of my blood.

No!, Wait, I lied, there is one thing I do to initiate all my users which equates to 98% of my collection/accumulation. I test for sharpness and put my own edge on every knife I carry before doin' anything else.

ETA: Right after I made this post I cut my finger while sharpenin' my plain Jane Sebenza 25. See what I mean about bein' cut by my knives is not a once and done deal?

 

[115Italian]

Fully disassemble and clean. Light stropping. Now its ready

 

[mt666tm]

No ritual, but I sometimes adjust lockbar tension, detent, make sure all screws are tight, etc, ... when it cuts me then I know it's mine.

 

[Quiet]

When I receive a knife, it receives a full physical inspection for soundness, meaning I make sure all screws and pivot are good to go, adjust if any is needed, and then check on the edge. If it's good to go, it goes in my pocket until I find myself missing one of my other rotation regulars.

 

[MolokaiRider]

I pretty much do the same.

Spend some time goin over the details; fit and finish, centering, qualities that I like, grind symmetry, ergonomics, etc.

If I like it I will then try to purchase a second for a "back up". I have a lot of those...

 

[Wowbagger]

How do you initiate a new knife?

Oh I have a whole catechism. Is that the right term ? I just grabbed it.
Step one : Introduce the knife to my thumb nail. They will come to have many, many conferences in the future so the sooner the better.


Next we dissect an apple core; keep and eat the good bits.


Take the knife to work for a few days (all my knives are users).


Based on all of the above, and more often than not, we take a little trip to the work shop to correct problems . . . often including surgery with a Dremel cut off wheel and diamond files to fix lock weirdness (Cold Steel).




And usually moments after that Mr Edge Pro Apex takes on the new recruit to see if there isn't some way we can make a knife out of this pile of stuff.


It's the rare knife that goes from the thumb nail into EDC and skips all the rest.
Para2 M4 comes to mind. Ritter Griptillian. Gayle Bradley One.

 

[Wowbagger]

The Ritual of Steel

"Yea verily, thou shalt bring the new knife before the altars of stone; of silicon carbide, of aluminum oxide, novaculite, diamond, and ceramic. Thou shalt anoint the altar stones according to their natures, with oil, or water, or the very air, and bring the supplicant before them.

The newcomer shall surrender that portion of metal not worthy of the cut, and shall be honed and shaped to its purpose. It shall pass from stone unto stone, until it is made ready. Then shall it pass, to the smooth green leather, where the final refinement is made, and the unworthy burr is extirpated, and it shall be deemed good.

Only then may the newcomer be welcomed into the Rotation, and be allowed access to the Pocket, where it shall go forth and perform good deeds in the land."

Nice one !

 

[Wowbagger]

then showing the new knife to my wife and lie about the price.

You've got a patient friend there. Trying to show a new knife to The Chef has about the same effect as if I were to approach her with a dead mouse in my teeth. I don't get vary far before I get "The Look". She's got me trained to not even try and to just enjoy my dirty little hobby habit in private.

and lie about the price

It's enough of a "problem" to have a highly suspect and potentially disreputable small box arrive before I get home in time to intercept it with out trying to explain it. ANY more knives would be UNACCEPTABLE . . . regardless the price of said abomination.

 

[BD_01]

I have a two part process. First is in the club with these folks:

Usually by ceremoniously accidentally cutting myself with it.

...Usually cut myself.

Usually the new knife initiates me, unless I am careful.

It's not really yours till it bites you lol.

On occasion, I’ve had the knife choose me in this manner while still at a retailer! If you draw your own blood during testing, you must buy the knife.

Part two entails screwing it up somehow...usually involving a drop on concrete.

It's never truly initiated until its lifted out of your pocket and drops on concrete.... Inevitable for every EDC knife I've owned.

Then there is this:

I sleep with it. if we both wake up fulfilled and not injured its a match made in heaven .

Although not part of my initiation routine, I too have been known to do it. My wife has occasionally been made jealous by my Southard or Umnumzaan. (Oh the shame!)

It’s good to know I’m not alone.

 

[scubisino]

You've got a patient friend there. Trying to show a new knife to The Chef has about the same effect as if I were to approach her with a dead mouse in my teeth. I don't get vary far before I get "The Look". She's got me trained to not even try and to just enjoy my dirty little hobby habit in private.


It's enough of a "problem" to have a highly suspect and potentially disreputable small box arrive before I get home in time to intercept it with out trying to explain it. ANY more knives would be UNACCEPTABLE . . . regardless the price of said abomination.

Oh my God!.. I think we are married to the same woman!!... "The Look" always come with the head shake and the words.. "why another knife?"...