How long do your production knives last?

hardheart

hardheart

Joined
Sep 19, 2001
Messages
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I tend to rotate knives out of my using collection after a few years at most, selling trading or losing them. The longest held in use being a Tinker which I used for about 8 years and still have (needs new scales and a cleanup) Just wondering what the service life has been for Spydercos, BMs, Kershaws, Bucks, etc. I had an Ares in use for about 6 or 7 years that locked up like new when I sold it.
 
I have a Kershaw Ken Onion Blackout that I have used on and off for the last 5 or 6 years. The blade is a little scratched and it has been sharpened a couple of times but it still performs like new. One of my favorites.
 
I still have nearly every knife I've ever owned. Lost a few carry knives and had a dozen stolen once, but I've never had a knife that broke or wore out from use.

-Bob
 
Bought my Buck Folding Hunter which is now commonly known as a 110 in about '69 and it's still going strong. Haven't carried as an EDC for a long time. Still use it when camping.

Bought a Buck Cadet in ~'82?(I don't know, could have been '76) Carried it and used it every day for quite a few years. Still solid today.

Haven't had any of my Benchmades or Spydercos long enough to guess at a service life.

I've never had a knife wear out. Not even my Gerbers. Lost a couple along the way though. However, I don't think I anywhere near qualify as a hard user. I don't use them to pry. I don't cut wire or metal or wire twist ties with them. (I read STR's description of some of the knives he repairs after use in the oil fields and cringed.) I guess that in another 20-40 years my son will inherit some hardware. YMMV.
 
I have a fully serrated Frost folder that I carried for over 5 years. Still have it in my closet with some other junk knives I used to buy before I got educated about quality. I then bought a BM 710 that I bought when they first came out, mabey 6 or 8 years ago. I carried that every day and it is still in great shape. I now rotate it in and out of my EDC along with 4 other knives. Never wore out a knife or lost one except an old Barlow I had as a kid that I don't know what happened to.
 
Most knives will out live you, for sure.

I have my grandfather's knife. A medium sized 2 blade slip joint. Sharpened dozens of time. I'm sure it's not the only knife he owned but he carried this one for close to 30 years and used it daily.

Also, think about your kitchen knives. How long have they lasted? And their quality isn't near as good as the knives you are talking about.

Regards
 
The only knives I have ever had wear out are some SAKs. Their blade steel is relatively soft and will last me about 5 years before I replace them.
 
I've worn out some cheap kitchen knives to the extent that I've had handles fail. I broke one that I dropped.

For pocket knives, it's the lock that wears the most. An AFCK's liner wore to the point it was unreliable and a lockback or two have gotten loose. But blade wise I've not worn a knife out though I've reprofiled a few here and there.

Phil
 
I've carried a buck 703 since 1977 still have it in my pocket may have to get a new stockman soon.
 
I had 1 no name lockback break the blade in half while being snapped open once. Other than that, I've never come even close to wearing one out.
 
Havent lost any knives, none of my knives have broken either. Ive had my M16 for 3 or 4 years now and i havent put it down since i bought it. My favorite folder ever.
 
I have never had a knife fizzle away into nothingness before. I have lost quite a few though. With proper care any good knife should last SEVERAL lifetimes.
 
I've had one folder break from having a poor (Or no) heat-treat and I've broken two other folders doing things that would break any folding knife. All my other knives being put through average use haven't given me problems. Generally using an Opinel, SAK, Buck 110, a Byrd or a Spyderco, with various Puukos being my fixed blades of choice.
 
I keep all of mine and sell none. I rarely break one or lose it. My dad wear out buck and schrade 3 blade folders about every 2 years. The pins just wear out or the loosen up.
 
I have a Buck 110 from 1970. I carried it everywhere and used it for things you wouldn;t even use a knife for. Stopped carrying it in 1996 when I got my BM. It is still solid (literally) as a rock. The blade might cut through paper if you followed the scoreline with a good pair of scissors... but it still locks and looks good.

I have a BM-Emerson 975 that I've been carrying every day, without fail, since 02/96. I've inertia snapped it 54.269 skabillion times and it'll still flick open with my thumbnail... just as fast as an auto. At lockup there is less than zero play (is that possible?). The blade at the tanto end has a tiny chip, the tip is bent 1 billionth of a millimeter, and, up until a few days ago when I got my (still questionable) Sharpmaker, it was duller than a sapling branch. But now, despite my sloppy beginner skills with the Sharpmaker, it'll at least cut through fog. Tomorrow it's going out in the mail to BM for some R&R and lifesharp service.

I've got two SPydies that see very littlle carry and an assortment of cheapos.... none of which have been used/carried enough that I can attest to their reliability.
 
Been using/carrying a Schrade+ CH7 Cliphanger for 10 years, bought at Wal*Mart. It has seen daily use at work as in cutting open boxes(slicing strapping tape), plastic and general use around the house. Never abused but used constantly. I have calculated this thing to have been opened and closed between 200,000 and 250,000 times. No problems with it, even the cheesy liner lock has been fine. Transitioning to a Native after I complete a career change though. Also still have 2 unused Schrade+ LB-7's from 1981, so I suppose these will last 2 generations unless I can find a taker to actually use or collect them. ;)
 
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