How Long Will Your Knife Last if Humans Became Extinct?

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Chris Keller

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This is a thread based on another one on the Internet I saw.

If humans became extinct tomorrow, how long would their buildings, cars, and other artifacts, such as knives, last?

I think 1,000,000 years will erase just about everything a casual observer might notice, even roads in the desert. But smaller things will last.

My gold ring can under certain conditions last 1,000,000,000 years.

My Kabar, as it is of 1095 and leather, will be lucky to make it to the century stripe. My Sog Seal Knife can very likely if buried in dry soil last 300,000 years and still be a usable knife. Ditto with my Gryphon.

How about yours?
 
Well, with knives made of talonite and titanium you could reasonably expect them to last forever. The stainless steel screws and pivots may eventually succomb but I don't see why the other stuff wouldn't survive.
 
Everyone, quick! Buy some Mission MPF folders and Emerson all-titanium framelocks and inscribe your history on the blades.
 
ugh, tom beat me to the mission comment! - but why do the butt-ugly knives get to last forever?! lol
 
Originally posted by Chris Keller

My Sog Seal Knife can very likely if buried in dry soil last 300,000 years and still be a usable knife. Ditto with my Gryphon.

How about yours?
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How do you know this, some would argue that it wouldn't last in a salt environment more than 3-5 years.
 
Since the current theories either have the universe collapsing in the Big Crunch or all matter decaying into neutrinos and electrons, even the fans of Mission´s knives may run into trouble in the long run. ;)
 
This reminds us of the great hubris of many environmentalists: from the perspective of cosmological time, nothing that we, as humans, can ever build, destroy, corrupt, pollute, etc., matters much at all. The earth and universe shrug with indifference, and likely laugh at our puny little endeavors.

By the time another so-called intelligent species might evolve on this planet, I doubt there will be any remaining evidence of our existence ... tho' there are probably some INFIdels (or are they INFIholics?) who believe their Busses will still be hair-poppin' sharp. :)
 
Naw. After Armageddon, I expect to have to swipe my Steel Heart a couple of times on the Sharpmaker.
 
Earth Abides...

I just hope what I have collected helps my famiy remember me in some small way, living on in the hearts and minds of others is our only chance of remaining in this world once flesh has failed.
 
survey the site of my house the only knives they are likely to find in fair condition are an Arclite and a Chive. More unusual will be the number of animal bones in the back yard. My Godmother buried more than a few cats and a monkey (yes, a monkey). And over the years I have buried a bird, a tortoise, a lizard, a snake, a rabbit, three rats and three cats. The house has been in my family for about 50 years so that works out to a lot of childhood pets. "Gather 'round the Maple tree, boys and girls. Here we have the remnants of the Last Shaman of Garden Grove. This very tree was old when Emperor Elvis III set foot on Mars, even before my time. The only thing we know for sure is He carried a knife and laid animals to rest with the same reverence you would a Human Being. Who was this man?";) :D

Frank
 
My hollow handled Crain knives are 100% 440C stainless, so they should last a long time. My wedding ring is machined from 6AL4V titanium. Don't think that's going anywhere.
 
There are too many variables for me to give a good answer. I doubt most knives would last nearly as long some of you seem to think.

For good laughs on this general subject (as well as sly and sophisticated critique of academic methodologies), check out the book "Motel of the Mysteries" by David MaCaulay.

--Mike
 
If making talonite and Titanium knives will spare me a place in eternity, I am in, since I have done both.
I can imagine an archeologist's comment on my knives: "the blade is made of some sort of primitive Titanium and by the remnants on the handle, it should at some point have been handled with ray ( a sea living animal ) skin, glued to the tang with some kind of artificial glue and it also has some fibers attached to it that seem to have been made of the same material seen on period's clothes. This piece is atributted to the Tatuí beer drinker maker" ( they will geve me this name if they search around the shop and find all those beer bottles and cans... :D )
 
Originally posted by stjames
Earth Abides...

I just hope what I have collected helps my famiy remember me in some small way, living on in the hearts and minds of others is our only chance of remaining in this world once flesh has failed.
Click to expand...

Is this a reference to the novel of the same name, about a plague that destroys most of humanity and the few survivors who band together to rebuild? It's a good book, I just got too busy to finish it past the 2/3 point. I mean to.

---Jeffrey
 
Gold, platinum group, silver, copper, I think these are found in metallic form in nature. This indicates that all other metals corrode away by one or another process. Titanium becomes quite vulnerable if something wears away the protective oxide layer (like a sand storm), it forms fast again but some metal has been lost each time.

TLM
 
SilverFoxKnows, LOL...:D

Evolute, I think I read that book about 15 years ago. I remember an archaeology spoof where they mistake the toilet seat for a ceremonial neckpiece.

By the way, this thread is giving me a bad vision of my skeleton under glass, with my EDC knives arranged around me, and a troupe of school kids walking (or levitating) past, saying things like "Ooooo, gross, do I have to look at these?"
 
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