How Much Do You "Baby" Your TRADITIONAL Knives?

Trout Hound

Trout Hound

Joined
Sep 28, 2014
Messages
693
Hi Everyone,
Whenever I get a new knife, or even a multitool, etc., while I expect to use it, I also want to keep it looking nice. I have never kept my knives in the same pocket with coins, keys, etc., because I can't stand the thought of them getting all dinged up, and I'm careful in how I use them, to try to get the job done without scratching scales, bolsters, or whatever. I have bought a few knives knowing that I would use them hard, like my Mora, but with most, I like to maintain the appearance as much as reasonably possible.

Now, there is certainly value in carefully maintaining a tool, but then sometimes I feel like a big poser, because I just don't see some farmer or ranch hand pulling his Case Yellow Trapper out of a leather pocket slip, and here I am treating a stockman, jack, etc. (patterns designed for hard work) more like it's a ladies' pen knife.

I dunno. What do you guys do? Thanks!
 
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I always start the day with my keys and coins in one pocket and my nice knife in the other. Some days tho I get busy and my nice knife wil get dropped into the wrong pocket for a little while. I have a few that I don't mind carrying with keys and coins so somedays I have one in each pocket that end up sharing pockets for a while. Meaning that they both end up in the nice knife pocket.
I certainly don't consider this abuse but I do recognize that my nice knife wil stay nicer if it has a pocket all to its self. I tried pocket slips and found that they are absolutely not for me. So I just do what comes natural to me, separate the nice knife when convient and don't sweat it to much when my pockets get mixed up a bit for a little while.
I don't use my knives as screwdrivers or prybars, this to me is abuse and I do try to keep the joint clean and oiled.

Jim
 
I figure that if it gets beat up a bit externally, who cares? As long as the knife is taken care of. I use knives and while I really appreciate their beauty, tools have to work. If you want to have a collection of knives in mint type condition, do not carry them, keep them on the shelves. To me, to enjoy a knife I have to use it.
 
I cut the bottom off of old socks and put nice knives in one if I pocket carry. Roll it up.
 
Trout Hound said:
Now, there is certainly value in carefully maintaining a tool, but then sometimes I feel like a big poser, because I just don't see some farmer or ranch hand pulling his Case Yellow Trapper out of a leather pocket slip
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"Poser" now that's a term I haven't heard since the 80's and it usually followed with a beating. Hahahaha!
 
Pocket knife goes in a front pocket by itself. I don't worry about keeping a knife "perfect" looking, but with nothing else sharing a pocket to ding them up, they look really, really good for a long, long time. My most carried EDC looks no different condition-wise than my newest knife, except for the slight patina you get on D2.

IMG_0610.jpg~original
 
If it ain't scratched, it ain't mine. Fogged bolsters and blades don't bug me. Patina doesn't bug me. If I want it to remain looking new, I don't even buy it, because if I spend my hard-earned on it, I'm going to use it, and I know it will end up looking used sooner or later. Why delay the inevitable? Drop it in the pocket with a couple of other knives, coins, keys, washers, nuts, bolts or whatever else I happen to be carrying at the moment and don't even think about it, much less worry. I'm not a museum curator. If I hand down a knife to the grandkids, I want it to inspire their imagination, looking at it and thinking about all the things Grandpa did with it, not see something that looks new and just think "it belonged to Grandpa, but I don't think he ever used it."
 
If I have a knife that I worry about getting dinged up a little I sell or trade that knife away. I don't need that kind of stress in my life. Both of my regular carries have little dings and scratches. It adds to their story just as much as their patina does. If you're uncomfortable with that, do whatever makes you happy. I don't think it makes you a poser. They're your knives, use them how you see fit and forget about what anybody else might think.
 
Alnamvet68 said:
I carry all my pocket knives in a pocket sheath.
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Do you make them yourself or is there a place you can buy pocket Sheath for your knives. I would like to find one for my More maker folding knife and others.

Roger
 
I also carry my knives in a pocket all by themselves. For me, that's usually enough to keep them looking nearly new.

I often wish that I had more opportunities to use my knives more aggressively but my lifestyle seldom presents such opportunities. I use them as needed but unfortunately that's not really very much.

I guess I would say that my knives get babied whether I like it or not.
 
The pocket slip thing has been talked about before. I carry mine in my right front, usually by itself. Sometimes I might have to throw change in there but if it's wood scales I'm more aware. My keys are in a leather case and that will go in my right front. Pocket Dump!!!
 
The only thing I wig out about a little is my edge. I can't stand a dinged, flattened, or even slightly rolled edge. When I travel, even a couple day light trip to my mother in law's, I pack a strop.

Scuffs on the bolsters or scales and patina don't bother me in the least.
I do tend to carry my knife in a dedicated pocket. This has less to do with keeping the knife nice looking and more to do with ease of retrieval.

I do use a pocket sheath from time to time when I carry a large folder that I can't stand falling sideways in my pocket like a Buck 110. Once again, that's for my comfort and not to really protect the knife.
 
I don't baby them. Whether it's my KHnutbuster, my GEC Scout, or an old Imperial cattleman, my knife for the day goes in the same pocket with my keys. This results in a few superficial dings and scratches, but none of them are any worse for wear.

- Christian
 
I baby my knives until the first scratch. When the first scratch happens, it's the worst day ever. Then the second scratch occurs, and Im annoyed. And then after another scuff ... it dosent matter and it's now in my pocket like any other item.

I keep my pocket knife in the same pocket as the keys and change. The phone goes in the pocket and the wallet in another.
 
I carry mostly custom hand made folders. I open a lot of boxes in from the mail. I refrain from using my carry knife because of the glue on the tape. I find it to be annoying to remove,and just a sticky,gewy mess.
 
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