how much of it is style???

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
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Just thinking out loud, bear with me. ALthough I speak of a leatherman wave in this thread, it is merely a vehicle through which I made broad observation about my quest for the perfect blade.

I search around as we all do for the perfect knife, the perfect chopper the perfect folder the perfect axe..yada yada.. as I experiment with different things I discover all of them work...this is no testimony to my skill as I am a novice bushcrafter... for years I've carried a leatherman wave at work, and as an edc long before I joined BF actually,,
Lately I've been looking around for a bomb proof low profile sheeple friendly folder that could service as an edc blade, and as a folder for jaunts in the woods.. I've tried bucks and spydercos, a opinels, kershaws and douk douks, and traditional slip joints and such.. I loved them all but the fact is despite the unsexy steel and blocky handle the leatherman really meets all the requirements. it seems almost too handy not to carry..I just keep overlooking because it doesn't have the "look" or the "ambiance" it is a basic utilitarian tool. that's been exactly what i needed, and it's been on my belt all along.
Some folks seem to think that a multitool has no place in the woods, however when I look back I've used the pliers to take kettles and pots off the fire, I use the serrated blade for all the utility cutting which saves the edge on the straight blade for dedicated duties, the saw and file have both proven handy as well.. so in retrospect it's proven a nifty convenience to have overall.However this is not a thread in praise of a leatherman wave.
What this thread is about is the realizations that have occurred to me over the past several days...the first is that while all variations of knives have positive and negative attributes, almost any is"good enough" to do most of what we require of them. the second is that most of the discussion we venture to on this forum revolves at some point almost entirely around stylistic choices...in regards to handle material blade style grind etc. etc.
THis is not to be confused with those of us that just have a plain appreciation for beautiful knives...that's different..it's just to say the cpm3v (i don't even know if that's a steel) am linen micarta in a covex ground drop point, a stick than scandi in curly birc, a BM folding compression lock, and my leatherman wave..essentially all do the same things respectively..the cut stuff..beyond that comes comfort and reliablity, after that I think it becomes akin to a stylistic choice...and there is nothing wrong with that it's just a personal observation.
I in the past have been held captive by preconcieved ideas of what a knife should be or shouldn't be, or if I'd look like a tool wearing a fixed blade or not, maybe that's why I like the moras so much because by all defintions the should suck they have 0 style yet they still get the job done.
THanks for listening.. what are your thoughts?? this is not an attack I made it clear that these are my own personal observations, so let's keep it civil please...All this being said I'd still love to give a pe vic trekker a spin.. and I won't stop buying knives I like either.. I guess I'm just ranting.
 
I 100% agree. Most of what drives us in regards to our gear is the aesthetic we desire, not the utility or necessity of the piece. You could take two knives with identical ergonomics and edges (including cutting edge shape), yet by virtue of handle material or blade shape have one or the other of them dismissed as unsuitable just by looks. Really, though, that difference in life outlooks is what keeps the world interesting (and gear makers in business:D). We're lucky to live in a place and a time where we can appreciate and understand the aesthetic (or what have you) appeal of something, and yet find that piece in materials and construction that will suit our needs and wants. Some people haven't had or don't have that luxury, and yet they have survived, and thrived! I'm pretty sure I've never used a knife for anything more than I'd need a Mora or an axe for, but I sure like my Busses:p
 
You are getting into some deeper philosophy on knives ;) I have thought many of the same things myself over the years. I also realize that just about any plain old knife can easily handle most all of my cutting just fine. Be it a Mora, a swap meet folder, or even a steak knife.

But being so into knives, ever since childhood puts you into a different category than your standard knife user who would never pay more than $20 for a knife. At least for me, you want to try better materials, higher end stuff, customs etc. Just to get that little something extra that they bring. It's about enjoyment in using them, how they cut, sharpen, look and feel. So to me, style is important to an extent. I really like certain "styles" of knife, and hate others. Even if it's strictly aesthetic and nothing to do with the function of the knife.
 
I see where your coming from RR. I think what your describing is the difference between a hobby and real world application. I.E. I have a BM 710 in fancy steel and I sharpen it like this and I use that technique and itll slice paper like this and shave....Blah blah blah.

If I have to cut a seatbelt off of someone in a car leaking gasoline and quickly catching fire, who really gives a rats A** about any of that crap just give me a knife. Who gives two ****s what its made of who made it what the grind is, what the handle materials are, any of that. I just need to cut this seatbelt NOW!

Of coarse this little hobby of ours lends itself well to emergency applications doesnt it? Because of it well have that 710D2 thatll shave the black off a flys nads. And it will surely cut a seatbelt:D
 
Great post, Riley.

I agree with just about everything you mention.

It generally does boil down to stylistic preferences and aesthetics, appreciation for different features and materials, and so on. This has a lot to do with the level of knowledge we have as knife enthusiasts. The differences between a scandi grind stick tang and a hollow ground full tang are probably lost on most people, who tend to differentiate between knives exclusively on the basis of their size and whether or not they fold. To a knife enthusiast, knowledge of these differences creates room for opinions and preferences that may or may not have anything to do with functionality or performance.

As for the humble Wave, well, mine's part of my trio, and it is by far my most useful knife. The only reason I don't use it exclusively is that I have an affinity to my little fixed-blade scandi, and I prefer to use it for most basic cutting tasks. It's hard to explain, but I never really developed a 'connection' to my Wave. I appreciate it and use it all the time, but it doesn't 'feel' like my EDC. There's something about carbon steel, a wood handle, and a well-formed and weathered leather sheath that gives my EDC knife a certain character. My Wave, which is actually a far more useful tool, feels like a good pair of hiking boots or a nice pack - it's a piece of gear that I use and take for granted, and though I don't think about it often, I would probably be screwed without it.

All the best,

- Mike
 
I absolutely love my Letherman Wave! I too have been carrying a Leatherman for a long time, and long before I found BF. I do carry a Case Texas Jack though, because the plain blade on my LM Wave came uncharacteristically soft, so I use it as my beater blade. Otherwise, I find myself using my leatherman on a daily basis, in the Suburbia as well as the woods.

P.S. Uncharacteristically is a Looong word!
 
I couldn't agree more. It has taken me a while to come to the realization that I need to not worry about bells and whistles but focus on the design and ability of the blade for what I will need it for.

I've bought and sold many blades in that quest. I've come back to the same few blades, but my primary winner is the my BM Minigrip. I think I've found the right FB for me, but haven't been able to use it enough to tell if I have or not. I've also got a new found appreciation for slip joints as well.

I carry a LM Juice because I really like the utility of it as well the size. I've got my eyes on a few blades but am not sure what I'll pull the trigger on just yet.

Bottom line is that style plays much less of a factor in my decistion these days.
 
I agree 100%, RR. That's why I carry a Becker, not a Busse. A plain old Becker is simply a reliable tool: A Busse, on the other hand, seems more like a cult thing, like Scientology.
 
Long before I got into computers or the internet, I did a lot of cutting: food, on the job, in the woods. Basically, I went from a scout knife when I was a kid to an electrician's knife in college to a Swiss Army Knife for years after that. When Leatherman started up, that was it. Whatever else I carried, I had a multitool with me, replacing the SAK.

You're right. Any basic knife will do it all, practically speaking, short of extraordinary, emergency situations. I think we're better off once we get into that one knife that fits our individual needs and personality and stick to it. Other knives are for fun. :)
 
Couldn't have said it better. I love and appreciate edged tools of all types and styles, and I enjoy carrying and using them all, but nothing can beat the sheer utility of a multitool. For me, it's a Victorinox Spirit.:thumbup:
 
dawsonbob said:
I agree 100%, RR. That's why I carry a Becker, not a Busse. A plain old Becker is simply a reliable tool: A Busse, on the other hand, seems more like a cult thing, like Scientology.
Click to expand...

LOL, I kinda went the opposite way.
I had no use for high end blades -- why spend money on anything but a Buck 110 and Ka-Bar USMC? Heck they did all the work I needed to (with an Estwing hatchet).

Then I bought a Busse Hellrazor -- admittedly one of the more "tacticool"-styled blades.
Hellrazor01.jpg


But I wanted to see if such a blade really sucked, like people said it would, in the woods. Surprise! It didn't. It did everything from shaving fuzz sticks to cutting shelter materials to batoning to striking a spark.

I've since come to the same conclusion as others here: just about any knife will do; use what you like.
 
For me style plays a good role, since I already have a knife for nearly every functional category (from slipjoints all the way up to swords). Now it's a job of not just finding one that will get the job done, but get the job done best and look good doing it. :D
 
Cpl Punishment said:
LOL, I kinda went the opposite way.
I had no use for high end blades -- why spend money on anything but a Buck 110 and Ka-Bar USMC? Heck they did all the work I needed to (with an Estwing hatchet).

Then I bought a Busse Hellrazor -- admittedly one of the more "tacticool"-styled blades.
Hellrazor01.jpg


But I wanted to see if such a blade really sucked, like people said it would, in the woods. Surprise! It didn't. It did everything from shaving fuzz sticks to cutting shelter materials to batoning to striking a spark.

I've since come to the same conclusion as others here: just about any knife will do; use what you like.
Click to expand...

I do use what I like: a Becker. The INFI steel in the Busse is incredible, no doubt about it, but they're way over priced and overhyped for what they are in my humble opinion. Knives are meant to cut. Period.
 
I certainly think that there are performance advantages of certain blade styles and grind types at certain types of activity. In the end, I can buy a walmart, craftsman or snap-on phillips screwdriver. They will (except the walmart one) for the most part be capable of unscrewing a screw. But if I were a mechanic, well I'd have a snap-on. If I really loved screwing around (:D :D :D) I'd also buy myself a snap-on. But alas, I have a set of craftsmen screwdrivers, cause the damn walmart crap didn't last.

For knives - well I love playing with them. As already indicated, most of the slight performance enhancements would really be lost on somebody who just grabs a knife to cut something. When you take pleasure in make a fuzzy, or whittling or any kind cutting wood in general, then you grow to like those little performance gains with a great knife. A knife that feels good in the hand and cuts they way you like increases that pleasure. If you have to work with your tools I imagine you would feel the same way.

As for style, there certainly is an element to that. Hell - Bryan Andrews just created a pink girlie knife - he will probably sell those things by the boat load!! I think most of us have a certain aesthetic sense when it comes to knives. Lots of folks claim they won't buy a knife because of the coated blade - even when that coating is put there to improve corrosion resistance. Why on earth would somebody pay an extra $150 for the same model of knife because it has desert ironwood slabs - well because it is gorgeous. Truth is, from a pure function standpoint - wood handles would be an extinct thing in modern knives. But they exist in abundance and are found on the higher end models of many production and custom knives.
 
makes great sense to me. not that i buy knives strictly on looks, but oftentimes that is a determining factor. RAT cutlery knives for instance, they probably perform great, they have a great warranty, awsome sheath, and the company is one worth supporting, however, i will probably never own one of there knives mostly just because their style is very far from my usual preference. i would elaborate a little more, but one of my digits is out of commission.
 
For me personally, it is all about edge retention (performance) and toughness. Knives that don't hold an edge are boring and if I have to worry about breaking it, I won't carry it:thumbdn:. The best I've found in that department is INFI. Frankly, I prefer a nice stag handled knife with a single guard and satin blade. Busse doesn't make knives like that :grumpy:, so generally I grind them up a bit (especially on the tang) and remove unnecessary skull-crushers, etc... They only use they have to me is poking my ribs.:thumbdn:

Still... until someone comes up with something that cuts better I'll stick with INFI. It may be overpriced and overhyped in your opinion, but I DEMAND performance. That is how I am wired. I don't think you overpay when you buy quality. It will last a lifetime. :thumbup:

Sure... cheaper knives will do most of the things I do with my knifes, but I'd rather spend the money and have the best I can afford. 4 deer... one knife... still shaves. Can yours do that? I don't think I overpaid.;):D If I was paying it minimum wage it would have cost me THOUSANDS of $$$$ by now!
IMG_2298.jpg
 
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I do agree 110% with what you say RR. I couldnt say it any better. I guess im the only one on here that does not own a high end knife. I just never were under knifed with a Mora or a bushman. My multitool goes everywhere. But i must say that the nice fancy knifes do feel better in the hand and i can see the better build. I just cant see my self spend that much money. There are other things i want more..

sasha
 
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