how much of it is style???

Don’t misunderstand me, please. It’s not that I think Busse’s are bad knives, and I’ve already lauded INFI steel. Yes, they’re tough and hold an edge, but are they that much tougher or better at holding an edge than a Becker to justify the cost? Not to me, they’re not.

I live on a small government pension, so the cost is out of the question anyway, but even if I were still making good money I couldn’t justify to myself the cost of a Busse. I simply don’t believe that they are superior -- for my needs -- to what I already have. There are knives out there that I would buy simply for the aesthetics, but Busse’s aren’t among them.

It’s not just about price, either, it’s about doing what I require of a tool at a reasonable price. I wouldn’t buy the cheap junk because it doesn’t hold up, and doesn’t do the job. I expect my BK-2 to last the rest of my life with a little care, and it will do it at a reasonable price: it’s all I can ask for in a knife ... everything else is fluff.
 
I suffer split personalities. Part of me likes tacti-cool, part of me likes primitive. Its kind of like that commercial where the hot chick eating the chocolate in her pink Cadillac convertible smashes into the punk eating his peanut butter in the ford mustang. Two great tastes make one good candy bar! -----Why you got your primitive in my mircata........you got your serrations on my hammer marks.....hmmmmm maybe this ain't so bad :D :D :D
 
I hear what everyone is saying... I love moras but find myself constantly beting n them so I can prove to myself that I can trust them... (haven't broke one yet) and stylist nuance does play a factor in performance... but really how much... edge retention is important but I personally would rather have a knife of softer steel that I can sharpen easily in the field.
grind....I like a scandi grind I feel it is the best for working with wood but I can make a fuzzy just as tight with a hollow ground buck knife
Just observations... good stuff guys, it seems like allot of us are on the same page...
 
I went through the same basic thought process a while back. I was looking at the latest and greatest new "bushcool" knives and, like many on here I'm sure, agonizing over small details of size and steel and shape.

I ended up with the realizations that:

1. Knives serve a function
2. Function is beauty
3. Form follows function
4. Most of my knife purchases are "want" not "need"

We all have a dream knife that never goes dull, cuts through mild steel like butter and feels like an extension of ourselves, in the hand and "on the belt". At the same time, we would all probably be well served with something as simple as a Mora or Opinel. The fascination of knives is the manner in which form follows function. Am I making any sense or just babbling...again?
 
task, THat makes good sense to me bro...I enjoy watching shows on aboriginal cultures and tribal life.. I see allot of blades I recognise, being used by people that make there living form the ground... opinels, tramotinas various carbon steel butcher knives...In fact someone mentioned earlier in the thread that if style didn't matter we'd all be carrying kitchen knives... I think you could probably do quite nicely with a old hickory on your hip...Granted the people in these shows don't have access to the funds, or commercial markets to get the higher end knives that they need, but what hey have works..So to reniforce your point. I do believe that the beauty of a knife is function and its function really lies soley in its ability to alter the environment in the hands of a skilled user.
 
"So to reniforce your point. I do believe that the beauty of a knife is function and its function really lies soley in its ability to alter the environment in the hands of a skilled user."

RR, I think you hit the nail firmly on the head.
 
Double-R,

The word that I learned from this whole realization is "er". Yes, I was happy with my Mora but I felt happi"er" when I'd shaped and stippled the grip to fit my hand bett"er". Yes, my Fallkniven F1 is lovely but it was loveli"er" in one of Mr. Humelbaugh's kydex sheaths. Most knives are sharp but what's the problem with spending an hour making it sharp"er"? It's like any other hobby or "unhealthy obsession". The GTO is a nice car. It will get you from here to there but if you give it 30 coats of custom paint it will be pretti"er" and if you spend hours sweating and crying over engine mods, it gains more horsepow"er".

Sure, few of us "need" our dream knife...but ain't it nice when we get it?

The next time I am tryingto rationalize a new knife...I'll just say "er".
 
RR,

I think it is all about style. Growing up, I lived in the woods with nothing but cheap steel and did fine.... Now I own a boat load of high-end blades, I own them for the same reason that dog licks his weiner... My fascination with steel started when I was very young, I recognized that knives represent art with a purpose.. that understanding is what makes us forumites smarter than everyone else......
 
mneedham said:
RR,

I think it is all about style. Growing up, I lived in the woods with nothing but cheap steel and did fine.... Now I own a boat load of high-end blades, I own them for the same reason that dog licks his weiner... My fascination with steel started when I was very young, I recognized that knives represent art with a purpose.. that understanding is what makes us forumites smarter than everyone else......
Click to expand...

Thanks.......coke cola on the keyboard:D
 
I agree with ya %100 percent there RR, Some feel they have to spend big to get a good knife, some feel they dont, either way, if their using the knife the way its intended to be used, in other words cutting stuff I think your going to be fine.

When I first got into knives, I could care less about folders, I did however love multitools, and many of them before I ever got my first "real" fixed blade, which was a Gerber Harsey hunter, I loved that knife, it did everything I ever needed it too. Then, I came here, and thanks to you guys I learned about new steels and handle materials.:D
After that I felt I needed high end materials for all my knives, I had gone from 420, to 1095 to AUS-8 to 440C to 154cm then to carbon V and 0170-c to now S30V. I have now sat at using the S30V and 1095 for primary use knives, I feel for EDC the S30V holds a long enough edge, and the 1095 its easy enough to sharpen while in the field, yet it holds its edge for a fairly long time.

When I think back to when I started, I didn't know close anything that I know today, but I still never had any problems with that harsey hunter, the sheath worked fine for me, the edge stayed for a good length of time and the handle was incredible comfy. the only thing I didn't like about that knife was the price, its was $50 and I thought that was too much, now I dont expect to spend any less than $150-$200 on a knife, and I look for knives in the $300 dollar range, why? I dont know, mabye I think the more ecpensive I get, the better the knives will, but honestly how much better can one knife get from the next? Every knife is going to cut, Most of them are going to be comfy to hold, and most come with a decent sheath.

So, when it comes down to it, I think we like to know the company that were buying from, we like to know that the knives are made in the states or in canada. We like to know that these knives were made by people who know what a good knife should be made with and work like, that is why they carry such a tag, and why we want them so bad.

Will I ever buy another gerber knife? No, I would get a multitool made in the states from them though.
Will I ever buy another china made knife? certainly not, I wont support that style of economy.
And Will I ever another knife not made from Becker, BRK&T, RAT, Ka-bar, Buck, Victorinox, Spyderco, Benchmade, Kershaw or Emerson? probably not, because I almost dont trust anything other than, but you coming up with all these reviews will sure help.:D
 
I agree with you as well, John. I have a wave that is well used (actually I have an older one in my BOB and I carry the newer one. Both are well loved. I actually had a new SAK Hiker in my cart at the store today and I put it back because it really doesn't do anything I already have. I am trimming the "wants" into "needs". Or trying to. Most of my knives are customs and I have sold many, yet still maintain a collection that will outlive me.
Will I buy more knives? Probably...
 
mneedham said:
RR,

I think it is all about style. Growing up, I lived in the woods with nothing but cheap steel and did fine.... Now I own a boat load of high-end blades, I own them for the same reason that dog licks his weiner... My fascination with steel started when I was very young, I recognized that knives represent art with a purpose.. that understanding is what makes us forumites smarter than everyone else......
Click to expand...

:thumbup: Could not be said better!!!
 
This Is Why I love This Forum!!!!!!!!! Great stuff, I have a leatherman supertool and love it.......
 
I don't mind trading performance for style these days. When I got back into knives a little over a year ago I was solely concerned with finding the knife that suits my cutting needs the best. I quickly learned that for me familiarity with a knife is way more important than anything else, so I shifted my focus to knives that I have a stylistic affinity for. For lack of better wording I now look for a knife that makes me feel "at home" every time I draw and use it, and that I can find a little bit of self in. I have a couple knives that are becoming like old friends and feel all the better for it.
 
Riley,

I used to be like that - I still like the looks a bit - but I care more about whether it would work for my application or not.

What I care about now is whether it works for me first - then I care about aesthetics. If I have the choice between two identical knives and one simply looks better on my belt - I will take the looker. That seems natural.

I hate drawer queens, and frankly I do not own any.

The Koyote Leuku taught me a lot about getting past a knives 'looks' and getting down to the business end.


I think many people own eleventy-billion knives and post on this forum in lieu of getting out in the woods.


TF
 
Talfuchre said:
I think many people own eleventy-billion knives and post on this forum in lieu of getting out in the woods.


TF
Click to expand...

I agree. I've tried to thin down my herd quite a bit because it got to the point that when I went out that I never knew what knife to take with me. I didn't allow me to learn any one knife in and out. I'm down to about 5 FBs that are designed for different applications. I know still may have not found the perfect FB, but I can't say that for sure yet since I have one that I really like that I haven't put to good use.

Nice weekend this weekend! Everyone get off the couch and head out and put some scratches on those blades :D
 
Collecting is a hobby in its own right, not everything has to be a user.

Practicality with thoughts to nothing else make for a dull life.
 
CPL I hear what your saying man... but geting out and doing it with what ever works is more interesting to me than collecting...but Like I said a purdy knife is a beautiful thing.. I'm just making a point.
 
I understand where you're coming from, but these issues like to get polarized on forums.

I've used all my blades at least a few times. Some people cringed when I went out and messed up the finish on my Battle Mistress (shadow camo on blue/black G10 is a rare color combination) because it "lessened the value", and they "wouldn't do that to a knife that costs that much." Whereas my philosophy is I'm not going to pay that much for a knife and not use it.

And I freely admit, I bought my Busses on the "wanna factor", it WAS all about the style with them -- but they work, too! ;)

And not just with the high-end knives. Most of my HI knives are on the "real cheap" end of the price spectrum, but I bought them for their styling, and found out they are styled that way for very practical purposes. Cheap with style -- win-win.

Now, those Moras are another story. . .:cool:
 
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