I have a mental block as far as using my knives!!

L

Lucky Strike

Joined
Oct 2, 2006
Messages
131
I just got into knives about a month ago and have bought an Endura and Leek and the things are just too darn shiny and sharp that I feel bad about using them for fear of "messing" them up.

I bought my endura and leek because they seem to be good quality knives that are very good at cutting from reputable companies and now I can't bring myself to use them and to make it even worse it's not like these are even high end knives which makes me feel even more like a dolt.

It's gotten to the point of where i'm considering buying a couple Byrd knives to use and just having these sit in my drawer and look pretty.

Maybe i just need to drop them or something and scuff them up :(
 
Buy more expensive knife - then your cheaper will become beaters :D
You know, it is spiral of death, what you now see as an expensive knife will be reasonable priced knives or low end knives in few months (err, in few more purchases :)) :thumbup:
 
huugh said:
Buy more expensive knife - then your cheaper will become beaters :D
You know, it is spiral of death, what you now see as an expensive knife will be reasonable priced knives or low end knives in few months (err, in few more purchases :)) :thumbup:
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I know that's what I'm afraid of.....I already promised myself that I would never spend more then $50 on a knife but now I'm eyeballing some Benchmades and I don't know if I can keep that promise for much longer
 
huugh said:
Buy more expensive knife - then your cheaper will become beaters :D
You know, it is spiral of death, what you now see as an expensive knife will be reasonable priced knives or low end knives in few months (err, in few more purchases :)) :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Very good method! Once I shelled out the $150 on a ZDP Leek, using my 440A or even S30V Leeks became much easier. I have one particular Kershaw that very few others (if any) have and it is a safe queen. The rest get used for almost everything now. I realized that with Kershaw's Excellent customer Service, there is nothing to fear from using my knives hard.
 
2 solutions: 1. buy a used/previously owned Endura or Leek and use it as a "beater" knife. Or 2. Break the ice and start using the knife on something that needs to be done. Stand back and admire.
... if neither works, have someone knit a knife cozy for it and put it in the drawer :D
 
My advice?

Just use them already-

if you can't, seek professional help.

(or just lend one out to a random idiot who will break the tip and cut rocks on a concrete cutting board.)
 
Lucky Strike said:
I just got into knives about a month ago :(
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That's the "problem", once you get used to seeing them as tools, i predict you will experience a shift of conciousness... I remember when i bought my first Ranger knife, i emailed Justin the maker and told him it was so beautiful i was afraid to use it - he wrote back saying he hated to hear that and hoped it was just a phase. It was. Give it time. Look at other people's well-loved blades, coatings worn off the sweet spots, so many nicks and scratches that they have a texture, the patina of a carbon tool steel... you have to admit they are more beautiful and have more character than when they were brand new. then go out and pop those knives' cherries! I predict you will come to see them more as "beauty marks" than as flaws...
testing75.jpg
 
Lucky Strike said:
I know that's what I'm afraid of.....I already promised myself that I would never spend more then $50 on a knife but now I'm eyeballing some Benchmades and I don't know if I can keep that promise for much longer
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Lucky,

and I mean this in the most sympathetic way possible, GET OVER IT!!

Knives are tools. They are supposed to be used, especially those in the $50 + range, too common to be collectable, too good not to use. An unmarked knife means someone is not having much of a life. If you truly, deeply have no need for a knife in your daily life, why carry one at all? Wouldn't it be better to save room in your pocket for something useful, like a credit card?

There is nothing wrong with collecting knives, BTW, as valid as any other category. Personally, I am not a collector and don't fully understand the impulse to hoard things for which I have no real use. Several of my friends have large collections of this or that. I admire these widgets, truly, because it takes experience and discrimination to build a worthwhile collection of anything. At the same time I am glad they are not mine to find storage and care for.

Accumulating things is another story. Over years I seem to have unintentionally acquired an excess of stuff, including a number of knives more than the 3, 2 or even one I think is needed. But that was largely in the course of a learning curve, or on a couple of occasions when a particular knife was too cool to resist. Thanks mostly to what I have learned through Bladeforums, I haven't made too many purchasing mistakes. Any that don't meet expectations get sold, traded or given away.

My core of users is modest, and could probably be fewer still. All of them are beaters or potentially so. None are unmarked. I like them that way. May I persuade you to my philosophy of knife? :)
 
one way is to get another endura and leek. then you have duplicates and wont have to worry.

or... take some 150 grit paper and give em finishes a good swipe !!!!:eek: :cool:
thattl get it jumpstarted. :D


or just realize that you picked the flagship models of both of these companies. these models arent going anywhere. you'll always be able to buy a new one.
 
I had the same issue. I was carrying some high dollar Benchmades and Spydercos which never saw any use.

I started carrying a Delica 4 and forced myself to use it. It's now scratched as hell, grinds a little with some sand in the pivot and has enough pocket lint to start a small fire. It's perfect! :)

While we're all a fan of pretty knives, I like seeing worn out pocket clips, scrapes or dings on blades. Good conversation starters with other knife people or just battle scars to admire. I have a huge scratch all the way down my blade from working on my motorcycle, something I really enjoy doing and the Delica served it's purpose perfectly.
 
Alright thanks guys....i knew some nudging and pointing out that i'm being stupid since these are afterall tools was what i needed.

I'd hate to be any object in my house or backyard this weekend cause I'm going to start cutting the crap out of everything that needs cutting :p
 
Lucky Strike said:
Alright thanks guys....i knew some nudging and pointing out that i'm being stupid since these are afterall tools was what i needed.

I'd hate to be any object in my house or backyard this weekend cause I'm going to start cutting the crap out of everything that needs cutting :p
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Good for you....I usually have four knives on me at one time....one is
an abuser,user,user,looker and a user....as someone on this forum says
life is too short to carry an ugly knife....I ahve at least 1 pretty one.:D
 
I hear you on that one:) I finally started to get over that just recently - I also am one to carry multiples - especially one that I can beat up, and the rest for less strenous stuff, but as my tastes went up, I did start to use the more expensive ones more - it was that quandry of "Gosh, I spend $XXX for this and I shouldn't use for hard things, that's what beaters are for...." but then, on the other side of it, the reason they are more money, usually, is that they can and were made for harder use. I'm still a little careful at the beginning, though, until I get that first character mark and then it's a "user":D

- gord
 
I have the same prob.
I am goin to start using some of my production folders and others will be just for collecting. Thats just me...
 
heck yea. they are knives and would not be happy as safe queens! they want to cut! and be seen in the world! Look at it this way, you can always buy more! :D and you will! abandon all hope!
 
Prior to getting a sharpening system, I had a similar issue. My concern was getting them sharp again, but it had the same effect on me. Getting a Sharpmaker and learning how to get all of my knives shaving sharp took away my fears of messing any of my blades up.
 
Hey LS..

Don't be a Dolt... :)

Use your knives..That's what they were made for..


That's like having a nice car and not driving it because it'll get dirty...

Get out and and cut up some shit with it... Carry it Everyday,, and use it whenever you see the need...

Don't Sweat the small stuff,, it's Easily replaced if you F it up...

Have fun,, and lets see some pictures of you cutting up the garden hose from the guy next door!!

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Looks like ig beat me to it. If you don't use them, they'll never need to be sharpened- then you'll miss out on the half the fun of owning knives- seeing how sharp you can get them. And once you learn to get them sharper than new, you'll really won't worry about using them!

Just grit your teeth and dig in Bro- the water's fine!
 
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