-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
I have a mental block as far as using my knives!!
- Thread starter Lucky Strike
- Start date
Sorry to disagree with most of the advice, but a knife becomes a tool when it's used. If you want to keep a knife nice and treat it as art, or pocket jewellery, or whatever, then do just that.
I find sharpening my knives often makes them easier to use, although I haven't used my Bark River Tanto yet, and may never. Haven't used my Samurai sword either!
Greg
I find sharpening my knives often makes them easier to use, although I haven't used my Bark River Tanto yet, and may never. Haven't used my Samurai sword either!
Greg
The Leek and Endura are definitely users.
With Offsets or Sebenza woodies or Randalls or any customs, that is to say what are mostly collection items, it makes sense to worry about the value loss they incur with marks of usage or sharpening: if you're sure you never want to trade them, fine, use them, otherwise, store them. That's the case with me and my Japanese kitchen knives - more expensive than any of the above, yet it's strictly usability, not tradability, that makes them worth the price for me.
Non of that's an issue with a 50$-knife - use your Leek and love it, and then you can still give it away as a gift or for half its price to a friend, and you'll have been the richer for it.
With Offsets or Sebenza woodies or Randalls or any customs, that is to say what are mostly collection items, it makes sense to worry about the value loss they incur with marks of usage or sharpening: if you're sure you never want to trade them, fine, use them, otherwise, store them. That's the case with me and my Japanese kitchen knives - more expensive than any of the above, yet it's strictly usability, not tradability, that makes them worth the price for me.
Non of that's an issue with a 50$-knife - use your Leek and love it, and then you can still give it away as a gift or for half its price to a friend, and you'll have been the richer for it.
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2006
- Messages
- 1,539
Good point, even for an ignoramus!
I think if I had a sharpmaker, I would use my knives for even more stuff, if only to get to resharpen them.
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2006
- Messages
- 732
Speaking of which: I had a similar problem, only different.Good point, even for an ignoramus!
I think if I had a sharpmaker, I would use my knives for even more stuff, if only to get to resharpen them.
I wasn't afraid to use my knives. After all: I bought them to use them. But I was concerned that they'd dull and I'd be unable to sharpen them well (enough) again. Three days ago, after receiving my Fallkniven A1, I thought to myself "You know, this knife was obviously deisgned to be used. Your other knives have been used, and don't have the edge they should anymore. Best tackle that sharpening job. The sooner you do it, the easier it'll be." So I got out the Sharpmaker and gave it a go. As I had half-feared: Nothing seemed to be happening. Then I went back and re-read the little user's manual that came with it. (I had read that and watched the video months ago.) Turned out I'd mis-remembered: I should have been using the 40 deg. holes for the stones, not the 30 deg. ones. As soon as I did that, the blades sharpened right up. They're not yet quite as sharp as when they were out of the box, but they're better than they were before I sharpened them. (I can wet-shave the back of my hand with light pressure.) And that, for now, is good enough for me.
Now I can use my knives w/o fear of dulling them, for now I know I can get 'em sharp again
.
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 12,957
Its kind of like that first ding at the mall parking lot on your new car or the first chip from a pebble on your windscreen. Once you have one the others don't bother you as much.
Knives were meant to be used. Early on you figure out whether your inclination is that of a collector to look at them all pretty and mint or that of a user to access their value to you as a tool. I prefer the latter myself.
STR
Knives were meant to be used. Early on you figure out whether your inclination is that of a collector to look at them all pretty and mint or that of a user to access their value to you as a tool. I prefer the latter myself.
STR
I have the same problem with some knives. If I have a knife that I know would be hard to replace, I either won't use it or will only give it light duty. This is a shame since some of the more expensive and rare knives that I own are the best designs and best tools.
It is nice to find used versions of knives that you like so someone else has already taken the newness off them for you. For me, it is not about price so much as it is about messing up a work of art. It is a mind set thing, I was the same way with my toys as a boy. I never played with my best toys so I never had any fun with them. If I had a favorite piece of clothing, I wouldn't wear it for fear of ruining it. I would out grow my best cloths without ever wearing them. It sounds strange but I know others that are like this as well.
I have noticed that my favorite obects are the ones I use. I get much more pleasure out of my well used knives than I do out of my safe queens. I have made an effort to use my favorite things ever since I noticed what was going on. It hurts to use to use them at first but you get over it and you are better off knowing you can use your best knife if you want to.
I have enough knives that I really don't NEED to use more than a few of them. I still try and get my favs into the rotation.
With all that said, there are two knives I use more than any others. For work I have a blue Benchmade 921 Switchback CE that is about perfect. For home, I have a black blade Delica PE that gets a lot of use. When I got out, it can be just about anything but I like to try and carry a larger knife that can be used a weapon if needed. I have a SE G-10 Spyderco Police that fills the role well.
It is nice to find used versions of knives that you like so someone else has already taken the newness off them for you. For me, it is not about price so much as it is about messing up a work of art. It is a mind set thing, I was the same way with my toys as a boy. I never played with my best toys so I never had any fun with them. If I had a favorite piece of clothing, I wouldn't wear it for fear of ruining it. I would out grow my best cloths without ever wearing them. It sounds strange but I know others that are like this as well.
I have noticed that my favorite obects are the ones I use. I get much more pleasure out of my well used knives than I do out of my safe queens. I have made an effort to use my favorite things ever since I noticed what was going on. It hurts to use to use them at first but you get over it and you are better off knowing you can use your best knife if you want to.
I have enough knives that I really don't NEED to use more than a few of them. I still try and get my favs into the rotation.
With all that said, there are two knives I use more than any others. For work I have a blue Benchmade 921 Switchback CE that is about perfect. For home, I have a black blade Delica PE that gets a lot of use. When I got out, it can be just about anything but I like to try and carry a larger knife that can be used a weapon if needed. I have a SE G-10 Spyderco Police that fills the role well.
Kaizen1
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2006
- Messages
- 6,314
2 more things:
By not using them the way they were meant, you're denying yourself the real fun that they give.
I kind of look at them like new shoes. When I get new shoes I'm always a little hesitant to do just about anything in them. But then I figure that that's what they're there for and if they can't keep up, they don't belong on my feet.
By not using them the way they were meant, you're denying yourself the real fun that they give.
I kind of look at them like new shoes. When I get new shoes I'm always a little hesitant to do just about anything in them. But then I figure that that's what they're there for and if they can't keep up, they don't belong on my feet.
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 12,957
I read my post again and it sounded different than I expected. I didn't mean to imply that we all don't collect. We do. There is just a difference between the serious collector that appreciates them to look at, marvel at the workmanship, the shine, value, rarity or whatever and the guys that collect and use just about everything he/she ever buys if not everything scratching them up, sharpening them and all that goes with that.
STR
STR
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2005
- Messages
- 8,458
Then leave the forum- I started out thinking my $50 Spyderco Centofante III was too good to use. I am now using a $275 Microtech Troodon.
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2005
- Messages
- 2,792
Not long ago I watched a Samurai sword being used to cut a large cake at a reception. Anyone who could do a thing like that wouldn't know s**t about how to handle one. It was not a pretty sight. Of course, I passed on the cake.
Some folks here have suggested that might be a "problem". Not me. I buy knives to look at, fondle, admire, display, and sometimes to seriously collect. Rarely do I buy a knife to actually use.
If I need a knife to actually use, I simply buy a duplicate. It's a great system that has worked for me for many years.
Best Wishes,
-Bob
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2002
- Messages
- 1,570
I feel some knives are pieces of art, some are antiques, I probably would not use them.All knives are tools. Some people collect other kinds of antique tools that thay do not use because of there value and are practically irreplaceable, I have two knives I feel are antiques or have sentimental value that I do not use for that reason, the other 32 knives I have are all users. I do not have any knives I would consider art,if I want art i"ll buy a painting.But I do collect some baseball cards,I look at those.But to each his own.
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2006
- Messages
- 7,250
I make a point to use all of the knives in my collection. Whenever I buy a new one, I make sure to give it at least a week's pocket time and use. I do this so that I can understand and appreciate its qualities better. A knife takes on a much different meaning when you can remember the way it handles, the relative efficiency with which it performs is intended role. I like lining up all of my knives and "playing" with them, examining them closely, comparing them to the others in my collection. That's the real fun of collecting for me. Having actually used a knife greatly enhances my appreciation of it. And knowing how various knives perform helps you estimate the capabilities of knives you are thinking about buying, because you have the experience to know what works and what doesn't.
That said, just because you use a knife doesn't mean that you have to "mess it up". As long as you don't put the blade in contact with anything harder than itself, or place unreasonable stress on it (prying, digging etc.) you won't damage your blade. Ever. You will get barely noticeable scuffs on the blade, and the paint will wear on your pocket clip, but that's all that will happen to your Endura after months or years of actual use. Even hard use. A well made knife will suprise you with its durability, and even more with it's usefulness. There is nothing better than a knife for doing what a knife was designed to do, which is cut stuff. There is great pleasure to be had from using a well designed and constructed tool for its intended use.
That said, just because you use a knife doesn't mean that you have to "mess it up". As long as you don't put the blade in contact with anything harder than itself, or place unreasonable stress on it (prying, digging etc.) you won't damage your blade. Ever. You will get barely noticeable scuffs on the blade, and the paint will wear on your pocket clip, but that's all that will happen to your Endura after months or years of actual use. Even hard use. A well made knife will suprise you with its durability, and even more with it's usefulness. There is nothing better than a knife for doing what a knife was designed to do, which is cut stuff. There is great pleasure to be had from using a well designed and constructed tool for its intended use.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
- Messages
- 131
More great responses and sounds like I need to hurry up and get me a sharpmaker. This sharpening stuff sounds like something i need to be learnin'.
I think i will eventually adopt the "buy some safe queens, buy some beaters" M.O. because that's just the type of person I am but seein' that the only two knives I currently have (i've got a tactical blur coming in the mail) are the "honda civics" (and i mean that as a compliment) of knives I feel better now about using them.
I think i will eventually adopt the "buy some safe queens, buy some beaters" M.O. because that's just the type of person I am but seein' that the only two knives I currently have (i've got a tactical blur coming in the mail) are the "honda civics" (and i mean that as a compliment) of knives I feel better now about using them.
I've only got about 7 knives and 4 of them won't see the light of day for a while(hunting/camping). My EDCs only became "EDCs" when I bought my Lansky system. I got my el-cheapo 10 year old Buck 110 imitation and got it from blunt to hair-cutting sharp. Once I figured that out I started carrying knives. Everytime I come home I give whatever I used a once over so they stay top of their game.
The one that sees the most use is the Spyderco Dragonly(SS Handle). It cost me about $80(AUS) and I thought that was quite a lot. But, seeing as though I want to buy a RAT-3, Tomcat 3 and possibly a Sebenza, I don't have any problem using something that cost $80.
My only problem is, the more I spend on a knife, the closer that figure gets to the price of a new rifle, so it's a HARD decision.
I'll tell you one thing though, buy a BK7 and see how you feel then. When I first picked mine up, I walked around belting it into every piece of wood/trunk I could find. It's a weird feeling you get because it's so heavy and you just know it can take a beating. What a fun knife!
The one that sees the most use is the Spyderco Dragonly(SS Handle). It cost me about $80(AUS) and I thought that was quite a lot. But, seeing as though I want to buy a RAT-3, Tomcat 3 and possibly a Sebenza, I don't have any problem using something that cost $80.
My only problem is, the more I spend on a knife, the closer that figure gets to the price of a new rifle, so it's a HARD decision.I'll tell you one thing though, buy a BK7 and see how you feel then. When I first picked mine up, I walked around belting it into every piece of wood/trunk I could find. It's a weird feeling you get because it's so heavy and you just know it can take a beating. What a fun knife!
its not being stupid. id say about half of the peeps here (including me) were just like you when we got our first new knives.