Is a knife with character better than pristine

[glennbad]

I see alot of wisdom on either side of the fence, here.

I kind of straddle the fence, however. I have several hundred pocket knives, most of which alot of you might call junk makers. I can't afford old Remingtons or Case, so I collect Schrades, Imperial shell-handles, Colonials, Camillus, etc. I don't have any Spydercos, Benchmades, Mooremakers, etc., but my knives have character, IMO.

If I get a used knife, I will generally not "clean it up", other than to stop rust, etc. If I get a new (old stock) knife, I generally will not use it.

I have about a dozen knives in my EDC. Half of them are well used slippies, a couple are small SAK's. Heck, I even got a CRKT and a Gerber Paraframe. These all get used.

I don't collect knives, I accumulate them. I find beauty and value in a knife like this:

and this:

But also this:

I don't think I would ever pay hundreds for a knife, but I would definitely spend hundreds on several dozen knives. I agree with the logic that knives are meant to be used, but there are also knives that were made with the sole purpose of sitting in some collection somewhere. It all comes down to personal taste. I could never enjoy all my knives by using them, but I can look at them all, and handle them, show them to people, talk about them on BFC, post pics of them and learn about them, and meet other knife nuts. I have also never sold any of my knives, but I have willingly traded them to friends I have made here. That is the true value of a knife, and that gives any knife character.

I'm hoping to preserve a bit of history for my son to admire. Once the older knives are gone, they are gone. I will never make a fortune off these knives, and that's okay.

I just like knives...period. Sorry for the ramble.

Glenn

 

[hara-kiri-yogi]

Hmmm... Is it "better" to drive the pristine '60s Lotus Elan, or just keep it up on blocks with 300 minles on the odometer... seems like our dualistic minds always differentiate, categorize, prefer, reject... Personally, i can't find anything within me that relates to slipjoint "pattern" folders -- never had one, don't care to. but far be it for me to bust on someone who collects them -- just like if someone said to me, "you moron, why the hell would you ever want to damage a beautiful, virginal Busse (or Hossom or Scagel or whatever)," i would tell them to go put a potato in their... so i guess that's how people feel when i ask them what they see in an artknife, or why they don't use their blades... well, if this ain't a threadkiller, i don't know what is.
-yogi

 

[ras]

Why did I ever parkerize my first Randall 14? At the time it seemed like a good idea. As it is that's the only Randall I have used, the others are just for show (or to be gifted if a nephew seems interested), but that first Randall has the dirt time. I gave my father a new Buck 110 after I came back from my first cruise in the Navy. 22 years later the knife came back to me with lots of character -- now it's a keeper.

 

[stevekt]

I actually prefer cellidor SAKs to alox because cellidor will ding, scratch, and scuff. It gives the knife a personal touch.

 

[Hair]

I use my knives. I do care for them and will clean then and try to prevent rust as well as removing any rust that does appear. But I am not afriad put them to task and have them show wear and marks because of it.

Most of the marks that my knives show are from carry rather than cutting. Being hit against pallets or whatever while I am working.

The first one or two marks on a knife really stick out and look bad, but as a knife gets used more and more the marks make it look "well worn". I think a knife that looks used is better looking than one that is brand new.

A knife that shows a lot of use, but is still cared for in the ways that matter (such as rust prevention and removal, lubing the pivot etc...) is a beautiful thing.

An old rusted out knife with gritty action is not a good thing.

I have nothing against people that collect knives to not use. Many knives are art. And I see nothing wrong with buying a Kressler just to enjoy the visuals of it.