I've got nice expensive knives, and I'm afraid to use them

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

Slipjoint Addict
Joined
Feb 2, 2005
Messages
20,039
I've come to a dilemna. I have several really nice, expensive knives, and I am afraid to use them, and possibly lose them. I'm not talking about cutting packages open or cutting string, I'm talking about putting them through their paces in the woods, on the boat etc. I've got a Benchmade Apparition, Buck 110 custom damascus, a Cold Steel Scottish Dirk, a custom hand made antler handle knife, an AG Russell small lockback, and several others that I don't want to eff up. I'm even wary of abusing my Spyderco Endura or my SOG Trident or my Buck Strider police folder :rolleyes: ! I used to be alright with them being shelf knives, but now, I really want to take them in the woods and use them! Should I stop biatching and do it, or shut up and stare at them?

BTW, I am dead serious.


Even worse, I am looking forward to getting my first custom folder later this year, and some Striders and a Sebenzas!
 
I have no problems using expensive knives.

My EDCs are a Custom Crawford a Custom Bud Nealy Aikuchi, and a Gerber CF SL 3.25, not including the slipjoints, and David Winston Damascus keyring knife, all totaled about $700 + in my pocket and that's cheap compared to some of the hardcore guys on the forum who think nothing of walking out of the house with $1,000 in their pockets.

Don't be afraid to use them, that's why you buy them. :D
 
Get over it. Just start carrying them and using them, at least if they are user knive and not art pieces. If they really are good quality knives they will be able to take it with no problems. After you get over the pain of that first scratch or other blemish you will be glad you did.

My EDC lineup is pretty much exclusively fairly expensive custom knives. I don't regret it for a minute, I like the knives, they work well, and having them with me I am sure I have a reliable knife at hand.
 
Don't listen to them. You'll never get over the pain of using a $500 knife to cut string. That being said, I've never had that problem, so send them to me and your problems will go away!
 
Use them! Using a well made knife is a real pleasure. I went out in the woods and chopped with my 1 of 28 Busse, and it was the most fun I ever had with a knife! :D You only live once, and as the Busse guys would say: NO REGRETS!!!
 
I work it this way. I have Sebenzas, which cost over $300.00 now, but they will go in the pocket with me to use all day, any day. Got a real nice Lisa's Pick Sebenza that I keep to appreciate for it's good, decorated looks. I have a Mnandi with African Blackwood Inlays that I take with me and use any time. But, I have some more decorated ones with Damascus Blades and Mammoth Ivory Inlays that I keep to appreciate for their beauty. For the artistic collectibility aspect of it.

You said in your post that you have a bunch of knives in your collection. Pick a few to use good and hard, and save the rest to look at and appreciate. Which ones will you want to protect the most? Which ones will be great users?
 
You need some knife using tasks that don't bugger up the blades. Don't use them to pound or chop with and don't use them on materials that are harder than wood and you should be OK. I see more hunting knives that are damaged by clumsy sharpening than by actual use on game. Hunting is a good way to "blood" a knife that seldom damages the blade.
 
Dude, knives were made to cut, not sit. I use all my expensive knives. My EDC cost me $400.00. I have a Darrel Ralph on order now that is going to get lots of use. That is going to be about $600.00. I don't care though. I get great joy out of using expensive knives. Now if it was a museum knife or something, then you would be right to be carefull, but c'mon man. You have some nice blades going to waste.
 
Use em all dude. Keeping them perfect is fun, but once you get one scratch on em, you'll wonder why you even bothered in the first place. Life is short and you can't take any of this stuff with you or insure the people after you will take care of it. So use em, just don't abuse em. I am in a similar dilema myself and am taking the plunge.
 
Some points for an opposing view...

I mainly buy knives for looking at or collecting (it's an unfocussed collection, "accumulation" is more accurate). If I want a particular knife for using, I simply buy two of them. Problem solved.

I'm also paranoid about losing knives, and with good reason. So I never carry anything that can't be easily replaced. To me an Opinel is easily replaced; a discontinued, custom, antique, or expensive knife isn't.

If you ever plan on passing on the knives, trading, or selling, you're going to lose a lot of money if the knives are used/sharpened/lost/broken.

My overall philosophy, if you bought them to use, go for it. If you bought them to collect, as investments, or purely for aesthetics then don't use them.

A suggestion to avoid future use-or-not-use dilemas, buy knives that are already used. Plenty of quality lightly used knives are listed for sale on these forums.

Good luck with your decision,
Bob
 
It's all in your mind. Do you own a car? How much did that cost? I'd be willing to bet there are times that you leave it parked on the street, where anyone could damage it or even steal it.

Enjoy your good knives. Life's too short to worry about scratches and you won't lose them if you take reasonable care (like using a lanyard to secure your knife when on a boat or tramping through the woods).
 
I say just buy a standard Buck 110 for $40+ and use it without fear, see how it goes, see how much wear and tear it actually sustains, maybe not as much as you think?
 
If after a while, I don't carry them often and use them like I would any other knives, then I sell them. That simple.

My wife swears I collect knives, but I don't see it that way. I like to try different steels and different designs. But if they're not cutting, they're on the auction block.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top