knife abuse

C

carter13

Joined
Jan 4, 2009
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166
I just did a job that included some minor abuse and I thought why not ask others for their stories.

So what is the worst thing you've done to your edc what was the damage and how'd you repair it?


Today my next door nehbors asked me to throw away their pool. It was a 20 foot wide plastic pool. Being in michigain it had frozen mud and water all over it. To get it in a trash can I had to cut up the pool. I used my much loved mini grip. i cut through ice mud and reenforced frozen plastic with it. At first it sliced like butter but by the end i had to saw it through. The entire lock and pivot were filled with mud and the blade had chips. I just spent the last hour disassembling cleaning and sharpening the blade.
 
Prying is much more abusive to any knife than what you did, IMO. Don't lose any sleep :)

I have a real hard time putting my knives through any abuse. So much so that I bought a new (used) knife just for an abuse knife and I still can't bear to "just abuse it". Unfortunately, I don't have a good story in this area.
 
carter13 said:
I just did a job that included some minor abuse and I thought why not ask others for their stories.

So what is the worst thing you've done to your edc what was the damage and how'd you repair it?


Today my next door nehbors asked me to throw away their pool. It was a 20 foot wide plastic pool. Being in michigain it had frozen mud and water all over it. To get it in a trash can I had to cut up the pool. I used my much loved mini grip. i cut through ice mud and reenforced frozen plastic with it. At first it sliced like butter but by the end i had to saw it through. The entire lock and pivot were filled with mud and the blade had chips. I just spent the last hour disassembling cleaning and sharpening the blade.
Click to expand...

I try not to abuse my knives. If there is a job that I think will be too harsh on my knife's edge and tip I'll use a razor knife. I don't pry with my knives ever because there are a hundred other things I can use to pry with.

I have one question. Why did you have to break down your neighbor's frozen and muddy pool instead of them doing it themselves? Did you get paid with money, a nice bottle of something, or at least a good hot meal? I'm all for helping my neighbors when they need help, but I'm not sacrificing one of my EDCs out in the freezing cold while my neighbor sits in the house watching me work. F that!
 
I broke a tip on my Spydecro Native. Car was locked with keys inside. Back passenger window lifer was broken and glass was held closed only by a lot of friction from the tension bar. Well, time was of an essence and waiting for police or locksmith wasn't a better option, so I was prying the glass with my Native. Broke the tip in the process. Got it ground back to the point, but now it is a bit lower than usual.

(Middle knife in the picture :) )

P1040836.jpg
 
Opening cans with my spyderco delica- tho I would hardly call it abuse. VG-10 will hold up to A LOT of hard cutting:thumbup:
 
I think it was prying at a dorm window while visiting a college campus in high school. Snapped about 1/4 inch off the tip of a balisong I used to EDC back then. Aside from that, probably years of knife throwing when I was a kid. Got pretty good at it so I wouldn`t say it was too abusive, but I wouldn`t do it today with any knives I really like.
 
carter13 said:
I just did a job that included some minor abuse and I thought why not ask others for their stories.

So what is the worst thing you've done to your edc what was the damage and how'd you repair it?


Today my next door nehbors asked me to throw away their pool. It was a 20 foot wide plastic pool. Being in michigain it had frozen mud and water all over it. To get it in a trash can I had to cut up the pool. I used my much loved mini grip. i cut through ice mud and reenforced frozen plastic with it. At first it sliced like butter but by the end i had to saw it through. The entire lock and pivot were filled with mud and the blade had chips. I just spent the last hour disassembling cleaning and sharpening the blade.
Click to expand...

That's not abuse, that's just hard cutting. Abuse is prying or hammering on it, not cutting with normal force.
 
Too bad you didn't take some pictures before and after to show us. I have a mini grip 555. It's a good little knife. I'm not sure I'd use it as hard as you did today, but it's good to know the knife is up to it.
 
I will play.

A few years before I cultivated a bit more common sense and respect for my knives I used a Gerber to pry off a hubcap. At the moment the blade snapped (near the hilt) I felt stupid. Now I realize that it was just one of the many lessons I learned the hard way. Unfortunately that is how I had to learn some other lessons too. At least I learned them well!
 
carter13 said:
Today my next door nehbors asked me to throw away their pool. It was a 20 foot wide plastic pool. Being in michigain it had frozen mud and water all over it. To get it in a trash can I had to cut up the pool. I used my much loved mini grip. i cut through ice mud and reenforced frozen plastic with it. At first it sliced like butter but by the end i had to saw it through. The entire lock and pivot were filled with mud and the blade had chips. I just spent the last hour disassembling cleaning and sharpening the blade.
Click to expand...

elkins45 said:
That's not abuse, that's just hard cutting. Abuse is prying or hammering on it, not cutting with normal force.
Click to expand...

I agree with elkins. What you used that mini-grip to do is not outside the expectation of what a good working knife should be able to do.

It sounds like a cold wet job. Hope you had something to warm the innards when you finished.
 
Once upon breaking into a residence. (With just cause) I broke a new Ontario folder. The only other knife that I had with me was a cheap Chinese made Smith & Wesson folder. It got the job done and I still carry it as a second knife . My new primary knife is a Spyderco Chinook. It is not a pry bar but is a very rugged knife and I do not doubt it's effectiveness.
 
HaHa. Good post.
The Grip underwent proper, made-for knife usage. 154CM is usually on the brittle side, that's why the chips. Otherwise, it's nothing but a "dirty" job.

I always carry a folder I can abuse. Usually it's an Opinel #9 or a SAK Soldier.
I pried an elevator door open with my Opinel once. That would seem abusive, though there was no damage done whatsoever.
I also always use my Spyderco Military to open beer caps. Another for of unorthodox usage (/abuse(?)) :D
I also used my SAK to pry a few things open, but with the screw driver piece.

Hey carter13, You should look into a small EDC fixed blade. Way more suitable for heavy use. I'd recommend the Izula, it takes on any task like a champ, and always comes out victorious. :thumbup:
 
Some consider batoning to be abuse.

My pocket EDC knife...

100_0931.jpg


No damage, and I didn't expect any.:thumbup:

Now this one is definately abuse. I just wanted to push the limits a bit to see just how "tough" Stompers knives are. I don't recomend doing stuff like this unless you are willing to shell out cash for another knife.


My weekend "belt" EDC.

100_1323.jpg



100_1326.jpg


No damage done.:thumbup: After I washed it I used it to slice some chicken breast.

Of course I did use a wooden baton, and did not flex the blade while doing this. The point took all the stress.
 
I wouldn't physically abuse a knife unless it was a true emergency but once I did tell a flea-market bought Chinese knock-off that it was a worthless piece of $^@& and not even worth the $5 I spent. I then threw it in the garbage and told it to enjoy its new home. That could be considered emotional abuse I suppose.
 
carter13 said:
I used my much loved mini grip. i cut through ice mud and reenforced frozen plastic with it.
Click to expand...

Word of advice: hacking at actual ice (as opposed to just cold stuff) is extremely hard on edged tools. The chipping and deformation that will almost certainly result can be extremely bad.
 
David43515 said:
I think it was prying at a dorm window while visiting a college campus in high school.
Click to expand...

:eek: Not even gonna ask, but must say I'm impressed that you appear to have been dating a college woman while you were in high school. I reserve the right to be unimpressed if you were actually trying to commit a crime, but I have the feeling that wasn't the case.;)
 
Breaking into things when there is no alternative is the hardest thing I have done to knives. There have been the camping trips when no can opener could be found. Other times was at the camp when the door locked behind me and I didn't have the key, I used two knives to carefully pry back the bolt while being eaten alive by the mosquito's in June. Doing this left both knives dull and ragged, but it was the price to pay without destroying the door or window.
 
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