Knife confessions

[RoyalHolic]

I've been into knives for 30 years, and I still cut myself occasionally. Why!?

The other day, I let my Cold Steel Grik guillotine down on my finger. Embarassing.

I have a Harnds Assassin and it's dropped shut on my finger 2 or 3 times as it has no real detent and yet I still bust it out from time to time.

Every time I cut myself well back into the box it goes.

 

[tiguy7]

Where do I buy those scales?

Sean Dooley, Robert Lessard (Instagram), and ALM Knives.

 

[K.O.D.]

Yeah no kidding. That's why it's in the confessions thread. I think I like it a little more now. Lot's not to like on that 223!!

Another confession: I've given up on kitchen knives because my w-- other family members can't treat them properly.

Happened to me. My ex-mother-in-law put a brand new Shun in the dishwasher. It was an old dishwasher, and well it chipped badly. Then it got dropped twice and actually broke...

 

[not2sharp]

True confession: I subscribe to a waste not/want not philosophy.

Which means that I like to drive a car until the wheels fall off and will use a knife until it is beyond use; and only then move on to a second knife.

If I life forever, I will probably have worked through a couple of percent worth of my collection around the time humanity starts traveling the galaxy in high warp starships. By the time I get through all of it, it would be just as well that they are gone, since people would have long since evolved into something without hands.

n2s

 

[Brusiedmeat]

My confession.. I cannot stand assisted knives. Hate them.
Also have some new knives in boxes for no reason at all.
I still do not feel any better.. wth

 

[K.O.D.]

True confession: I subscribe to a waste not/want not philosophy.

Which means that I like to drive a car until the wheels fall off and will use a knife until it is beyond use; and only then move on to a second knife.

If I life forever, I will probably have worked through a couple of percent worth of my collection around the time humanity starts traveling the galaxy in high warp starships. By the time I get through all of it, it would be just as well that they are gone, since people would have long since evolved into something without hands.

n2s

Are you saying my progeny will be tentacle monsters? I guess it's a good thing I can't have kids.

 

[A.L.]

I have to confess that despite trying to like the Opinel, I just can't.
The thin blade is nice no doubt, the handle is really comfortable, but the knife is only a food knife for me.
I like thin slicey blade but the opinel is just too flimsy for utility use. The wood handle without liners is bound to develop wobble because of constant shrinking and expanding. The knife can't get wet (difficult to clean) because it will swell and get the blade stuck.

Much better option for same kind of blade is Douk-Douk. I know I'm going to upset the opinel fans but that's just my opinion.

 

[marchone]

Opinels are great when you're traveling in Europe and need a cheap drop knife you can't go through security checkpoints with. At home you use your good stuff.

 

[Planterz]

True confession: I subscribe to a waste not/want not philosophy.

Which means that I like to drive a car until the wheels fall off and will use a knife until it is beyond use; and only then move on to a second knife.

If I life forever, I will probably have worked through a couple of percent worth of my collection around the time humanity starts traveling the galaxy in high warp starships. By the time I get through all of it, it would be just as well that they are gone, since people would have long since evolved into something without hands.

n2s

The irony is that while many of us obsess with edge holding and having the latest, greatest supersteel, most of us own enough knives that we could probably never bother sharpening any of them ever again, just use them until dull, yet never be without a sharp edge for the rest of our lives. Or at least go several months or even years.

 

[Just Tom.]

I have to confess that despite trying to like the Opinel, I just can't.
The thin blade is nice no doubt, the handle is really comfortable, but the knife is only a food knife for me.
I like thin slicey blade but the opinel is just too flimsy for utility use. The wood handle without liners is bound to develop wobble because of constant shrinking and expanding. The knife can't get wet (difficult to clean) because it will swell and get the blade stuck.

Much better option for same kind of blade is Douk-Douk. I know I'm going to upset the opinel fans but that's just my opinion.

I have the opposite problem. I really want to dislike my Opinel for reasons I won’t go into here, but I find myself constantly reaching for it ESPECIALLY for hard use tasks. I often use it to strip bark and sapwood from largish branches and for gross material removal for my amateur/hack wood carving projects. The comfortable handle makes this a pain-free operation, and the thin blade is fine - an advantage even - as long as you don’t try to pry with it. I have put quite a bit of force behind it and after several years it is showing no signs of wobble.

I also have a Douk-Douk, and while the blade is excellent, that handle is way too painful to use for any extended period.

 

[eveled]

My dad was a knife guy. Not a collector. A user. A chef wood carver and outdoorsman.

The only knife I ever saw him get excited about was an Opinel.

He found one in the 80’s and recognized it as a coworkers from the 60’s lunchbox knife. He had always admired that knife from afar and how it cut an apple. But never knew what it was or where it came from.

My favorite opinel is the massive 13. Great for picnics and watermelon.

 

[cheesemaster]

I'm sure they are the best knives ever made, but Spydercos are ugly.

 

[A.L.]

I hate the ”EDC scene” aspect of the knives and ”gear”. Mostly just influencer vanity and materialism. Luckily not a lot of it in BladeForums though.

 

[Monofletch]

I have to confess that despite trying to like the Opinel, I just can't.
The thin blade is nice no doubt, the handle is really comfortable, but the knife is only a food knife for me.
I like thin slicey blade but the opinel is just too flimsy for utility use.

I agree. Never liked the Opinel..... Or the Buck 110...or the PM2.

 

[Omnius]

I like traditional slipjoints, but I dislike and can't understand why they almost always have lowest end steel and why many people don't mind or even like it.
Especially carbon steel, I see no reason to use it for a knife since good stainless were developed. It rusts, looks ugly and dirty with patina and don't even have good edge retention to justify it's flaws.
I don't care if they were made like that 50 or 100+ years ago because back then they didn't have better steels. Now we have better steels that won't cost a lot. I like traditionals for their designs and handle materials, not outdated low performance or rust problems. So improve like budget and mid range modern knives do and don't use these leftovers no one else wanted and you got for cheap like C75 or 420.

 

[stevekolt]

I ponder my next knife purchase daily, even though I have enough folders to last me a long lifetime.
I bought a fixed blade I have little to no use for. I'll probably buy another.

These statements are true for me also.
A couple more for me...
I will not buy a folder that is tip down only carry.
I will not buy a folder that is righty only carry.
I will always try to buy USA made...aside from my OHTA, Higonokami, Opinel, SAK's or Douk Douk

 

[Smaug]

I have to confess that despite trying to like the Opinel, I just can't.
The thin blade is nice no doubt, the handle is really comfortable, but the knife is only a food knife for me.
I like thin slicey blade but the opinel is just too flimsy for utility use. The wood handle without liners is bound to develop wobble because of constant shrinking and expanding. The knife can't get wet (difficult to clean) because it will swell and get the blade stuck.

I bought a couple Opinels, as I like the idea and the history of them. I have to admit though:

• They're not great in the pocket
• They have a hot spot at the back top corner, when held in the hand
• They're sharpened all the way down and with no kind of guard (that's a Catch-22)

I have a carbon #5 (I think) and a stainless #8. The #5 is too small for the hand and would be a legitimate cut waiting to happen. (due to the 3rd bullet above) The #8 I think I will just leave in my mini-cooler for picnic duty.

Much better option for same kind of blade is Douk-Douk. I know I'm going to upset the opinel fans but that's just my opinion.

I've got one in my wish list; gonna bring 'er home one day. There's something fun about historical knives, even if they are less rugged than modern ones. I have a Mercator Cat and a Czech fish knife in there as well.

 

[Smaug]

I'm sure they are the best knives ever made, but Spydercos are ugly.

I have to admit, when I'm holding one in my hand and using it, I just LOVE them. When I put it down to admire it, I start looking elsewhere. They're like a kind, fat wife. (or husband!) Can't have everything.

 

[Smaug]

My confession.. I cannot stand assisted knives. Hate them.
...

They were created as a sneaky way around automatic knife laws. Once you get an auto, assisted knives are superfluous.

 

[Smaug]

I miss my Gerber Magnum from the 90s. I miss my brother's Gerber Gator, too. (looking at the new ones with decent steel at the moment)