Knife Enthusiasts, the Agony and the Ecstasy

Blues

Blues

hovering overhead
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Putting aside the various reasons why folks collect and accumulate knives over the course of a lifetime, one of the things that always fascinates me are the different sorts of personalities when it comes to the care and maintenance of our cherished knives.

I readily admit to being one of those "good enough" kinda guys for the most part. I treat my knives, specifically the ones that are regularly used and / or carried, like I do my 4Runner or motorcycle... which get cleaned rarely. And detail cleaned...pretty much never. (Oh, I'll admit there was a time when the love affair was new and they actually got some soap and polish...but now I live in the sticks on a gravel road and there's just no keeping 'em clean. They'll see a hose a couple of times a year whether they need it or not. There's a certain freedom that lies therein.)

Now as to these knife folks...somewhat in a similar vein to what I've seen with two and four wheel enthusiasts, you have those who:

1. Clean, sharpen and polish 'em up so that they can go out to breakfast and show 'em off before they go back in the drawer. Sunday-go-to-meeting types, if you will.

2. Clean, sharpen and polish 'em up, admire 'em and put 'em away so they won't get worn or dirty. Reminiscent of certain riders of certain brands who spend all their time polishing chrome, trailering, but not doing much riding.

3. Clean, sharpen and polish 'em up so they can take images of them to post online, but just can't wait to destroy the edge and start all over. It's not about the knife. It's about the process and approaching perfection. (And maybe some bragging rights and accolades from their fellow travelers thrown into the mix for good measure.)

4. Clean, sharpen and lube just well enough to put 'em back into service with a blade that cuts cleanly, a pivot that's smooth, and covers that show the scars and marks of carry and use but still reveal the pride of ownership.

One of the reasons, (aside from lack of talent and ambition), that I've never taken to polishing bevels or attempting to attain the perfect edge is that I fear that I'll never want to carry or use that particular knife again. It would be something akin to near exalted status that I'd just hate messing up for fear of never seeing its like again. (Okay, maybe I exaggerate just a bit but I think you know what I mean.)

Probably the reason why my touch-up paint jobs, caulking and various projects around my home and property are always just "good enough" but never anything special. Michelangelo I'm not.

I truly enjoy and admire the workmanship I see here, and while I enjoy collecting and using the tools that would allow me to accomplish some of the feats I see here on a regular basis, the truth is that I'll probably (almost) always be happy with good enough...but knowing in the back of my mind that tomorrow is another day...and when that day comes, I'll have the tools and I'll be ready. (Or maybe it'll already be "good enough". ;))

Keep on doing what you're doing, guys. It's great motivation for the rest of us who mostly just live vicariously through your achievements.
 
Blues,
If nothing else this is a big old post for you. My novellas must be ruining you .
Yeah I know what you mean. Back in the day I was a perfectionist. If I took something apart that had say, 1/4 inch bearings in it I would not only wash them in solvent but then polish the red rag lint off 'em with a paper towel.

Knives for me are kind of freeing because I know that I will never make the beautifully formed bevels that I see here . . . there's a guy in the back hollering "If you would just buy a Wicked Edge you could" . . . I make 'em sharp and shinny but badly imperfect in appearance. Partly because I know they will get scratched up if not ought right dinged and partly because I don't have the same level of "careabout" that I have for my other hobbies.

. . . and I suppose I spend so much time banging keys here and yapping about what I "did" that I don't do it as well as I might if I typed less and knifed more.

Glad you posted.
I must say I am a little surprised since you WE knives are so polished and perfect.
One of my most used vehicles I called "The Black Pig" and used it for more than thirty years until it literally BROKE beyond a reasonable repair.
I mis the Pig. Part of the reason he was called that was if some body tried to steel him he would slime them to death.
Got to go to dinner . ..
Bye !
 
Back before I went into self imposed exile I'd write long reviews...with pix and everything. :p

It's been a long while but reading recent threads here in this area of the site has gotten some of the old juices flowing again.

We shall see where it leads.
 
Hey Blues
Im probly a 4, but currently chasing the super sharp edge no thanks to the beans and carrots dude. If i ever figure it out will most likley just fall back to sharp enough is good and carry on like before

Anyways enjoy your post and enjoy to have you around again
 
I hear ya, Lex, and thanks for the kind words.

"A man's gotta know his limitations", as a wise man once said on celluloid. I get reminded of that every time I finish a set of deadlifts, a session on my Concept2 rower or finishing up an edge on a bench stone. :p

I might be able to do them better using the Edge Pro or the Sharpmaker...but there's no denying that (for me at least) the true enjoyment and satisfaction is found freehand on the bench stones. (Though each has its place and I intend to use them all as the occasion warrants.)
 
You were gone for a while there, Blues, glad to see you back again for however long.

When I first got into this hobby, I guess about 6 years ago, I was probably closer to your first two categories. Everything was new and interesting, always something to learn, obsess over, next thing to buy. Had to have my knives shaving sharp, polished blades and bolsters, nicely waxed handles. I'd carry and use them, but they got maintained at least once or twice a week. I used to have "rotations" where I'd carry a knife for no more than a week at a time, sometimes a different one each day. I'd take pics and share them here.

I guess I'm in category 4 now. When something needs sharpening I tend to just get out the Norton Economy, raise a burr on both sides, deburr on the stone, strop it, and call it a day, and that's only if it's noticeably dull. If I am feeling extra frisky, I'll smooth it out a bit on an Arkansas stone before stropping. I tend to carry the same knives from a very small pool of users now, and I don't use a pocket knife with enough frequency or intensity to where it needs a lot of sharpening anyway. Cutting down a few boxes for weekly recycling is about the most work they get.
 
Thanks, John. Hope you're still getting some enjoyment out of that old Case "Smoky" sent your way. :cool:
 
I have it tucked safely away in the knife drawer. :)

Here's a pic of it shortly after it arrived:

You'll notice how pretty and shiny it was. That's when I was in the "Stage 1" era of knife ownership.

20130921_161818 - Copy.jpg

If you look carefully, you can see it stabbed into the top of a stack of boxes that were stacked up in the office I used to work in. "Action shot." I think I eventually flinched and used a box cutter for that work, rather than mess up that pretty knife, so it is more of a staged shot. :)

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I'm a 4 but I do post a lot of photos of my knives and various beers. Most times together. I've never really sought to get a gleaming mirror edge on a blade but I do like to see how sharp I can get them via freehand sharpening. I can easily get hair a hair shaving edge on just about any blade but a mirror edge is never been needed for my use.
 
Blues!

Number 4 here, though I used to be more of a number 3 (and have occasionally been accused of being an obnoxious number 2 ;)).

It's good to see you back.
 
Blues,

I am at best a stage 4. Then again, I enjoy vintage and antique knives and it is really best to preserve those in the condition found.

It is good to see you posting again.

n2s
 
definitely not 1 or 2
mostly 4, with some 3. i do enjoy the process of sharpening and polishing, but I'm not going to spend that time on a full time user.

I carried the same EDC for 10 years until I broke the frame lock on it - i got a second one for parts to try and get it right, but never did.
since then (october 2017) I carried one for 2 months, and have carried another since then. I'm getting ready to try out a third, although i've been pretty happy with the Kizer.

on the other hand, I did put a .5 micron diamond paste on strop finish on naturally patina'd old timer that was my dads, just b/c I could.

my truck doesnt get washed - my car gets run through the auto touchless bay at the carwash - and my motorcycle has no chrome, and just a little bit of polished aluminum.
In my mind, chrome is like dating the prom queen. it sure looks nice, but in the end, its just a bunch of extra maintenance
 
Blues!
It's been a long time....

As for the list, depending on the day and the knife, I fit in with all of the above :)
 
Ebbtide said:
Blues!
It's been a long time....

As for the list, depending on the day and the knife, I fit in with all of the above :)
Click to expand...

Nice to see you too, Ebb! Glad you're still around. :cool:
 
I care for my knives and like to keep them looking great, I can't do my own sharpening I suck, but they are users pocket wear and marks from use that you can't wipe and/or clean off are fine.
 
PirateSeulb said:
I care for my knives and like to keep them looking great, I can't do my own sharpening I suck, but they are users pocket wear and marks from use that you can't wipe and/or clean off are fine.
Click to expand...

Teach yourself to sharpen on some inexpensive pocketknives, paring knives or the like. It's a skill like any other that you can learn. Most of us will never rise to the level and dedication of some of our more talented members in that regard, but that doesn't mean that you can't learn to put or restore a perfectly adequate edge on your knives.

I hope you won't give up. I can assure you that the reward is very gratifying once things "click".
 
I need to invest in some guided systems my freehand issue is I have tremors, its genetics, so my hands are not steady and will never be. Part of my issue on guided systems is I want to be able to do Convex, V, or Hollow grinds on one system if possible.
 
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