knife...just a (ultimate) tool , or more ?

GIRLYmann said:
A man who misuses his tools do not deserve to borrow from others.
PERIOD
The same principle applies for all manner of personal property; be it a book, a vehicle or in this case a knife.
All things last longer with tender loving care.
Mistreat your kin and you're out of a family!
Mistreat a knife you've lost man's next oldest best friend.
Click to expand...

I agree with all your statements.

Any person who is misusing any "tool" should be shot.(joking?)
As a craftperson with 35 years under my belt,I "cringe" when I hear someone is treating any tool without any respect.
Old thoughts but still the best in my opinion.
 
knifenut1013 said:
I watched him one time cut some string off a metal pole, instead of turning the knife over and pushing through with the tip he went edge first into the pole and started sawing away.
Click to expand...

I got definite anxiety symptoms (tight chest, shallow breathing) from reading that..

And as I was writing it, my new Orange FRN Ladybug came to the door. UPS guy took 5 minutes handing it over, arrrrrgh.

OK, all calm now.. mmmm, purty..
 
I guess we should be making a distinction between using the correct tool improperly, which is what this thread started off on, and damaging a tool because it was actually designed for an entirely different purpose. Everyone should learn to use tools correctly - even if it's only to keep all their fingers. (Anyone wanting to use my good knives better have my permission to do so and be using them properly or I'll break their fingers). :D

Similarily you should always use the 'right tool' for the job. I'd adopt a 'holier than thou' attitude only I'm guilty of tool misuse myself - usually as a result of being in situations where no other tool was available. How many of you have used your keys to open a package? - isn't that a misuse of a tool?

But it also depends on priorities - if getting out of an awkward situation (eg broken down vehicle) means I have to abuse a tool then the tool gets abused - I will regret the damage to the tool but would regret being broken down for hours even more.

What I don't do is take a knife and beat the crap out of it just to see how much punishment it can take - that sort of destruction testing should be done by the maker to ensure the knife's suitability for its designed purposes
 
What constitutes abuse to one person may be perfectly acceptable to another. Splitting a bag of cement with a beater knife is okay for some, but not others. Some guys will walk back to the truck, grab a chisel or something, and walk back. Others will just use the knife they have in their pocket. Sure, they'll get cement in the pivot and dust in the handle, but thats why they carry it. It isn't misuse, just use. I think the abuse can be applied to what comes after. Do you clean and sharpen or throw it on your dresser?

I can tell I'm in the minority (maybe alone) here. I guess I won't be borrowing any of your knives :). For what it's worth though, I've yet to break a tip, create unfixable blade play, break a lock or chip a blade past something I couldn't sharpen out. I've only got a handful of knives, and they all get used, no safe queens. I'm not talking down here, I WISH I had safe queens :). But they all stay clean and in working order. I've never thrown away a knife because it broke, but they've all clipped ties towards the metal, sliced bags of cement, cut linoleum and carpet, parted gritty and sandy rope (a lot of that), scraped gunk from corners, and deglued decks. Okay okay, I won't ask to borrow your knife. :)

mike
 
Heh! Heh!
Got me a thinkin' that maybe some knives ARE designed to withstand idiotic abuse; especially when there's no gurantee that the said abuser would outlive the victimized knife in the end.
Knives in general, have a far longer earthy presence than it's organically degenarating owners.
I suspect there are far more old knives out there than there are old abusers.
A misused tool's ultimate revenge, I'ld say.
Knives will survive...
 
I remember my older brother telling the story of being on a crabbing trip one time.

They pulled up a couple of clams by chance and one of the guys on the boat used my brothers boker stag stockman to shuck a clam. He was PISSED!

The best tool I have ever bought (other than a knife) was a CountyComm micro widgy. I never lend my knives regardless of cost, but will throw that puppy out there for anything.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top