Knife reviews and the unnatural fear of trees

[not2sharp]

The script written for most knife reviews is basically the same, we are shown the knife, the sheath and the packaging, cut a few sheets of paper, and then go on to cut, baton or chop wood. It doesn't seem to matter whether the knife is small or large, folding or fixed, heavy ot lite, we end up attacking wood; so much so that I wonder if there is a popular fear that would have us arm against a hord of maurading ents. Obviously, wood is common around most camp sites, and it can be used to build shelters, fires and numerous tools and utensils, but is there more to knives than processing wood? Given enough time and energy, I could probably bring down a California redwood with a kitchen butter knife, but does that make it a better butter knife?

Just becuase nails are plentiful doen't mean that everything should be used as a hammer. It would be great to see other creative and informative ways of testing and evaluating knives. Can balistic gelatine be used to simulate damage, or to see how useful a design might be for processing game? We may discover that some folder designs are inherently dangerous, because the locking mechanism is designed in a way that may be exposed to being released under such conditions, or that a fixed bladed knife is less than idea because the blade, guard or handle design makes it difficult to retain or manuver the knife in such a medium.

Knives are versatile tools which collectively represent a wide range of use. But, much like any other tool, their design implies some advantage for specific tasks. Just becaue I can use a flat headed screw driver to turn a phillips head screw, does not mean that I should. Knife testing would be more helpful if we stopped looking for the one knife that can be pressed into doing it all, and instead focused on where each design excells.

n2s

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Agreed. I understand why people mostly use wood as a test medium (free and readily available), but I'm quite happy when I also see them take their blade into the kitchen for some use. My woods knives are almost invariably going to get pressed into duty for some food prep if I'm camping and, while I don't expect them to perform as well as a nice kitchen knife, it's nice to know if they can slice and dice with minimal effort.

 

[WRGreen]

I'd toss in blisterpacks, strapping, several secies of cardboard, frozen food, & mebee plastic soil or salt bags, to reproduce carving one's way through the valley of Wallmart or the jungles of the QVC warehouse.

 

[AntDog]

I agree. I cut a lot of wood with some knives, but I mostly cut a whole lot of other stuff.

I test a heck of a lot of knives in my own kitchen because when I bring the blade camping, it's gonna cut food. And maybe gut a fish or two. Cut open food packages, etc. There really IS a whole lot more to knife reviews and usage than making the forest bleed chlorophyll.

 

[MassMatt]

Good post. On a related note, I feel like most "survival kits" are more focused on woodcraft/wilderness survival situations than most people are likely to face. Look at say, hurricanes Katrina or Sandy. Were the survivors wishing they had matches, snares, and fish hooks?

 

[stabman]

It doesn't seem to matter whether the knife is small or large, folding or fixed, heavy ot lite, we end up attacking wood; so much so that I wonder if there is a popular fear that would have us arm against a hord of marauding Ents.

When the inevitable Ent invasion of America occurs, you'll be glad for the ready supply of appropriate blades.