Knife story from work today

Smaug

Smaug

Joined
Jun 30, 2003
Messages
1,797
Today, we were working in the warehouse. Normally we're in the office area. We were re-packaging some tools into different kits that we have orders for.

I thought there might be some box duty, so I packed my new Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite. A couple hours in, my boss was asking around for a utility knife. I handed him my MTL without a comment. He was breaking down boxes.

An hour later, I dropped by his station and he was smiling and told me: "This knife is REALLY sharp!"

Me: "Yep, they're supposed to be. :) "
Him: "I'm gonna use it the rest of the morning if it's OK, then I'll go downstairs and try and find a utility knife for the afternoon."
Me: "You can borrow it all day if you want."
Me: "By the way, here's a trick: If you want it to stay sharp longer, strop it every now and then on a piece of cardboard." (I demonstrated)
Him: "Without anything on the cardboard?"
Me: "Yep. It's relatively soft blade steel; it doesn't take much if you do it often."
Him: "Oh, OK. Don't get caught with this. ;)" (There are a no guns or knives signs on every entrance to the building.)
Me: "We're a tool company. We MAKE and sell knives, so I have a hard time taking that seriously."
Him: (smiled)

This guy is a real handy man; does all the work on his house and cars, but yet he was surprised at a sharp knife. It surprises me how few people know the pleasures of a sharp knife. It's such a great tool, but only if it's sharp.


Please share your "Wow, that's sharp!" stories here.
 
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Snap-on, eh? This explains my warranty issues… you’re on here posting!

Kidding.

I have borrowed out a Sebenza once or twice and one person brought it back sayings it’s scary and he didn’t want to cut himself. 😆

When people who work with tools tend to notice a good tool very quickly.
 
I always had a loaner or two in my toolbox.

I was very appreciative of how Kershaw rebuilt my 2000 Snap-On Anniversary 1550 that I'd lost for over 15 years out in a shed under some leaves. They had to replace everything but the blade which held up remarkably well considering. I told them that I 'd always liked how that blade took and held an edge. I could be wrong, but I think that was when they used 440A.
 
Back in the early 1980s when most struggled to keep their Buck 110s sharp, I would sharpen another workers 110 for him on an old Loray kit which was around before Lansky came on the scene. Lost count of how many times I did that for him and never charged, just enjoyed doing it. Then when I decided to put in a garden in the back yard, he volunteered and came over with one of the rear tined tillers and worked pretty hard getting it done. I thought that was a neat trade.
 
Another Shepherd said:
I hear complaints from people who cut themselves after they ask me to sharpen a knife for them. Not bad, just bandaid stuff. That's why I try not to go below BESS 150.

Owner of a store who sells Benchmades got some fancy new kitchen knives. He and his wife both promptly cut themselves.
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When I get one of my Japanese kitchen knives that they describe as cutting like a laser really sharp, if that blade just so much as touches the skin, it bleeds.

I finally got the message from my wife years ago about sharpening her pairing knives. I'd get them good and sharp, and she'd proceed to cut herself. She didn't want them that sharp. Then when I started to use a paring knife, I found out why since they are always bumping into your thumb.
 
Most people's idea of sharp is being put on a pull-through sharpener, or, God forbid, a powered sharpener.

I wish someone in my area had a BESS system so I could get a few of mine tested. I sharpen on some basic bench stones and I'd love to know how I'm doing.
 
Grizzly3 said:
I finally got the message from my wife years ago about sharpening her pairing knives. I'd get them good and sharp, and she'd proceed to cut herself. She didn't want them that sharp. Then when I started to use a paring knife, I found out why since they are always bumping into your thumb.
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I keep a special paring knife just for me that is sharp enough to slice a banana but not much of anything else such as skin.

My wife uses paring knives as steak knives, so they have to be sharp, but not too sharp.
 
A birthday celebration at work. Cake needed cutting and the only knife they had was as sharp as a hammer. My buddy who knows I am a knife guy asked me if I would sharpen it for him. I asked how sharp he wanted it, he said it’s only cake so I sharpened it. He came back about 30 minutes later and said he had never seen a knife so sharp. It cut the cake, cardboard bottom, the party paper underneath and scribed the table. I just laughed and told him any time 🤣
 
Alberta Ed said:
Don't loan your knives.
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Pish-posh.
Don't loan your expensive knives? OK, I can understand that recommendation.

Don't loan your knives, period? That's not my style. I loaned a knife I got here for $20. To my boss. I can't help but think it made a good impression. It's not going to get me that promotion or anything, but there is a certain image that goes with a guy who has a clean, sharp knife on him at the ready.

Aside from that, it's a way to spread our unique type of wealth. I've got dozens and dozens of knives; why not share the wealth?

I gave away another Victorinox Super Tinker to my daughter's boyfriend yesterday too. He's got a few Chinese and Indian flea market knives, but this is his first decent one, and only sharp one. I remember when my dad's best friend gave me a Small Tinker for Christmas in about 1984. It was my first taste of a quality knife and it made a lasting impression. If I can do that for others, I will. Payin' it forward.
 
Visiting with family this summer, my 15 year old niece said “Do you remember that knife you gave me (Buck 112 Slim Select)? One of dad’s Jeep friends asked if anyone had a knife wheeling last month. I gave him mine. He used it and said ‘Holy crap, that’s the sharpest knife I’ve ever seen! Where did you get that thing?’ I just smiled and said ‘My uncle sharpened it.’” LOL!

Not trying to say anything about my sharpening abilities, just reinforcing how 90% of guys don’t carry a knife and/or have never used a good one.
 
Another guy in another shop I worked at was going to be at a big fish fry and asked me to sharpen a large filet knife. Sure, why not. He came back to work after the weekend and told of how they couldn't believe how sharp it was. They were then having a blast, dropping fish on the knife and watching them cut through. I wasn't there and have no idea what they were really doing, but it was fun listening to him.

My Pastor fishes and one day while at his house he showed me his filet knives. Yuck. What do you sharpen these with? He had an old Lansky or maybe a model before that but really didn't know how to use it. After a lesson or two demonstrating how to use it, he was as excited as a little kid at Christmas. Now he has sharp filet knives to work with. I'd given him on of my Rapalas that I had duplicates on.
 
Another Shepherd said:
I keep a special paring knife just for me that is sharp enough to slice a banana but not much of anything else such as skin.

My wife uses paring knives as steak knives, so they have to be sharp, but not too sharp.
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That's funny. I also have some cheap no name paring knife my daughter left here when I gave them a handful of knives to take home. All I use it for is bananas also.
 
You paring knife guys who cut your thumbs... my mom did this when I sharpened her knives too.

When doing a pull cut, just have your thumb slightly off to the side. Problem solved.
 
Smaug said:
An hour later, I dropped by his station and he was smiling and told me: "This knife is REALLY sharp!"

Me: "Yep, they're supposed to be. :) "
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I've had that response when people used my knife - some even objected to it.
I pointed out that having a sharp edge is the defining attribute of a knife. Literally what makes it a knife instead of something with a handle, like a paint stirring stick.
 
Smaug said:
This guy is a real handy man; does all the work on his house and cars, but yet he was surprised at a sharp knife. It surprises me how few people know the pleasures of a sharp knife. It's such a great tool, but only if it's sharp.


Please share your "Wow, that's sharp!" stories here.
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it’s alarming to me how many DIY/Gearhead/Home Improvement types just don’t know what sharp really is. You’d think those would be the exact guys that would be into ultimate sharpness, or I would anyway.
 
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