Knives for the worst places

[Shorttime]

This has nothing to do with Emerson, although they do make a convincing case. I'm not necessarily talking about combat environments. I'm thinking about the knives that get used in places that are inherently rough on the knives, themselves.

I work in aggregates processing, which means I usually go home with a layer of fine dust on me, but what is more harmful to my knife is steel, concrete, and my co-workers.

Most of what I have to cut is some sort of rubber or plastic: conveyor belt skirting, tape, plastic drain hose that gets used as extensions on dust collection systems. The problem is that once you cut through the tape and plastic, there's rusty metal underneath, and a session at the sharpening bench in your future.

As for my co-workers, I don't let them use my knife. Full stop. I've seen what they do with screw drivers and wrenches, they can bring their own.

I've recently switched to this knife-based substitute, as a way to save my Camillus electrician from my job requirements.

The point of all this, is that I would like to see the knives you turn to when you know it's going to be a dirty job. The more pictures, the better.

 

[Hashishiin]

Crafstman and Coast razors - a select SAK 91mm, basic one - Beater Leatherman Wave w/ S30V blade - RAT 1/2 - Mora non-carvers - Cricket/Dodo - Cold Steel GRIK - DeWalt beater - Christy Cutter - Spyderco Shaman - Ontario SP-1 - other random beaters if I really HAVE to do some bad task that'll be eugh, got some in a trade for the first edition Espada Large alum... ton of nuts stuff... combat hatchet? Feel that one is more of a hazard to user..

Will post a proper pic soon. Police 4 is tough, but it isn't for much in way of lateral force.

 

[Ratatoskr]

hehe "knife-based substitute"

For tar-paper, silicone, shingles, really nasty stuff, it's a utility knife, but otherwise It's inevitably one of these. I have killed one and I have given one away, but the Grip is hands-down my favorite jobsite knife.

 

[pholder]

No pictures but I use my Buck 301 for the dirty, rough stuff. Has never failed me

 

[Shorttime]

Yeah, the Grip is good to go! Wish they made one with full liners and slightly thicker blade stock. Ditch the thumb ramp, while we're at it. Masterpiece of ergonomics, though.

hehe "knife-based substitute"

For tar-paper, silicone, shingles, really nasty stuff, it's a utility knife, but otherwise It's inevitably one of these. I have killed one and I have given one away, but the Grip is hands-down my favorite jobsite knife.

 

[King of the Cheese]

hehe "knife-based substitute"

For tar-paper, silicone, shingles, really nasty stuff, it's a utility knife, but otherwise It's inevitably one of these. I have killed one and I have given one away, but the Grip is hands-down my favorite jobsite knife.

The Griptilian is definitely a chonky boy and a workhorse.

 

[eveled]

I like these old fixed utility knives.

Funny story. My first construction job didn’t allow retractable utility knives. Saying guys get cut thinking they are closed when they are actually open. With a fixed blade knife you know its open and act accordingly.

My second construction job didn’t allow fixed ones saying they were dangerous only retractable ones were allowed.

 

[1911bphil]

I will use my box cutter if I think I might damage the knife cutting whatever needs it. I will use either my Buck 110 or a fixed blade if I'm in the woods hunting.

 

[DocJekl]

I've never needed anything other than a sterile scalpel, mosquito clamp, or needle driver at my old job.

 

[killgar]

I have a Gerber Covert as my "garage knife" (a "beater" I keep exclusively in my garage).

One example of it's use- I needed to remove a bad fuel pump from one of my bikes, and I didn't want to have to take the bike apart to do it. I was able to disconnect most of it, but there was a thick rubber holder that went around the pump and hooked securely onto a bracket deep inside the bike that I couldn't get to with my hands or pliers. The solution was to reach inside with a sharp knife and slice through the rubber holder.

There was a high risk of hitting the bracket or other metal parts with the edge of the blade, and so my "beater" was the perfect choice.

I didn't buy the Covert to use as a "garage knife", it just ended up as one. The Covert was my first "modern" folder (purchased in 2001), prior to that, my most modern folder style was my Buck 110. I wasn't happy with the Covert, but I couldn't return it, so it became a disposable "beater" for "dirty" jobs that might damage a knife.

 

[davek14]

 

[BlindMouse2of3]

I'll try and post a pic on Monday, I have a crkt M16-14LE from 2007ish that has been through hell and back. Can't tell what it was originally because as well as my main mechanic on an oilfield knife it was also the I'm bored and need something to screw with knife. Not sure if it took more damage from work or me but it's still a good blade.

 

[sailfish]

Sometimes the worst simply calls for the best.

 

[Jandlcustoms]

Not about Emerson perhaps but I will say my Emerson has been used and abused HARD for about a decade now. I used it in the restaurant industry to cut open boxes all the time, since being in military, I’ve used it to cut food, dig holes, scrape carbon off rifles, chop branches and everything in between. All I’ve done is sharpen it a hand full of times and it’s held up perfectly

 

[Shorttime]

I have a huge amount of respect for you guys who use your five- and eight-hundred dollar knives like they're supposed to be used! I get jumpy about carrying anything over one-fifty.....

Sometimes the worst simply calls for the best.

 

[dirc]

sailfish - that is some sick form of high end knife abuse lol - but I also don't believe in safe queens personally

however, for rough use my mora companion & old spydy delica are usually called upon

 

[Shorttime]

Not about Emerson perhaps but I will say my Emerson has been used and abused HARD for about a decade now. I used it in the restaurant industry to cut open boxes all the time, since being in military, I’ve used it to cut food, dig holes, scrape carbon off rifles, chop branches and everything in between. All I’ve done is sharpen it a hand full of times and it’s held up perfectly

Emerson knives are legit! I wanted to be sure everybody knew this wasn't just about them, from the get-go. I have a vanilla CQC-7, but I don't have the brass to use it like they're meant to be used. I keep it to remind me why I don't want to spend that much on any other knives.

 

[Jandlcustoms]

Emerson knives are legit! I wanted to be sure everybody knew this wasn't just about them, from the get-go. I have a vanilla CQC-7, but I don't have the brass to use it like they're meant to be used. I keep it to remind me why I don't want to spend that much on any other knives.

Haha I understand that! I felt the same way when I got it but life happens and it got scratched so I said screw it and start abusing it

 

[sailfish]

sailfish - that is some sick form of high end knife abuse lol - but I also don't believe in safe queens personally

however, for rough use my mora companion & old spydy delica are usually called upon

They definitely see tough use with me but I know their limits as knives and don't subject them to any nonsense like prying or screwdriving. Nothing a quick stropping or touchup won't fix.

 

[LimpCroissant]

I take one of these three knives when I go to do something nasty. Anything where I know the knife has a good chance of getting dulled very quickly or scratched to hell in a short amount of time. All three I bought on a whim as just a "huh, that's a good deal, let's see what that's about", and all three have earned a deep respect from me. They're also all sharp as hell and I keep the edges maintained probably more regularly than the rest just because I use them a lot. They all look pretty damn good too considering what I've put them through. Well except for the Civivi . It's hard to see in the pic, but there's actually a spot in the blade where the entire edge and the 1/3" behind it bent out of place so the edge is all a straight line except for that bulge that bulges off to the right. It came like that from the previous owner, I got it for practically free, and it sharpens just fine so I don't mind.

P.S. Kizer's Cerakote holds up really well, much better than I thought it would. Up close you can see all kinds of small scratches, but it really hasn't worn through the coating at all yet.