Most important things to first learn about Knives

This is the truth, 4 years active, 4 years national guard and finally 3 years of reserves. Most used blade was a Leatherman tool. Those pliers were used almost daily, from cleaning your weapon to running wire (I was commo). I had a few decent blades, Cool Steel Recon Tanto ( I was LRRSU and everyone else had one, so you know lol). Never used it, still have it in a box stashed away somewhere. Carried one of those cheap Gerber lock blades (the cheap one with the plastic handles, at the time were not made in China). I wore out the leather case for my multitool and ended up getting the case from a Gerber Multi that took a hit and was all beat up. Had that combo since Desert Storm in the early 90's

GREENJACKET said:
The modern military war machine is held together with multitools! As often as not most soldiers can get away with carrying a folder. So don't get taken in my the macho hype.
On hype there is a lot about. Go for a well respected and tested example of what you fancy. Don't spend a bomb until you know what you like and why its worth the outlay. There is always a less expensive example of some classic design to be had. Some of the less expensive knives are classics in their own right, having proved themselves over time.
Do invest in good sharpening kit. Do the research on what is available and try to get something you can use. Its a must learn skill to know how to sharpen and maintain a knife correctly. Best $'s spent is on sharpening kit, which may be more than your first blade that you buy for yourself.
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100% the steel. If you buy a knife with a crappy steel, no matter what else may be amazing on the knife, the whole knife will feel like garbage. Just get used to the common ones and you will learn them really fast. Some common steels are; VG-10, 1095, 440, S30V, S35VN, ELMAX, D2, AUS 8, BD1, O1, and some that I am probably forgetting about. I can probably vouch for everyone here that even if they really like a knife, if it does not have a good steel, they won't buy it. So that is my suggestion b/c it is the main make-or-break of a knife.
 
Bang*Bang** said:
What is it that interests you about knives, Ashley?
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I like carrying for self defense, but regular EDC tasks have been easily completed when in need of a knife, so at this point I'll carry a knife whenever it is legally allowed for me to do so.
 
I know we are talking about knives, but I used to remember waking up in the mornings when I was much younger thanking God that poor decision I made in my dream was only a dream. As you get older, you get up in the morning wishing that poor decision you made the night before or years ago was only a bad dream.

You won't experience that with buying a knife at an extremely expensive price like a Rockstead, but you sure will with poor decisions in life that normally involve booze and women.
 
Learn what fake knives looks like. Also learn the common steels so you know what you are paying for when you buy it. Not all steel is the same and some knives are too expensive for the steels they have so you probably won't be happy with them.
 
I'd say, never make an impulse purchase. Chances are you'll regret it. Always sleep on purchases, especially the ones > a comfortable price bracket.

Also, be careful with keeping a knife for self defense. Unless you are on active duty, there are essentially no positives that can come out of a bad encounter with a knife. I'd recommend taking self defense into the 21st century and get pepperspray and a stun gun/taser. The legal/social stigma surrounding knives combined with the consequences of owning/using one in public are probably not worth it.
 
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