I have that exact same problem. I bought a ZT0550 and actually carried and used the knife. Then I bought ti pocket clip and ti hardware for the knife and started to use it less and less. Then they discontinued the 0550 and now it's a safe queen. I really want to use the knife but just can't get myself to. I also have the sickness of sometimes buying 2 of the exact same knife (if it's a good deal) and then use the 1 and safe keep the other. I always end up selling the 1 I never used. I'ts actually such a useless exercise.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
My OCD is starting to get in the way of enjoying my knives as tools
- Thread starter rileybassman1
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2019
- Messages
- 306
The poster might be my lost twin brother. I want my edges perfect, even in appearance and uniform to the obverse side. The real twist is the light I use--a huge one, four inches in diameter with a bright round florescent light over my work area. The lens in it magnifies, and I can see every piece of grit and every scratch.
Attachments
rileybassman1
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2012
- Messages
- 1,056
Man, some really good thoughts here... I appreciate everyone's input... I enjoy seeing how others "enjoy" this hobby!
I think several have touched on it, but the fact is that for us, knives are more then tools, they are a hobby that includes collecting, owning, and "playing with"... and that the tool aspect can sometimes be secondary function... so maybe what I'm realizing is that the "collector" mindset is the part that I am needing to consider.
I appreciated the comments about not taking things with you... I think that is good to remember... I think I, at heart, fight against being a materialistic minimalist lol... part of me likes the collecting, retaining process.... but the other part of me wants everything that I have to have a purpose - and I think from this thread I'm realizing that collectors value has more of a "purpose" then I thought... and value/purpose is not restricted to physically doing something.
I dug through my drawers and found an old Gerber beater that I got when I was 14 or 15... probably my first "real" folder that I bought... I grew up on a farm... so when I see it, I remember summers of bucking hay, stretching miles of fence (or what felt like miles lol), my best friend and I needing to "break" in to his house because his family was out of town and he needed to get in (we went through the skylight lol)... so when I see it, I see the memories... and while it's a "garbage" knife by my current standards, it has stuck around for that very reason.
So I think my goal this year is going to revolve more around focusing on making new memories with the knives I have... and maybe try and make the "acquisition and selling/trading" portion of the hobby take more of a back seat.
The comments about choosing dedicated workers and dedicated pleasure knives is a good one... and the comment about kicking it across the driveway is a good one too lol... may just have to do that... and I'm finding for some reason I already do that with fixed blades... I have a small collection of fiddlebacks that I "enjoy" different then my "worker" bark rivers... so I'll just try and apply that knowledge to the folder world
Obligatory picks of my teenage user... made me happy to see it again... gonna try and get a few more to this point I think
Keep chatting about your experiences and journey...I find it fascinating reading what others have gone through with regards to this hobby
I think several have touched on it, but the fact is that for us, knives are more then tools, they are a hobby that includes collecting, owning, and "playing with"... and that the tool aspect can sometimes be secondary function... so maybe what I'm realizing is that the "collector" mindset is the part that I am needing to consider.
I appreciated the comments about not taking things with you... I think that is good to remember... I think I, at heart, fight against being a materialistic minimalist lol... part of me likes the collecting, retaining process.... but the other part of me wants everything that I have to have a purpose - and I think from this thread I'm realizing that collectors value has more of a "purpose" then I thought... and value/purpose is not restricted to physically doing something.
I dug through my drawers and found an old Gerber beater that I got when I was 14 or 15... probably my first "real" folder that I bought... I grew up on a farm... so when I see it, I remember summers of bucking hay, stretching miles of fence (or what felt like miles lol), my best friend and I needing to "break" in to his house because his family was out of town and he needed to get in (we went through the skylight lol)... so when I see it, I see the memories... and while it's a "garbage" knife by my current standards, it has stuck around for that very reason.
So I think my goal this year is going to revolve more around focusing on making new memories with the knives I have... and maybe try and make the "acquisition and selling/trading" portion of the hobby take more of a back seat.
The comments about choosing dedicated workers and dedicated pleasure knives is a good one... and the comment about kicking it across the driveway is a good one too lol... may just have to do that... and I'm finding for some reason I already do that with fixed blades... I have a small collection of fiddlebacks that I "enjoy" different then my "worker" bark rivers... so I'll just try and apply that knowledge to the folder world
Obligatory picks of my teenage user... made me happy to see it again... gonna try and get a few more to this point I think
Keep chatting about your experiences and journey...I find it fascinating reading what others have gone through with regards to this hobby
orangejoe35
The Opposite
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2016
- Messages
- 370
When I come across that problem, I throw away the box it came in, assuring me that it will likely not sell for what I bought it for. If that doesn't work, I decide that I'm mad at the knife and use it for things I would normally reserve for a beater like whittling or heavy kitchen work or electrical work. When I'm not mad at it anymore, we're square and it's back in my good graces.
AntDog
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2001
- Messages
- 26,964
The easiest way to stop worrying and obsessing is to carry one knife at a time and use it for everything that comes up.
Do not carry a backup because you’ll only wind up using that one. Just carry one and give it hell. Clean it up and sharpen it when you get home and don’t worry about it.
Do this with enough knives and you’ll have a small selection of well used and trusted knives that you enjoy and know will perform.
Do not carry a backup because you’ll only wind up using that one. Just carry one and give it hell. Clean it up and sharpen it when you get home and don’t worry about it.
Do this with enough knives and you’ll have a small selection of well used and trusted knives that you enjoy and know will perform.
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2018
- Messages
- 461
This is what I do with working knives, I also buy used working knives, I have a Kershaw Leek liner lock that's with me most paperwork days and a ZT0350 for physical work days, the Leek was new but only $30 and the 0350 was used and just $80; I picked up a very lightly used ZT0355 Hinderer design over this past weekend for $70, I'm going to work it into my working knife rotation.
Hey,
eveled
, how many Randall Made knives have you skipped across a parking lot? Just curious 
Well... I like to beat the crap out of my Recon Tanto, but then I take my time to clean it, resharpen it to razor edge, wash it, dry thorougly and oil it before putting it away...
Drop Forged Hunter is my EDC, it sees occassional use, I usually wipe it clean and apply some lip balm on the edge to prevent corrosion. I only had to resharpen it twice, I don't use it that much, and 52100 steel seems to hold the edge really well.
Both of them are pretty cheap, also bought to be used. I don't care if there are some signs of use on them, that gives them character. That being said, I love both of them, and would never use them for something stupid, or damage them on purpose.
Drop Forged Hunter is my EDC, it sees occassional use, I usually wipe it clean and apply some lip balm on the edge to prevent corrosion. I only had to resharpen it twice, I don't use it that much, and 52100 steel seems to hold the edge really well.
Both of them are pretty cheap, also bought to be used. I don't care if there are some signs of use on them, that gives them character. That being said, I love both of them, and would never use them for something stupid, or damage them on purpose.
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2019
- Messages
- 3,277
I think as stated enjoy what you want out of the knife, even if its just looking at it.
I have categories of knives.... some are hard use, easy use or just fidgeters.
That being said my collection and expectations changed. I used to have ZT's that I thought I would never sell and I sold those a year ago, I also never thought I would spend more that 200 on a knife and I have spent over 450 as of recent. I have the boxes for them and I understand which knives will have a resale and wont.
It really is up to you, I had a Vintage Gen 6 RHK XM-18 3.5" bowie that I just sold, I never planned on selling that knife but I realized as tool steel I will never use it the way it should be used and I dont need a "tool steel" knife that I need to oil and just look at. It defeats the purpose, It sold in 48 hours though.
I also have a Damascus Mini Horizon D that I am completely ok with only using for light EDC, I understand and am ok with the fact that is not going to be cutting drywall and using the butt to hammer in nails. I also know this knife would take a while to sell, and it cost less than the bowie. Different knives for different purposes I guess.
I dont have any knives I just look at though, I also dont own any Lambert customs or knives over $2k so I guess that's where I'm at.
I have categories of knives.... some are hard use, easy use or just fidgeters.
That being said my collection and expectations changed. I used to have ZT's that I thought I would never sell and I sold those a year ago, I also never thought I would spend more that 200 on a knife and I have spent over 450 as of recent. I have the boxes for them and I understand which knives will have a resale and wont.
It really is up to you, I had a Vintage Gen 6 RHK XM-18 3.5" bowie that I just sold, I never planned on selling that knife but I realized as tool steel I will never use it the way it should be used and I dont need a "tool steel" knife that I need to oil and just look at. It defeats the purpose, It sold in 48 hours though.
I also have a Damascus Mini Horizon D that I am completely ok with only using for light EDC, I understand and am ok with the fact that is not going to be cutting drywall and using the butt to hammer in nails. I also know this knife would take a while to sell, and it cost less than the bowie. Different knives for different purposes I guess.
I dont have any knives I just look at though, I also dont own any Lambert customs or knives over $2k so I guess that's where I'm at.
Last edited:
There really is something in beater knives... and you really start to appreciate a knife you use. You get to know how to use it the best, how to sharpen it's steel, how it's steel behaves and also you get to know performance of your knife, sthrenghts and shortcomings...
Not an expensive knife by most standards, but I am a firm believer you have to use a knife to truly appreciate it. I don't own any really high dollar knives (a Hinderer is as much as I've spent) but there's not much I don't use.
eveled
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2016
- Messages
- 7,996
rileybassman1
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2012
- Messages
- 1,056
That was my philosophy with my truck lol... having the first scratch out of the way helpsKnifeRep Lol! No I don’t send my Randall’s skipping on purpose. But I’m also not afraid to use them. I just proposed a cure for the OP not wanting to use them. The first scratch is the hardest. Sometimes it’s better to buy used. They come scratched already.
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2009
- Messages
- 3,198
Wow... a lot of good posts here! I think I have a foot in about three different camps on this situation. I have never bought a collector knife, no do I have any intention to do so. At 63, I need more "stuff" like I do a hole in the head. But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate a well made, rare piece of cutlery. Now to me, having a well made, utility driven designed, hard working knife... that's the one for me.
I learned a lot though in my short time on the planet. When my Dad was stationed in Germany in the early '50s, he brought back a beautiful set of hunting knives for his Dad (Grandad!) and himself. As an avid hunter, Grandad couldn't wait to put them to use. And use them he did. I inherited those knives many years ago. The blades were slightly knicked in some areas, you could tell there had been many different methods of sharpening employed by someone (not him, he couldn't sharpen a pencil) along the way, and the stag handles were worn smooth (or filed!) in some places and heavily stained. They looked pretty well loved to me.
When moving my Dad to a rest home, I found his set of identical knives. Sharp as could be, on the ready for anything, but unused. Literally. I asked him about that, and he told me that he was always scared that "something would happen to them". He couldn't replace them, they had a lot of memories attached to them, so they were too valuable to use in his eyes. At that time, I found a box of knives that he had put all his cutlery in. It had all the knives I had bought him over the years, all never carried except maybe once or twice, some still in the boxes. I was a little surprised, but really hurt as I bought them thinking to myself I was buying him something he would never buy for himself. And his reason for not using them went along the same lines of thinking of them being too expensive to self purchase; they were too nice to have anything happen to them.
I was this way before (as a tradesman I am a tool guy), but now more than ever. I buy a new tool, which to me is a knife or a saw, etc., it goes to the job right after I get a good edge on it. No waiting around dreaming about how nice it is to have a possession I can't/won't use. Why did I buy it in the first place? To use.
Now it makes no sense to me. I buy a knife for its utility value such as my ZT0909. Why did I buy it? Because I thought it was comfortable in the hand, has a good steel blade, built very sturdy, and seemed reasonably priced. Got it, and it checked all the boxes. Why would I put it back in the box and go look for another work knife?
I can see the collector's side, though. But still... no matter how nice the knife, to me the true enjoyment of any knife is in its use. So my Spydie Valloton that was a gift from a great client goes to the job on a light tour or duty from time to time, but never sees the use of my other stable of large folders. But when I pull out the Valloton, it never fails that I get compliments, and that is pretty cool, too.
Robert
I learned a lot though in my short time on the planet. When my Dad was stationed in Germany in the early '50s, he brought back a beautiful set of hunting knives for his Dad (Grandad!) and himself. As an avid hunter, Grandad couldn't wait to put them to use. And use them he did. I inherited those knives many years ago. The blades were slightly knicked in some areas, you could tell there had been many different methods of sharpening employed by someone (not him, he couldn't sharpen a pencil) along the way, and the stag handles were worn smooth (or filed!) in some places and heavily stained. They looked pretty well loved to me.
When moving my Dad to a rest home, I found his set of identical knives. Sharp as could be, on the ready for anything, but unused. Literally. I asked him about that, and he told me that he was always scared that "something would happen to them". He couldn't replace them, they had a lot of memories attached to them, so they were too valuable to use in his eyes. At that time, I found a box of knives that he had put all his cutlery in. It had all the knives I had bought him over the years, all never carried except maybe once or twice, some still in the boxes. I was a little surprised, but really hurt as I bought them thinking to myself I was buying him something he would never buy for himself. And his reason for not using them went along the same lines of thinking of them being too expensive to self purchase; they were too nice to have anything happen to them.
I was this way before (as a tradesman I am a tool guy), but now more than ever. I buy a new tool, which to me is a knife or a saw, etc., it goes to the job right after I get a good edge on it. No waiting around dreaming about how nice it is to have a possession I can't/won't use. Why did I buy it in the first place? To use.
Now it makes no sense to me. I buy a knife for its utility value such as my ZT0909. Why did I buy it? Because I thought it was comfortable in the hand, has a good steel blade, built very sturdy, and seemed reasonably priced. Got it, and it checked all the boxes. Why would I put it back in the box and go look for another work knife?
I can see the collector's side, though. But still... no matter how nice the knife, to me the true enjoyment of any knife is in its use. So my Spydie Valloton that was a gift from a great client goes to the job on a light tour or duty from time to time, but never sees the use of my other stable of large folders. But when I pull out the Valloton, it never fails that I get compliments, and that is pretty cool, too.
Robert
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2018
- Messages
- 421
We all have our own ways of enjoying something. I love knives, I carry one every day, but I usually only use my beaters for any work that might dull or blemish them. No matter how much I like a knife, once it shows signs of use or gets scuffed up, all of a sudden I don't like it as much anymore. I fully realize how crazy that is, but there it is. I just like knives, and I like them in pristine shape. (I'm the same way with my guitars). It's all good, and after all, they are just knives.
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2000
- Messages
- 4,798
BellaBlades
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2013
- Messages
- 6,160
Man, some really good thoughts here... I appreciate everyone's input... I enjoy seeing how others "enjoy" this hobby!
I think several have touched on it, but the fact is that for us, knives are more then tools, they are a hobby that includes collecting, owning, and "playing with"... and that the tool aspect can sometimes be secondary function... so maybe what I'm realizing is that the "collector" mindset is the part that I am needing to consider.
I appreciated the comments about not taking things with you... I think that is good to remember... I think I, at heart, fight against being a materialistic minimalist lol... part of me likes the collecting, retaining process.... but the other part of me wants everything that I have to have a purpose - and I think from this thread I'm realizing that collectors value has more of a "purpose" then I thought... and value/purpose is not restricted to physically doing something.
I dug through my drawers and found an old Gerber beater that I got when I was 14 or 15... probably my first "real" folder that I bought... I grew up on a farm... so when I see it, I remember summers of bucking hay, stretching miles of fence (or what felt like miles lol), my best friend and I needing to "break" in to his house because his family was out of town and he needed to get in (we went through the skylight lol)... so when I see it, I see the memories... and while it's a "garbage" knife by my current standards, it has stuck around for that very reason.
So I think my goal this year is going to revolve more around focusing on making new memories with the knives I have... and maybe try and make the "acquisition and selling/trading" portion of the hobby take more of a back seat.
The comments about choosing dedicated workers and dedicated pleasure knives is a good one... and the comment about kicking it across the driveway is a good one too lol... may just have to do that... and I'm finding for some reason I already do that with fixed blades... I have a small collection of fiddlebacks that I "enjoy" different then my "worker" bark rivers... so I'll just try and apply that knowledge to the folder world
Obligatory picks of my teenage user... made me happy to see it again... gonna try and get a few more to this point I think
Keep chatting about your experiences and journey...I find it fascinating reading what others have gone through with regards to this hobby
That was one of my first quality folders about 15-20 years ago. Thanks for sharing.
Last edited:
You can't see heat treatment. Unless you really put that knife to use how do you know if the blade is good or if it got around QC? It would be a real shame to finally take it out and use it only to find out it holds a terrible edge. Knives need to be proven, but not necessarily abused.
If you threw your knife in a box of identical knives and shook it up, and dumped them out on the table, would you be able to identify yours in the mix? What story does it tell? The manufacturing process is just the beginning of the journey, its life in the hand of the user is the real identity of a knife. A knife could be a rough and tough outdoorsman, a refined gentleman, a soldier's closest companion, a rugged warehouse worker, a gritty and hardworking farmer, or a construction worker with marks and scars to show for the comfortable homes and great monuments it's built.
It's also fine to have a work of art that sits on a shelf with nothing to prove to anyone, it's up to the owner.
If you threw your knife in a box of identical knives and shook it up, and dumped them out on the table, would you be able to identify yours in the mix? What story does it tell? The manufacturing process is just the beginning of the journey, its life in the hand of the user is the real identity of a knife. A knife could be a rough and tough outdoorsman, a refined gentleman, a soldier's closest companion, a rugged warehouse worker, a gritty and hardworking farmer, or a construction worker with marks and scars to show for the comfortable homes and great monuments it's built.
It's also fine to have a work of art that sits on a shelf with nothing to prove to anyone, it's up to the owner.