natural patina vs. man-made

[Pete1977]

Apropos of nothing, it just strikes me as ironic that you have been moving onto a minimalist and traditional path, and you say funds are tight, yet you purchased another knife at all (when you already own a Spyderco Atlantic Salt). I would think minimalism and financial prudence would keep you from acquiring more stuff that you don't really need.

(Sorry for the sermon ...... guess I've been listening to too much Dave Ramsey.)

What I do is my own business, but I'll grace you with an explanation nonetheless .

I own a lot of knives. however, when I began to change my outlook on things, I had moved away, and didn't bring many of them with me. I purchased the OT this winter up north. Having only a few of my knives with me has given me the opportunity to try something a little more simplistic.

now, perhaps you could say I was forced by circumstance into this new way of thinking and using my knives. I'm not complaining. Unfortunately, as much as I'd like to, I don't have much disposable income to spend on purchasing knives.

thanks for your concern regarding what I do down here, however, mnblade. I did not mean to offend your delicate sensibilites.

pete

PS- I don't know who dave ramsey is.

PPS sunnyd- I chose the trapper because of the spey blade. It's long straight edge is excellent for cutting rope. I was formerly a commercial fisherman and I wanted to try out a carbon steel knife at work. It worked good enough in the days of sail, why not now.

EDITED TO ADD- Sunnyd- there is an ace in the same area that had a small selection of OT's, mostly large stockmen and a fixed blade or two. Talking with the salesman though I learned that he buys the knives as he sells out, so all of the ones in the store are displays. The one I got a couple years ago from him was a display and he said he didn't keep them in stock. I have a feeling that if he sells out of the carbon steel new old stock, he would be buying Taylors, but I don't know, and don't forsee getting back up there anytime soon to find out. Both the prices at the Ace and at the sporting goods store are decent, and they don't mind knocking 10 percent off if the sell the display, a fixed blade without a sheath or box, or something with a little rust or patina on the blades. I use the knives I buy so I don't mind cosmetic flaws, but I like a discount when I can get it too.

pete

 

[mnblade]

What I do is my own business, but I'll grace you with an explanation nonetheless . ... thanks for your concern regarding what I do down here, however, mnblade. I did not mean to offend your delicate sensibilites.

Well, I assume no offense was taken, which is good because none was intended.

Sorry, I just happened to read your post after I'd been thinking about one of the paradoxes here on the coolest area of bladeforums, the Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades area ..... the fact that many of us are nostalgic for simpler times, for simpler knives, for simpler lives, and so forth. Yet our nostalgia manifests itself in one particular behavior that is so counter to all that: Namely hording material possessions that we don't really need and, in some cases, even borrowing money to do it. How many of our Depression-steeled grandparents would s**t a brick if they saw how we buy toys in order to connect to a time when men owned and used a few simple, high quality tools.

Again, Pete1977, no offense and none of this is directed at you. Hell, I'm as guilty of this as anyone here. Just woke up feeling slightly ironic, I guess. Maybe I better try decaf.

 

[Pete1977]

I've been up for hours myself. I never take offense. I don't see selling off all of my knives as the way to becoming more minimalist. I see trying to return to a simpler way of using my knives as a long process, not something that's happening overnight. and I enjoy this trapper. it hasn't left my pocket in months and does ALL my cutting. I am a practical person though and still carry a longer, sturdy lockback (110) on the boats simply because I value my life and it might depend on the knife at some point. That's a force of habit.

 

[jackknife]

the fact that many of us are nostalgic for simpler times, for simpler knives, for simpler lives, and so forth. Yet our nostalgia manifests itself in one particular behavior that is so counter to all that: Namely hording material possessions that we don't really need and, in some cases, even borrowing money to do it. How many of our Depression-steeled grandparents would s**t a brick if they saw how we buy toys in order to connect to a time when men owned and used a few simple, high quality tools.

I know my own parents and even grandparents did just that at my early "collector" period. My dad never understood as how I needed all those knives when he and his father got by with "a" pocket knife. Its a valid contradiction, the condition of buying more to connect with a simpler time.

I'm not sure of what happened, or exactly just when, but a couple years back both Karen and I started to feel "owned" by our possesions, so we had a big cut back. Kids, nieces, nephews, friends, all got something. If nobody was interested, it got sold off at an antique store on consignment. I got rid of alot of guns, knives, camping/fishing gear. Last year we had another downsizing. If it hadn't been worn or used in a year, it went.

When it was all said and done with, it felt unbelievably liberating. Now all my fishing gear fits in a small rubbermaid container that fits in a GI buttpack, and my cane pole. All the camping gear fits in one duffle bag. Its easy to find things in the house as we have kept it and all the cabnets and drawers cleaned out. Even all my tooks now fit in a single Kennedy tool box that I can carry out to the truck. All my pocket knives now fit in one cigar box.

Do I miss any of it? Sometimes just a little. But it fades when I think of how much fun it was to give the stuff to the people you care about when you were there to see the look of joy on thier faces in person. And the pleasure of having a family outing and seeing a formerly favored piece of gear being used by a family member or friend is so priceless, that the original price of the item fades to insignifigance.

 

[sunnyd]

Well, I assume no offense was taken, which is good because none was intended.

Sorry, I just happened to read your post after I'd been thinking about one of the paradoxes here on the coolest area of bladeforums, the Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades area ..... the fact that many of us are nostalgic for simpler times, for simpler knives, for simpler lives, and so forth. Yet our nostalgia manifests itself in one particular behavior that is so counter to all that: Namely hording material possessions that we don't really need and, in some cases, even borrowing money to do it. How many of our Depression-steeled grandparents would s**t a brick if they saw how we buy toys in order to connect to a time when men owned and used a few simple, high quality tools..

Well mnblade I supposed that a similar case could be made for collecting just about anything as a hobby or a pass-time that commands the kind of money that quality pocketknives do. The bulk of my collecting interests now revolve around vintage knives and have for a while now, that is any pattern 60-150+ years old. This is because of the rich history they provide. I just love History.. I count myself very, very fortunate to benefit from great folks here like Smiling-Knife's wonderful threads filled with vintage photographs for instance. He has really influenced me in this regard, as has Waynorth's fine old pattern collections. Codger64's vast knowledge and his library of catalogue media, Bernard_Levine's expertise with his countless authored Books and articles and ID forum just to name a few..

And frankly, I don't give a rats arse what my Grandparents or anyone else would think about any of it.. :yawn:

 

[Will Power]

My grandparents had a fairly rough time in depression Europe, many had it a lot worse of course but I know that they would not wish harsh times on others simply because they had to endure it.

My grandmother used to say that they were grim times not to be forgotten but she was glad that we didn't have to have the same thing in our turn. So, no I don't believe they would disapprove of spending on knives as they LAST.Having to buy electronics, computers updates and what not would far more horrify them as unnecessary waste I tend to agree, who's going to want this HP laptop in 20 years time? But my knives.......:thumbup:

 

[freekboi]

I think willgoy hit it right on the head. The knives we can pass down to our children, and they to their children and so on. But cell phones, computers, cameras and VCR/DVD/Blu-Ray/whatever players, they're practically becoming obsolete as soon as you can get them out of the box and have no inheritability (is that a word? ) So I think when you look at it from that point, it's not quite so bad.

Oh, and to get the thread back on topic of patinas. I'm currently EDCing a Case med. stockman in Amber Bone CV that I've been using daily to slice up apples for an evening snack. It's right now at that stage where in the right light the patina has that purplish-blue tint to it, and I'll admit, there's nothing prettier when the sun hits it and sets off those colors. That's one thing I would miss most about applying a man-made patina.

 

[Pete1977]

we're going to drive the cost of apples up with everybody patinizing their knives

 

[db]

I guess I'm having a hard time seeing any difference from cutting an apple every day, or dunking in lemon juice to get the patina. They both seem pretty much a natural way to me.

 

[sunnyd]

I guess I'm having a hard time seeing any difference from cutting an apple every day, or dunking in lemon juice to get the patina. They both seem pretty much a natural way to me.

To answer your question: (1) It is all done at once. vs. (2) Done over a period of time.

Big difference.

 

[db]

yeah, but if I gave my knife a quick dunk in lemon juice, mustard, or vinegar every day other than the amount of time it takes no difference is there in the patina from doing it all at one time?

 

[Wildcat]

I know we have been buying alot of apples lately. Every night the kids and I cut up two apples. Hey, pocket knives are good for my health. I've been eating alot more fruit lately. You think my wife will go for that?

Potatoes is another good one to cut up.

 

[sunnyd]

yeah, but if I gave my knife a quick dunk in lemon juice, mustard, or vinegar every day other than the amount of time it takes no difference is there in the patina from doing it all at one time?

db,

There is a marked difference which you would know if you bothered to partake in a simple experiment or had the actual experience to know better and because you claim there isn't tells me that you do not know the difference, therefore I will not waste any more of my time trying to convince you otherwise.

 

[db]

Your right I don't know the difference. Thanks for your time.

 

[freekboi]

I know we have been buying alot of apples lately. Every night the kids and I cut up two apples. Hey, pocket knives are good for my health. I've been eating alot more fruit lately. You think my wife will go for that?

Potatoes is another good one to cut up.

Hey, it worked for me! My wife still shakes her head when she comes through in the evening and sees me slicing an apple or mango up in the kitchen using my pocketknife instead of a kitchen knife, but she says "at least you're eating healthy now."

I think I've almost got her convinced that once this stockman develops just the right patina I'll need another knife to start on that way I'll continue to snack healthy!

 

[Dr. Mudd]

IMNSHO any kind of "patina" offers little to NO protection against rust and corrosion, and the same applies to cold gun bluing. If you don't want your knives (etc.) to rust, I strongly recommend you use a product called CorrosionX. Yes, it is spelled EXACTLY like I just wrote it. If you are eating with your knife on a daily basis, just apply CorrosionX and wipe it off good. You can buy direct from Corrosion Technologies Corporation at http://www.corrosionx.com or 1-800-638-7361, according to the information on the container in my hand. I am reasonably sure they will still send you a small sample if you ask them politely. Their regular stock is available in a variety of packagings, and for knives their "gun oil" version (in a plastic squeeze bottle) might be most convenient. I think it's a 4 oz. size, but I'm not sure. Mine is in the other room. It comes in aerosol cans, too. I have no connection with this company, but their product is EXCELLENT, and it is easily ten times as good as WD-40!!! :thumbup:

 

[Will Power]

Dr. Mudd, are you sure it's OK to use this product in connexion with food prep? Last time I used a spray on gun-oil on a knife it reeked for a week

Maybe THIS was why stainless was invented

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Well, the MSDS for "CorrosionX" does not list ingredients due to their proprietary nature, but the "Emergency and First Aid Procedures" section includes flushing of exposed skin, evacuation to fresh air, and the dreaded "do not induce vomiting if ingested". I don't think it'll be finding its way near any of my "food" knives.

If you're really worried about it, A.G. Russell's "Rust Free" works very well. It's a silicone product that is safe to use around food. Of course, mineral oil works well too, if you keep up with it.

-- Sam

 

[sunnyd]

Sam's right!. As ususal.

A. G. Russell's, Rust Free is a Non-Petroleum product that is phenomenal when used on Carbon or Stainless Steel.:thumbup:

Although Mineral Oil is my all time favorite!

 

[Will Power]

Rust-Free looks just the job:thumbup:

Hope Russell ships small quantities to the EU