New here--At 75 do I still need to carry a knife?

[Crag the Brewer]

With aging hands, I suggest something Fixed.
With nice large comfy handles.

 

[Rob47]

Yes, you still need to carry knives. I’m 74, had a knife in my pocket since age 5. Feel naked without one. Have a Native 5 LW Salt on order, want to try Larrin’s new MagnaCut steel.
Welcome to the forum.

 

[Bob Denman]

Do you LIKE carrying a knife?
Answer that one; and you're all set...

 

[GIRLYmann]

....live in a retirement community and ....
So I’m asking myself “Do I still need to carry a knife?”
....
Well the answer for me is “Yes, I do...

 

[kobold]

I am saving my safe queens for my old age. The older I get, the fancier my knives will be.

 

[Rob47]

Yes, yes I do LIKE carrying a knife, or more properly, knives. Two or three will do it.

 

[Squidman24]

Great….so what I’ve learned from this thread is….the knife bug never goes away and is a lifelong condition. You would think that after the multiple times I have “sworn off” the knife game, only to find my way back I would be aware of this by now! Ah well, there’s worse things I suppose.

Welcome to the forum Sir.

 

[Zulus]

Oh, and we do live by a big lake, might need some Salt versions too…

Yes,
you may need that one :^)

 

[bayouace]

Nearing 76 and 150 knives, the answer is "Yes" you need to carry. I carry slipjoints a lot, but when I want a guaranteed smooth flipper that works for me, I grab my Finch 1929 or Holliday.

 

[Rich S]

77 and carrying 2 knives; SAK Tinker and nice d2 flipper. Been using and collecting since 7 years old. YES - you still need to carry a knife.

 

[Hashishiin]

You said you like Spyderco? Guess the Spyder can bite folks at any age... Have a look at the compression lock and ball lock. They may work for you. Backlock is okay, too. We have guys your age on the forum using and loving these knives all day. 2.5oz roughly? Sage 5 (it's like the Para3 but a little better). 3oz? Manix with ball-lock. 3.5-3.75-4oz? Lightest Paramilitary 2s (BD1N alum handle, S45VN G-10 handle or micarta handle Cruwear steel are three models around frequently). Or maybe a Gayle Bradley 2, a real no-nonsense work folder in M4 steel and carbon fiber with the comp lock?

Steels have different attributes. They can cut a long time, but be very hard and brittle so that you can't torque on 'em. Or they'll be tough but won't hold a fine edge as well. Or it can be somewhere in the middle. Then there's corrosion. Lots of factors, but lots of great stuff out there, and Spyderco does it great.

 

[Hashishiin]

Cold Steel plan: XL 20yr-40yr, Lg 40-60, Med 60- ?
View attachment 1636885
View attachment 1636892

Now that I have the Fancy and regular XL Espadas, I was thinking of getting the fancy Large Espada, lol. Very nice!
My Cold Steel guy (guy selling all his old CS) hit me up, I missed the 3V Warcraft tantos ((

 

[Zboson]

Welcome to BladeForums, drawkcaB! I like to say that I'm half way to 80 (and in very small print...from 70). I find joy in owning, carrying, and using my knives. And that is a very good thing.

 

[115Italian]

Welcome to the forums.
So addressing easy of use, my only issue with the manix would be working the lock. The spring can be kind of stiff and a little hard on the fingers.

 

[kobold]

Welcome to the forums.
So addressing easy of use, my only issue with the manix would be working the lock. The spring can be kind of stiff and a little hard on the fingers.

I had to disassemble and snip off two revolutions from the spring to bring it to a usable state.

 

[ferdiad]

I was given a sharp knife when I was 5 years old and I have and will carry one to the day I go 6 ft under.

Welcome to the forum.

Yes! My dad gave me a Schrade Walden bowie when I was 5. I was hooked. I will also carry a pocket knife until I die, and my daughter, who is a budding collector, has already called dibs on most of my collection.

 

[Bob Denman]

I had to disassemble and snip off two revolution from the spring to bring it to a usable state.

I cheated and bought the kit with a spring, ceramic ball bearing, and titanium bearing cage...

 

[killgar]

I don't just carry a knife for when I expect to need it, I also carry it for when I unexpectedly need it.

These days I have pretty much zero expected need, so for me it's all about the unexpected. And every now and then an unexpected need pops up. That's life for ya, you just never know when you might need to cut something, or when some nice person might ask you if you have a knife to cut something for them.

A knife can be such a small and simple thing to carry, but the value and usefulness of a knife can prove to be far greater than the sum of it's parts.

Carrying a knife has always given me a feeling of preparedness, and if for no other reason, I will always carry a knife because I like that feeling.

And as a lifelong knife-carrier, one who has always recognized and appreciated the value of both a knife, and carrying a knife, I would feel absolutely humiliated if some nice person in need asked me to cut something for them, and I had to say "Sorry, I don't have a knife".

 

[Skar]

I haven't had an issue with the manix lock at all. I just fidget with it a while, seems fine to me.
Yes you should have a knife with you always.

 

[Greggy]

If the OP is still around, I'd be curious to know which of those knives are still in rotation and what he is carrying lately.

A confidential source tells me the OP lost control of his knife lust, bought a collection of Cold Steel knives, then severed all his right hand fingers trying to figure out how to work that Tri Lock thingy. Should have stuck with Spyderco in those latter years.