Niall88
Gold Member
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- Aug 29, 2022
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- 390
Ha, I don't have a wife, my girlfriend lives in Hawaii, I am here in Calif. So mostly I am trying to hide my knife purchases from myself!
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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.
Ontario Rat 1 - Philosophical Meandering
- Thread starter Niall88
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sgt1372
Platinum Member
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- Oct 16, 2018
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- 8,093
Same here, except that I collected mine in just the past 5 years.
I've got 5 SAK "Explorers" tucked away here and there. Apart from the knives in my kitchen, it is the "knife" that I use most.
I've got a RAT 1 w/a combo blade that I've never used or carried. No need to do so. I really should sell it but it's so cheap that it's really not worth the time or effort (the same as if I were selling one of my more expensive knives) to do so.
I'll probably end up either selling it in a bundle w/other cheaper knives or gifting it in connection w/the sale of a more expensive knife.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2012
- Messages
- 858
The knives that you need and the knives that you want are two different things. The former group is in generally small. The latter is only limited by your financial ability and your wife’s permission
I need a chef’s knife in the kitchen and a beaten-up plastic handled Mora in the garage and garden. But what’s the fun in that
I need a chef’s knife in the kitchen and a beaten-up plastic handled Mora in the garage and garden. But what’s the fun in that
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2021
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I have often said to those considering getting rid of all their higher-end knives and just use a SAK "Sure, that's understandable if it works for ya, but I'd always keep around a RAT and an Opinel just to get your cutting done, can't hurt'".
Even got special scales made as the RAT is such a modern classic... like the Buck 110 of its time.
The good scales are made in Russia, the REALLY good scales are made in Finland, same guy.
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Even got special scales made as the RAT is such a modern classic... like the Buck 110 of its time.
The good scales are made in Russia, the REALLY good scales are made in Finland, same guy.
View attachment 1938910
View attachment 1938911
If we were here for just function..we wouldn't be here at all. It's a hobby really, to learn as much as possible, to buy things we enjoy, to find new things to be interested in and most importantly..to pass all this along to keep this ancient tradition going...to remember the past and look to the future. Its why I have traditional times knives as well as pointless funky knives.
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- Jan 15, 2012
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On a side note being a knife collector and knut is perfectly fine, but sometimes I smile at the excuses people make up to justify spending thousands of dollars on hyper steel grades and NASA handle materials and ceramic bearings and what have you. “I open lots of cardboard boxes at work”, lol, right wink-wink
Sorry, my bad. The collar does go into the liners. Obviously not very strong as mine gave way. Much prefer a normal solid steel stop pin. Basically the Rat has a stand off as a stop pin as it's identical to all the other stand offs.
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2013
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- 22,110
Heh, if this knife makes you question your knife
Still love knives, though. I think we all have those days sometimes, where we think about just burning it all down, selling the majority of the collection, keeping one or two inexpensive simple quality knives and putting the money to some other use....but who am I kidding? I can't speak for others, but knives have been a lifelong love and obsession of mine for roughly 40 years, and I expect, always will be, even though every day, our society moves farther and farther away from those halcyon days when every man had a knife in his pocket (and needs for a knife abounded!).
Could a Rat 1 do everything? Sure could. But then, so could knives even cheaper. Honestly, I still remember back when I bought my first Rat 1, after I'd just joined here. I still remember being blown away by how well it was made for the price, and how much cutting ability that thing grind could deliver. Simple knives, but really good. I expect they could handle most folks' needs just fine. But then, this hobby isn't about making sense.
* or the expensive knife in your other pocket, or one of the expensive knives in your backpack
Niall88
Gold Member
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- Aug 29, 2022
- Messages
- 390
For a "quiet" guy, you certainly gave a good rant. Ya, I am a laptop guy as well, selling holistic products through ebay, amazon, etsy and emf related products through another website. But when I was in Hawaii, living in the jungle on an organic farm, I was never without a knife. Usually my 4" spy millie. I mean every single day there were papayas, walking down the road you find wild avocados laying around ready to slice and eat. Digging out coconut meat after drinking the water. Continual use of the knife. Now back in Calif, sitting at my desk, all I can do is flip them while sitting here!Heh, if this knife makes you question your knifedebilitating obsessihobby, try being in my shoes, where you love knives but are a member of the "Laptop Class" set adrift in a world where the opportunities to use that expensive knife* are few and far between. Need to open an Amazon box or envelope? My keys are in my pocket and will do the job if needed. Food prep? An entire block of kitchen knives specifically for that purpose is right there on the counter. Snip a thread? I've got at least two pairs of scissors within arms reach, or at least in the same room I'm in at any given time. Open that food package? Easy open, just peel the tab back, or pull the top seam apart, and so on. Some days, I don't have a single cutting need. Hell, most days, if I'm being honest.
Still love knives, though. I think we all have those days sometimes, where we think about just burning it all down, selling the majority of the collection, keeping one or two inexpensive simple quality knives and putting the money to some other use....but who am I kidding? I can't speak for others, but knives have been a lifelong love and obsession of mine for roughly 40 years, and I expect, always will be, even though every day, our society moves farther and farther away from those halcyon days when every man had a knife in his pocket (and needs for a knife abounded!).
Could a Rat 1 do everything? Sure could. But then, so could knives even cheaper. Honestly, I still remember back when I bought my first Rat 1, after I'd just joined here. I still remember being blown away by how well it was made for the price, and how much cutting ability that thing grind could deliver. Simple knives, but really good. I expect they could handle most folks' needs just fine. But then, this hobby isn't about making sense.
* or the expensive knife in your other pocket, or one of the expensive knives in your backpack
Niall88
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2022
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- 390
Standing applause! I feel better about my addiction now! Really...
I have thought of this before and I am sure it has come up in the forums already. Realistically, no one is going to use an EDC knife hard enough, or frequently enough to justify something more than a quality built folder like a Rat 1. But this is true for everything not just knives.
Who really needs a Porsche 911? A Sedan will get you from point A to point B just as fine and for a fraction of the cost.
Who really needs an Omega Seamaster wrist watch? A casio G shock will tell the time just fine.
Much of the same is said in the firearms community (a stock Glock is just as good a defensive handgun as a STI or Cabot)
At the end of the day you have to make the decision on what you spend your money on and how much enjoyment you get out of it. I have spent some significant money (though not a ton) on some fountain pens and ink. Would a Bic work just fine? Sure. But I prefer my expensive pens for the experience when I use them. I feel the same way about my knives. I could maintain, carry, and use a Rat for likely decades before needing to replace it.
That being said, the performance difference, feel, and pride that one gets from a Sebenza, Spartan, Shiro or something else might just be worth it for them. Thats why we are all here after all.
The decision to buy, carry, and use quality gear does not always come from a place of need but rather of preference, refinement, or taste. Those are all legitimate reasons to enjoy more expensive tools, vehicles, firearms, clothing, or anything else.
Who really needs a Porsche 911? A Sedan will get you from point A to point B just as fine and for a fraction of the cost.
Who really needs an Omega Seamaster wrist watch? A casio G shock will tell the time just fine.
Much of the same is said in the firearms community (a stock Glock is just as good a defensive handgun as a STI or Cabot)
At the end of the day you have to make the decision on what you spend your money on and how much enjoyment you get out of it. I have spent some significant money (though not a ton) on some fountain pens and ink. Would a Bic work just fine? Sure. But I prefer my expensive pens for the experience when I use them. I feel the same way about my knives. I could maintain, carry, and use a Rat for likely decades before needing to replace it.
That being said, the performance difference, feel, and pride that one gets from a Sebenza, Spartan, Shiro or something else might just be worth it for them. Thats why we are all here after all.
The decision to buy, carry, and use quality gear does not always come from a place of need but rather of preference, refinement, or taste. Those are all legitimate reasons to enjoy more expensive tools, vehicles, firearms, clothing, or anything else.
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- Feb 28, 2011
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- 27,455
I started enjoying this hobby much more when I embraced the idea that a SAK or Rat 1 is probably as much knife as I would ever NEED in my day-to-day and started buying what I wanted instead of making up imaginary needs to justify my purchases.
Niall88
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2022
- Messages
- 390
Excellent! Thank you