I’m 80 years old and neither a maker nor an expert; but I have learned a few things over the years. Almost every boy in my neighborhood wanted a pocket knife. I wasn’t allowed to have one because my mom said I would grow up to be a criminal. The summer after junior high I was hired on a construction crew building houses. That’s when my dad gave me my first knife, a Schrade stockman. Schrade used great steel back then. My dad was a shop teacher and a master woodworker. He taught me early how to sharpen everything with an edge. It was many years before I purchased my second knife.
The second, third and fourth knives came from K-Mart in the ‘70s. They were among the first Japanese imports. I paid $7 and $10 for two of them and $25 for the third. That third knife was made by Ichiro Hattori who is an icon in Japan. The knife was a Model 109 Drop Point Hunter. You have to see one to appreciate it. It was 440C with a large convex grind going in to one of the sharpest edges I have ever seen. That knife stayed with me 40 years before it was stolen. I was heartbroken. I spent months looking for another and finally found two. I bought both and gave one to my grandson. I was happy once again even though they cost me big bucks.
You’re probably wondering why I’m giving a life history. Everyone on this site is searching for answers. Some have the answers. This post has a few answers of value from a collector that had a lot of questions and is still looking for answers. If you own one knife you are probably happy to have it. If you own three or more you are afflicted with a disease for which there is no cure. You have become an addict; and I can readily empathize with your plight. So, if you are into collecting I will try to give you some valuable advice.
Most of us started out looking for the perfect knife because we couldn’t afford to mess up financially. Then we found out there is no perfect knife; and since there are umpteen thousand makers all around the world we began to panic. Don’t panic!!!!! Your wallet is your dictator. Back in the ‘80s I ran across a knife in a surplus store that cost $3. It was handmade and the ugliest knife I had ever seen. The only thing right about it was the steel (some sort of spring steel and very flexible). It was a skinning knife with great patina. I bought it and began refining it. Sharpest knife I have ever seen bar none. Drew blood more than once. Ended up giving it to a friend who was a fisherman. Wish I still had it. So for $3 you can have one of the best skinners if you know what to look for and have some time to revamp.
I’ve found lots of knives in flea markets and Goodwill (before they began selling the better ones on eBay). What you look for are the old knives that were heavily used and made of good carbon steel. Most will require some work after purchase; but it will be worth the effort. Look for rust and patina. Those are good signs. I told my grandson, “Never pass up a good rusty knife.” You can always clean it up. The best flea market find was a butcher knife for which I paid $15. It was beautiful beyond belief. It was also stolen by an acquaintance. Have never seen its equal to this day.
Now you have a bunch of stuff that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. You need to learn how to sharpen. It’s a good thing to learn. I also collect sharpeners (diamond, steels, ceramic, stone, manufactured grit, paper/cloth) both old and new all manual. That, too, is a disease. Learn to carry something in your pocket. I have a small combination diamond/ceramic in my hip pocket. I have a habit of sharpening other people’s knives when I see them. But you can also find 6 inch ceramic rods that are durable for that quick touch up. And don’t forget the larger ceramics. Much of what you will need will require some research before buying. I like a heavy grit and a ceramic for quick touch up. When I have the time I get into all the other sharpeners. That can be just as satisfying as using the knife.
There is a general attitude today of what I call knife snobbishness. When there were fewer makers and fewer designs this attitude was seldom present. While Case and Ka-Bar and others had a following attitudes were, for the most part, low key. When you own as many knives as I have acquired over the years, you begin to appreciate the individual qualities of each and every one whether low dollar or high. Each knife has a purpose for which it was designed. Using it beyond its limitations is expensive at worst and sad at best. I have knives of such expense that I will never put them to their intended use. And I won’t display them either. They are an investment as many fine knives are. But each knife I own must be a working blade capable of doing what it was designed to do. So, you want a working blade? Here are some tips.
Decide what you want to do with the knife. Dexter/Russell has knives that will skin an animal just as well as a $400 blade; and the cost is negligible by comparison. The steel is excellent and easy to sharpen. But don’t forget proper care. Then there are the various multi-purpose outdoor knives. That’s where a lot of folks get confused; and it’s basically a toss-up. Everyone has a recommendation so I won’t. And how about fighting knives both temporary and sustained? Well, on a temporary basis, a 12 inch spike from Home Depot will do; and so will a well-designed blade of $30 or less. In a sustained confrontation something with better composition is needed. For heavy use a properly treated 1095 is a good choice. General usage blades can run anywhere from $5 to $100 depending on what pleases you. Yes, you can pay more but why unless you are strictly into collecting as an investment or for posterity. But, as I’ve said, it’s a disease.
Well, I’ve talked long enough. Everyone has opinions; and these were mine. Thanks for listening.
The second, third and fourth knives came from K-Mart in the ‘70s. They were among the first Japanese imports. I paid $7 and $10 for two of them and $25 for the third. That third knife was made by Ichiro Hattori who is an icon in Japan. The knife was a Model 109 Drop Point Hunter. You have to see one to appreciate it. It was 440C with a large convex grind going in to one of the sharpest edges I have ever seen. That knife stayed with me 40 years before it was stolen. I was heartbroken. I spent months looking for another and finally found two. I bought both and gave one to my grandson. I was happy once again even though they cost me big bucks.
You’re probably wondering why I’m giving a life history. Everyone on this site is searching for answers. Some have the answers. This post has a few answers of value from a collector that had a lot of questions and is still looking for answers. If you own one knife you are probably happy to have it. If you own three or more you are afflicted with a disease for which there is no cure. You have become an addict; and I can readily empathize with your plight. So, if you are into collecting I will try to give you some valuable advice.
Most of us started out looking for the perfect knife because we couldn’t afford to mess up financially. Then we found out there is no perfect knife; and since there are umpteen thousand makers all around the world we began to panic. Don’t panic!!!!! Your wallet is your dictator. Back in the ‘80s I ran across a knife in a surplus store that cost $3. It was handmade and the ugliest knife I had ever seen. The only thing right about it was the steel (some sort of spring steel and very flexible). It was a skinning knife with great patina. I bought it and began refining it. Sharpest knife I have ever seen bar none. Drew blood more than once. Ended up giving it to a friend who was a fisherman. Wish I still had it. So for $3 you can have one of the best skinners if you know what to look for and have some time to revamp.
I’ve found lots of knives in flea markets and Goodwill (before they began selling the better ones on eBay). What you look for are the old knives that were heavily used and made of good carbon steel. Most will require some work after purchase; but it will be worth the effort. Look for rust and patina. Those are good signs. I told my grandson, “Never pass up a good rusty knife.” You can always clean it up. The best flea market find was a butcher knife for which I paid $15. It was beautiful beyond belief. It was also stolen by an acquaintance. Have never seen its equal to this day.
Now you have a bunch of stuff that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. You need to learn how to sharpen. It’s a good thing to learn. I also collect sharpeners (diamond, steels, ceramic, stone, manufactured grit, paper/cloth) both old and new all manual. That, too, is a disease. Learn to carry something in your pocket. I have a small combination diamond/ceramic in my hip pocket. I have a habit of sharpening other people’s knives when I see them. But you can also find 6 inch ceramic rods that are durable for that quick touch up. And don’t forget the larger ceramics. Much of what you will need will require some research before buying. I like a heavy grit and a ceramic for quick touch up. When I have the time I get into all the other sharpeners. That can be just as satisfying as using the knife.
There is a general attitude today of what I call knife snobbishness. When there were fewer makers and fewer designs this attitude was seldom present. While Case and Ka-Bar and others had a following attitudes were, for the most part, low key. When you own as many knives as I have acquired over the years, you begin to appreciate the individual qualities of each and every one whether low dollar or high. Each knife has a purpose for which it was designed. Using it beyond its limitations is expensive at worst and sad at best. I have knives of such expense that I will never put them to their intended use. And I won’t display them either. They are an investment as many fine knives are. But each knife I own must be a working blade capable of doing what it was designed to do. So, you want a working blade? Here are some tips.
Decide what you want to do with the knife. Dexter/Russell has knives that will skin an animal just as well as a $400 blade; and the cost is negligible by comparison. The steel is excellent and easy to sharpen. But don’t forget proper care. Then there are the various multi-purpose outdoor knives. That’s where a lot of folks get confused; and it’s basically a toss-up. Everyone has a recommendation so I won’t. And how about fighting knives both temporary and sustained? Well, on a temporary basis, a 12 inch spike from Home Depot will do; and so will a well-designed blade of $30 or less. In a sustained confrontation something with better composition is needed. For heavy use a properly treated 1095 is a good choice. General usage blades can run anywhere from $5 to $100 depending on what pleases you. Yes, you can pay more but why unless you are strictly into collecting as an investment or for posterity. But, as I’ve said, it’s a disease.
Well, I’ve talked long enough. Everyone has opinions; and these were mine. Thanks for listening.
