Pic Request: Carried and USED Custom Slippies

[Ice Tigre]

The finish looks just like your new knives...

That there is the problem with this idea... a quality custom/handmade folder(or fixed for that mater) will keep that high finish through hard use because of the quality of the finish... other than carbon gaining a patina that is.

I could post a pic of my one custom, the Amherst hunter, but it looks exactly like it did when i got it, shiny satin smooth all over. And its been battoned/pressed through pounds of kindling, processed a LOT of meat, and cut 6 months worth of wiring, wire ties, whittling, mail, hose, rope, and etc...

I use my customs harder than the factory stuff. because it is custom it is built to be tougher/high quality.


G.

(PS. Nice knife Ken!!)

 

[zerogee]

As long as a knife is made of sturdy materials with no delicate applied finishes, they can easily get a "fluff and buff" and look like new, so long as they haven't really been abused. Most custom makers will do this for a very reasonable fee for any of their knives. And the fact is, a normal hand rubbed finish is pretty easy to maintain.

 

[VCM3]

Rick,& all..look at the blade finish on Ken Coats knife,the bolsters,too The pin shows
That is genuine useage! He DOES NOT,send one out looking like that

It is hard to show useage,sometimes,because,as stated here already,they hold up,surprisingly well.

2toes had a picture of his son in law's BP knife,that the man had carried in construction,for years.It was a great example of useage.

I can post some pics of used slips,but you will not really see much wear.
On the job,I have situations were I need to cut stuff where the knife handle & blade,would get deliberately & abusively abraded by coarse substrates (surfaces) such as concrete.I do not use my custom,or production knife,for that job, IMO,it would be mis use.I use a sheetrock knife for that. So the basic tasks of EDC,will take a pretty long time to get one to look real ragged.
duckman's trade/ craft,is one in witch the knives ARE the tools,almost entirely,so in a situation like this,the "EDC aging" will be accelerated,somewhat

D-2 as well as carbon steels will patina,easier to show aging.

Also,pivots loosening from wear & tear,are gonna be hard to show,on your screen

I will get a picture for you Rick,but in the mean time,I think you should carry,use,and enjoy your custom slip joints You will be surprised,you can't really hurt them. As a matter of fact,they start to look better with some genuine character marks on them,IMO
Great thread though,
-Vince

 

[kamagong]

I've only had my Kerry Hampton KHnutbuster for a few months so it hasn't been used much, but I dropped it once which chipped the bone scale. I repaired it myself with some superglue. I'll take some pics when I get home.

 

[T.K.C.]

I get the most pleasure out of using my custom knives. I have been carrying and using my ironwood Alsdorf Teardrop Jack. The picture was taken when it first arrived though. I have used it for many a mundane task; opening boxes, mail, whatever. I use Goo Gone to get the tape residue off the blade. And it is going with me on vacation to CA. too.

 

[338375]

So, uh, where's the 'after' pic?

The finish looks just like your new knives...

Rick, ya need to look a little closer at the pics.... I think Ken might be a little offended if you think he sends his knives out with the blades looking like his user

 

[CL01]

This has been an interesting thread &, initially, I expected to see some "used" slippies, but the points brought up about higher end knives is a very good point.

The only custom slippie I had, a Ty Montell Trapper, was 5 yrs old (I recently traded it), & it certainly did not look like it.

The "best" slippie I now own/use, is a Case/Bose collab. Dogleg Jack & while I "thought" about trading it for something else, I've since kept it & have EDC/EDU it. I have to admit that other than some very minor scuff marks, it doesn't look used.

Now, having said all that, I might be wrong about the Case/Bose in that maybe it doesn't have a great finish like the customs, I don't know. I can only go by what I've seen personally.

I kind of wish I still had the Montell because it really was a nice carrying knife (Very light with the Ti bolsters & spacers), but what can you do (I did get a knife that I carry & use alot, so that counts for something). It aged VERY well.

 

[VCM3]

Here are some shots...

The stag Menefee has paint sanding debris,very fine,stuck on the bark,that is after brushing it off a bit.That's, (amongst other reasons as well),why I do not carry my stag knives to work,if I'm painting.For EDC at paint job work, I like smooth synthetic The stag is for more all around EDC,for me

Look at the shield of the Hampton.Micro scratches,not the end of the world. Look under the nick on the Hampton's D-2 blade,see the fine pepper.This knife resisted that for a long time,the other day though,I powerwashed a house & used it to cut the foil seals off a bunch of bleach bottles & that,was the culprit. I snapped a tippy tip off that warncliffe blade when it was new Kerry fixed it up just fine,can ya' tell ?

more pepper on the swedge here,again,hard to show

Patina'd D-2 backsprings on the Hampton,no biggie,kinda looks cool

See the pivot pin showing on the Dowell...That was not like that "as new".
I have had many,many custom slipjoints,where the pin did not show,new,but after useage it showed . I have had some,that were not used & the pin showed up,from other reasons. To me,this is not too big deal.

Not much really to show,just carried & used ,good looking slipjoints.Fine scratches & marks these knives have,on the bolsters,but I can't get them to show much,in my outdoor backyard amatuer pics. I do not abuse,or mis use my custom slipjoints,either,though
Have no fear (just don't drop one in a 5 gal. open bucket of paint!)

 

[Kohai999]

I've recently accumulated a few custom slip-joints for EDC, but I admit it: I treat 'em like they're made outta spun sugar and moonbeams for the most part. ..........

Help me overcome my hesitation, would ya? Post some pics of custom slippies whose blades have logged some real mileage.

Man up and use your frikkin' knives...you really need visual encouragement to do something that has come naturally to mankind since time immemorial?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[VCM3]

Man up and use your frikkin' knives...you really need visual encouragement to do something that has come naturally to mankind since time immemorial?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Yes & that was easier than taking those pics & describing a natural process,lol
-Vince

 

[Kohai999]

Yes & that was easier than taking those pics & describing a natural process,lol
-Vince

Exactly....it also allowed me to vent a bit at the premise, which I find exhausting, inconcievable.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Blues]

Exactly....it also allowed me to vent a bit at the premise, which I find exhausting, inconcievable.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Okay, STeven, what percentage of your custom knives are used vs. kept pristine?

I seem to recall your arguing vociferously with Ed Fowler (for one) about whether a knife is put to better use by carrying and using versus maintaining "as new". Just playing devil's advocate here since you decided to bring the matter to a head. (I'll look forward to seeing some images of those pearl beauties with scuff marks. )

 

[Kohai999]

Okay, STeven, what percentage of your custom knives are used vs. kept pristine?

I seem to recall your arguing vociferously with Ed Fowler (for one) about whether a knife is put to better use by carrying and using versus maintaining "as new". Just playing devil's advocate here since you decided to bring the matter to a head. (I'll look forward to seeing some images of those pearl beauties with scuff marks. )

1/2 my slips are used, Elliott, just like about 25% of my customs. Carry/Use slipjoints include 4 Al Warren knives, 1 Bill Ruple, 1 red abalone handled Gedraitis, 1 Howser pearl trapper and an Allen Single back pocket.

My argument with Ed and others, if you recall, was them saying that ALL knives need to be used. I don't feel that way, but I'm not the one that needs convincing, or asked for it in this thread....if I feel like using it, I do....if not, I don't. I have enough knives that using them all might be silly, and prefer to stick to a few that I enjoy in that way.

You know I hate taking and posting pictures.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Blues]

1/2 my slips are used, Elliott, just like about 25% of my customs. Carry/Use slipjoints include 4 Al Warren knives, 1 Bill Ruple, 1 red abalone handled Gedraitis, 1 Howser pearl trapper and an Allen Single back pocket.

My argument with Ed and others, if you recall, was them saying that ALL knives need to be used. I don't feel that way, but I'm not the one that needs convincing, or asked for it in this thread....if I feel like using it, I do....if not, I don't. I have enough knives that using them all might be silly, and prefer to stick to a few that I enjoy in that way.

You know I hate taking and posting pictures.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Fair enough, that answer works for me. I don't necessarily subscribe to the idea that every knife must be carried and used.

I carry many of my customs and sharpen a lot of 'em up before they've ever been carried because I can't stand a knife that is dull. This has resulted in a bunch of 'em carrying sharpening marks even before they've seen pocket time.

It's a decision each owner has to make for themselves. Recently a good forum friend sold me his spare EdgePro. I found that the machine can leave scratches on blades if they aren't taped. However, I couldn't stand the fuss of taping up my blades so I have decided that I can live with the evidence even on my customs. (Life's too short to sweat all the small stuff.)

 

[Kohai999]

Fair enough, that answer works for me. I don't necessarily subscribe to the idea that every knife must be carried and used.

I carry many of my customs and sharpen a lot of 'em up before they've ever been carried because I can't stand a knife that is dull. This has resulted in a bunch of 'em carrying sharpening marks even before they've seen pocket time.

However, I couldn't stand the fuss of taping up my blades so I have decided that I can live with the evidence even on my customs. (Life's too short to sweat all the small stuff.)

I hate wasted effort....Grizzly Knifemaker machine with a 220 belt on one side, and leather wheel with pink compound on the other, and much time taken to learn how to use it means that only a maker might know when I sharpen my knives, and it only takes a few minutes.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Blues]

I hate wasted effort....Grizzly Knifemaker machine with a 220 belt on one side, and leather wheel with pink compound on the other, and much time taken to learn how to use it means that only a maker might know when I sharpen my knives, and it only takes a few minutes.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Well, then you've no excuse for not using more of 'em.
(And I still prefer freehand to any other method but can certainly appreciate the reasons for doing otherwise.)

 

[Kohai999]

Well, then you've no excuse for not using more of 'em.
(And I still prefer freehand to any other method but can certainly appreciate the reasons for doing otherwise.)

I imagine might get to 'em all someday, Elliott, but it's gonna take a LONG time....some of 'em I enjoy for a year or more before putting up. Don't get me wrong either, if it is just an edge tuning, i'll do it freehand, but usually finish on the leather belt for a polished edge....I was talking about full blown SHARPENING.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Rick]

Rick, ya need to look a little closer at the pics.... I think Ken might be a little offended if you think he sends his knives out with the blades looking like his user

Yikes! I was surprised to see that my poor attempt at humor was taken literally more than once, for which I apologize. I thought the "" emoticons made my intent clear, but misunderstandings happen. I hold Ken's work in the highest regard. My initial reluctance to damage the beautiful finish on one of his knives, along with a fancy one by Rick Menefee, provided the motivation for starting this thread.

Man up and use your frikkin' knives...you really need visual encouragement to do something that has come naturally to mankind since time immemorial?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Yes, when I already have dozens of perfectly viable users that serve me quite well. The handmade slip-joints in question go far beyond simple utilitarian tools. They're comparatively expensive (for me, in any case) works of usable art, and I think the decision to commit them to 'full user' status shouldn't be made without some deliberation. I have a fairly large collection of antique and custom knives that I would be a fool to use due to their unsuitability, high value and/or rarity.

You can "man up" to your heart's content and carve yourself a new dugout canoe and a log cabin with every new knife that crosses your path, but I tend to think about how my hard-won knives will best serve me before committing them to the toolbox.

 

[Kohai999]

Yes, when I already have dozens of perfectly viable users that serve me quite well. The handmade slip-joints in question go far beyond simple utilitarian tools. They're comparatively expensive (for me, in any case) works of usable art, and I think the decision to commit them to 'full user' status shouldn't be made without some deliberation. I have a fairly large collection of antique and custom knives that I would be a fool to use due to their unsuitability, high value and/or rarity.
You can "man up" to your heart's content and carve yourself a new dugout canoe and a log cabin with every new knife that crosses your path, but I tend to think about how my hard-won knives will best serve me before committing them to the toolbox.

1. I have high-value(by most definitions) irreplaceable knives that will not be used by me....I wasn't the one who came on here looking to be convinced to use them. The Ruple I use is a stag handled wharncliffe and clip trapper that cost $800.00, and is sure pretty, but awful useful as well.

2. I think about which knives to use, and which to not use, but a stag or bone handled slip joint DOES beg to be used to some degree....will leave that to you to determine what degree, could just be fingernail clippin'

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[yobbos1]

Here's one that's seen some action. Don't think I'll ever ream a pipe with it tho.