Pic Request: Carried and USED Custom Slippies

My pants ain't long enough to post pictures here but all* my knives work. No slackers. Hell, how much damage can some skinning or filleting do to an adult steel blade?









*Er, cough, excepting one.
 
The simple definition is use or abuse, I wouldn't expect any one to abuse knives
the way I do and it shows. There are a lot of nice slippies on here that have obviously
been used and not abused. Just because I show one thats seen the kind of things I use
them for dosen't mean any of them were really intended for it any more than if you
really need it should it be only be capable of mail and string duty.
Ken.
 
I love carrying my Ken Coats 4" slippie, it amazes all who see it. Ofcourse it gets used but I will admit it gets the lighter chores...I normally have a Medium Cold Steel Twistmaster for the heavy duty cutting in a belt sheath.
 
I only have one custom (thanks, Kerry!), and it sees pocket time. I don't take it to work, since my job's hard on knives (I carry a Benchmade 31 for all the serious work... that thing's as durable as a Snap-On wrench!), but I do carry it other places. It's come into the woods with me, it's ridden around town in my pocket plenty, and it's the knife I'll reach for when it's time to go to the folks' house for Thanksgiving dinner. In short, it's a user (because it's too nice NOT to use), but it'll probably never see real, serious, hard-core work that could damage its structural integrity.
 
I really appreciate all the replies, and the photos clearly show that the finishes on these fine handmade knives easily stand up to real world carry and use. Now that I have a better idea of what to expect down the road, I'm not going to baby my knives quite so much.

Oh, and STeven, sorry if my reply came off a bit pissy or defensive. You made some good points.

I expect that the next time I post these two, they'll look a little less pampered:

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Keep 'em coming, guys!
 
I own a single custom, a KHnutbuster Kerry made for my wedding day. It's been in my pocket ever since, jostling against my keys and change. I even dropped it on concrete, taking a good-sized chip out of one of the scales. I know that it's no longer perfect, but I like it more now than when new. The jigged bone is starting to smoothen out, and I've refined the blade's edge to a high polish, just the way I like.

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If you look closely, you can see the damage done to the scale when I dropped it. I repaired it with super glue, but you can tell that the scale is no longer whole. It's alright though, that drop is now part of the history of this knife.
 
kamagong,I'm glad you were able to repair your knife,I can hardly see the spot you speak of

I like synthetic scales for an "at work" knife.

This modified warncliffe by Rick,has what I termed "guppy gut" syndrone
The scales are thin & translucent,the adhesive underneath,gives it a "guppy gut" look
I dropped it about 4 times since I took delivery of it last Saturday
I think the G-10 is durable,Rick says,he thinks micarta is,moreso,though. He says the G-10 sands & drills easier,so his reasoning is it has to be less durable
It's a funny thing, about some synthetics.The G-10 on the yellow knife is very smooth,but when it gets wet,it gets grippy.
Carbon fiber,is grippy wet,but wet with oil,is slicker than greased owl $hit.
I think,the best "all around" synthetic,is the micarta.Probably why Tony & Reese stick to a few basic synthetics,it makes sense.
Kerry told me that Westinghouse Ivory paper micarta on that swayback jack,is tuff stuff,I agree now,it seems dense

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I have parted with a lot of gorgeous jigged bone scaled custom knives,for the reason I just was timid about carrying them,thus,impeding on my enjoying them,completely.But then again,there are a a lot of vintage 100 or so,year old,bone hafted knives out there,even with cracks & chips,that will still work.

So today though,I'm headed out down the road to some non painting work,I think I'll pocket that stag Dowell.The spearpoiunt blade is a GREAT all arounder
-Vince
 
Thanks Vince. It took some patience and elbow grease, but I was able to fix the chip to my satisfaction.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about bolsterless knives know, especially on a custom with natural handle materials. Kerry and Tony feel that bolsterless knives are stronger than their bolstered kin, but this experience makes me wonder if they are less durable to everyday drops.
 
kamagong said:
Thanks Vince. It took some patience and elbow grease, but I was able to fix the chip to my satisfaction.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about bolsterless knives know, especially on a custom with natural handle materials. Kerry and Tony feel that bolsterless knives are stronger than their bolstered kin, but this experience makes me wonder if they are less durable to everyday drops.
Click to expand...

I think,they are basically saying,bolsterless,with synthetic scales,is a tougher EDC knife Also,some of that idea is that there is no seam,on the scales,where a bolstered knife,would be,adding strength.
I have heard some theories by makers & knife nuts,that bolsters AND cap,make for better protection ,on say,like Ivory & pearl,etc. Obviously though,makes a bit heftier knife in weight.
 
ACTUALLY what we say is the shadow pattern is a stronger handle because there is no joint of weakness at the point where bolster and cover meet. It isn't a lot of difference but the weak point is there nonetheless. Bolsters and caps DO protect brittle handle materials from drops but the tradeoff is weight.

uh...yer not s'pose to drop yer knives dudes. :p
 
Dropping them happens though,thats why the shadow with synthetics is a tough one
-Vince
 
Both of these have seen plenty of pocket time...

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I got the Tomes from PJ about three years ago and carry it regularly. The blade is 52100 steel which takes a patina readily. The scales are lovely brown bone, and although PJ warned me that they may move, they've stayed put.
I did once drop the knife and put a nasty dink right on the end of the bolster. I sent the knife to a quality maker over here (Stuart Mitchell) who did a great job of tidying up the damage, you have to really look to see any sign now.

I got the Keith Johnson from a member here. The blade had a little damage so i convexed it. The steel is D2 and after a year or so of use is beginning to develop a greyish patina. The scales are canvas micarta which i did get stained once but with regular cleaning and use the stain disappeared.

Great thread, hope that helps.
 
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Neil,those are two fantastic examples for this thread,thanks & good to see you posting here :thumbup:
-Vince
 
Mike Robuck said:
Here's a more recent scan of the Hanson. It's W2 carbon so it's OK that it has changed color a bit.

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I dropped the Bose swayback on my kitchen tile floor and had to send it back to Tony to get a new tip, but then again a "friend" of mine used it to pry open a plastic bucket before that happened.
Click to expand...

Not just the steel that's changed, but those scales look really tidy:thumbup:

Real proof that using is improving.
 
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