Preference for old knives.

F

fluKeKe

Joined
Aug 28, 2011
Messages
180
I have never really stuck with a knife for a long time, none have really spoke to me until lately when I found some old knives from a flee market. Since that day when grabbing a edc I have looked over the perfect condition 100+ dollar slip joint for a 20$ one that has some defects.

There is something about the wear shown in the blade and scales that I love.

Anyone else out there like me.
 
Last edited:
It's called character, when ya put it there yourself from new, is called memories, when it's from someone else is history but no matter how ya slice it, (pun intended) it's character. ;)
 
T. Erdelyi said:
It's called character, when ya put it there yourself from new, is called memories, when it's from someone else is history but no matter how ya slice it, (pun intended) it's character. ;)
Click to expand...

Well put Ted :thumbup:
 
Love old knives! If they only could tell a story of where they've been....I enjoy thinking
about that when I buy an old knife....

Jason
 
I enjoy the old knives for the history that they invite me to research. It is so interesting to look at the history of the companies, the old manufacturing buildings and the history of the area they were located, the history of the people that devoted there lives to quality cutlery, the methods of production, the materials, looking at the quality of craftsmanship displayed in each knife, etc...
 
I'm sitting here playing around with my current edc, and although I've been a bit bitten by the bug, I know I'm gonna carry this for a long time. I like to think of the possible adventures this knife will join me on and being a young man (student), that thought of something solid and reliable, despite its size, feels good. Goes for most of my cherished possessions really :) I know this post is about old knifes, but this is just my 2 cents on a different perspective.

New knife with a future ahead of it.

imag0232hq.jpg
 
fluKeKe said:
I have never really stuck with a knife for a long time, none have really spoke to me until lately when I found some old knives from a flee market. Since that day when grabbing a edc I have looked over the perfect condition 100+ dollar slip joint for a 20$ one that has some defects.

There is something about the wear shown in the blade and scales that I love.

Anyone else out there like me.
Click to expand...

Since you asked...I like old knives but I don't buy into the idea of "character marks". To me they are just scratches, dents, corrosion and wear marks. Knives like that don't appeal to me. I prefer MIB old knives if I can find them; ones with minimal wear are OK if the price is right. To me a knife is very personal...I wouldn't want a stranger's old worn-out shirt and I don't want his knife either. I always read remarks like "imagine what stories that knife could tell..." the only story I see is: someone didn't take very good care of their knife. Unless it belonged to a relative or a friend or someone I admired, I don't really care about the "stories" a knife tells....I'll make my own stories with it.
 
Stelth said:
Since you asked...I like old knives but I don't buy into the idea of "character marks". To me they are just scratches, dents, corrosion and wear marks. Knives like that don't appeal to me. I prefer MIB old knives if I can find them; ones with minimal wear are OK if the price is right. To me a knife is very personal...I wouldn't want a stranger's old worn-out shirt and I don't want his knife either. I always read remarks like "imagine what stories that knife could tell..." the only story I see is: someone didn't take very good care of their knife. Unless it belonged to a relative or a friend or someone I admired, I don't really care about the "stories" a knife tells....I'll make my own stories with it.
Click to expand...

Maybe I should have elaborated. I like a knife that is old, not falling apart. A ding here, scratch there, and plenty of blade left is fine with me. Maybe its a drive to do more with less, why spend a ton of money on a new knife when I can get a quality old one from a flee market.
 
I like the looks of an old blade. It is always fun to try to imagine the previous owner. What were their hopes and dreams? What life adventures did that knife take part in? You never know, but it is fun to think about. It gives an old knife soul :)
 
I understand completely. I carry an older/used folder every day.
One of my favorite things to do is find an old, tired, knife that has potential and giving it a new start.
Finding it a new owner that will really appreciate it is the next challenge.

A well loved Western 442 C
8430643013_68db8e0c4a_d.jpg
 
Stelth said:
I'm talking about ones like this...
17_zpsfb5fc1d9.jpg
Click to expand...

To me those are perfectly serviceable, assumin' the back springs are strong and there's no excessive blade wobble I can make those perfectly usable with plenty of life left.

To me the story is part of the charm especially if I have a memory related to it, I used to have a Klein Tools TL-29 electricians knife that had a big burn mark on the back the wire stripper/screwdriver blade from when I shorted it I in an electrical panel on one of my first electrical jobs.

It was still perfectly functional but it had a memory attached, a story to go with the scar, years down the road I fondly referred to it as character.

This is just my opinion and there's nothin' wrong with NOS, NIB. :)
 
T. Erdelyi said:
To me those are perfectly serviceable, assumin' the back springs are strong and there's no excessive blade wobble I can make those perfectly usable with plenty of life left.

To me the story is part of the charm especially if I have a memory related to it, I used to have a Klein Tools TL-29 electricians knife that had a big burn mark on the back the wire stripper/screwdriver blade from when I shorted it I in an electrical panel on one of my first electrical jobs.

It was still perfectly functional but it had a memory attached, a story to go with the scar, years down the road I fondly referred to it as character.

This is just my opinion and there's nothin' wrong with NOS, NIB. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the story! Sounds like a special knife.
 
T. Erdelyi said:
It's called character, when ya put it there yourself from new, is called memories, when it's from someone else is history but no matter how ya slice it, (pun intended) it's character. ;)
Click to expand...

Per-xactly
 
fluKeKe said:
I have never really stuck with a knife for a long time, none have really spoke to me until lately when I found some old knives from a flee market. Since that day when grabbing a edc I have looked over the perfect condition 100+ dollar slip joint for a 20$ one that has some defects.

There is something about the wear shown in the blade and scales that I love.

Anyone else out there like me.
Click to expand...

Yes, I fully agree. A Knife that I like to carry, has to feel like it fits, in the scheme of things, its been somewhere, it has a story to tell. My imagination at times runs wild. Yet as I carry the knife, one that fits my hand, my pocket, my needs, I am also making history, if that knife could talk, it would talk of others and also of me. A knife to me is like a diamond to a woman, I treasure it. I care for it, keep it oiled, keep it clean. So when it talks again, it will talk of fond memories, like I have of it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top