Preserve a Knife for Future Generations

I do both I have knives I use and carry everyday. I have knives that are new and stored for my grandsons. I gift a lot of my knives that I use to family members because they see me using them and like them. Some of my grandsons like the modern day folder with modern day material some like the traditional knives made with 1095 steel. So I have both types stored and preserved for them. When I pass they will be gifted to them per my wishes. I am good living in both worlds with the knowledge that when I am gone they will have a gift of something they can use or preserve as they see fit. All my knives give me pleasure some by using and some by preserving.
 
I have duplicates of some of my favorite knives (which sometimes takes some dedicated searching!) so that I will use them hard without worry. For me, knowing that I have a backup takes away the concern and I will use a knife as the maker intended. As a result of this, there will be some pristine examples for my kids and grandkids to throw in a box after I kick the bucket.:)
 
H herder I think it's laudable that you bring up an opposite viewpoint, Forums are after all for discussion and debate. Otherwise, they lapse into echo chambers of liking and agreement driven solely by the level of visual 'awesomeness' as on Instagram;):D

I too don't believe all knives should be 'used' on principle, nor do I actually find worn out wrecks to which I have no connexion to be inherently magical either. It's akin to contemplating mummies and feeling you knew the person, at least in some cases ;)

I like many others here can be deemed fortunate to have the time, money and inclination to have been able to amass an array of knives. I enjoy using a lot of different knives and remained baffled why some people see virtue in having just one knife or being adherents to just one pattern-rather annuls the point of being a knife enthusiast by promoting such narrowness/piety... Having a large number of knives to use also means there are many that don't get much or any use, this too is a fortunate thing. They might be traded or sold for others I prefer or stay as really beautiful knives that I like to have around the house becoming admired objects. This is the aesthetic foundation of knife appreciation or connoisseurship- delight in the beauty of them and deep admiration for the skill that went into making them. So I do see the importance of preserving certain knives above others.

Conversely, I would never hesitate to use a knife I felt completely at home with, one that really ticks all my aesthetic boxes however rare. I would add that it would be used respectfully so will outlast me and maybe some others too:cool:. There is a type of 'collector' ( I think pedantic 'embalmer' might be more accurate..) who never uses any knife, never carries it, 'vaults' them in some kind of micro managed hermetic climate control place. Worries all the time about value, takes the knives out for agonizing inspections from time to time, wants to coat the knives in whatever substance to arrest ageing and yet collects more and more of the same ad nauseam This is perhaps the other side of the use the heck out of every knife otherwise it aint legit- I'm not too keen on either extreme but the 'embalmer' is perhaps the most disturbing on a mental level:D

As to my own collection of knives, I have no children so I can't pass them on (you never know if they'd really appreciate it anyway, most other people don't see knives like we do:D) nobody around me is interested in them at all so my collection could vanish or be binned. Hope not for other enthusiasts sake but at the end of the day it can't be helped:)
 
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- an interesting read, well done H herder for this thread

It all makes me start to think about ‘why do we collect’. Further, is there possibly a direct correlation between preservers and collectors ....?

I simply cannot put my finger on why I find having a collection of similar objects so satisfying.......and in possessing that collection, like to keep them pristine, ordered and nicely presented.

Do the ‘use the hell out of it’ guys have a random drawer full, no real order or neatness ...?

And, there’s none of us wrong - we’re all right :cool: ......and dare one venture to say whatever camp we’re in, we all appreciate and understand the other :D
 
Pinemoon said:
Well used. Very well used.
Thanks for shaing.
Nice bone.
A lot of history there :thumbsup:

Anyone getting it when you're gone?
Hope so...
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Thank you my friend for the kind words .
Yes there is a lot of history with that knife . It has cleaned a lot of rabbits , squirrels , and quail and it has been with me on many business trips to most of the states and a fair number of countries . It has served me very well in that time . It is not my favorite pattern , but then it was the only knife that I had other than a fillet knife and hunting knife .

Harry
 
Old Engineer said:
Thank you my friend for the kind words .
Yes there is a lot of history with that knife . It has cleaned a lot of rabbits , squirrels , and quail and it has been with me on many business trips to most of the states and a fair number of countries . It has served me very well in that time . It is not my favorite pattern , but then it was the only knife that I had other than a fillet knife and hunting knife .

Harry
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That's great.
Thanks for sharing it with us :thumbsup:
Here's to many more "knife journeys."
 
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