Really? Is it necessary?

J

J.Davey

Joined
Feb 10, 2004
Messages
1,620
I'll state right off the bat that I'm not trying to start silly arguments, considering I have fallen into this IDEA (I almost wrote 'marketing scheme") that a person needs a knife to be anything and everything.

(sidebar: I still look for the best of all worlds, so don't hate the playa':D)

Why do we expect so much from a tool that was made to cut and pierce? In my 37 years, 25 of which I've carried some kind of knife every time I've left my home, I've never HAD TO use a knife to pry, cut bone, or chop through cinder blocks, bricks, etc. Not even a tree! So, why is it so important for a knife to do all of these things that man has created other tools to do? I admit that I posted a similar question a couple of weeks ago, but not so specifically. Anywho...

...is this just the human condition driving us to find the best single tool possible? I'll reserve my overall opinion for a bit. I want to see what your opinions are.
 
Hmmm.... I personally do not use my knives that way, but I have read many people in the military post their usage of knives and they include many of what you say. I even remember one post where a Guy stabbed his knife in the mortor of a brick wall so that he could use the knife as a step to look over the wall. I can't remember if it was a folder or not, but I doubt it. I have a busse boss street just in case anything came over me to influence me to do that.
 
You mean you wouldn't want a folder that will slice great, hold an edge all day and take a real pounding if you needed it to. :D
 
Actually, I changed my mind (yes, this was intentional).

The "cutting tool" was the most important discovery next to "fire". In my opinion it is equal. It is ingrained in our most basic instincts to have these two things above all else. I forget where I read it, but the 'knife' is the first tool, where all other tools come from. Without the cutting edge of a blade, we would have nothing. Think about it.

So is it just instinct that continues to seek "the perfect cutting tool"?

Okay. NOW go.:D
 
J.Davey said:
So, why is it so important for a knife to do all of these things that man has created other tools to do?
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It's not. I think knifenuts like me just like to have the baddest knives on the planet. And if I can carry one tool that can adequately perrform tasks several tools are normally needed to perform, so much the better.
 
bld522 said:
It's not. I think knifenuts like me just like to have the baddest knives on the planet. And if I can carry one tool that can adequately perrform tasks several tools are normally needed to perform, so much the better.
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I have to ask, though; would you use your (assumption) $500 Busse to cut down a tree before a $30 hatchet IF YOU DIDN'T NEED TO? This is the point I'm trying to get at. Other than the non-experienced, most people wouldn't wander off the trail without being unprepared. Unless there is some extreme circumstance, I just don't see the issue. Most knives by reputable manufacturers (even Cold Steel...had to throw that in just to ruffle feathers...but I meant it), would suit most people's needs. :cool:
 
J.Davey said:
Most knives by reputable manufacturers (even Cold Steel...had to throw that in just to ruffle feathers...but I meant it), would suit most people's needs. :cool:
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Cold man.. Real cold..
But really, it's because we can. Is there a real reason not to want it, and having a another tool that can do the job isn't a good reason. Multitasking for the win!
 
I like my sebenza's just fine and they do everything I want them too. They are some of the best slicing knives I own...
 
Art, guitars, knives, cars, guns, jewelry, watches, almost any tangible item you can think of: if you have a passion for form, function, and over-the-top quality, and the bankroll to satisfy your passions, that's the spice of life. If your passions lie elsewhere, fine.
 
In a similar vein of thought, why do we need houses?

Don't people get along just fine without them, and have done so for longer than houses have been around? Isn't a $100,000+ house just something nice that doesn't really do much for us?

Don't people get along just fine without $400 knives, and have done so for longer than $400 dollar knives have been around? Isn't a $400 knife just something nice that doesn't really do much for us?

Why do I carry a Sebenza? Not because of conspicuous consumption (seriously, I've never met anyone in person who could recognize how nice of a knife I was carrying), nor because of some vaunted status that is associated with ownership.

Because I want, and like to.
 
Cynic2701 said:
In a similar vein of thought, why do we need houses?

Don't people get along just fine without them, and have done so for longer than houses have been around? Isn't a $100,000+ house just something nice that doesn't really do much for us?

Don't people get along just fine without $400 knives, and have done so for longer than $400 dollar knives have been around? Isn't a $400 knife just something nice that doesn't really do much for us?

Why do I carry a Sebenza? Not because of conspicuous consumption (seriously, I've never met anyone in person who could recognize how nice of a knife I was carrying), nor because of some vaunted status that is associated with ownership.

Because I want, and like to.
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I dunno man, houses are pretty damn useful.
 
xmtgx said:
Cold man.. Real cold..
But really, it's because we can. Is there a real reason not to want it, and having a another tool that can do the job isn't a good reason. Multitasking for the win!
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Thanks for helping with my point...and I AM being a bit of a smart-a$$; sorry:D.

WANT vs. NEED
 
I want one knife that can do most anything. Id rather carry one tool that has multiple uses than have to carry 6 different tools.
 
J.Davey said:
Why do we expect so much from a tool that was made to cut and pierce?
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Some were made to do more than cut and pierce.

J.Davey said:
In my 37 years, 25 of which I've carried some kind of knife every time I've left my home, I've never HAD TO use a knife to pry, cut bone, or chop through cinder blocks, bricks, etc. Not even a tree!
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I guess I never "HAD TO" pry with my knife, nor chop a tree with my knife – but it sure was convenient!

J.Davey said:
So, why is it so important for a knife to do all of these things that man has created other tools to do?
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Because I often don't have a full complement of tools handy.

I spend a lot of time outdoors, with just what I can carry. Often, I have to carry around 20-30 pounds of photo gear (I do outdoor photography for a living), plus a few dozen pounds of backpacking gear, climbing gear, food and water, etc. It would be too much to take a large set of specialized tools, too. So I take a knife that can handle many jobs, if necessary. It may not be as efficient at each task as a more specialized tool would be, but it's designed to be sturdy enough to handle various uses.

I've made this offer before, and I'll make it, again: I welcome any "right tool for the job; knives are meant just for cutting" people to become my unpaid porters, and follow me around in the wilderness, hauling a prybar, a shovel, a pick, an axe, a saw, etc., for me to use. If anyone volunteers to be my unpaid tool porter, keeping all variety of tool convenient for me to use, then I'll gladly use my knives strictly for "proper knife tasks". :D
 
topfuel6 said:
Art, guitars, knives, cars, guns, jewelry, watches, almost any tangible item you can think of: if you have a passion for form, function, and over-the-top quality, and the bankroll to satisfy your passions, that's the spice of life. If your passions lie elsewhere, fine.
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I completely agree! Most people that come here (myself included, and I've been here a while) will ask opinions about a type of knife they want or need, but are made to look stupid because they can't afford to buy the 'cult' knives, and let's face it, you protect your beliefs (I honestly mean no offense:)). PLEASE, RESPOND TO THE ORIGINAL POST (not singling you out, topfuel)!
 
it's not NECESSARY, but most things arent. internet, elecrticity, cars, i mean poeple lived without them for thousands of years, so honestly, almost nothing anyone of own is 'necessary'
 
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