I think it's because in the thinking prevailent in older times, some manmade objects and mechanical devices, like cars, ships, and I guess even knives require care, maintainence and if treated with care and sensitivity to their needs and limitations, will perform for and reward their owners, like a woman, of course I realize this is an outdated and non-PC concept, but to some extent, it used to be that way, and when I say "perform" I'm not meaning it in the sexual way, but it seems to me that's why in older times and still to this day, cars and ships and I guess even knives, would sometimes be called "She", because in some ways, they were like a woman, requiring special care to "work".
Think about how in older times, you might have a ship's captain saying something like:
"Oh, she'll make it all right, I changed her oil, gave her engine some loving care, waxed her hull, she's in tip top shape, and she'll be ready for this voyage..."
No, obviously, I'm no writer, but it's something you could envision being said way back when, and why, well, for the reasons I outlined above. It's not exactly a PC concept, but I do think that's where this idea springs from.
The closest I come is saying something like: "Check out this bad boy!"
Nick, did you get those pics I sent you the other day?
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