Should I retire my knife?

B

BossMaverick

Joined
Aug 29, 2007
Messages
24
How do you convince yourself to retire a knife from everyday carry after it becomes too valuable or sentimental?

That’s where I’m at. I joined this forum a long, long time ago. A Kershaw (KAI) company rep was very active in this forum back then, and there was a ton of Kershaw fans. They were doing limited production runs back then of exotic blade materials. I was looking for a good knife and listened to the hive, so I asked for a limited production Blur SG2 for Christmas on year and got one. Now, 14(?) years later, I’m still carrying that knife daily and it has wear to prove it. Google searches come up empty for current values. There’s one I saw on eBay for $250, but the dollar value doesn’t bother me too much. For me, it’s the sentimental value of it being a gift and being with me for so long.

I’ve carried this knife long enough that I don’t want to stop, but I know if I break the blade, there’s no replacing it now. I’m at the point that I know I should stop carrying it but I keep doing it because it’s been my go-to knife for so long. I go on rescue calls so I know that there may come a day that I may have to abuse the blade again.

So I need the hive’s help to convince me to retire the knife and move on, or just to keep carrying it. Perhaps hearing stories of others will help.
 
Don't know whether this will help or not, but would it be possible to continue this carry for now, and bring along a new knife to experiment--and once the new knife proven its usefulness, retire the Blue SG2 you do value?
 
You could get a new knife for hard use occasions and reserve the blur for regular edc?
 
fishface5 said:
You could get a new knife for hard use occasions and reserve the blur for regular edc?
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I thought about that, but the Blur takes up a bit more pocket space than I prefer for casual EDC. But I’d probably just get used to that if I ever convince myself to buy a new knife.
 
I wouldn't retire it. I might baby it just a little bit, but the whole point of having a knife is to use it. Too many people have too many safe Queens.

I can't tell you how disappointed I was to find that every single knife I bought my father over the years was carefully stored away and unused. I purposely bought him knives that were much nicer than he would have bought for himself just because I thought he would enjoy them. Made me smile to think he might whip out a knife I gifted to him to use as needed.

He went the other way. He had several knives in the box that he never used and that never saw the light of day. I was so damn disappointed. I grew up in a knife carrying family so we did not fidget or play with our cutlery. That meant it was not unusual for me to spend time with him and never see what knife he was carrying so I never knew he had all the knives I purchased for him over the years safely tucked away doing nothing.

It was worse when he passed as I sat and looked at all those nice knives that he never enjoyed except when he took them out to look at them... which was pretty rare.

I vote no retirement, but use that knife and enjoy it as much as you can and think of the person that gifted it to you when you use it. That certainly doesn't mean you shouldn't buy a new knife, but doubtful the person that gifted you that blade would like to think you simply stored it somewhere instead of using and enjoying it.

Robert
 
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BossMaverick said:
How do you convince yourself to retire a knife from everyday carry after it becomes too valuable or sentimental?

That’s where I’m at. I joined this forum a long, long time ago. A Kershaw (KAI) company rep was very active in this forum back then, and there was a ton of Kershaw fans. They were doing limited production runs back then of exotic blade materials. I was looking for a good knife and listened to the hive, so I asked for a limited production Blur SG2 for Christmas on year and got one. Now, 14(?) years later, I’m still carrying that knife daily and it has wear to prove it. Google searches come up empty for current values. There’s one I saw on eBay for $250, but the dollar value doesn’t bother me too much. For me, it’s the sentimental value of it being a gift and being with me for so long.

I’ve carried this knife long enough that I don’t want to stop, but I know if I break the blade, there’s no replacing it now. I’m at the point that I know I should stop carrying it but I keep doing it because it’s been my go-to knife for so long. I go on rescue calls so I know that there may come a day that I may have to abuse the blade again.

So I need the hive’s help to convince me to retire the knife and move on, or just to keep carrying it. Perhaps hearing stories of others will help.
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You have a darn fine EDC pocket knife. It’s got some memories and use on it.

If it still works and makes you happy....keep rocking it.

Nothing is cooler than seeing a well loved tool in its element.

Of course, if you are crazy like most of us you buy way more than you need and have an EDC rotation of over 100+ blades. It’s a good thing.
 
things are meant to be used
or at least to be useful
in some way or other.
i can understand pride in ownership.
and whilst some take good care of what rhey own, just as many probably don't.
cherishing stuff to the point of ir becoming
a sentimental object over time simply
means a heartfelt bond has been formed
between a man with his property.
who would dare go between between
such a deep bond?
if you feel that way now, its time to let
your most trusted pocket companion
of youngerdays to take its rightful place as
a lasting memento for the rest of your life.
on the orher hand,
most of what we own,
serves a practical purpose.
and it is common practice to get
our money's worth out of everything ,
even if it means working a poor donkey
to death.
it makes economic sense to fully utilize
stuff to the very end and then if only
need be - to finally buy a replacement.
you will find no need to get sentimental
when your initial aim for every product
purchased is clear.
afterall, at the end of the day stuff with
little or no intrinsic value means it would
have an uncertain fate in future hands if it
actually survives its complete usefulness
in your service.
many have said that emotions
can cloud judgment.
thus, it is always tragic when
we find ourselves making u-turns
after a decision
and having to live on
troubled with regrets.
unfortunately, we only live once.
 
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BossMaverick said:
How do you convince yourself to retire a knife from everyday carry after it becomes too valuable or sentimental?

That’s where I’m at. I joined this forum a long, long time ago. A Kershaw (KAI) company rep was very active in this forum back then, and there was a ton of Kershaw fans. They were doing limited production runs back then of exotic blade materials. I was looking for a good knife and listened to the hive, so I asked for a limited production Blur SG2 for Christmas on year and got one. Now, 14(?) years later, I’m still carrying that knife daily and it has wear to prove it. Google searches come up empty for current values. There’s one I saw on eBay for $250, but the dollar value doesn’t bother me too much. For me, it’s the sentimental value of it being a gift and being with me for so long.

I’ve carried this knife long enough that I don’t want to stop, but I know if I break the blade, there’s no replacing it now. I’m at the point that I know I should stop carrying it but I keep doing it because it’s been my go-to knife for so long. I go on rescue calls so I know that there may come a day that I may have to abuse the blade again.

So I need the hive’s help to convince me to retire the knife and move on, or just to keep carrying it. Perhaps hearing stories of others will help.
Click to expand...
If the knife has sentimental value to you, feel free to store it in a safe location. It’s your blade and you ultimately decide what to do with it.

As for your everyday user knife, I would recommend getting a new model that handles similarly to your treasured knife. Have fun, man.
 
If it’s held up this long, I don’t know why it wouldn’t survive another 14 years, or until you find a suitable replacement. It doesn’t seem like you are ready to retire it just yet, so you will more than likely go back to it anyway.
 
It wouldn’t hurt to try to find a better replacement, but if there isn’t a knife you’d rather carry. Then carry the one you have, even if you wear it down to a nub or break it, it has a destiny too. It will still have sentimental value.

Sounds like you are a first responder of some sort? At least 14 years into your career? That knife has been with you for half of your career. I think it would be sad to retire it. Unless it becomes unsafe, It retires when you do.

Stay safe out there.
 
First let me say that I don't believe that there are any "rules" to owning a knife. Each individual person values and appreciates knives in their own way. Whether a person believes in using the hell out of a knife, or prefers to keep a knife pristine and takes it out of storage once in awhile to fondle and admire it, neither is wrong. How can one man tell another how to measure the value and enjoyment of HIS knife?

I've done both. I've used and abused knives at work (some costing $300 each), and I have knives that have never, and likely will never cut anything, much less leave my home. And I enjoy owning all of them equally, but in their own way.

When it comes to carrying and using a knife away from home, I ask myself the following question- "How would I feel if I lost or broke it?". If I were fine with either possibility, then I'd carry it. But if I knew it would bother me deeply, then I would leave it at home (or not buy it in the first place).

I have one user that I "retired" because it turned out to be rare and no longer available. I decided that losing it or severely damaging it would bother me more than not using it, so I replaced it with a much cheaper knife that served me just as well and wouldn't bother me a bit if I lost or broke it.

So my advice would be to ask yourself that same question. How would you feel if you lost or broke it?

In the end, only you can decide if the knife has more value to you as a "user", or as a "treasure".
 
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killgar said:
First let me say that I don't believe that there are any "rules" to owning a knife. Each individual person values and appreciates knives in their own way. Whether a person believes in using the hell out of a knife, or prefers to keep a knife pristine and takes it out of storage once in awhile to fondle and admire it, neither is wrong. How can one man tell another how to measure the value and enjoyment of HIS knife?

I've done both. I've used and abused knives at work (some costing $300 each), and I have knives that have never, and likely will never cut anything, much less leave my home. And I enjoy owning all of them equally, but in their own way.

When it comes to carrying and using a knife away from home, I ask myself the following question- "How would I feel if I lost or broke it?". If I were fine with either possibility, then I'd carry it. But if I knew it would bother me deeply, then I would leave it at home (or not buy it in the first place).

I have one user that I "retired" because it turned out to be rare and no longer available. I decided that losing it or severely damaging it would bother me more than not using it, so I replaced it with a much cheaper knife that served me just as well and wouldn't bother me a bit if I lost or broke it.

So my advice would be to ask yourself that same question. How would you feel if you lost or broke it?

In the end, only you can decide if the knife has more value to you as a "user", or as a "treasure".
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Well said, man. That’s pretty much it.
 
Another way to look at your edc is to realize if your house burns down while you are gone. What you have in your pockets is all you own.

Just saying leaving it at home isn’t risk free either. Fire theft flood, all happen daily.
 
Go ahead and retire it before something bad happens to it & you are forced to retire it.
You can always reserve it for "dress up". By that, I mean for special occasions.

Life's too short to limit yourself to anything new.

midnight flyer said:
Too many people have too many safe Queens.
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I'm 50/50 on this. I have many things that I own that I have simply because I wanted them. They give me pleasure just to have them. I'm also of the opinion that as long as someone comes by their money honestly &/or I don't have to pay for what they get, I don't give a flying one what they have & do with the things they have.
OTOH - I also have some stupid stuff that I never use anymore and wonder why I hang onto it....
 
What is it that you think might happen to it? Breaking the blade? Don't pry with it or hit it with something. Other than that, I'm not sure why you think it will break.

Also, if you've used it that much, there probably isn't much monetary value in it, so don't worry about that.

Edit: I missed the part about rescue calls, maybe get a small sturdy fixes blade?
 
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Long ago I was so meticulous about my kit that I would not use certain objects like knives , cars etc as they should be used

than I realized that these things are only objects and that I’ve only got one life

take care of your stuff but use it and enjoy it

‘in the end someone else will anyway
 
When your knife gets worn down, like this example, do you replace it, or, since it's the tool you're best familiar with, keep it close?
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It takes a long time to wear down a knife to the point where it's no longer useful. I know I'm at the point where that won't happen again.
 
You could always ask Kershaw if they have parts available or if they can put some life back in to that knife.
Gerber did it for me! I emailed them about my Army issue Gerber multi tool from 1990. Lots of sentimental value.
They sent my old one back and a brand spanking new one to use and abuse!! And thanked me for my service.
 
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