So, you collect/carry TRADITIONAL knives...Why? ;-)

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Gary W. Graley

Gary W. Graley

“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Mar 2, 1999
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I'm sure some of us get this question from time to time;

"So, you collect/carry knives...Why?" usually spoken with a quizzical look on their face and maybe a slightly tilted head...

And I can see why it may seem a peculiar thing to collect or use, especially when you compare the alternatives;

"So I can open a box/cut a string/rope"
Their response: "you can use a very cheap box cutter that's designed for that"

"So I can slice a hanging thread off a garment"
Their response: "they make scissors for such things"

"So I can sharpen a pencil"
Their response: "really?...you can get a very cheap PENCIL SHARPENER, that's also safer...and neater ;) "

"So I can cut my food up"
Their response: "seriously?...I mean, SERIOUSLY? you GET a knife provided at a restaurant with your meal isn't that good enough?" obviously not all the time ;)

"So I can Survive in Emergency situations"
Their response: "....Dude! you work in an office ..."

And the examples just keep coming folks, there probably isn't a true legitimate reason to own/carry a knife, let alone SEVERAL variants of the SAME knife lol but some of us have it in our genetic makeup that we really can't shake it from our being, we just have to have these keen edged tools and some of us need a lot of them, some of us...just a few but we still 'need' them. I know I do, for a very long time. As of recent I've gone from some of the 1095 stuff, guess I'm not a patina kinda guy, and have struck out into the French community and really like it so far, so along with gotta have type reasoning, these are also pretty elegant in design so I've not been TOO bothered with strange looks and questions from work regarding my daily carry, well, except that one day when I brought in the Opinel #13 I guess that did raise some question about my sanity, but, I only showed a select few as they had known I was getting one and then I took it back to my car, else I might have gotten HR or some such folks upset and caused them to BAN all knives, so you do have to be careful how you use these in the work place for sure, but my reputation, over the plus 30 years working there, everyone knows G2 has knives and that EVERY ONE of them will shave hair, most won't even attempt to handle them for fear of being cut, fine by me, but over the years I've turned a few of them into knife guys as well, so my work continues!

And just a quick response about sharpening a pencil, I LIKE how a knife sharpens a pencil...I just do ;)
G2
 
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So what, are you supposed to carry scissors, a box cutter, extra blades for it, and a pencil sharpener? Complexity is the mother of weight and bulk.
 
It makes me Happy!
Thats all i reason i need.
and having a useful tool on myself isn't half bad either.
 
I must be been hard-wired to carry knives. I "discovered" them when I was about 5 and have owned and carried a knife ever since.
 
InSpectre Gadget said:
So what, are you supposed to carry scissors, a box cutter, extra blades for it, and a pencil sharpener? Complexity is the mother of weight and bulk.
Click to expand...

This was my first thought as well. A pocket knife is just so easy and covers a multitude of uses.
 
Because as a human being I am ill suited for my environment. We thrive only by our minds and our tools, I use both.

I also carry a zippo lighter even though I don't smoke. Knife and ability to make fire, an homage to our caveman days and should be required tools in everyone's pocket.
 
Traditional fixed blade and pocket knives represent hand craftsmanship, and I simply love to admire such things. A dying art in the western world (judging by the oh so many firms that have went DoDo), I am catching some of that history while I can. Is that my final answer?... Yes, my final answer ;-)
 
Gary W. Graley said:
And I can see why it may seem a peculiar thing to collect or use, especially when you compare the alternatives;

"So I can open a box/cut a string/rope"
Their response: "you can use a very cheap box cutter that's designed for that"

"So I can slice a hanging thread off a garment"
Their response: "they make scissors for such things"

"So I can sharpen a pencil"
Their response: "really?...you can get a very cheap PENCIL SHARPENER, that's also safer...and neater ;) "
Click to expand...

The knife is the only tool that can so all those things effectively. It's much easier to carry a knife than a box cutter, scissors, and pencil sharpener.

Gary W. Graley said:
"So I can cut my food up"
Their response: "seriously?...I mean, SERIOUSLY? you GET a knife provided at a restaurant with your meal isn't that good enough?" obviously not all the time ;)
Click to expand...

What if I have to cut a sandwich or peel an apple?

I usually just respond to these types of queries by saying "because I can and because I want to." I've also been known to turn it around sometimes and ask questions of my own.

For example -

"Why do you drive a SUV? You have 1 (or none) kid and you hate the outdoors."

- Christian
 
I work in a small town as a mechanic, as such I open parts packages multiple times daily. A folding knife just makes the best tool for the environment. Also being a small Southern town the majority of folk hunt and fish, including many of the ladies. If a person asks to barrow a knife for a minute it draws the quizzical look with the question " did you forget yours today?". I am so glad that its that way here, I still get looks because mine does not have a pocket clip or locking blade. But thats just how society is changing. So far though you don't look twice if a fellow has a fixed blade sheath knife on his belt. I hope that won't change, but I have learned many hopes are dashed to bits by change.

Chris
 
I ask people why they don't carry knives. So it seems like they are the weird ones.
I've had a knife on my person for 40 years. Growing up on a farm it is essential to have a knife!
 
I growing up I was exposed at a young age from a grandpa who collected knives.He always gifted us grandkids knives soni guess thats where i started. He had a library of knowledge, he would have been s legend on here of if he were part of the internet using generation. Passed away 5 years ago and left behind roughly 3000 knives :eek:
 
coaltrain said:
Being a hermit/recluse has its advantages as I never have answer any such questions.
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Living in the south... neither have I.

If someone actually questioned my carrying a knife, Id laugh at them... and so would 99.999% of people in the general vicinity.
 
There are tons of legitimate reasons to carry a knife, the primary one being because it's so incredibly useful. And I love it, and this ends it all.
 
I'm sure some of us get this question from time to time;

"So, you collect/carry knives...Why?" usually spoken with a quizzical look on their face and maybe a slightly tilted head...

And I can see why it may seem a peculiar thing to collect or use, especially when you compare the alternatives;

"So I can open a box/cut a string/rope"
Their response: "you can use a very cheap box cutter that's designed for that"

"So I can slice a hanging thread off a garment"
Their response: "they make scissors for such things"

"So I can sharpen a pencil"
Their response: "really?...you can get a very cheap PENCIL SHARPENER, that's also safer...and neater "

"So I can cut my food up"
Their response: "seriously?...I mean, SERIOUSLY? you GET a knife provided at a restaurant with your meal isn't that good enough?" obviously not all the time

"So I can Survive in Emergency situations"
Their response: "....Dude! you work in an office ..."

__________________________________________________________


Don't let them worry you, they're communists - questions like these makes them easy to spot. :)
 
Very good guys, and don't forget, I'M ON YOUR SIDE ;) typically folks at work would play the guessing game of "how many knives does Gary have on him today?" and at one point in time, a few years ago, that number hovered around 9, today it's not near as many, hmmm lets just see, oh... Seven, well, that is less than nine right?? :) but, I do have good reasons...in my head and heart, for carrying them all...

G2

edited to add this quick photo of my pockets as of this morning...

Back row left to right;
Spyderco Pingo, always in my left back pocket...just always there, very handy slip joint knife
Boker S2 big folder flipper good for bunch of stuff, beasty folder
SAK Executive, probably my oldest folder always carry, very handy tools
Second row left to right;
SAK Pioneer tool box kinda stuff
Kershaw Double Cross with san mai Damascus type blades, whittling knife, adorable too ;)
Front row left to right;
Le Thiers by Chambriard Le Compact in stag, watch pocket carry and next to that the Compagnon also in stag in a vertical belt sheath carry...that about does it for now, some could be left home, but hey, why is what I ask...I don't really care what the others think, I'm happy :)

pockets_10-5-13.jpg
 
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coaltrain said:
Being a hermit/recluse has its advantages as I never have answer any such questions.
Click to expand...

Rural lifestyle here too, hate cities, hate traffic, hate crowds and not all that fond of people as a whole. Have my handful of friends but pretty much a hermit myself I guess.
 
I actually had kind of a hard time with collecting anything. All my life I only bought tools and equipment that served a certain purpose either for tasks around the homestead or to make money. Knives fit into this very well - only recently have I been collecting knives for more of an actual collection rather than all useful tools that I would use all the time.

I've seen different "collections" of which were sometimes women with certain China of ceramic figurines and such. That I still don't understand as all you can do is look at them. It's just me I know, but at least my knives are tools that can be used.
 
I usually just say its my hobby and that I use them during the summer months when I run my small grass cutting business. That usually ends the questioning.
 
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