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

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I just remembered a little story that happened a couple of years ago. I showed up for work, I do fly a desk now days, so I guess I could have gotten by without a knife, but I needed it for something and suddenly realized I had forgotten my knife at home, and exclaimed that fact out loud with a few expletives to boot, and immediately a co-worker reaches in his pocket and hands me his spare Dozier designed lockblade, and tells me to keep it for the day. That's the knife culture I live and work in, thank goodness.
 
Merovingian said:
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.
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You just described Idaho as well. I've honestly never had anyone ask me why I carry a knife - probably because no one here would ever wonder why.

As far as why I like traditionals in particular, it's simple - I like quality, classic craftsmanship.

arizonaranchman said:
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.
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Sounds like we would get along just fine, if we weren't both anti-social hermits. :D

bwperdue said:
As a futile attempt to fill the existential void before I go careening back into dark nothingness.

Or, maybe I just really like ebony.
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:D :thumbup:
 
So, you collect/carry TRADITIONAL knives...Why?

I've been collecting a few Schrades that I didn't get as a younger boy. My recent discovery of GEC made folders is satisfying my choices of some finer folding knives in my collection. I do enjoy finer tools as users at my age.

No mystery, just a simple want being taken care of. Who knows what my next collecting habit will be. My last "collecting habit or runs" were vintage crosscut one and two man bucking and felling saws. I now have around 30+ of them. Then I moved on to vintage USA made axes, I have around 130+ of them.

Tom
 
Grandpa got me started with pocketknives in the late 1950's...I haven't had a reason to question my decision since.
 
1. Aesthetics, I think they just have a feeling, and function you can't ignore

2. Blade profiles, they sport short slender blades that work for a wide array of EDC tasks, these kinds of sheep's foot, and coping, or pen blades are IMO very efficient, and not something you see in contemporary cutlery.

3. Pocket clips, get caught on things in my experience, I caught one on a door, and stretched it to the point of no longer having retention, also they aren't fool proof for losing a knife, and I've lost more than one. AFAIC, I like a folding knife to be in my pocket.

4. EDC sized fixed blades are often carried in conjunction with my traditional folders, and open/deploy faster than any speed safe, or flipper. Negating the need for a fast, deploying folder.

5. I still own modern folders, and can use them if I wish, I'm not anti-technology, but like, and appreciate all cutlery for what it is. Variety is the spice of life IMHO.

Just try a traditional pocketknife, to see what you are, or aren't missing out on if you're on the fence about their usefulness, you can buy, a cheap, but serviceable Rough Rider, very cheaply, to get an idea of what you're in for, you can carry more than one kife if you wish, carry it along with your favorite, modern folder, and see how it stacks up..
 
I was asked this same question by a buddy at work just recently. I showed him a one hand opener with G10 and a slipjoint with jigged bone scales. He was astounded at the beauty of the traditional knife. He was certain they didn't make knives like that anymore. Now, this was of course online so he didn't have the opportunity to handle one.

Might be a future convert.
 
I like to whittle. I also have to travel a lot for work. People ask me why I whittle and I reply that smoking my pipe is forbidden in hotel rooms, but whittling is not. It may annoy housekeepers, but does not result in a $250 cleaning fee.

I have carried a knife since I can remember. I do not use my pocket knife every day, but when I need one I always have it, and it comes in very handy.

As far as using all that crap to do all those tasks, I can carry this beauty and do it with a sense of pride in American craftsmanship and tradition.

Try that with your box cutter or pencil sharpener.

WinchesterStag3904S_zpsd89c3960.jpg
 
Nice looking folder right there!
G2
 
One: Because a good scout is always prepared.

Two: The state supreme court judge was always packin' his chief special, had been doing so forever. You comment about it one day. He asked why do you carry a pistol, so you make something silly up like, in case of zombies: NO he says, you carry a pistol because you DON't expect trouble. If you expected trouble you would carry a 12 ga or a rifle. ........Same with a nice traditional pocket knife, I carry one because I don't expect troubles, If I did expect them I would have a axe, tomahawk, machete or a short sword or a couple of them.

300
 
I reply, "I've been carrying a knife since I was 8 years old" (Barlow) and usually the one who is asking needs a knife and of course doesn't have one while they're struggling to open a box with their keys.

At one time around here, every kid had some kind of pocket knife, usually the 25 cent ones from the five and dime. Every adult at least had a pen knife on their keychain. Nowadays people act suspicious, like you're looking for trouble or something. I got raised eyebrows from my Conductor, a 3 1/4" slipjoint!
 
Here in the UK, it's usually "You've got a knife!" or "You're carrying a knife?!" said with something from surprise to horror. I usually respond by saying, "Of course I do, don't you carry a pocketknife too? I guess that's why it's me cutting the tags off the jeans you just bought/sharpening your pencil/slicing the limes/opening the clam-shell pack/etc/etc/etc." Then I tell them that when I grew up, everybody carried a knife, and that a man wasn't properly dressed without one in his pocket.
 
For the beauty of well-made and artistic tool. Knife is much more than scissors or box cutter. It reflects the will of the designer to create something that is parctical and artistic at the same time. A piece of functional art.

I dont need any other reasons. A cheap Mora could those things I need a knife for, but it gives more pleasure to use someting else.

During old times a skilled swordmaker wanted to make something that would reflect his passion as an artist and also serve the practical needs of a warrior. Today a knife designer is on the same path, at best walking the line between artist and toolmaker.
 
In my two career's (soldiering and selling building materials) pocketknives have always been quite common - the question of why one carries a knife never arises. Now, why do I collect knives in quantities way beyond my needs? Wish I really knew, but I do know I surely enjoy it. OH
 
I've carried a pocket knife for 40 years, lived in many places, and travelled over much of the world, and have never been asked why I carry a pocket knife. I suppose most would think it a stupid question to ask so don't. Though perhaps not some who consider themselves the American urban elite, but I have little contact with them.

I can also say, I'm rarely, if ever, asked by someone to borrow my knife. Can't recall the last time or if I ever have been asked.

Gary W. Graley said:
...there probably isn't a true legitimate reason to own/carry a knife,
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Sure there is, else I'd have quit carrying a pocket knife years ago as I'd just consider it pocket litter. A pocket knife is, first and foremost, simply a tool.
 
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My Wife and I were in the antiques business for many years both wholesale and retail. Having met 1000s of collectors from diverse fields of collecting I can assure you that it's an addiction.:D We collected everything from early kitchen ironwork to baskets (three separate collections of 100s over the years), furniture of early Ontario and the maritimes, textiles, miniatures, North american native art and southwest silver and turquoise jewelry are among the many things we collected. People who don't collect rarely understand the NEEEEED to get more great things to HAVE. The same questions were asked of us, why do you need all that stuff, what is the use of owning 100s of baskets? The only things we collected that could be carried around was my Wifes silver and turquoise jewelry (I was always secretly jealous that she got to do "show and tell" and I didn't).So now I consider my knives as "functional pocket jewelry". Luckily I live in the boonies where knife carry is a common thing and not many ask dumb non collector questions. It's more than likely to look like a knife swap meet at the local truck stop with dozens of knives being passed around. My only regret is having not discovered my NEED for old slippies long before I did.

Best regards

Robin
 
Pipeman said:
My Wife and I were in the antiques business for many years both wholesale and retail. Having met 1000s of collectors from diverse fields of collecting I can assure you that it's an addiction.:D We collected everything from early kitchen ironwork to baskets (three separate collections of 100s over the years), furniture of early Ontario and the maritimes, textiles, miniatures, North american native art and southwest silver and turquoise jewelry are among the many things we collected. People who don't collect rarely understand the NEEEEED to get more great things to HAVE. The same questions were asked of us, why do you need all that stuff, what is the use of owning 100s of baskets? The only things we collected that could be carried around was my Wifes silver and turquoise jewelry (I was always secretly jealous that she got to do "show and tell" and I didn't).So now I consider my knives as "functional pocket jewelry". Luckily I live in the boonies where knife carry is a common thing and not many ask dumb non collector questions. It's more than likely to look like a knife swap meet at the local truck stop with dozens of knives being passed around. My only regret is having not discovered my NEED for old slippies long before I did.

Best regards

Robin
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off topic for a sec but who makes a good American made cast iron skillet?
 
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