Someone convince me to actually use the knives I love.

CrimsonTideShooter

CrimsonTideShooter

Joined
Oct 23, 2010
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So I have a few knives I really love. My hest, soon to be my esee 5, manix 2 and so on.


My problem is that I love them so much I'm scared to use them for fear of messing them up. I know that is pretty irrational, and I bought them to use. I just can't seem to do it. Please tell me how you guys got over this. Convince me to use and abuse my most loved blades!
 
r-lee-ermey1-1.jpg


R. Lee Ermey says: "Safe queens are for Pansies! Use those knives, maggot!" :p
 
Never abuse, but definitely use!

I got over this feat by unloading my collection and seeing how much money I have put into something that sits in a drawer. Money that could have been better spent on something I can gain full satisfaction out of rather than hording boxes of knives. Think time value of money and short/long term satisfaction.

Bingo.

2 Rules Set for Myself:
1. Use the knives and retrieve full satisfaction!
2. The knives that are kept in boxes are knives that need to be sold.

Now there are collectors and knives that really are too nice for some to use. If you can afford to buy knives to just display or put in a drawer I'm all for it, but I don't have the money to just watch un-used knives pile up.

We have to remember these companies are striving for improved quality 24/7 in all departments. Including locking mechanisms and longevity of the knife's components. Built to Last. [is that a trade mark? lol]

Bottom line Just Do It. [think that one's Nike? yeeessh]
 
If you don't use them and they aren't art/ display knives move 'em on down the line. Now I just gotta take my own advice! LOL :rolleyes:
 
Awesome post. Thanks.

I really am trying to use them, it's just harder to use my knives I really love knowing that they won't be in *perfect* condition ever again after using it.


ZippoThisKnifeThat said:
Never abuse, but definitely use!

I got over this feat by unloading my collection and seeing how much money I have put into something that sits in a drawer. Money that could have been better spent on something I can gain full satisfaction out of rather than hording boxes of knives. Think time value of money and short/long term satisfaction.

Bingo.

2 Rules Set for Myself:
1. Use the knives and retrieve full satisfaction!
2. The knives that are kept in boxes are knives that need to be sold.

Now there are collectors and knives that really are too nice for some to use. If you can afford to buy knives to just display or put in a drawer I'm all for it, but I don't have the money to just watch un-used knives pile up.

We have to remember these companies are striving for improved quality 24/7 in all departments. Including locking mechanisms and longevity of the knife's components. Built to Last. [is that a trade mark? lol]

Bottom line Just Do It. [think that one's Nike? yeeessh]
Click to expand...
 
CrimsonTideShooter said:
So I have a few knives I really love. My hest, soon to be my esee 5, manix 2 and so on.


My problem is that I love them so much I'm scared to use them for fear of messing them up. I know that is pretty irrational, and I bought them to use. I just can't seem to do it. Please tell me how you guys got over this. Convince me to use and abuse my most loved blades!
Click to expand...

Just use them. You know how Nike use to say, "Just do it?" I don't have an awful lot of high quality knives, but it took me a while to start using my BM 930, and if anything I appreciate it more. Add to the fact that the ESSE knives you've mentioned are backed by a terrific warranty (I don't know about Spyderco's warranty, but I'd assume it was a lifetime warranty ), I think not using them is kind of an insult to the knife.

Besides, warranty aside what about this... If you really "love" these knives, then is it really a big deal to have to buy another one if for some reason you messed one up beyond repair? I don't see how that's possible with the ESEE's warranty, but even when you're talking about a rather expensive knife. Not to delve too much into analogies, but if you had a very nice car, would you rather just keep it in a garage and never use it but to drive around the block, or would you like to get out there and really drive it despite the risk of needing to repair it at some point? There's no right or wrong reason, I just think that the example with the car is more apparent of the idea as a whole given the price you pay for a vehicle; not many people are willing to drop a couple dozen thousand to watch something sit in a garage, but on the other hand there are some cars you buy that you don't necessarily want to drive that much too. I mean, I'm comparing apples to oranges at this point, but you'd probably want to let a vintage car sit in the garage, but just a later classic or a muscle car of some sort, you'd probably want to drive.

In my opinion ESEE and Spydercos are more like the muscle cars in that analogy. Just as muscle cars beg to be driven, they beg to be used, and you shoulde despite what price you may need to pay to repair them.

Edit:
Also, it's interesting, I loaded my Case Trapper to a friend to do insulation work with to see how it worked for him. I never really had a lot of use for it and it was already banged up by keys, so I figured, "Let's see how it works for someone else."
 
If you really like it but don't want to mess it up, wear it with your best clothes. Later, wear it with nice clothes. Then on the town. Then one day, you will wear it to work. Etc., etc., etc.

Or...

Just drop it onto the concrete. The first little ding is the one that gets you.

Or...

Take it out and use it hard, get it dirty, cut food with it... then clean it up. You will be amazed at how well it cleans up, and then it will be OK to carry and use it.
 
Normally I would say it depends on your collecting needs/desires but in this case I would say use them. Both of those blades are not deigned to fit the role of safe queens. I mean that in no derogatory way, but they were designed to be used. They are fantastic and functional tools.

I find myself appreciating a knife even more because I have seen what it can do. There is a satisfaction of using those nice blades that can't be replicated by keeping them in storage. You'll be surprised how little you care about the perfect finish after you get some nice wear marks.
 
CrimsonTideShooter said:
Haha! Seriously though. Don't you have any knives that make you say, "I really don't want this one to get messed up!" ??
Click to expand...

I had a knife like that once. Then I used it to take a bathroom down to studs and completely replace everything (drywall, linoleum, tiles, fixtures, wiring)...not exclusively, of course, but it did all of the cutting jobs for the tear-down portion of the job.

Needless to say it needed a hell of a lot of sharpening and instantly stopped being a safe queen. :D

The main reason I like the knives I do is that they've performed so well under use. A knife's looks are only a small part of its appeal, for me...the real virtue of a knife is it's ability to cut stuff. :thumbup:
 
I know that the thread starter is not alone. It always takes me a while to use a new knife. What's strange is that I love looking at pictures of well used knives, especially those with wear on black coatings, but I just can't seem to use my coated knives for anything other than opening envelopes (except for my fixed blades).
 
I really appreciate all the replies guys. Y'all have made some good points. I guess it boils down to the fact that they serve no purpose unless they are actually being used.

This is just something I'm going to have to work on over time I guess. I really like the idea of carrying them in my best clothes, then my everyday clothes. I think that will give me time to realize that carrying and using them is good, and a few blemishes isn't the end of the world.

I don't really get to buy knives that often being a college student. I really really appreciate the knives that I do have the luxury of buying, maybe that's why I think I would feel so heartbroken if one got ruined somehow.
 
Participate in activities that require knife usage.

Then the way of life will give you little choice.
 
The satisfaction of actually using the knife that you love is far greater than just looking at it. Think of a knife as a pretty woman, would you rather just stare at her? :D
 
If you dont like them enough to buy spares, you dont like them enough to leave them in your safe.
 
I had an awesome little custom that I just couldn't bring myself to use, so had to sell it. It was hard to do :)
 
somber said:
The satisfaction of actually using the knife that you love is far greater than just looking at it. Think of a knife as a pretty woman, would you rather just stare at her? :D
Click to expand...

Or use her? :D
But seriously, you will be even more attached to your knives when you use them. When you get used to it, you can't go back. I can't stand unused knives. :)
 
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