Someone convince me to actually use the knives I love.

[spraay]

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!

If you had some very pretty knives, that had fantastic finishes and fancy handles, I could see the reluctance. But an ESEE 5 and a HEST? If you break them the ESEE guys will replace them. Besides, they were made to be pounded through chunks of wood and dig in the dirt. I know they're not cheap, but having something really good and not using it is a bummer.

SP

 

[CrimsonTideShooter]

Trust, the satisfaction of using a quality tool is fantastic. You'll just think to yourself, "Why did I use sub-standard tools all along when I could have done it right the first time!"

And anyway, bad things will still happen to them even if you're not using them and just carrying them around. Case in point:

What's going on in the pic?

 

[KNaB]

Not using a knife is a disservice to the knife as well as the maker, imho. Knives, after all, are knives first and foremost and I suspect the makers/manufacturers want to see them used.

 

[stonetone]

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

That approach works better for guitars that cost thousands of dollars.

 

[100eyes]

another thing to remember is that you have to use the knife to be familiar with the knife. would be pretty embarrassing to claim vast knowledge of knives and own an expensive collection only to run into a situation where you needed to actually use a knife and you fumble around like you've got boxing gloves on.

you should use your knives in as many chores as you can so the same can be repeated under stress. you will also develop new opinions and views about what you want in a knife after using them.

 

[silkworm]

You only live once....

 

[CrimsonTideShooter]

You only live once....

What a short but compelling argument. I'd hate to be worm food before I got to use all these knives.

 

[somber]

What's going on in the pic?

Sorry, it's suppose to look like this:

I was walking to the store one day and my Murray Carter wharnie dropped out of my pocket (my fault and a stupid mistake by having it partially unsheathed), broke the tip and scratched the micarta. I felt like an idiot, but it wasn't the end of the world, and I love it all the more. Definitely not a safe queen.

 

[OwenM]

As far as you know, those knives you "love" so much, that you don't even have yet, weren't heat treated properly, have decarburized edges, imperfections in the blade materials that will lead to immediate failure upon real use, handle scales that weren't properly attached, and are completely useless pieces of crap.
You won't know different until you put them to the test.

 

[Sonny]

I always try to buy at least 2 (safequeen/investment, user) of each if it's uber expensive or a custom...and 3 for productions (safequeen/seller, backup user, user)...ie. I have 6 emerson cqc7's...Bought 3 and then I forgot I had them so I bought another 3 lol (busy with work).

 

[A.P.F.]

I always try to buy at least 2 (safequeen/investment, user) of each if it's uber expensive or a custom...and 3 for productions (safequeen/seller, backup user, user)...ie. I have 6 emerson cqc7's...Bought 3 and then I forgot I had them so I bought another 3 lol (busy with work).

That is niiiiice, Sonny. Now go with these nice men in the white coats and everything will feel better.

 

[nothinghappenedtoday]

As far as you know, those knives you "love" so much, that you don't even have yet, weren't heat treated properly, have decarburized edges, imperfections in the blade materials that will lead to immediate failure upon real use, handle scales that weren't properly attached, and are completely useless pieces of crap.
You won't know different until you put them to the test.

what he said. As soon as I get a new knife, it becomes my new EDC for a while so I can put it through its paces and learn its quirks, pros and cons.

 

[Sonny]

That is niiiiice, Sonny. Now go with these nice men in the white coats and everything will feel better.

har har..

But hey wait, I wear a white coat too, how do I follow myself??? lol

 

[LaBella]

Convince me to use and abuse my most loved blades!

Use your damn knives, grow up!






Ron LaBella

 

[singularity35]

I always try to buy at least 2 (safequeen/investment, user) of each if it's uber expensive or a custom...and 3 for productions (safequeen/seller, backup user, user)...ie. I have 6 emerson cqc7's...Bought 3 and then I forgot I had them so I bought another 3 lol (busy with work).

Hey, post pics please. I really like to see pics of multiple knives of 1 model.

 

[fishunter219]

Part of the fun in having great gear is using it!!!

 

[elkins45]

Let me turn the tables on you. Explain why you want your wife's next husband (God forbid) to inherit a bunch of pristine blades.

I say that he inherits a bunch of beaters with your blood, fingerprints, rust and pork fat on them that constantly remind him of whose shoes he has to fill.

The wisdom of the Noodle cannot be denied.

 

[Charlie Mike]

har har..

But hey wait, I wear a white coat too, how do I follow myself??? lol

2 words... thora & zine

 

[michaelm466]

I have this problem with my limited edition/sprint run knives, regular production knives I don't have a problem with because I can always get another one. One thing that helps though is reprofiling the blade making it no longer NIB, actually one thing that helped with my M4 Military is that it came with a 1.5inch scratch on the blade.

 

[Bladeviewer]

I consider my left handed Benchmade AFCK my perfect folder. I had to use my knives to find my likes and dislikes.