Off Topic Taking up hobbies that can put our precious knives to use

[shinyedges]

I just carry a knife and wait for the task to arrive. Could be a stabbing or birthday cake.

How often do you stab people

 

[bikerector]

I've read that chopping wood with an axe actually boosts testosterone, in addition to being great cardio and back exercise...

Yes, yes, and yes. Most resistance training boosts testosterone and using an axe is definitely a strength workout as well as cardio. I like to call it functional exercise, like using a push mower instead of a rider for bigger yards and really driving the thing around.

 

[evilgreg]

I have a Tuff Lite also; I never thought it would have enough tip dexterity for whittling, nor grip options...

Well, it's my favorite but I don't know what I'm doing. I whittle a lot, but I'm not very good at it. I stick to mostly simple stuff that doesn't require any sort of artistic talent, ball-in-a-cage, chains, ball-in-a-ball, that sort of thing. The Tuff Lite seems to work fine:

I do sometimes shift down to the smaller version as well, the Mini Tuff Lite:

 

[morvlorv]

Does having a job that requires me to use my knife count as a hobby? Haha
I own a landscaping business so luckily i am able to use my knives quite often outdoors, or working on equiptment, etc.

Before i started my business i was a cubicle warrior and they only saw paper and fidgiting time.
I so glad i work outdoors now.

 

[McFeeli]

Yes, yes, and yes. Most resistance training boosts testosterone and using an axe is definitely a strength workout as well as cardio. I like to call it functional exercise, like using a push mower instead of a rider for bigger yards and really driving the thing around.

I love splitting wood. One of my favorite things to do. I think that’s because I don’t have to do it to keep my own house warm. I tend to do it a lot up at my hunting cabin, and I also help my friends get their woodpiles squared away before winter hits, but I don’t have a wood stove at home.

Now mowing.. There’s no way I’d want to push mow over riding. I can see the appeal, it definitely is a workout if the yards large, but not too large. It takes me 2 and a half - 3 hours to finish my yard on a riding mower so I’d be half dead by the time I finished push mowing it, haha.

 

[needler420]

Stabbing is considered a knife hobby?

If you practice your stabbing I suppose. I don't practice on people btw. But I'm not apposed to it either if provoked or needed. Same can be said for cake. Often I use my knife for food while I'm out and about and need to cut a sandwich in half or whatever.

 

[shinyedges]

If you practice your stabbing I suppose. I don't practice on people btw. But I'm not apposed to it either if provoked or needed. Same can be said for cake. Often I use my knife for food while I'm out and about and need to cut a sandwich in half or whatever.

 

[l1ranger]

absolutely food, hunting, fishing, camping, trapping - you can get really into some different aspects of knives with food, especially getting into the presentation part of it.

my wife likes to use a lot of duct tape, electrical tape, and zip ties - her hobby keeps my knives busy.

I also like "old fashioned" pencils, and sharpen them with a knife

 

[evilgreg]

How often do you stab people

What, you ain't shankin' fools on the daily? Bro, do you even mall ninja?

 

[LG&M]

I found a side job as a mohel.
I get to use my knives & make money to buy more.

 

[BitingSarcasm]

I've read that chopping wood with an axe actually boosts testosterone, in addition to being great cardio and back exercise...

And my beard grows longer and more manly. It also improves my singing ability as I tend to time my strokes by singing the Monty Python lumberjack song. The neighbors already think I am a tad eccentric, why not run with it?

 

[marchone]

I recommend cooking every day with DIY butchering as often as possible. Youtube videos abound.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=butchering+a+whole+hog

 

[CDore]

I just carry a knife and wait for the task to arrive. Could be a stabbing or birthday cake.

honestly, that made me laugh! going to keep that in the brain bank for future use.

 

[Joshua25]

I have a little different take. I buy blades that support my woodworking hobby, by making custom handles. I mostly use folders, but making custom handles is what keeps me in new knives.

(this post is NOT a solicitation for work. Please don't ask as it gets me in hot water.)

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Oooooo I like this idea!!!!


I have mostly had moras that I've sacrificed their plastic handle to make a funky wooden or antler handle. Recently I tried a vg10 kitchen blank and that worked quite well!!

Do you have any favourite brands for buying blanks from???? Have you tried any of the Enzo knife kits??
Last question I swear. How do you find your Spyderco mule? Been contemplating buying one as it looks quite useful and fun to use!

 

[Joshua25]

I've read that chopping wood with an axe actually boosts testosterone, in addition to being great cardio and back exercise...

Now you have me craving a good firewood cutting session.... may have to visit my Pops tomorrow and see if he needs some wood chopped.

 

[Makael]

I've read that chopping wood with an axe actually boosts testosterone, in addition to being great cardio and back exercise...

The boost in T is needed.

 

[Bigfattyt]

Picked up leatherworking about 2,5 yrs ago.

Busse knives rather nudged me to start making my own leather.

It has been a pretty handy skill to pick up.

This was my first attempt for a garage made knife (also a first for me)

 

[bflying]

Cold Steel makes my favorite whittling knife, FWIW.

The Tuff Lite's really are a perfect addition to any whittling setup. Unfortunately I didn't have my little Mini Tuff when doing my first functional ball cage. But did have this little Pry Mini. Both a sheep-ish derivative. But the TuffLite has that sweet deep hollow, and less bulk up front. I was out of town, then got stuck there longer than intented because of car troubles. So I was able to power completely down for a few days, with the ball cage being my highest priority project on my mind.

Now I really want to do a larger ball, like Eeee-veal-Greg. Now I have a reason to NEED to buy the regular size Tuff Lite to go with the Mini. Yesssss. . . .

 

[TRfromMT]

Oooooo I like this idea!!!!


I have mostly had moras that I've sacrificed their plastic handle to make a funky wooden or antler handle. Recently I tried a vg10 kitchen blank and that worked quite well!!

Do you have any favourite brands for buying blanks from???? Have you tried any of the Enzo knife kits??
Last question I swear. How do you find your Spyderco mule? Been contemplating buying one as it looks quite useful and fun to use!

I've done the most Survive! and Carothers of any of them. Survive! probably my favorite handles to replace. More recently I've moved to pinned and epoxied handles instead of ones with fasteners, and doing handles on custom one-off knives. Mule team knives probably are going to be the easiest to get into, and ESEE would also be a great place to start. If you are careful and do a good job, you can make a few bucks and sell them to offset the spend on the hobby.

That Mule is a nice knife. A little cramped in the handle due to the curvature/drop in the back end. Great slicer with the high flat grind.

Look in the exchange under the custom section, where makers sell materials. You can often pick up a blank, no handles at all, and come up with your own - for very reasonable prices.

 

[DB_Cruiser]

I have some enormous hickories down on my property and have been chopping and splitting for months. Haven't made a dent yet. But I do have a couple (maybe three) tons of firewood cut and split for the winter. It's a tad underseasoned, but burns nice and hot. Hadn't really considered it a hobby, but it inspired me to get into vintage axe restoration, which I do consider to be a hobby.