Thanks for all the threads that basically claim my great old knives are now obsolete useless trash !

DocJD

DocJD

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Jan 29, 2016
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So , I start to doubt and think , " Yeah , maybe my old stuff is now just so much crap !" Might need to update my gear ? :eek:

Stimulates me to go dig out my primitive ancient artifacts to see if they still work at all . Maybe salvage something from the ruins .

Invariably , they all work just as competently and easily at their core function (=cutting stuff ) as when I bought them . Surprise , surprise , surprise ! :rolleyes:

I get to enjoy rediscovering everything I loved about these old knives in the first place . Hours of free fun !

To be fair , some high tech stuff (like computers) do substantially improve at a rapid pace .

But the vital core function of a knife , IMO, is simply to cut stuff . Safely , comfortably and as easily as possible .

If your old knife was ever great for cutting stuff , it probably still is . :)

Not that I don't recognize many new important and real functional advancements .
 
DocJD said:
So , I start to doubt and think , " Yeah , maybe my old stuff is now just so much crap !" Might need to update my gear ? :eek:

Stimulates me to go dig out my primitive ancient artifacts to see if they still work at all . Maybe salvage something from the ruins .

Invariably , they all work just as competently and easily at their core function (=cutting stuff ) as when I bought them . Surprise , surprise , surprise ! :rolleyes:

I get to enjoy rediscovering everything I loved about these old knives in the first place . Hours of free fun !

To be fair , some high tech stuff (like computers) do substantially improve at a rapid pace .

But the vital core function of a knife , IMO, is simply to cut stuff . Safely , comfortably and as easily as possible .

If your old knife was ever great for cutting stuff , it probably still is . :)

Not that I don't recognize many new important and real functional advancements .
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9 years later, my GB1 is still going strong, as are all my Spydercos from 2013-14.

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I went a bit backwards, got into this a little over 15mo ago, and while I still am pumped for some new things like the comp lock Military 2, I bought some modern stuff like a grip of PM2s this time last year, Cold Steel XL Voyager and Espada, a UTX-70, I also bought two different Douk Douk, a few Higonokami, some Opinel for myself and family, Mercator K55, MAM, all brands that are 100+ years old (exc. Douk, est 1929).
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That was around last year. This year... I have most recently (like 3mo ago as I am on a short hiatus from buying due to other issues) been buying fixed blades such as the Cold Steel SRK and Benchmade 200 Puukko in 3V to compliment my Moras, bought a David Mary and have another in works, and a LOT of Victorinox. Those scratch the collector itch too, and found some really cool knives in the process.



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DocJD said:
So , I start to doubt and think , " Yeah , maybe my old stuff is now just so much crap !" Might need to update my gear ? :eek:

Stimulates me to go dig out my primitive ancient artifacts to see if they still work at all . Maybe salvage something from the ruins .

Invariably , they all work just as competently and easily at their core function (=cutting stuff ) as when I bought them . Surprise , surprise , surprise ! :rolleyes:

I get to enjoy rediscovering everything I loved about these old knives in the first place . Hours of free fun !

To be fair , some high tech stuff (like computers) do substantially improve at a rapid pace .

But the vital core function of a knife , IMO, is simply to cut stuff . Safely , comfortably and as easily as possible .

If your old knife was ever great for cutting stuff , it probably still is . :)

Not that I don't recognize many new important and real functional advancements .
Click to expand...

What you've discovered is the basic truth thats the gorilla in the room; the steel doesn't matter, except to the obsessed knife nuts.

Man has been cutting stuff for many tens of thousands of years. From flint and obsidian, to bronze, to iron to steel. It all works, in some cases better than you could imagine. But once you get to a decent steel, most people won't see much difference unless they make a living cutting cardboard boxes. Opening your morning mail, cutting open a plastic blister package, cutting up some food in the kitchen, whatever, any decent steel will do, from old 1095, 440C, to the modern whiz bang of alphabet steel of the month.

Most of the rest of the world gets by very well with whatever Asian made kitchen knife they picked up in the kitchen accessories isle in the supermarket. Others actually live their life with a gas station knife or 'mart special from the spring goods department. But we, the knife obsessed fan boys need the latest and greatest to satisfy our egos. But for every one of us, theres an army of guys carrying some beat up Old Timer pocket knife, or even a gas station special, that gets him through his life very well. He doesn't know he's ill equipped with what some would call junk or obsolete steel.

Nor do all those farm workers, construction laborers, tradesmen with Opinels, K55's, or Douk-Douk's know they are not as well equipped as they could be. Their knives cut what they need to cut just fine. And they don't care because they are not among the 1% of society that is the obsessed knife nut. It gets silly after a while.
 
jackknife said:
What you've discovered is the basic truth thats the gorilla in the room; the steel doesn't matter, except to the obsessed knife nuts.

Man has been cutting stuff for many tens of thousands of years. From flint and obsidian, to bronze, to iron to steel. It all works, in some cases better than you could imagine. But once you get to a decent steel, most people won't see much difference unless they make a living cutting cardboard boxes. Opening your morning mail, cutting open a plastic blister package, cutting up some food in the kitchen, whatever, any decent steel will do, from old 1095, 440C, to the modern whiz bang of alphabet steel of the month.

Most of the rest of the world gets by very well with whatever Asian made kitchen knife they picked up in the kitchen accessories isle in the supermarket. Others actually live their life with a gas station knife or 'mart special from the spring goods department. But we, the knife obsessed fan boys need the latest and greatest to satisfy our egos. But for every one of us, theres an army of guys carrying some beat up Old Timer pocket knife, or even a gas station special, that gets him through his life very well. He doesn't know he's ill equipped with what some would call junk or obsolete steel.
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He THINKS he is getting through his life very well, just like the guy who walks to work because he doesn’t have a license. Poor folks lol
 
another point to consider, all the people using old knives with 1095 or 440a or anything older actually have more practice sharpening since those old steels don't have the high edge retention we're used to...

(of course, there are people who use knives so dull it gets dangerous)
 
There’s a use and need for many different kinds of blade steel from the tried and true conventional steels like 1095 to the latest and greatest like Magnacut.

It really depends on what you’re using them for, the environment and conditions you are in, your sharpening skills, the materials and stuff you cut and how you use them. I think it’s a very good thing we have as many choices of steel that we have now days. What works for one person might not be what another person needs or suits the situation. I have many different kinds of knives with different blade steels and I use them according to what I’m doing and whether I’m at work or play. The environment and conditions I work in would destroy a 1095 carbon blade in short time so I use 20cv to withstand the conditions. I also carry a smallish stockman in 420hc. At home and whittling on the porch I might use my GEC 29 stock yard whittler or 23 trapper.

Yeah I prefer the newer premium stainless blades like s35vn but I don’t look down on a good carbon steel knife either. As long as it has good heat treatment and holds a decent edge for a decent amount of time that’s what I consider the important part.
 
tony281sc2 said:
He THINKS he is getting through his life very well, just like the guy who walks to work because he doesn’t have a license. Poor folks lol
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If you want to start comparing apples to oranges, like knives to cars, thats kind of crazy, but lets do that. The car nut thinks he needs a real car like a muscle car or Porsche to commute to work or run down to the store for some groceries. But the best selling car in the entire world is, the humble Toyota Corolla. Toyota has made 47 million of them since its birth in the late 1960's. It may not be the most glamorous or fastest car, but the owners don't care. They just want a reliable piece of transportation. Just like knives, Victorinox makes more of the little Classic than any other three knife companies making the one hand wonder tactical knives. Its a teeny tiny little keychain thing, with steel that knife nuts love to criticize, but the owners don't care. It will open mail, open plastic packages, cut twine, and even trim your nails if need be. They are available at most big box stores or sporting goods stores, and can be had for the price of a chain restaurant lunch. They will work at their intended task with no problems.

Sales figures don't lie. The truth is, most people, like 98% of them, are not aficionados or obsessed fan boys of the simple tool that is the cult worship item that knife nuts have elevated the knife to. They just want to open a package, or cut something. They don't care if the steel is not the steel of the month. Just like the run of the mill Toyota Corolla owner doesn't care about anything other than just getting him to work and back. Or, like you implied, they may not need any car at all. I've known people in Washington D.C., New York City, London, that didn't bother to own any car at all. It was simply too much trouble. In cities with great public transportation like the under ground or busses, its actually faster to get to work than if you had a car. Stepping off the bus or train, you don't need to find the rare and expensive parking place to put your car. If you need to go out in the country for a weekend, its easy and cheap to just rent a car for a day or two.

Sooo, that guy walking to work may actually be operating more efficiently than the guy driving to work and then paying for parking, paying for auto insurance, gas, vehicle upkeep. Just like the guy who almost doesn't bother to carry a knife. He'll have a little SAK on his keyring, or a small Opinel in a pocket, and is happy with his choice. They do what he needs with no fanfare or ego trip.
 
jackknife said:
If you want to start comparing apples to oranges, like knives to cars, thats kind of crazy, but lets do that. The car nut thinks he needs a real car like a muscle car or Porsche to commute to work or run down to the store for some groceries. But the best selling car in the entire world is, the humble Toyota Corolla. Toyota has made 47 million of them since its birth in the late 1960's. It may not be the most glamorous or fastest car, but the owners don't care. They just want a reliable piece of transportation. Just like knives, Victorinox makes more of the little Classic than any other three knife companies making the one hand wonder tactical knives. Its a teeny tiny little keychain thing, with steel that knife nuts love to criticize, but the owners don't care. It will open mail, open plastic packages, cut twine, and even trim your nails if need be. They are available at most big box stores or sporting goods stores, and can be had for the price of a chain restaurant lunch. They will work at their intended task with no problems.

Sales figures don't lie. The truth is, most people, like 98% of them, are not aficionados or obsessed fan boys of the simple tool that is the cult worship item that knife nuts have elevated the knife to. They just want to open a package, or cut something. They don't care if the steel is not the steel of the month. Just like the run of the mill Toyota Corolla owner doesn't care about anything other than just getting him to work and back. Or, like you implied, they may not need any car at all. I've known people in Washington D.C., New York City, London, that didn't bother to own any car at all. It was simply too much trouble. In cities with great public transportation like the under ground or busses, its actually faster to get to work than if you had a car. Stepping off the bus or train, you don't need to find the rare and expensive parking place to put your car. If you need to go out in the country for a weekend, its easy and cheap to just rent a car for a day or two.

Sooo, that guy walking to work may actually be operating more efficiently than the guy driving to work and then paying for parking, paying for auto insurance, gas, vehicle upkeep. Just like the guy who almost doesn't bother to carry a knife. He'll have a little SAK on his keyring, or a small Opinel in a pocket, and is happy with his choice. They do what he needs with no fanfare or ego trip.
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It not just ego tripping or being a snob that has to have just to have it. There’s more to it than that!
Your comparison of the Toyota corrola is lacking the possibility that someone might need to haul a load of hay bales or some appliances.
Also a small keychain sak isn’t going to be much use if you’re field dressing large game like deer, elk or moose. The tool needs to match the task and not everyone lives in the city or works in an office. There’s a reason why there are different types, sizes, designs and steels for different uses. Just because you don’t live in that environment doesn’t mean everyone else does.

I think it’s a matter of preference and lifestyle that steers a person to their own desires. Just because someone else likes something different doesn’t make them wrong nor does it mean that I look down on someone who has a need or desire for something different.
 
DocJD said:
Not that I don't recognize many new important and real functional advancements .
Click to expand...

If you're simply talking sharpness there isn't any....... not in steel anyway!

"Obsidian – a type of volcanic glass – can produce cutting edges many times finer than even the best steel scalpels. At 30 angstroms – a unit of measurement equal to one hundred millionth of a centimeter – an obsidian scalpel can rival diamond in the fineness of its edge."
 
I'mSoSharp said:
If you're simply talking sharpness there isn't any....... not in steel anyway!

"Obsidian – a type of volcanic glass – can produce cutting edges many times finer than even the best steel scalpels. At 30 angstroms – a unit of measurement equal to one hundred millionth of a centimeter – an obsidian scalpel can rival diamond in the fineness of its edge."
Click to expand...
I think you’re missing the point. Sharpness is only part of the function. Corrosion resistance is another, then toughness is very important. Obsidian is very sharp no doubt but it wouldn’t last long in some situations where toughness is necessary to cut tough materials or chopping.
I’m not going to address ease of sharpening because that depends on personal skill.

All the different types of steels were developed to address a particular issue for whatever reason it might be used in. Some were for industrial cutting purposes in factories to be efficient in cost of production. For an ordinary pocket knife used in ordinary light duty tasks it probably doesn’t make much difference what steel is used but in a more demanding job task it might not be suitable. There’s a reason for everything and a purpose for everything.
 
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