The "flawed" knife you can't keep out of your pocket.

[DEPBID]

I picked up a 1977 Case 6332 a while back--fantastic knife, beautiful scales, I like the pen instead of the spay, and the old CV takes a razor edge. I liked it so much that I decided to buy it a backup for the future. I found a 1971 6332 and brought it home.

The '71 is prettier. It has that old Case red bone and it's finished a bit more carefully--thinner, sleeker, no gaps, smoother walk, louder talk. The '71 was so pretty that I decided that the '77 would become the backup. But, after a few weeks with the '71 in the pocket I found myself missing the '77--it was weird. The '77 has gaps in the liners big enough to drive a truck through, and it has a bit of blade play--but it takes such a better edge and it just feels right in my hand.

So, anyway--I'm carrying the '77--pretty much exclusively. I imagine that, like me, most of you have a short-list of go to edc knives. Do you have one that, despite not being your favorite, sneaks it's way into your pocket more often than the others? If so, why?

Have a great weekend.

 

[Modoc ED]

Very nice. I'd bet the 71 has a pinned shield and maybe nickle silver liners. I assume that the knife pictured is the 77 and it appears that it too has a pinned shield. Those are great knives.

I have an old Case 62009 1/2 Red Bone Barlow that finds it's way into my pocket quite a bit. It is a 10-dot (1970) version and has seen quite a bit of use through the years. The former owner wasn't too careful when sharpening the blades so, they are scratched up somewhat (yet very sharp) but the knife has not been abused.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I have been very pleased to discover that many of my 'flawed' (worn, tired, etc.) knives have all-of-a-sudden become much more attractive to me, after a proper sharpening. Even 'cheap' knives, sometimes, can really surprise you with how well they take a fine working edge. When I find one that really pops, off the hones & strop, that's guaranteed to earn it some quality pocket time. I used to have a lot of knives that I 'didn't like so much', only because I hadn't yet figured out how to properly sharpen them. Many of these, I'd held onto for ~20 years or so, albeit stashed away & unused. Once I finally was able to solve that, I sometimes feel like a kid on Christmas day, when I go rummaging through boxes of them, looking for the next candidate for a new edge.

 

[trey999]

I have a Bear camp knife that I've grown to love. I had to cut two easy open notches to access the punch blade and the bottle
opener. It has some rub and some gaps but I still like it a lot. And I didn't pay too much for it.

 

[richstag]

I have been very pleased to discover that many of my 'flawed' (worn, tired, etc.) knives have all-of-a-sudden become much more attractive to me, after a proper sharpening. Even 'cheap' knives, sometimes, can really surprise you with how well they take a fine working edge. When I find one that really pops, off the hones & strop, that's guaranteed to earn it some quality pocket time. I used to have a lot of knives that I 'didn't like so much', only because I hadn't yet figured out how to properly sharpen them. Many of these, I'd held onto for ~20 years or so, albeit stashed away & unused. Once I finally was able to solve that, I sometimes feel like a kid on Christmas day, when I go rummaging through boxes of them, looking for the next candidate for a new edge.

Great isn't it??

Before, it was like I had to buy a new battery for my cell phone every time it died. Now I just recharge it.

 

[richstag]

Oh, and to stay on topic, I don't own any knives that I feel are flawed.

 

[quattromori]

This thread suddenly got my interest when I realized I'm on the same boat.
As I'm writing, I'm handling a Buck Canoe. It has been my first two bladed knife, so somehow it does mean something to me, and since I don't buy many knives, the few ones I have all gain some place in my everyday life. Here it is:

This knife has a flaw, or, at least, what to me is a flaw, since I believe some of you would not consider it as such.
The spring on the secondary (pen) blade is just too hard for me. The main spear is smooth enough...but the pen is too hard on my nails. So after a while I realized I was only using the spear blade, I decided to leave this knife at work. I always leave one knife here for food tasks (I have a SAK on my keyrings for any other use).
The funny thing is, I'm absolutely sure that this knife sees more use than any other knife I have, since every time I come to work I need to use it for lunch, dinner and so on. As a matter of fact, its flaw was the reason why it became my most used knife.
Oh, and to make it even worse, I'm using the pen blade now to "pry" open some nuts

Fausto

 

[Humppa]

Hi guys!

The knife, which gets mostly in pocket is the Case Medium Stockman Chestnut Bone CV

I like the size of that knife. It fits more often in my pocket than the other ones I have. The steel keeps a fine and durable edge. Any blade geometry is very good, not to say perfect, for any cutting job. That three bladed knife is good for every task during daily use. The sheepfoot is for usual cutting, like opening packages or whatever, the clipblade is for food and the penblade is the "Last Resort" for everything. That bone handles are already a little bit worn out, I like that.

Just ordered one in Yellow CV.

Kind regards
Andi

 

[Planterz]

I picked up a 1977 Case 6332 a while back--fantastic knife, beautiful scales, I like the pen instead of the spay, and the old CV takes a razor edge. I liked it so much that I decided to buy it a backup for the future. I found a 1971 6332 and brought it home.

The '71 is prettier. It has that old Case red bone and it's finished a bit more carefully--thinner, sleeker, no gaps, smoother walk, louder talk. The '71 was so pretty that I decided that the '77 would become the backup. But, after a few weeks with the '71 in the pocket I found myself missing the '77--it was weird. The '77 has gaps in the liners big enough to drive a truck through, and it has a bit of blade play--but it takes such a better edge and it just feels right in my hand.

So, anyway--I'm carrying the '77--pretty much exclusively. I imagine that, like me, most of you have a short-list of go to edc knives. Do you have one that, despite not being your favorite, sneaks it's way into your pocket more often than the others? If so, why?

I have 2 1974 6332s myself. The one I don't carry has nicer bone than than the one I carry. I have a 1965-1969 6332 that's even nicer that I don't carry.

 

[TLARbb]

My favorite carry fits into the category of your original post as it is not perfect, but I carry it a lot and find my self missing it when I carry something else - my amber bone mini copperhead:

It has a pretty ugly gap in the backspring, but both blades are tight with no play; the gap just doesn't look good. I can't see it though when it is in my pocket or when I'm using it. This gap doesn't show up in the pictures I post, but it is there.

Ed J

 

[Leeble611]

i have a German Eye that doesnt have a clean seam where the blade meets the back spring when its open. Its been my edc for about three months now

 

[Will Power]

There are a lot of knives I regard as being 'flawed' simply because I can't get them all in my pockets

Seriously, I have a Trevor Ablett from Sheffield that I was annoyed&disappointed with. Almost impossible to open (and I revel in strong springs)load of brass burrs inside it, blunt blade and it wasn't the one I ordered! The stag's rather odd too...but, cleaning it up, at last sharpening it, the blade is softer to open and it's got a nice feel to it in the hand, really taken to it now, disliked it at first though.

 

[thatotherguy]

The Case mini trapper I carried for 3 years straight has gaps in the springs, the spey tip protrudes from the handle a little, and the delrin has a hairline crack in it. I love it though.

 

[thesouthernguitarist]

I've been carrying the same knife for seven months now. A chestnut bone peanut. It's not totally perfect, the scales don't match, there's a small deep groove in one scale, and a small blemish of some sort on the other scale, but I still cary it every single day and I wouldn't have it any other way. All those cosmetic flaws sort of make my knife unique :thumbup:

 

[Bigfattyt]

I have a couple like that.

This one is hard to leave on the dresser. It is gappy on the liners, and had pen blade wiggle (easliy remedied with my vice, now both blades are nice and tight side to side).

Very hard to describe the feel of the bone and bolsters on this one!

 

[orca8589]

When the camera is charged up again (tomorrow morning) I'll put up a batter pic.

This is a U.S. Schrade 77OT that some twit - er, 'scuse me, previous owner - almost ruined. They broke the tip off the main blade and bent the tip on the secondary. I converted both to semi-Wharncliffe types. Great cutters now. It had a minor gap between liners & springs, which I guess is a small mfr. issue on a work knife; the main issue was the abuse it had been out through before.

~Chris

 

[Thalestin]

I think many owners enjoy using "non-perfect" knives because it takes away the fear of wrecking the perfection. The second reason (and more subtle), I think a knife with flaws is a better representation of ourselves. We may not consciously think about it, but I think a stronger bond is created with the knife. I think this is why many of us find an old beater much more beautiful than a perfect new knife.

My edc is my scagel fruitport. It is good shape but the shield has a pretty large gaps. It is also quite worn just from day to day use. I wouldnt trade it for a perfect new one--not a chance

 

[quattromori]

I think many owners enjoy using "non-perfect" knives because it takes away the fear of wrecking the perfection.

This is a very very interesting thought. I have no safe queens, but sometimes I have felt some kind of chill in the "initiation" of a new knife. After the first use, it becomes something different. And I agree that a "flawed" knife can reduce this sensation thus pushing us to use the knife more...as it was meant to be used.

Fausto

 

[Peter Parker]

Two of them. My non-whittler humpback whittler and my 15yrs of service state of TN Case Mako. I put my Mako in here because I did a mod on it and my Case buddy back in TN ran me up a tree over it! I happen to like it better this way, and for my less then stellar skill it turned out about as good as I could get away with....

They both to my eyes look good and the keep wonderful edges!

 

[eisman]

I have two very similar Ray Cover knives. This one is one of the three most used pocket pals I have. It works off and on with my Case Swayback Jack in Cv. They're very different knives. The Case is easy to sharpen and looks a bit less crisp with the blades discolored. This is fairly stiff, locks up tighter than some lockblades, and is a real bear to sharpen. But it just works for me. It's not perfect; the blade is slightly off center, it's got issues; the spring will rust if it's not kept oiled, but it's been around longer than some relationships I've had and it just feels right.