The Nature of the Beast

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monsterdog

Joined
Oct 27, 2008
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Yesterday I was talking to a friend about the things which interest us, and how some interests stick around while others fade away. The conversation turned to knives and I had to admit to having a slight obsession with them. He looked puzzled and asked me why, not because he thought I was mentally ill, but because he just did not understand. I found myself at a loss for words when I could not explain it adequately.

It kept weighing on my mind, until I finally came up with what I believe is the real reason, and I wanted to write it down.

A knife is the original multitasking tool of mankind. In fact, it is as important as fire or the wheel in our evolution. It is certainly one of the longest surviving artifacts of the human race and one of the most prized.

It can provide us with fulfillment of most of our basic needs, like food, shelter and protection. It is not a weapon, but an investment in life and survival. If stranded in a place with no other signs of human society, a knife has to be high on your wish list of things to have, and even if most of us will never be in that situation, the aesthetic is compelling.

The form itself tells you what it is, there is no doubt about it when something is a knife. There is something to hold onto and a sharp edge. It becomes an extension of your hand and mind, and it enables you to find food, make a fire and a create roof to keep the rain off you. Eventually it allows you to build a whole civilization with its multitude of structures and other tools. But the knife was there first.

So it becomes a monument to who we are, our needs and how far we have come, and still we can enjoy this simple object and marvel at its usefulness.
 
Why are we obsessed with knives? For me, it's simply because:

-I enjoy using and playing with knives (yes, some knives are already a joy just by handling them!);
-I love to admire nice knives, especially when they are made of damascus;
-I also love maintaining and sharpening my knives, even though I'm no experts in either;
-I like interacting with people who are likewise interested in knives. This is a great forum!
 
monsterdog said:
Yesterday I was talking to a friend about the things which interest us, and how some interests stick around while others fade away. The conversation turned to knives and I had to admit to having a slight obsession with them. He looked puzzled and asked me why, not because he thought I was mentally ill, but because he just did not understand. I found myself at a loss for words when I could not explain it adequately.

It kept weighing on my mind, until I finally came up with what I believe is the real reason, and I wanted to write it down.

A knife is the original multitasking tool of mankind. In fact, it is as important as fire or the wheel in our evolution. It is certainly one of the longest surviving artifacts of the human race and one of the most prized.

It can provide us with fulfillment of most of our basic needs, like food, shelter and protection. It is not a weapon, but an investment in life and survival. If stranded in a place with no other signs of human society, a knife has to be high on your wish list of things to have, and even if most of us will never be in that situation, the aesthetic is compelling.

The form itself tells you what it is, there is no doubt about it when something is a knife. There is something to hold onto and a sharp edge. It becomes an extension of your hand and mind, and it enables you to find food, make a fire and a create roof to keep the rain off you. Eventually it allows you to build a whole civilization with its multitude of structures and other tools. But the knife was there first.

So it becomes a monument to who we are, our needs and how far we have come, and still we can enjoy this simple object and marvel at its usefulness.
Click to expand...


Superfluous elaboration but I also consider the knife a tool and one of life's practical necessities.
 
The first tool of mankind was the hammer. Immediately after, and far more versatile, came the knife.
The knife is the most useful, widespread, old tool mankind has produced and the one that has been used for more time more or less unchanged in its basic components.
No wonder owning one is an achievement in most cultures (including our own, invertebrate liberals notwithstanding).
 
monsterdog,

Succinctly stated! When most of us are asked similar questions about our "knife obsession", it is difficult to express it so clearly and eloquently.

Yesterday I was talking to a friend about the things which interest us, and how some interests stick around while others fade away. The conversation turned to knives and I had to admit to having a slight obsession with them. He looked puzzled and asked me why, not because he thought I was mentally ill, but because he just did not understand. I found myself at a loss for words when I could not explain it adequately.

It kept weighing on my mind, until I finally came up with what I believe is the real reason, and I wanted to write it down.

A knife is the original multitasking tool of mankind. In fact, it is as important as fire or the wheel in our evolution. It is certainly one of the longest surviving artifacts of the human race and one of the most prized.

It can provide us with fulfillment of most of our basic needs, like food, shelter and protection. It is not a weapon, but an investment in life and survival. If stranded in a place with no other signs of human society, a knife has to be high on your wish list of things to have, and even if most of us will never be in that situation, the aesthetic is compelling.

The form itself tells you what it is, there is no doubt about it when something is a knife. There is something to hold onto and a sharp edge. It becomes an extension of your hand and mind, and it enables you to find food, make a fire and a create roof to keep the rain off you. Eventually it allows you to build a whole civilization with its multitude of structures and other tools. But the knife was there first.

So it becomes a monument to who we are, our needs and how far we have come, and still we can enjoy this simple object and marvel at its usefulness.
Click to expand...
 
We are the only meat-eating animal that has no sharp fangs nor claws. On a subconscious level we are very close to our knives because they are the fangs and claws we never had; they define us as predator instead of prey.
 
monsterdog said:
....but because he just did not understand. I found myself at a loss for words when I could not explain it adequately.
Click to expand...

When I was still riding Harley's there was the T-shirt directed at non-Harley riders I'm sure you are all familiar with "If I have to explain, you really can't understand"

I think the same applies with knives, or any other hobby/obsession. Unless they share the passion, you can talk yourself blue in the face and they will never fully understand.

Kevin
 
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I have been obsessed with knives for many years, After purchasing all of the knives that I really needed, there is no sensible reason on the planet that I should want more. I can't justify buying another knife but probably will anyway:mad:

I really want to quit.:o
 
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Dag-nabit said:
When I was still riding Harley's there was the T-shirt directed at non-Harley riders I'm sure you are all familiar with "If I have to explain, you really won't understand"

I think the same applies with knives, or any other hobby/obsession. Unless they share the passion, you can talk yourself blue in the face and they will never fully understand.

Kevin
Click to expand...

Sad but true. Also combine the above with OCD.

I understand the Harley phenomenon and its an indescribable experience ; )

The same can be said of parenthood and love. . .
 
People reached the supreme predator on earth status only because of our minds. A knife is a very old and basic tool/weapon man has used for thousands of years to survive.
Those that don't understand the draw, are probably the ones that would have perished years ago when you had to rely on yourself to survive, rather than a trip to the grocery store and there were no written laws to protect humans. We had to cast our lot in with the wild animals and match wits them as well as other unfriendly humans. Survival didn't favor the ones that wouldn't fight to assure it by any means necessary.
 
jill jackson said:
People reached the supreme predator on earth status only because of our minds. A knife is a very old and basic tool/weapon man has used for thousands of years to survive.
Those that don't understand the draw, are probably the ones that would have perished years ago when you had to rely on yourself to survive, rather than a trip to the grocery store and there were no written laws to protect humans. We had to cast our lot in with the wild animals and match wits them as well as other unfriendly humans. Survival didn't favor the ones that wouldn't fight to assure it by any means necessary.
Click to expand...

Humans are the masters of trickery, deception and betrayal, then combine that with a weapon!
 
I agree with all of the above and would like to add one more. Its the only weapon all warriors have in common (not counting stone age men and such). At one point in time everyone's ancestor's fought with an edged weapon. Its a legacy thing.
 
monsterdog, great essay. That sums it up for me. I have often had discussions in similar anthropoligical terms with my wife and friends. Indeed sep, they are the claws we never had.

critters.jpg
 
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