Hey TF,
I did not see this thread until it was a little old. So, I kind of jumped into it off topic from the get go
This is an awesome topic, and I would like to comment on the original intent.
I am quoting you out of order here
I thought that once I found the right knife - I would be a better bushcrafter - sort of like buying the right Golf club will make you a better golfer.
As a professional photographer, questions from people are ALWAYS about hardware. It used to drive me nuts! People think that a photographer is a person with an exepensive camera that takes great pictures. When the reality is the most expensive camera in the world does nothing but take BAD PICTURES FAST!!!
Photography is about lighting, composition, and some creative elements you have control over, like dephth of field and perspective distortion. Practice the craft enough, and the concentration is on the end result, not what specific camera you used to get there.
When people would ask me “what kind of camera do you have?” I would always just say “Lots of them.” Then I would ask them “if they played the piano?” When the hopefully answer “no.” I asked them, “how about I buy you a million dollar piano. Do you think you would be a better player then?” Being a little bit of a smart ass, but the same goes for the camera.
You have already figured it out……that dirt time makes you a better bushcrafter. But the real question is, is being a better bushcrafter what you really want? Or do you now find yourself wanting something more? Or different? I am curious because I have struggled with this myself.
I think what I had was a case of envy. I loved the lifestyle that Ray Mears led and confused the hardware with the lifestyle.
Personally, I think this goes WAY beyond knives. It can happen with clothing, cookware, footwear, packs, you name it. Unfortunately, it is where many get lost, I feel.
It is very easy to watch a video of Ray Mears and be jealous. Let’s face it, most of us have more money that time, because we are working. Not too many people can spend weeks hiking in the rain forest. But, I can certainly look at what shirt he is wearing, whip out my credit card, and get me a Swanndri
You have to be very, very careful there, because if you don’t realize really fast that you are substituing “hardware” for something else you desire in your life, you will spiral down on a spending spree that leaves you with a bunch of stuff, but no more happy than you were before. Better off to save your money.
Buying is fast an easy, and can leave you with a bit of a high that is short lived. So, it is easy to understand that addiction. I think it can be harder to realize that you are after something more than a short lived high.
I think the more dirt time you get, the more your approach comes simple and practical.
I have never found a situation where I was able to have a better time or see more because I had one style knife over another. Once I had gotten to quality blades made by quality makers - I pretty much found that they did what I needed them to
I have to agree and disagree a little bit on this one.
To relate it back to the camera example….I said it was about lighting, composition, etc. So, theoretically, I could take a good picture with a cardboard box, pin hole and a sheet of film
But, it is much more enjoyeable to have a quality feeling body, good optics, and user friendly controls. It can in some cases, enhance the experience. Not necessarily make it or break it, but enhance it.
Back to knives. I realize that the stuff that I really enjoy doing with knives is in the extreme minority, and almost everything I say and do is going to be the opposite of what the majority of folks want. In fact, NOBODY orders the knives I personally use, and the ones everyone wants me to make for them is not stuff I would use myself
This is my long way of saying that I hope nobody takes offense to what I am about to say……because it is my very unpopular opinion.
You said it yourself, there is no one knife. Some do things better than others. For the stuff I like to do, there are some in your collection there that would leave me very frustrated for the stuff I do most often. Regardless of the build quality, steel, heat treat is exceptional, and that I could stake my life on it.
If you have the choice of being a little bit frustrated, or having something that brings a smile to your face, I believe it can and will enhance your experience. Which I believe is why you choose from your collection the knife you want to take based on what you plan to do.
Just some things to think about.
B
