The soul of a knife

I will use Jackknife as an example of the paradox of the knife's soul issue. (Please correct any details, JK)
His father carried a Peanut for over 30 years.
When JK inherited it, it was a bit beat up from years of use. The main blade was about 40% gone, and one scale had a chip, which was filled in with epoxy.
JK sent it in, and had the main blade and the chipped scale replaced.
New blade.
New handle (on one side)
So, this leaves me with the question: Does this knife still have his father's soul in it?
For those that think the blade is the soul, his was replaced.
For those who think the handle is the soul, part of his was replaced.
For those who think the whole knife is the soul, this is now a different knife.
So, WHAT PART of a knife carries it's soul, and if you replace it, is it gone?
I have my own opinion, which I will state later. I'm just curious as to what you all think.
 
jackknife said:
it's always been a bit strange to me, that some knives seem to have a soul, while others don't.

I feel it most often with knives that are really old school and of traditional materials that were once alive. Old carbon steel with bone, stag, or even wood, speak to me more than stainless steel or synthetic.

On the other hand, my old Buck 301 is stainless steel and black delrin, and I couldn't give it away to save my life. Maybe it's just traveled so far with me, that it developed a soul.

Sak's have never spoke to me at all, being just a handy tool with a red plastic handle. But my old Wenger SI is with me till the end. I've given away all my red plastic handle sak's exept for the classic on my keyring, and thats just a handy tool I use at least once a day. But it has no soul to me, and another classic would do just as well.

But I still miss the little Boker 240 with the rosewood handle I gave to someone. It had soul.

It seems to vary with the knife.
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jackknife you have seemed to sum it up.:thumbup:
 
I know EXACTLY what you guys are talking about. I ended up not trading a knife today because it's "soul" was calling me. It is a feeling for which the source is difficult to identify; however, in pondering this thread for a few minutes, I can try to list some attributes that contribute to the "soul" of a blade for me:

1) If it has been carried and used by someone significant (to me)
2) If it has been handled and crafted by a single individual in its construction
3) Natural handle materials carry more "soul" - stag, bone, horn, wood (to some degree)
4) If I'VE carried it and handled it extensively for a period.

Outside of these few qualities, knives are generally just tools or fun trinkets for me. My SOG Powerassist, Benchmades, Spydercos', Kershaws, Striders, SAK, etc. - I would consider "tools". My grandfathers '58 Queen, the Buck 301 he gave me, a '84 Bone handled Texas Jack, ALL of my CR knives, my old Schrade USA 80T, my old Hen&Roosters - those have soul I can feel when I hold them.
 
To me, the soul of an inanimate object is defined by its reason for being, its intended purpose. The reason or purpose for a knife is to cut, hence I have always thought of the blade as the soul of a knife.

In a very "old school" conventional sense, the handle of a cutting instrument is "married" to the blade. It's a help-meet for the blade, to support it and enhance its ambition and ability to cut, to reach its full potential. As such it is an object of great affection, spawning emotional attachment after months and years of pleasant interaction.

But to paraphrase Shakespeare, "The blade's the thing . . ."
 
I do not think the "soul" of a knife exists in the knife or any part of a knife. It exists in the connection a person has between it and themself. One knife may have great meaning and "soul" to one person but is a worthless piece of junk to another. Therefore the "soul" is not inherent to the actual knife - it is in that connection between an individual person and an individual knife created by the feeling that knife gives that person.
 
Stelth said:
Untrue. I've been on cruises as well as fishing excursions. I doubt I'd feel different even if I was in the navy.
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I probably would've said the same thing, back in the day. But it goes beyond just being a paying passenger on a recreational vessel. I think anybody who's ever actually been part of a ship's crew will understand why a ship is usually referred to as 'she'. If you're responsible for taking care of her on a daily basis, often for months at a stretch, and she carries you safely through the harshest of storms & other hazards, you begin to view the ship as something more than just 'it'. For some, it's like taking care of a loved one.

Dave
USN 1981 - 1987
 
I think of it more as karma, some knives have, some don't, and a very few have bad karma attached to them. Where does this karma come from? The owner of the knife of course.

For example the early 1900's Remington Boy Scout knife I bought for 5 bucks in an "Antique" Shop a few months back. Not only is stopping to visit such a shop is out of character for me but I was on my way out the door when the naggling feeling that I missed something made me go back in and look again and I found the Remington in a box of junk knives. The good karma that knife had built up in it by a previous owner obviously called to my own karma.

Other knives I have held and felt nothing, they were just steel and bone...no pull, no desire to own even tho the were beautiful knives. I think in these cases they were owned by someone who didn't have an affinity for knives...they weren't loved if you want to use that word. Of course these knives can develop positive karma if owned later by the right person.

I will also say a knife does not have to be used to have good karma attached to it, often the knife maker will impart this karma themselves. It is very common for a custom knife to have good karma attached from the day you get it in the mail, they are made by people who make them for the joy of being a knife maker as much as for the money. Occasionally you will feel it in a factory made knife as well but not as often today. I think for many in a factory it is simply a job, not an avocation and karma is not imparted. But enough do love their jobs that some factory knives do have it.

I have also owned one knife that was crawling with bad karma, it was one bought off of ebay and the first time I held it after opening the package I knew I didn't want to own it, nothing wrong with the pattern or condition, it was identical to other Case trappers I have owned but it felt wrong. I put it up for auction the next day and keep it away from my other knives. I don't know what a previous owner had used it for but I knew I didn't want it.

Not everyone will feel the karma a knife has either. The guy who buys them and them shoves them in a safe hoping they will increase in value seldom feel the karma, to these people they are an investment rather than a piece of history that would love to tell a tale. Knives are happiest being used and cared for.

Now I know many will say what I have said closely resembles the night soil of a large bovine...shrugs...but I feel what I feel and to each there own. But if they get cut by one of there knives...well...what else could it be but karma.
 
There are those who believe, and there are those who don't believe.

Each to thier own belief, was a semi free country last time I checked.

I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I've been knocking around this rock for long enough that I know I've seen some weird things in my life. Really weird things. Fate, karma, maybe even the hand of God, who knows. I do remember that someone said sometimes truth can be stranger than fiction. And I know what I've felt sometimes,

I guess I beleive. But them the Irish also believe in wee folk and haints, and banshee's fortelling the dead. :)

Carl.
 
I have read this thread a few times with interest and have been on the fence about adding to it. That being said, here goes!;)

When I build a knife, I feel that I insert into the knife a tiny bit of myself, call it soul, or karma or whatever. It is my sincerest hope that the new owner/owners somehow sense that bit of me, when they take ownership of the knife. I know with my brain that a knife is nothing but an inanimate object but also feel there is a very real human connection between the person/persons that created the knife and the person/persons using/owning the knife.

Ken
 
I believe you can "put your soul" into something but my definition would be you did your absolute best. I don't believe in a mystic spiritual transference, but I'm sure others will disagree and that is their right.
 
Absintheur said:
For example the early 1900's Remington Boy Scout knife I bought for 5 bucks in an "Antique" Shop a few months back. Not only is stopping to visit such a shop is out of character for me but I was on my way out the door when the naggling feeling that I missed something made me go back in and look again and I found the Remington in a box of junk knives. The good karma that knife had built up in it by a previous owner obviously called to my own karma.
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Pictures? looks like a new thread.:thumbup::eek:
 
Stelth said:
I believe you can "put your soul" into something but my definition would be you did your absolute best. I don't believe in a mystic spiritual transference, but I'm sure others will disagree and that is their right.
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I think you've made your point...;)
 
I think that there are things in all of our lives that will have/ hold a special place or meaning to us becase we can see in it the trials and victories that it has been a part of. Often times those trials and victories are part of our own lives, sometimes they were a part of the lives of others that we've loved. I think that the soul we see is the label we give the memories and emotions that we feel through the connection we share with the object.

Chuck
 
Those of us who have felt it know there is a connection. Those who have not, have missed something. A couple of years ago at a flea market I could not leave a table that had a Case XX trapper with a unique bone handle. There was a whole table of knives and only this one "spoke to me". It still speaks to me and handling it brings a sense of well being that other objects do not. Is all this happening in my head? Not sure, but for those of you who nod your head & say "I know what he means" we are fortunate; for those of you who don't get it, I hope you can experience it some day.
 
jackknife said:
But them the Irish also believe ~ in banshee's fortelling the dead. :)

Carl.
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You've angered my wife too? :eek: She isn't Irish but I am. Oh yes. I believe.

If you record the wail and play it back at 4X speed you can hear her cry "You spent how much?!?!?!?"


As for inanimate objects having a "soul" I believe its more a matter of appreciating what has gone into the design or craftsmanship. An appreciation for the makers work.

Its like looking at a sculpture and seeing art where someone else see's a rock that someone wasted their time carving. Hearing the sound that a Ferrari 260 or 312 make and understanding. Not just hearing noise. While one may prefer Bach and a fine whine another might find them "soulless". Yet they can be moved by the lines of a knife handle and a good guitar solo.

Even if you think a knife or a wine or a painting doesn't have a soul. There is something that stirs your soul and you can't deny a connection when you come in contact with it. If someone hasn't found what stirs theirs, they're missing out and I hope they find it.
 
ken erickson said:
I have read this thread a few times with interest and have been on the fence about adding to it. That being said, here goes!;)

When I build a knife, I feel that I insert into the knife a tiny bit of myself, call it soul, or karma or whatever. It is my sincerest hope that the new owner/owners somehow sense that bit of me, when they take ownership of the knife. I know with my brain that a knife is nothing but an inanimate object but also feel there is a very real human connection between the person/persons that created the knife and the person/persons using/owning the knife.

Ken
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Ken,

It is the karma.

I see them bush tails and I tell them “You karma around here and I’ll fry you up for dinner.”:eek:
 
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