The Using My New Knife For The First Time Blues

BePrepared

BePrepared

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Aug 26, 2010
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Does anyone else experience this weird feeling?

There's something about pulling out a new, shiny knife, and using it to cut something for the first time, potentially scratching the finish or getting it a bit more dull, that is both sad, and a rush... the first time you cut, it's YOURS...
 
No, I look forward to the first cut. Every task adds character and I enjoy watching a knife get its marks as I use it.
 
I consider it mine when I find it in my mailbox. :D

The cutting isn't what bothers me, it's the unnecessary wear & tear like accidentally dropping it on concrete, etc.
 
I seldom use a new knife. I stick pretty well to one or two older favorites.
But, yes, I know exactly what you mean.
 
I've felt that on a couple nice knives that I bought to be real users. My zt 0550, my Benchmade 710 with m390, and the first Delica that I bought, strangely. A couple others in the same vein (zt0560, 350, Grip titian...) and I was absolutely slavering to get to a stack of cardboard, prune something in the garden, cut a sandwich in half, whatever. Especially with the 0550 and 710 I went to the first cut with a little trepidation. I had been watching the mail like a hawk, anticipating. Probably just wanted to enjoy the new toy being pristine for a little while longer, but a toy is no fun if it doesn't get played with.

Either way I always love the first cut.
 
Can't say I do, I love using my knife for the first time. I don't buy knives to sit in my safe or be presented so I try to use all of them when I can. I also have a tradition for myself where the newest knife opens up the box for the next knife I get, sort of as a welcome to the newest one!
 
I do a "initiation by food".

The first thing I do with a new knife is use it in my next meal that requires cutlery. Food is a nice light-use task that gets it down and dirty without unnecessary wear and tear.

Fun fact: Cutting steak with a karambit can get annoying very quickly.
 
nopyo said:
I do a "initiation by food".

The first thing I do with a new knife is use it in my next meal that requires cutlery. Food is a nice light-use task that gets it down and dirty without unnecessary wear and tear.

Fun fact: Cutting steak with a karambit can get annoying very quickly.
Click to expand...

The trick for cutting steak with a karambit is making sure the meat's still on a cow :p Rare steak is better anyways!
 
Nope, I usually cut up the cardboard box that it was shipped in. I usually put a new edge on all my knives within a day or two of owning them.
 
Haha I wish I could say that but I carried my sebenza for 3 days at my job working in an industrial warehouse, after 3 days the edge was beat to s*#t, the lockup had moved from 50 to 85 percent, and there was rust on the blade and the thumbstud lost most of its anodizing. In my opinion? If you buy a knife that you're not willing to scratch up, its a waste of your money. I'm the type of dude who would buy a william henry and spend 3 hours cutting cardboard and zipties to test the edge
 
Depends on the knife :) when i first got my xm-18 i was a bit anxious to use it, i said to hell with it, its a knife made to be used so i whittled down a log to get on with it. When one year ago i bought my first sebie, i dropped it on concrete and broke the tip( broke just a mm or two) i almost felt like crying, but after 5 mins i was happy that i could finally start really using it. Two weeks ago i got my rockstead and i'm kinda scared to use it! The finish is sooooooooo amazing and it is sooooooo sharp i dare not dull it. So we'll see how that goes :p, probably will end up in tears :p. However i got a spyderco manix translucent blue two days ago, first thing i did was use it to strip,electric wires :) generally with me, when a knife is just perfect i'm affraid to mess with its perfection!
 
I occasionally suffer from "Cutters Remorse" - but only for a minute or two.

If I bought it, by God I'm gonna use it.
 
I suffer from mild first cut remorse on most LE's, folders over $300, and damascus blades.

It usually goes away after the first cut. It never goes away with damascus blades.
 
A knife looks beautiful twice : out of the box, pristine and perfect.... and after years of faithfull service : polished and weathered by daily use. After years you will also know if it is (or not) the diamond it seemed as brand new... and (bonus) if you were a smart user. The special glow earned by quality aging through normal wear is what makes for some outstandingly beautiful knives. Just my taste.
 
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