I've known several people who lived to a ripe old age using just one single pocket knife, and just taking care of it.
Among my amigos, I am known as the guy to "take care and fix up a knife". I love old tradtionals, and the better back story it has the more I enjoy working on the knife. I completely agree that they will last a lifetime or more with just a bit of care. I recently cleaned up and sharpened a tiny CASE knife (about the size of a Buck 305) for a friend of mine that his Dad gave him over 55 years ago. This is a tiny knife, but has been used well but not cared for all that well. Still, it came out great.
Likewise, another brought me his father's CASE medium folder for the same treatment. His Dad (now mid 80s) can't recollect when he bought it, but it was old when his Dad gave it to him about 40 years ago. Rust and pitting removed the markings or I could have gone to the CASE chart and found a good guess, but that wasn't possible with that knife.
When I get one of these old family jewels, I remove the obvious rust, but no pits or staining, and never is there any polishing of any type. I oil and work the pivots, clean the gunk out of the case and put an edge on them and that is it. In both cases mentioned above, both knives are back in the hands of their owners. They were thrilled, and the fella with the tiny CASE carries that knife every day now. He feels that even as fragile as that little knife is, he will get another 50 out of it at this rate. My point is that used as cutting tools and matched to the task the "old timey" patterns are quite strong and will stand the test of time and work, even in the pixie sizes.
I've used a traditional pocket knife all my life, and never had one let me down, nor have I heard of any of my friends having theirs let them down. But then in all that time I've yet to be attacked by a car door. Chevy or Ford. Of course, there was one time a Dodge was giving me a hairy eyeball, but I just kept on walking. You know how hinky those Dodge's can be.
OK, you owe me a box of paper towels for all the coffee that spurted out when I read that! That was hilarious, and dead spot on!
Go on any construction site and see what the real hard use knife is. It's a Stanley utility knife. Those hard working carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and masons are not using modern one hand folders, unless it's a metal framed Huskey they bought at Lowes along with a package of spare blades.
And again, spot on. When I cut sheetrock, shingles, insulation, felt paper, roll roofing, open large cardboard containers (think kitchen cabinets and stove, refrigerators, etc.) and on an on... I always use my utility knife. It is simply the right tool for the job, with small, thin blades that slice like crazy. With a new blade in the handle you can trim moldings, slice away electrical wire sheathing, and even sharpen your carpenter's pencil.
NEVER, EVER, not once, have I ever seen a real working man carry or use one of those $250 sharpened prybars out on a job as an EDC. They have their place no doubt, but it is most likely that place is in the hands (or desk drawer) of someone that is waiting for the impending government takeover, one that subscribes to "The Omega Man" syndrome, or actually thinks "The Walking Dead" is based on a real life story. Heck, who knows... one of those guys might be trapped with the only other living being, a female of course, and be called upon to repopulate the Earth! That would certainly complete the fantasy.
Used right, a traditional pocket knife should last as long or longer than a modern knife. With the thinner blades it will defiantly cut better. JUst don't get in any fights with stray cars.
Carl.
As always, sage advice. But for me, I am now going to keep a better eye on the Dodge products. I wasn't sure, but your post now confirms the reason for my feelings of unease when I am around them...
Robert
