Use them and Lose them

[not2sharp]

You go on line, or run to a store, and become a proud owner of some maker's latest and greatest model. Whether it is a production or custom knife, you pull it out of its box and it has all the attributes that pursuaded you. The fit, the edge, the finish, the balance are as you expected them, and exactly as the factory produced them. But, that begins to change the very first time you use the knife. The edge becomes a bit duller, the finish is scratched or stained, and the geometry slowly but irreversibly begins to change. It becomes your knife, and its performance as much a measure of your performance as it is the original maker's.

So why do we pay so much attention to initial performance of factory fresh knives? Are we ignoring more important factors? Very few makers make any effort to instruct their customers on how to properly maintain their knives. Is there an optimal edge angle, or stone grit or type that we should be using? and, at which point should we simply stop sharpening and just send it back for heavier maintenance?

Some knives age gracefully, and some don't. Is that something we should be looking at?

n2s

 

[TheBadGuy]

I think it would be cool if makers instructed there customers on maintnence to include "When to send it in" and what services they can preform in the future to revamp your knife

 

[leroys_45]

This is really a good point. Personally, I modify every knife that I intend to keep and use. I usually round off the handle edges to a nice full radius, change the edge angle, etc. So personally, I don't mind buying used knives at all because I always fix them up anyway.

However, I still prefer the higher end of quality as it's a better springboard to start from.

As an aside, I recieved another Spyderco Lil' Temperance in the mail yesterday. I had my first one in my pocket as usual, so I compared the two. I have a real preference to my original, even though it has some scratches on the scales and all over the clip. It's mine, because I slicked it up just how I want it. I prefer it's character over the stale factory new model.