What are knives to you?

[Comeuppance]

For me, they are:

Cutting tools for work.

A savings account of sorts, as I spend all my extra money on knives and then trade/sell up when possible… so I can get more, better knives.

Symbols of fine craftsmanship and mechanical precision to be appreciated and used.

A category of tools that rides the line between functional, entertaining, and artistic - the same knife could be lauded for how perfectly oriented it is towards a given task, while simultaneously being fun to mess with and beautiful to look at.

Man-toys to be played with and drooled over, acknowledging the 12-year-old mall ninja in all of us.

Also, here, they are a connection to thousands of people across the world who, despite varying tastes, all share an appreciation for a good knife. Where else could a construction worker, hunter, carpenter, retail worker, photographer, machinist, trail guide, fisherman, chef, outdoorsman, collector, self-defense expert, woodworker, EMT, firefighter, cubicle resident, police officer, and a soldier all come together to drool over the same thing?

 

[Charlie Mike]

Elegant weapons.

 

[22-rimfire]

Useful cutting tools that I depend on a great deal and also a money pit since I am always thinking about the next one.

 

[asdf12345]

The knives I own now are all what I would consider: excellent tools designed to see use, historically significant in some form or another, handcrafted in some respect by an artisan.

 

[Yo Mama]

physics, chemistry, and peak of human engineering

 

[Aias]

Sure, a cutting tool, but CM put it very nicely. I don't think that every knife fits his description, but nonetheless...

 

[CapitalizedLiving]

Knives are a millstone, a threat to my sanity and personal finances, a giant bag of mostly unused metal that regrows itself any time I try to prune it back.

Knives are also an artistic expression, a way to express aggression, elegance, aesthetic, and tactility. They are paintings you can hold, sculptures you can cut with.

In sum, knives are a love-hate relationship, with the balance shifting depending on life circumstances, moods, and that odd nagging feeling that occurs when you see a new one you want, and knowing you have no reason to buy it, you do it anyway.

 

[Shotgun]

Convenience mostly. I could get buy with a key or a pair of scissors if I really wanted to. Or a box knife at work. Having the light, sharp knife in my pocket is just WAY more convenient. I wonder how many hours I'll have saved over a lifetime because I simply don't have to look for a cutting tool every time I need one.

Hobby as well. I like to do some carving at home. Nothing fancy. Fuzzies and spoons. It's relaxing.

Also, man toy if I'm honest.

 

[Charr]

Useful cutting tools that I depend on a great deal and also a money pit since I am always thinking about the next one.

Me in a nutshell

Add in that they can be useful and utilitarian art as well, and sometimes pointless and obtuse objects of other people's desire. That second part is just the ones I don't like though

 

[stabman]

Knives are pretty much the only reason I turn on the internet.

 

[evltcat]

My Precious!!

I agree, knives are tools, and one of the most useful ever created. They are incredibly varied in shape, size, and purpose. Knives can be anything from a working tool, to a work of art, and everything in between. For a lot of us BF regulars they're an addiction, man jewelry, objects of desire, and in some cases obsession.
There is just something about a high quality knife that makes me go "I want one of those", and buy one.

 

[benchwarmer380]

All of the above.

And more than likely whatever comes below.

 

[crom]

If I don't know the answer will you throw me out of Valhalla?

 

[Shotgun]

Knives are pretty much the only reason I turn on the internet.

I'm kinda the same way. I do a lot of little searches for this and that throughout the day but the only thing to keep me on the internet for an extended period of time is looking at knives.

 

[Sikael]

Blades are the reason primitive man harnessed fire (using flint), skinned it's prey for clothing, allowing migration to more Northerly climes, and went from being the prey, huddling frightened in the dark, to the apex predator, using spears, arrows and bladed clubs (all variants of the cutting tool) to bring down beasts like the Short-faced Bear and Mastodon. I also consider them to be sharp and pointy, most of the time.

 

[pmek5]

For me, they are:

Cutting tools for work.

A savings account of sorts, as I spend all my extra money on knives and then trade/sell up when possible… so I can get more, better knives.

Symbols of fine craftsmanship and mechanical precision to be appreciated and used.

A category of tools that rides the line between functional, entertaining, and artistic - the same knife could be lauded for how perfectly oriented it is towards a given task, while simultaneously being fun to mess with and beautiful to look at.

Man-toys to be played with and drooled over, acknowledging the 12-year-old mall ninja in all of us.

Also, here, they are a connection to thousands of people across the world who, despite varying tastes, all share an appreciation for a good knife. Where else could a construction worker, hunter, carpenter, retail worker, photographer, machinist, trail guide, fisherman, chef, outdoorsman, collector, self-defense expert, woodworker, EMT, firefighter, cubicle resident, police officer, and a soldier all come together to drool over the thing?

↑ This - I don't think I could have said it better or added anything more.

 

[devieduran]

it was like a tool that have soul, elegant and dangerous

 

[SFW]

To me they are tools. Elegant tools, but tools none the less.

 

[AusLoX]

Mechanical works of art (for folders at least). Similar to cars and watches IMO

 

[olyanders]

Craftsmanship and badassery