What is it that attracts you to Knives?

Well, for me, the knife is one of man's oldest and most useful tools.

Of course the workmanship plays a role too.

I just like em!


<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Recharge:
Is it the look?

Is it the feel?

Is it the beauty of the blade?

Is it the power of the possibilities?

What is it that attracts you to knives?

I have always been fascinated with folding pocket knives mainly and certain fixed blade hunting knives secondly. Also, there is something about a boot knife. But I mainly own smaller folding knives 5" and under.

Do you sit in front of the TV opening and closing a knife? I do. I like to give equal time to my knives. I dont like stiff, unbroken in knives. I like all of my knives to be opened and closed at least a few thousand times, oil droplet now and then, carry in pocket now and then...

But I only carry designated knives that I will use. I don't carry the special ones for anything other than show or to snap open and closed. Sort of like how someone may lean up against a bar flipping a big shiny coin, but I would rather excersize a nice pocket knife. It is also nice to carry a small snappy mother of pearl smooth 2-4 blade job just for the comfort of it. Like lounging in a 2,000.00 leather barcalounger, just to do it.

My closest relationships are with the knives that have cut me. Not nessessarily my favorite knives, but there is something special about a knife that bites you because you were careless. It is almost like a teacher. It creates memories that last. And the deeper cut, the longer the memory lasts.

Yes, we must respect our knives. Knives do not like to be handled by careless hands. A knife is most comfortable in the hands of someone who is confident holding it and operating it.

A good knife holder will practice using a knife with either hand. You must be able to function your knife with either hand. If you are pinned down is a position that causes you to be forced to use your knife with the opposite hand that you are used to, you must be able to function with that hand also.

Example: You are under your sink installing a GE water purifier. You are all crinkled up half on your side and half on your back with a small mag-light in your mouth, you get to the part where you must trim 2" off of the plastic supply tube, the arm that you normally use is jammed between cans of ajax,lemon floor cleaner,comet,old english & numerous rags, towels & SOS pads, both used and unused....and the dishwasher and garbage disposal hoses are in the way.

OK, you must use the opposite hand to get your knife out of your pocket that you are laying on, and then you have to open it with that lame hand and try to function with it properly. If you make the wrong move, you could easily cause a memory to happen.

It is good to practice using either hand.

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They are sharp and pointy...and some are beautiful.
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ahh, these are all great reasons and great stories also.

The question arises... Where has a particular knife been? Where is a particular knife going?

A knife has a life, just as everything else has a life.

Give your knives a good life and they will give you a good feeling. If you have lots of knives in your collection, it is good to walk each one once in a while. A good knife deserves a good walk now and then.

Oh, I almost forgot....gotta have a car knife. Every knife person, must have a knife somewhere in the car. I like to find a good place to keep a knife under the dash or seat, somewhere that you can grab, pull and have.
 
I have to agree with mikemck, I also carry a Glock 27 or a Colt Combat Commander,but why I love knives I really don't know.But what I do know is that's an expensive "sickness"
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JimBob
 
Knives remind me of the cosmos. Look at the stars, the moon, Jupiter in a telescope, etc. and you get his awe inspiring humility and affection for its beauty and simplicity. Dots of light and color dancing on a black canvas, moving in circles upon circles upon circles. But there is an inner side to the cosmos, one that dances according to the tunes of kepler's Laws, General and Special Relativity and the wacky world of Quantum mechanics. The universe is an extremely complex, yet extremely simple and beautiful thing.

I see knives the same way. I got into knife making first and foremost to learn more about knives. Knives are very sexy, awe inspiring, give off warm utilitarian fuzzy feelings when you cut something, etc. And yet knives have their own secret inner side too. there is much mroe to heat treating than heating a blade with a propane torch and dunking it. You have to worry about martensite, Austensite, draw times, draw temperatures, sub-zero quenching, martempering, differential heat treating, etc. There are a myriad of blade grinds and a satin finish isn't a satin finish- there are several different kinds and methods of putting on such a finish. then there is micarta, which is plastic, but a very compelx one too. Put it all together and you have a simple, yet complex, yet beautiful work of art, that is an essential tool.

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"Come What May..."
 
I have liked knives since I was a small boy and spent a lot of time in the woods and fishing so there was always a need for a knife I have fouond this to be true all my life you always need a knife. I love them because they are shinny and sharp. They don't have to be expensive either for me to like them most of them look good except the realy poor Pakistan knives. I love knives and blades of all shapes and sizes.Well I could go on but that is my story.
 
Sorry about multiple posts.(Netscape & so)
In my country, knives were always thought as tools and nobody cared.
I got my first one on my 4th birthday and guess what happened immediately....
Then came the movie "West Side Story" and the "powers that are" banned switchblades, for no specific reason, no incidents having happened.
Much later, there was an invasion of people from §?&%£ who thought, that "family honor" was the most important thing right after !*$)+ and so authorities banned quasi all knives (with no results, of course).
Out of sheer contradiction, this made me an "instant knife collector". As an really old guy, I had to provide means for at least 2 generations to come.
Happy sharpening
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[This message has been edited by ZUT&ZUT (edited 02-06-2001).]

[This message has been edited by ZUT&ZUT (edited 02-06-2001).]
 
There is always something connected to the past that triggers the knife attraction, it seems.
 
Why do we like knives? An excellent question indeed!

As someone pointed out, I think part of it is due to a “primal” sort of thing. As one of the Spyderco adds points out, “All God’s critters got knives.” Except us. And I don’t mind being referred to as a ‘critter,’ as long as I get a knife!
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Aesthetics and beauty are part of it. God and/or our environment has bestowed upon each of us appreciation for certain things. Some like stamps; some like figurines; some are fond of macramae; others take unbridled delight in woodwork. We find a certain raw and natural beauty in sharpened steel.

The sight of an African rose or an Asian orchid is enough to capture the focused attention of most florists or gardeners for quite a spell. Bodybuilders get this inner satisfaction by just looking at a dumbbell; it awakens within them some sort of instinctive primal energy, and is a symbol of victory and achievement. It’s mysterious and not altogether understandable.

And it is ‘set off’ by somethings and not by others, however ‘close’ to the actual item of affection. Shears and scissors don’t do a thing for me. But a knife! Ahhhh, … that awakens in me the primal, natural instincts, urges, and passions to conquer, be it some wood, an animal, rope or just food.

Any knife will set off this inner urge, though some knives solicit stronger passions than others! Though the appreciation for my wife’s “Surgical Stainless Steel”, broken-tipped, kitchen knife awakens those affections within me slightly, a Wegner, Military or Bowie blow reveille loudly in my ear!

Focusing momentarily on the symbolism, knives denote battle, offense and defense, victory, a readiness to take on whatever we come up against, and the feeling or satisfaction of a conqueror. This may also help explain why more of the female of our species are not as enthralled with knives as are we: men are conquerors; women are feelers. That is: the entire ‘natural’ make-up of men is steeped or centered in being a conqueror (be it of his environment, his competition, his enemy, or his woman!); whereas the ‘natural’ inner make-up of women is steeped or centered in being feelers (they are naturally more sympathetic, compassionate, and much more able to really ‘tune in’ to the emotions of others). I’m not being chauvinistic, and this natural ability of women is not a weakness, it’s a strength.

Men are conquerors. And knives are symbols of conquering whatever circumstances we may run up against, including natural or man-made disasters, and crises of all sorts. Personally, I do not use a gun. I have nothing against them, and am 110% in support of the second amendment. I just focus on knives. And it seems to me, that aside from killing (be it mammal, fowl, or fish), knives are far more useful tools. I’m not trying to get flamed (this IS BLADEforums.com), it’s just fairly plain the diversity of use a knife has. Why bring this up? Because although a gun is also viewed as a symbol of conquering, in most of the circumstances we are bound to find ourselves, a knife would “out-tool” a gun. So, a knife is a symbol of having conquered or being able to conquer nearly any crisis which could threaten our peace and comfort. Therefore, those of us even more ‘steeped’ in ‘victory over circumstances’ (in other words, “Knifeknuts”), cleave to the symbol of that victory: knives. (Though I’m sure that those who are also “Gungnuts”, cleave closely as well to that symbol!)

To close this rather uncharacteristically loooonngg post, allow me to quote one of our own:

"As we have said before, the knife -- after your knowledge -- is the most important tool you can have in a survival situation." (Ron Hood)Taken from here: http://www.survival.com/links.htm

The only place I go without one (or several!) is the shower. In fact, I often sleep with a Wegner clipped to my shorts! (Really appreciate that detent!) And I’m always ready to conquer my surroundings if necessary. And when not necessary? I use them on the oranges I have for breakfast!
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Champions make improvements as fast as losers make excuses.
 
My initial attraction was based on the fact that knives were shiny,cool things you could hold in your hand.What keeps my interest is all the fantastic people I have met while on this knife odessy.
David

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AKTI# A000150
NC Custom Knifemakers Guild member
NC Knife Knuts member
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Full Tang Clan:
They are sharp, shiney, dangerous, and mom never approved of them as a child.</font>
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I think it was the "mom never approved" thing that got me started. My dad's answer was "what kind of man is it that doesn't carry a knife? - what can he do without one?".
 
Champion, good story and facts...very true. It is a primal instinct that lives in our minds.

I love these answers!!!!!!!

Yess, keep them coming! This is great!

Knives Knives and more Knives

Why we love them
 
I'm a chick and I like knives! Like guns better but knives are OK. I can only afford one expensive hobby.
 
When I was 5 my Father & Grandfather, took me out on the farm to start teaching me about hunting, marksmanship & firearms saftey.

Towards the the end of the session my grandfather said "Boy, always have a sharp knife on you"
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From then on I didn't look back.

Now it's the combination of utility, beauty and sheer "cool" factor of a nice knife.



[This message has been edited by Ash (edited 02-09-2001).]
 
Gitarmac, what kind of knife or knives do you have? veery cool, chick that collects guns and likes knives. I like.
 
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