What Six Months Of Use Looks Like

mortonm said:
I have had this 15 Boys Knife for almost exactly six months now. It is a "Radio Jack"

It is from 2013 but it was essentially brand new when I got it.

I have carried this nearly every day, for me it is the perfect pocket knife. Right size, right blade, right scales, nice and simple. I also really enjoy having the cap lifter for all those random little things that come up.

Here is the before



After, as you can see the patina is pretty strong with some pepper spots but no rust, I just oiled it this morning so it looks a bit greasy and my apologies for the cell phone picture. The ebony scales look the same as they did when i got it, I just toss it into my pocket often with change or keys. I was a little worried about the durability of wood (as I often go for micarta for functionality). However, I did not hesitate after I saw so many knives from 100 years ago made in ebony (some still looking in good condition)

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Love it! I've been wanting this same knife. Love my beerscout but I think I would enjoy a clip more. The ebony is excellent. I also tend to carry one knife for a long stretch.
 
mortonm said:
some would never ever let their knife look like that.
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I am one of those who would not let my knife look like that, even if I used it a lot. I understand that there are many people who truly enjoy seeing a new knife take on a well-worn look. That's part of their enjoyment of the hobby.

I probably would have used some Ren Wax on those handles when I first got it, and reapplied occasionally as needed. I would have used a little polish on the bolster once in a while, and kept the patina at bay with a little mineral oil, or perhaps a light use of metal polish once in a while. That's part of my enjoyment of the hobby.

My most carried knives don't look brand new. The blades have scratches from cutting carboard or reinforced packing tape. The metal on some of the CV blades takes on a little of a cloudy, more grayish hue (but still shiny and polished) over time, the bolsters may have a little scuff or two, and lighter bone colors may have darkened a bit (sometimes intentionally). I call the overall look "resisted wear."

I don't get out sandpaper or a dremel to buff a pocket knife back to pristine condition, but I will take the time once every couple of weeks to do a little maintenance, and a drop of mineral oil on the pivot with excess rubbed into the blades is pretty easy to do. It's quick and easy for me.

Just a different approach. Nothing wrong with mortonm's way in my opinion, it's just not my way.
 
rishma said:
Love it! I've been wanting this same knife. Love my beerscout but I think I would enjoy a clip more. The ebony is excellent. I also tend to carry one knife for a long stretch.
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I also went from a beer scout to this as I like to look of the clip more and its a bit better in the food situation, these are pretty hard to track down as they are 4 years old now, though there were a couple of runs with the clip blades

jc57 said:
I am one of those who would not let my knife look like that, even if I used it a lot. I understand that there are many people who truly enjoy seeing a new knife take on a well-worn look. That's part of their enjoyment of the hobby.

I probably would have used some Ren Wax on those handles when I first got it, and reapplied occasionally as needed. I would have used a little polish on the bolster once in a while, and kept the patina at bay with a little mineral oil, or perhaps a light use of metal polish once in a while. That's part of my enjoyment of the hobby.

My most carried knives don't look brand new. The blades have scratches from cutting carboard or reinforced packing tape. The metal on some of the CV blades takes on a little of a cloudy, more grayish hue (but still shiny and polished) over time, the bolsters may have a little scuff or two, and lighter bone colors may have darkened a bit (sometimes intentionally). I call the overall look "resisted wear."

I don't get out sandpaper or a dremel to buff a pocket knife back to pristine condition, but I will take the time once every couple of weeks to do a little maintenance, and a drop of mineral oil on the pivot with excess rubbed into the blades is pretty easy to do. It's quick and easy for me.

Just a different approach. Nothing wrong with mortonm's way in my opinion, it's just not my way.
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Well said, Its great that we can all do things our own way and it makes the same model of knife take on 2 or 3 different looks, which are all great
 
I'm with Jake. Patina is what it is. It isn't good or bad. I don't fetishize it, but neither do I fetishize a shiny blade. As long as I don't see any red or brown I'll leave the blade alone.

I can't believe you've used that knife for six months without sharpening it. I find most slipjoints, GEC included, to be unusable out of the box. Like anything else though, people have their preferences when it comes to sharpness.
 
kamagong said:
I'm with Jake. Patina is what it is. It isn't good or bad. I don't fetishize it, but neither do I fetishize a shiny blade. As long as I don't see any red or brown I'll leave the blade alone.

I can't believe you've used that knife for six months without sharpening it. I find most slipjoints, GEC included, to be unusable out of the box. Like anything else though, people have their preferences when it comes to sharpness.
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The previous owner must have sharpened it, because it was quite sharp, it cleanly cuts paper without hesitation, I dont really need it any sharper than that.
 
mortonm said:
None, really

It has never touched a stone. I keep a mini strop in my desk at work and every week or two I give it a quick stropping and I have never really had an issue.
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For me, I like the idea that you let your knife develop a patina from using it. But, I have to agree that most if not all GEC's I have purchased as new/new are not sharp. They really don't have a properly established bevel. Those I am going to use, get sharpened (profiled and honed) immediately. Still, after cutting up cardboard they need another honing. I honestly have never stropped a knife, so I don't know if that would do it for me? Interesting post. Thanks!
 
Glad to see you're enjoying that #15. I really like the bareheaded ebony covers on that. It's my favorite wood and is very durable and of course classic.

I have a Radio Jack in blood red bone and it's one of my favorites by far. A great combo of spear blade and cap-lifter/flat tip for light prying or snugging up a loose screw (can't put much torque on it or it'll loosen up the pivot pin remember). It's my Official bbq knife for those cold beers and then takes care of the steak when it hits my plate.
 
AShearer said:
For me, I like the idea that you let your knife develop a patina from using it. But, I have to agree that most if not all GEC's I have purchased as new/new are not sharp. They really don't have a properly established bevel. Those I am going to use, get sharpened (profiled and honed) immediately. Still, after cutting up cardboard they need another honing. I honestly have never stropped a knife, so I don't know if that would do it for me? Interesting post. Thanks!
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It is worth a shot, the stop keeps it sharp when it is sharp, and doesnt remove nearly as much material as a stone etc.

arizonaranchman said:
Glad to see you're enjoying that #15. I really like the bareheaded ebony covers on that. It's my favorite wood and is very durable and of course classic.

I have a Radio Jack in blood red bone and it's one of my favorites by far. A great combo of spear blade and cap-lifter/flat tip for light prying or snugging up a loose screw (can't put much torque on it or it'll loosen up the pivot pin remember). It's my Official bbq knife for those cold beers and then takes care of the steak when it hits my plate.
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yes sir! Just a million uses and always in my pocket, my wife makes fun of me sometimes until she needs it for something...

Just not a normal thing for a 33 year old to do anymore
 
mortonm said:
It is worth a shot, the stop keeps it sharp when it is sharp, and doesnt remove nearly as much material as a stone etc.



yes sir! Just a million uses and always in my pocket, my wife makes fun of me sometimes until she needs it for something...

Just not a normal thing for a 33 year old to do anymore
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Thanks mortonm mortonm I'll give it a try. And, don't let anybody make fun of you for carrying a pocket knife. When it's needed, you'll be the man of the hour! I'm 64. Been carrying one since I was a kid, even in an office job.
 
jc57 said:
Single favorite? No, not really. I tend to alternate between 2-blade jacks and 3-blade stockmans as my most often carried pocket knives, though sometimes a single-blade knife makes it into the pocket.
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I alternate between the 77 Spear/Coping Barlow and a Stockman myself. Those extra blades being so handy is nice.

AShearer said:
Thanks mortonm mortonm I'll give it a try. And, don't let anybody make fun of you for carrying a pocket knife. When it's needed, you'll be the man of the hour! I'm 64. Been carrying one since I was a kid, even in an office job.
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Yep, mine is ALWAYS in my pocket, even around the house. I use it many times a day for various tasks. I feel naked without it.
 
kamagong said:
I'm with Jake. Patina is what it is. It isn't good or bad. I don't fetishize it, but neither do I fetishize a shiny blade. As long as I don't see any red or brown I'll leave the blade alone.

I can't believe you've used that knife for six months without sharpening it. I find most slipjoints, GEC included, to be unusable out of the box. Like anything else though, people have their preferences when it comes to sharpness.
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Interesting! I don't use the heck out of a knife, but I cut something almost every day, sometimes breaking down cardboard so I can fit a lot of it into my recycling. I carry a Barlow most of the time (old Boiley), which was sharpened in April of 2016, by a guy who makes a living sharpening knives, and it has only been stropped ever since. It remains sharp!
 
I agree that a knife can be kept sharp a good long time by stropping, but it has to get there first. The #73 that is my primary carry has been sharpened (reprofiled really) just once, though I have touched it up several times with 2000 grit paper. Most of the time I use a loaded strop to keep it up to snuff. In the 3+ years I've carried it, very little metal has been taken off. However, I took a fair bit of steel off in the initial profiling to get the blade to an acceptable level of sharpness.

How have you kept your knife sharp all this time Charlie? Even your Bose WT sees a stone once in a while.
 
waynorth said:
Interesting! I don't use the heck out of a knife, but I cut something almost every day, sometimes breaking down cardboard so I can fit a lot of it into my recycling. I carry a Barlow most of the time (old Boiley), which was sharpened in April of 2016, by a guy who makes a living sharpening knives, and it has only been stropped ever since. It remains sharp!
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Wello_O I guess I will have to get a strop, learn to strop and get stropping. I suspect when I touch up my blade on the Spyderco white stick flats, it's about the same thing, but might wear a little more metal off?
 
AShearer AShearer , for most uses, that will suffice, light strokes. I am a proficient free hand sharpener(nothing like our own @Jason B. ), and I have two bridle leather strops on burl wood bases, one with CBN and the other with DMT paste, I strop my knives as I use them through the week, and when called for I sharpen on the appropriate stone. You can actually lay your Spydie stones on the base flat, and give your blade an ever so gently strop on them. Everyone is different, do what works for you.
 
MT Damascus said:
AShearer AShearer , for most uses, that will suffice, light strokes. I am a proficient free hand sharpener(nothing like our own @Jason B. ), and I have two bridle leather strops on burl wood bases, one with CBN and the other with DMT paste, I strop my knives as I use them through the week, and when called for I sharpen on the appropriate stone. You can actually lay your Spydie stones on the base flat, and give your blade an ever so gently strop on them. Everyone is different, do what works for you.
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Kris: This is good information. I've used an Edge Pro which was great, but more than I needed and now have two Spydercos. One at each house. They do the job for me, but I know I am over doing it. This is all good to know.
 
The Crown Lifter is similar to your Radio Jack, and I really like the pattern a lot. Mine is not too far off from yours, as far as patina goes. It's a general use pocket knife, so it does cut food when I'm out. The blade is dark grey, with some blue there. The edge always looks nice after some stropping, because the bevel and edges get polished out.

I personally cut a 15 degree per side bevel on my knives, and touch them up at 20 on the Sharpmaker. Takes 4-5 strokes per side, and a bit of stropping makes it perfect for a while. Once that pattern is set up, it's a long time before I have to redo the 15 degree bevel. Months, really.
 
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Your knife looks better now than in the first picture in my opinion. Every knife doesn't need to be a shelf queen. I really enjoy using most of mine and like the character that develops from that use.
 
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