What to do with a new knife?

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woolfam

Joined
Aug 10, 2006
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I just received a new Spyderco Meadowlark and it made me think...

What do others do with a new knife? Just use and enjoy it? Take it apart and clean it up / look for burrs? Sharpen it? Modify it?

What would you do with a new Meadowlark?
 
When I get a new knife, I carry it, use it, and just sit and open and close it while watching TV for about 2 weeks, or until the new wears off. Once the new wears off I put it in the safe until I feel the erge to pull it out and carry it again for a little while. BTW welcome to the forum
 
Carry it and use it lightly for a few days to a week. If I don't like it as much as I expected, it gets traded. If I do like it, then I reprofile it to something more practical for cutting, something more acute. Then it just gets carried and used like any other knife.
 
Vivi said:
Carry it and use it lightly for a few days to a week. If I don't like it as much as I expected, it gets traded. If I do like it, then I reprofile it to something more practical for cutting, something more acute. Then it just gets carried and used like any other knife.
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Pretty much.


Oh, and of course some "new toy!!!" fondling here and there. :D
Honestly, though, the best part for me is actually putting it to good use for the first time, getting the first scratch on the blade from some real WORK, you know using it. :)
 
First cut up the package the knife came in. Then cut the next nearest object. Repeat. I hope this helps...
 
If I got a Spyderco Meadowlark, I'd spend the first night just looking at how it's constructed, as I do with all of my knives. I'd really like to see the fit, finish, and how the handles and everything look in person as I've yet to see a Meadowlark in person. Then I'd start using it, because I only buy knives that I can afford, and anything that I can afford is a high value/low-priced knife that I don't need to be too worried about using! Though sometimes it's not that easy :) Just use and enjoy! It's a wallet-friendly knife. How do you like it? Do you have a stainless Delica/Endura or something to compare it to? They look like they're fun to cut with, like the blade of my Buck Squire.
 
For me, it depends on the knife. Usually it will go in my pocket and simply get used as I would my regular EDC blades - more often than not, I take the new one as well as my regular's. Gives me a better reference. This could be anywhere from a week to two weeks depending on how much I use it. If it doesn't fit well in my regular EDC rotation, it goes into the collection and will likely get used when I decide there's a good place, etc to use it. I don't use larger folders that often, so when I get one, like the BM710D2, it rides in my Maxpedition Jumbo for a while. I was a little hesitant on my more expensive ones to use them harder but just in the last months, I have been working my larger ones (and more expensive...) harder. I enjoy the collecting part of it - it is fun getting a new folder and seeing if it can replace my EDC ones. I do a fair amount of cutting in my regular day to day stuff, mostly smaller things, but you sure find out how useful certain designs are. For things that I do, nothing has come that close to my Delica's or Mini-Grips for general utility. Some other are better at specific things, but...... My Ka-Bar/Dozier folding hunter is my beater and it's been also hard to find one at that price/performance point to replace it. SS Byrd Meadowlark was close, but too heavy. Byrd Crow was also too heavy - I carry the Ka-Bar IWB, so I want it light, but useful. I'm figuring that the FRN Meadowlark would be a really good future bet. Have to wait though - just bought too much this month already:)

- gord
 
NeedleRemorse said:
How do you like it? Do you have a stainless Delica/Endura or something to compare it to? They look like they're fun to cut with, like the blade of my Buck Squire.
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The only knife I can compare it to is the Kershaw Liner Action 2410ST I have carried for years. I have enjoyed the Kershaw because it is very light weight (1.2 oz compared to the Meadowlark's 4.0 oz), has a useful (to me) blade length (just under 3"), I have been able to use a Lansky sharpening kit to put a very good edge on the Kershaw, the handle has smooth, rounded edges (does not wear holes in my pockets), and, using the thumbstud, the Kershaw can be opened lightening fast.

The only reason I wanted to replace it was that it is a very noisy knife. When carried in a pocket (I don't like pocket clips) with coins or keys the aluminum handles (even with the rubber insets) make a loud clanking sound. I had to carry it in an otherwise empty pocket to keep from making a racket walking down the hallway.

I decided about a year ago to replace it and have read and researched about many options. I liked both the Delcia and the Mini-Griptilian, but $50 was, in my mind, just a little too much to spend on a pocket knife. (I know that is contrary to the thinking of many on this forum, but a knife to me is a tool - I have other "hobbies".)

When Spyderco came out with the Byrd series I thought I might find a new knife in that lineup. The Meadowlark is about the same size as my old Kershaw, and when they released it with the G-10 scales I decided to give it a try.

The only things I haven't liked so far are all the sharp edges (other than the obvious one :) ). I'll probably take it apart and try to polish / smooth some of them to make it a little more pocket friendly. And it cannot be opened quickly unless I hold the blade and flip the handle open. I assume it will get easier to open as I use it.

It certainly is a well-built, solid-feeling little knife. So far I'm satisfied.
 
I look it over very well. Then if it's a folder I put it into my pocket. Fixed blade in the drawer. Soon comes the itch to use it, and as soon as the opportunity comes along, bam! I'm cutting the snot out of something. It does make me feel better if it's something that actually needs to be cut rather than looking for something to cut and using it that way. I know I'm probably a little insane. But I love to use my knives. They don't deserve to just sit around. They need to be used hard. (IMO).
 
I carefully examine each new knife for defects, not looking for production flaws here, just the obvious stuff. I then take a bunch of pictures for the files. Since all my knives are users, I work them into the rotation and just start using.
 
First, I'd fill out the next page in my collection catalog. Then I'd get out all of my other Spyderco knives, line them up with the Meadowlark, and begin fondling and opening and closing each knife for comparison. Then, after some time (hours or minutes depending on the knife), I'd replace them all into their original boxes to await the next new Spyderco arrival.

If I really liked the Meadowlark and intended to carry it as a "User", I'd get online and order another.

It's not a hobby; it's a sickness. :) :) :)

-Bob
 
Even my fanciest knives are still knives. Knives are for using and carrying. Where's the joy in a nice knife is you cannot carry and use it?

"This is my super dooper golden diamond laser special, but I cannot use it- only look at it" Never!
 
IUKE12 said:
I carefully examine each new knife for defects, not looking for production flaws here, just the obvious .
Click to expand...

Then
johnwaynesandw said:
I carry it, use it, and just sit and open and close it while watching TV for about 2 weeks, or until the new wears off.
Click to expand...

Then
gordonk said:
...it will go in my pocket and simply get used as I would my regular EDC blades - more often than not, I take the new one as well as my regular's. Gives me a better reference. This could be anywhere from a week to two weeks depending on how much I use it. If it doesn't fit well in my regular EDC rotation, it goes into the collection and will likely get used when I decide there's a good place, etc to use it.
- gord
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What they said.


=============================
In God I trust.
All others bring data.
 
Cut yourself...


No! I don't mean badly or suicide, geez. I usually mess with new knives so much they bite me at least twice. If one hasn't it just doesn't feel right.

Basically, play with it, open close open close, cut cut cut.
 
Nelsonmc, funny you should say that. The other day I got a box of knives from UPS. A couple of them were Forshner meat cutter's pieces. I opened the box and started removing paper at a fast rate (a friend was waiting in his car outside to go somewhere), and jammed the tip of the 5" semi-stiff boning knife into my left ring finger hard enough that when I pulled my hand from the box in surprise, the knife, and it's perforated plastic slipcover, came right along with it hanging from the end of my finger....that was exciting I will tell you.
 
bigbcustom said:
Nelsonmc, funny you should say that. The other day I got a box of knives from UPS. A couple of them were Forshner meat cutter's pieces. I opened the box and started removing paper at a fast rate (a friend was waiting in his car outside to go somewhere), and jammed the tip of the 5" semi-stiff boning knife into my left ring finger hard enough that when I pulled my hand from the box in surprise, the knife, and it's perforated plastic slipcover, came right along with it hanging from the end of my finger....that was exciting I will tell you.
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Many many years ago I got a new Schrade Cliphanger (if you remember those) and it was packaged in one of those hard clamshells. So I pulled out my other knife at the time and started to cut the clamshell open, well it went right through and into my hand between my index finger and thumb. About an hour and 5 stitches later, I finally got to play with my new knife, which the next day ended up biting me, but not as bad lol. :D
 
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