What's too nice for EDC?

I don't buy anything that's "too nice" to use, but I do often end up deciding they're too valuable to use. I'll conclude that I would rather sell the knife and get several less expensive knives to try out.

The closest I've gotten to a knife being "too nice" was the CF-inlaid large Insingo Sebenza I carried for a while - I ultimately parted with it because the thought of losing it was making me anxious. I now pretty much just carry knives in the $250 or less range, but still dip a little deeper into my pocketbook if I find something that might win me over.

Generally, though, I eschew knives with overly-ornate finishes if that's the primary attraction of the knife. Anodized handles are cool, but the ano wears off. Polished blades are neat at first but immediately look like garbage when scratched. I like a good stonewash, DLC, or satin finish. Something I can use and not feel like I'm blowing my nose on the Shroud of Turin.
 
Live and let live. Too nice to use? To expensive to use? I say, do whatever makes you happy. If you don't want to use an expensive knife, don't. If you want to toss it in the lake, go right ahead. It is your knife to do with as you please.

I buy something, look it over, fondle it, decide I might carry it later, put back in box...... stays in box as another knife arrives and I go through the same process. I have never sold a knife; probably just lazy.
 
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I've never had anything that was too nice to edc. I've decided some knives were too nice for a certain task though. If there's a chance I could slip and strike stone or steel with the blade edge and cause large chips I'll use a cheaper knife.
 
JR88FAN said:
Because not every knife we buy gives us pleasure from it's use.

I have a small collection of knives I don't and won't use....one day they will belong to my kids.

I admire them for certain aesthetic attributes, and other intangibles. I have no need to use them.

The mentality of "why buy it if you're not going to use it" is the same as "why would anyone ever need anymore knife then a PM2?"

This is a hobby, and as in all hobbies, from stamps to cars, people enjoy it in many different ways.
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^ What he said.
 
Has anyone here purchased the Cold Steel Ranch Boss stockman knife that just came out? I just sent one back due to fit and finish problems. Plus it was dull as a butter knife.
 
I have on my bucket list to get a centofante wharniffe and a Loveless bullet Gent's knife if they were in unused condition I would have to think really hard a out it as those two knife makers are gone. It would be an opportunity to be its custodians for however long before someone else could enjoy them. For me everything else would be fair game.
 
I only have a few too nice for EDC - safe queens and collectables. The rest I use.

Before the kids came, I also had a 'daily driver' car, a 'hauling' pickup truck, and a 'safe queen' Dodge Stealth RT that was too nice to EDC. ;)
 
I carry everything i own. Sebenza with custom anodized American flag gets carried most nowadays, reate horizon d will now be thrown in the mix. 400 dollar plus knives used on a daily basis but i carry a rat 1 in the truck for things that will scratch the blade. That, and Aus 8 sharpens much easier.
 
pwnc said:
Has anyone here purchased the Cold Steel Ranch Boss stockman knife that just came out? I just sent one back due to fit and finish problems. Plus it was dull as a butter knife.
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Did I miss something here? I thought this thread was about knives too nice to EDC. Anyway I use the heck out of a knife I have just bought regardless of price kind of like a kid with a new toy. Then I will go back to the same few I normally carry. Here's my problem, too many knives. Sometimes I forget about knives I have until for some reason I am checking out my knives and come across one I've forgotten about then I think oh yea great knife stick it in my pocket for a day or two then put it up and the cycle starts again. I am willing to bet more of you have this problem than not wanting to EDC an expensive knife.
 
So far nothing I've owned has been too nice to carry....couple of things have been a bit too big though.
 
None for me. I carry and use all the knives I buy. But it somebody wants to buy a knife and not use it that's fine with me just not my style.
 
r redden said:
Sometimes I forget about knives I have until for some reason I am checking out my knives and come across one I've forgotten about then I think oh yea great knife stick it in my pocket for a day or two then put it up and the cycle starts again. I am willing to bet more of you have this problem than not wanting to EDC an expensive knife.
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I forget about them all the time which leads to my comment >> My problem is that I like SAKs. One stays in my pocket and the cost is certainly not a deterrent for use. My daily carry knives tend to have about a 3" blade and stuff that is much longer or shorter does not get carried for long. I might give them a try, but I quickly revert back to the +/- 3-3.25" size area (perhaps 3.5"). So, any knife I carry generally is in addition to the 111 mm sak which many would consider a "big" pocket folder.
 
I bought the Ranch Boss to carry-that's the point, but for the price it has to be right. I will buy another and if it's good will send it to ApostleP to sharpen and polish up (I follow him on YouTube.)
 
I had not seen the Ranch Boss. Looked it up and yes, it is pricey and probably fits in this thread as a possible "too nice to carry or too expensive to carry". I wonder who is making them for Cold Steel? My guess is Canal Street Cutlery, but I don't know (yet).

By the way, it is the size I like at 4.25" closed. Added: If it was "dull as a butter knife", that probably means Queen.
 
I think I'd have to put the limit around $1k myself for something I would carry vs not hehe I use and abuse my knives
 
My most expensive knife I use is about 550 American dollars: a custom by TA Davison. I could dig a little deeper than that and could carry a 1k knife or so. After that I would just get too pissed off if I broke or lost it. I make pretty good money and that kind of loss would not ruin me in anyway but it would still be a significant irritant. That being said I would still be rather irritated losing a 50 dollar knife haha.

IMO a knife is too nice to EDC if you would be emotionally hurt if you lost or damaged the knife
 
This is my favorite folder, the Brad Southard AVO mid-tech. I've carried it every day this year, as it's my favorite. I have other folders; some that may be more expensive, but this one fits my hand and my casual EDC needs the best.
 
I buy knives because they're tools... If it suits my needs best, I'll use it until it is no longer usable.

By that same token, however, I don't own any $300+ knives... There's a line where you go from quality to art, and for me, that line seems to be about $300. I'm not into the art side of things, but if acceptable quality meant spending $1k, I'd do it and carry it happily.
 
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