What's Your New Knife Ritual?

Mark J

Mark J

Joined
Mar 15, 2001
Messages
2,450
OK, so your friend in the big brown truck has just pulled up to your door, dropped off the long-awaited box, and there you are sitting at the kitchen table giddy with excitement and ready to open the box. What is the ritual you go through? For example, do you always open the box with the same knife, or with whatever knife your EDC happens to be? How do you inspect your new toy? Do you immediately start adjusting it? Do you show your new knife to the other family members, or hide it? ;) Do you clean it up and put it away, make it your new EDC, or take it outdoors and start hacking away at something to try and destroy it (that was for Cliff :D). What’s your ritual?

- Mark
 
When I finally get a new knife in hand, I rip the package open with whatever tool I have on me...if for some reason I don't have a knife on me, I will forcibly rip it onen with my bare hands, grunting like some deranged caveman whilst I do it...it's pathecic really, and I always feel a bit silly afterwards, once the dust settles.

Once I have it in hand, I will use it at the first available opportunity. The first opportunity usually happens to be slicing up the very package that the knife arrived in, and oddly enough this just somehow seems "wrong", like biting the hand that feeds your or some such nonsense..people are quirky though, and I am no different.

I have resolved to actually use the knives I get, instead of letting them sit for a few days while I determine if I should keep or trade/sell them.
 
:D :D

I usually open the package with whatever is at hand (usually a Spyderco, since I have more of them). Then I remove the new toy, save the box to somewhere and play with it a bit.

Then I introduce it to my other knives...:) If it has a clip, try it in my pocket. Cut something (usually just paper).

THEN, I have to pack it along to wherever I'm going next to show it to everybody who will pay attention to it for at least two seconds.

This gets a bit tricky when I'm going to work. :D

Especially if it's NOT a dainty folder!

Karl
 
Good question!

I carefully open the package so as not to damage the box (I keep all the boxes :) )...then I removed my new jewel and begin extensive inspections...

1)test the action and lock (look for smoothness and tight lock-up)
2)check for blade play and off-centredness (hope I don't find any)
3)do a CLOSE-UP visual inspection to look for the slightest imperfections (again, hope I don't find any)
4) do the old "shave the arm-hair" test
5)next comes the ultimate Knife Knut stage...I take pictures of the knife from every conceivable angle BEFORE cutting anything with it :)
6) I brutally attack any tomato that may dare to be in my fridge and any scrap paper that may happen to be laying around (to test for sharpness)
7) once satisfied, I plunk it in my pocket and head out for a walk to test the comfort of carry

RL
 
Generally, after I cut-open the package (using my REKAK Hobbit Fang), I have the problem of trying to figure-out a place to put or display my new knife (and to "hide it" from my wife for a few days :D).

Then I log it into my "Dann's Knives Log" in "MS WORD".

...Maybe I already have too many knives?......NAW!.:).
 
I only have to harken back to yesterday afternoon. The "Big Brown Truck" arrived with my 2nd day air shipment of my Pat Crawford mini-Falcon.

Immedietely took my Talonite Cuda EDC and proceeded to cut open the tape at one end. The package did not open. I had to then rip it apart with my bare hands. The flap had been glued.

I was now staring into a box full of styrofoam pellets. I took the box into my kitchen and started to pour the pellets into the garbage can. Shortly, a "thunk" occurred and a zipped pouch landed in the middle of some roughly day-old chili. There it was--chili and all.

Was it worth it? Sure was!(The knife--not the chili):cool: :eek:
 
before I even smile I test the grip :)or :(

then immediately test the edge.if it shaves my arm hair :)

if it doesn't :( then I get to work putting a hair popping edge on it

the hold it and see if it is THE ONE!
 
I am always confronted with The Paradox.

What's the paradox?
(So glad you asked!)

Well, I want to immediately use the new knife to open the box that the knife is in, but I can't because I have to open the box first, and then if I open the box and get the knife out, then the box will already be open, so I could put the knife back in the box and seal it up again, but then I can't open the box because I can't get to the knife. I could open the box really fast, and try to get the knife out before the box is all the way open but it never works, no matter how fast I go, the box is always open before I can get the knife out and then I try to put it back really fast and try again but then...

Oh!
Excuse me, the Attendant says it's time for my medication.
:D
 
Let's see, i always have them shipped to my work so im always there when i get it so, it goes something like this.

1. Sign for package
2. Open package with one of my EDC's(either a CRKT M16, or CS SRK)
3. Rip it out As fast as possible
4. Test grip and action(action only if folder :))
5. Test Lock if it's a folder
6. Inspeact blade under magnifying lense
7. Go at the pile of cardboard boxes like a cave man attacking dinner
i have been known to scream/shout and run around like a nutcase during this step, I always cut until the factory edge is getting dull(you should have seen me when my BK&T Patrol Machete showed up lol)
8. When i get home i Put a nice 30 degree angle on it (if it will take it)
9. Show the GF, and try to explain why i needed another knife and why i cant afford things we do need, like food, hydro, rent :) Just kidding.
10. And finaly Carry it as my EDC for a week(Except the Patrol Machete, it was too impractical, i did carry my 8" Ka-bar for a week though)

Thats about it!
 
First off, I now prefer USPS Priority, due to the shock factor of the Big Brown Truck. If anyone else is at the house besides me, they know who the package is for, me. I then have to tell the story, true or not, about what a deal I got, couldn't pass it up, etc.

1) Sit at my kitchen window anticipating the mail lady.
2) Run to the mailbox without shoes, coat, sometimes clothing.
3) Look around to make sure no one has seen me attack the mailbox.
4) Bring the box inside, and set it on my bed.
5) I open the package with the next newest knife. It's like a right of passage for my sharp little friends.
6) Carefully inspect, test action, edge sharpness.
7) If I'm not happy, I'll take it apart and fix it myself.
8) Hide the knife. Can't let anyone know it's new.
9) Over the next few days, slowly introduce it to the family.
10) When asked, "Is that new?", I always say, "Gee, I've had it for quite awhile, I'm sure you've seen it. Remember you said you liked this one?" The true art of the "fake out". Make other people believe they have seen it before, thus, avoiding any "you have enough already!!!" confrontations.
 
I remember discovering that my wife couldn't understand a use for more than 3 of any of my gadgets. Why would I want to buy another knife or gun, when there was so much jewelry waiting out there to follow her home? So long as I owned 3 knives, guns, whatever...that was enough, in her opinion, I couldn't possibly need any more. Spend all that money on rubies and pearls!
I knew when I met her that she was 'Miss Right'. I just didn't know she was 'Miss Right All The Time'. Oh well...this required thought.
My strategy was...keep her thinking I'm buying my third knife, gun, whatever. Be sure she knows I've swapped, lost, loaned, sold one recently (only a husband ever loudly complained about losing an imaginary pocketknife). Store all gadgets away in separate places...never, ever let her see more than 3 knives in one place and you can work this bait n' switch for years. I have to admit that math isn't my wife's strong suit...but that's OK. I think I finally have her convinced that 6 inches is really 10 inches. Yep, 'Miss Right All The Time' thinks I'm Mr. Wonderful. Hey, she's Miss Right All The Time. Who am I to argue with her? ;)


Oh yes...got a new C/U 7 yesterday. Ritually retreated to a neutral, private corner, shaved wrist, grinned, waved knife and danced with glee. Box for now, hide far from any of the others.
 
Being old fashioned and very traditional I always stick to the
virgin in the volcano thing.
 
First thing I do is test the edge by shaving some hair off my forearms. However, the bald patches are a dead giveaway to the wife that I just received a new knife.

Andrew Limsk
 
I always open the box with the same knife:
a old cheap italian stiletto.
Don`t know why, maybe it is the only thing this POS is good for.
:rolleyes:


:)
 
It's always the same - take out the new toy, er, took, give it a long look for fit, finish and overall appearance, and then test the edge with my thumb. Then test the edge again on the ol' arm hair; and then give it the ol' "shave a miniscule sliver off a piece of paper" test. If it fails any of the above, get out the sharpening stones...
 
The receiving of the knife is sort of the minor part to me.
The ritual starts upon the inspection of the fit and finish. With folders there is the check to insure that the blade is centered when closed. (pet peeve) After all the checking is done, we go to the clean and oil stage. After that, the most important step in my getting to know my new knife. I sharpen it. That is unless it is insanely sharp already. But usually the sharpening is my ritual, get to know the new member of the family greeting.
 
If I know a new toy is incoming and I'm home, I listen carefully for the diesel rumble of the big brown truck. Ears perk up, eyes get wide....run to window to obtain a visual. Once visual has been obtained, carfully watch truck as it stops in front of my house. When doorbell rings, it's like a puppy in the house, leaving wet spots on the carpet.... :D LMAO

Seriously, I try to open the box without making a big mess. Usually, if the box has styro peanuts, inevitably a few wind up on the floor :) Once I have the new knife in hand, I give it a real good once over for fit/finish and overall quality. Notice things like evenness of grinds, blade play, lock security, and edge quality. Then it'll become my new EDC for a while then it'll enter EDC rotation with my other pieces. then at some point in time - usually the night I get it - scan it and upload pics to the forums for all to share in my joy :D
 
My new knife ritual is completely different mostly because of my bying habits.

I never by a knife sight unseen, I get to know it first. Then, while saving up to get it out of the shop, I dream about it, and ways to modify it.

None of my knives are stock, you see, I always "Improve" it to some fasion or another. Sometimes this ruins it, and sometimes I have to fix it several times to mess it up, but sooner, or later I need to get another knife.
My latest project is a CRKT K.I.S.S. clip point combo edge. I'm already disatisfied with it, so I'm going to have to get a plain edged version because the serrations chew up the ball of my thumb. I open it with a snap of my fingers, so the thumb stud had to go. Next, I'm going to experiment with different grinds while I hunt down the next one. I'm looking at the double bevel SAMPSON's K.I.S.S which I plan to sharpen to a true double edge. After that, who knows?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top