When the worrying stops, knives get more fun.

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bladeboss

Joined
Mar 6, 2012
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A little while ago, I decided to put the big-ol beefy knives in my cabinet for a while and toss a more "pocket-friendly" knife in my pocket.
That knife was a Native 5, for what its worth.
It needed some fine-tuning, and a good cleaning, but it was to my idea of perfection in no time.

Those big knives (ZT 200/Benchamde Adamas) are really nice, but carry in your pocket like a cement-block.
Theyre also pretty hard to get in and out of your pocket.

But with my Native 5, it clips, and unclips, quickly.
Light, yet still sturdy.
Therefore, I decided to use it more.
And if I was going to use it, I was going to use it for everything.
Hey, you have a knife sharpener for a reason! :D

I've been cutting everything from lettuce to thick cardboard, to sandpaper.
Sandpaper sure is tough on the edge and it scratches the hell out of your blade, but it takes that "pamper me!" feeling out of the knife.

Just using it alot and using it without worry makes it so much nicer to carry. I dont have to stop and think "do I want to cut THAT with THIS knife?"

Which of your knives dont you have to stop and think about first? You dont worry about scratching it or whatever.
In the picture, the blade is dirty. Not rusty.
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I wanted a Sebbie insingo micarta for the longest time. Came time to buy it and I put off the purchase for a couple of days as I suddenly debated with myself if I would really use it or end up putting it away with some others I just pull out and admire now and then. It was always meant to bought as a user and I surprised myself when I began to have second thoughts about really using it after waiting so long to afford it. I decided it was going to be a full time user, ordered it, got it, admire it for about 10 minutes, put it in my pocket and used it at the first opportunity (about an hour after I got it) and I've never looked back with any regrets. It's a great knife and I enjoy using each and every day = no worries. I would guess most of us knuts have probably gone through the same 'use it or just look at it' self debate with one knife or another.
 
paynter said:
I wanted a Sebbie insingo micarta for the longest time. Came time to buy it and I put off the purchase for a couple of days as I suddenly debated with myself if I would really use it or end up putting it away with some others I just pull out and admire now and then. It was always meant to bought as a user and I surprised myself when I began to have second thoughts about really using it after waiting so long to afford it. I decided it was going to be a full time user, ordered it, got it, admire it for about 10 minutes, put it in my pocket and used it at the first opportunity (about an hour after I got it) and I've never looked back with any regrets. It's a great knife and I enjoy using each and every day = no worries. I would guess most of us knuts have probably gone through the same 'use it or just look at it' self debate with one knife or another.
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Back when I originally bought this knife a year or so ago, it was my most expensive one yet.
I used it, but not as much and I worried about keeping it perfect for the longest time.
I figured that if it's gonna sit without being used, it's worthless.
Now that it's scratched and used I think I like it more.
 
I currently carry SAKS but I used to carry clip its before my SAK addiction kicked in. I made it a point to buy pocket friendly knives since they will more likely end up in my pocket than my cabinet. I carried the Spyderco Dragonfly for a bit... but the most carried one I had would have to be the Spyderco G10 Cat. With the 440C steel, it was tough enough to handle rough use, but not too expensive that it'd be pampered.
 
I had that same problem. I would buy pretty knives. Then they would be discontinued and I would lock them away in the safe with the idea that they would become "collectibles". Thankfully I came to my senses, now I have begun using all of my knives. I sold almost all of my spyderco knives to people who have most likely hidden them away on a dark shelf for the rest of their lives, only using them to cut paper :rolleyes:. The first time I got a scratch on my XM18 I smiled and realized that the knife was happy it was getting used like it was intended. :)
 
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I don't worry about any of them. They all have scratches and/or patina and have been sharpened many times.
 
I have an N5 also and it's real close to being an all 'rounder like yours. I'd give it a 9.8/10 for being a perfect everyday folder. But the folder I reach for when I want something that'll do anything and keep asking for more is my mini-CQC15. Old school, tough as nails, and still as solid as the first day out of the box.
 
nickortizzle1035 said:
I had that same problem. I would buy pretty knives. Then they would be discontinued and I would lock them away in the safe with the idea that they would become "collectibles". Thankfully I came to my senses, now I have begun using all of my knives. I sold almost all of my spyderco knives to people who have most likely hidden them away on a dark shelf for the rest of their lives, only using them to cut paper :rolleyes:. The first time I got a scratch on my XM18 I smiled and realized that the knife was happy it was getting used like it was intended. :)
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I also enjoy seeing scratches.
 
A new knife is much like a new truck... hate seeing that first scratch. I think all of your comments are great and on point. Just put the first scratch on it and press on using it for the purpose for which it was intended.
 
"When the worrying stops, knives get more fun"

That's half the reason I've been carrying an OLFA. The most recent example is when I cut some slots in a heavy plastic auger pot, which of course broke the tip at one point, but since it's just one section off a $0.40 replaceable blade it didn't bother me. Last time I did something like that it destroyed my re-profiled Fallkniven U-2. Breaking tips is probably my #1 cause of wear on knives, which is just made worse by my propensity to have super thin re-profiled blades, but they wouldn't work half as well if they weren't thinned out anyway. In the end good replaceable blades really are nice to have.
 
My SEVERTECH or one of my 3 Leeks i never worry about dulling or scratching. I have a few "gents" folders for non daily use. An Eros and an Al Mar all stainless Falcon.
 
dalefuller said:
I have an N5 also and it's real close to being an all 'rounder like yours. I'd give it a 9.8/10 for being a perfect everyday folder. But the folder I reach for when I want something that'll do anything and keep asking for more is my mini-CQC15. Old school, tough as nails, and still as solid as the first day out of the box.
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Hard to beat the 15, it's my favorite Emerson Knife at this point. My go to knives for getting stuff done are the ZT0560, 0303, CRK Umnumzaan, and the Spyderco Military. I cannot and have not found better knives for my uses.
 
I used to not want to use/dull my CRK and xm18. Now they are my go to knives. That being said if the activity could possibly be considered abuse I reach for my manix 2.
 
What I don't understand about myself is that I can drop $3,500 on a Nighthawk 1911 and the first thing I do is load it up and shoot the crap out of it. I can drive my Nissan GT-R like a rocket ship and redline every gear ( well maybe not that last gear yet, too fast off track) But when I drop $700 on a blade I am super anal about it and don't want to even use it. So I buy 2 one to use and one to keep mint. Anyone else do this just with knives?
 
southernknives said:
What I don't understand about myself is that I can drop $3,500 on a Nighthawk 1911 and the first thing I do is load it up and shoot the crap out of it. I can drive my Nissan GT-R like a rocket ship and redline every gear ( well maybe not that last gear yet, too fast off track) But when I drop $700 on a blade I am super anal about it and don't want to even use it. So I buy 2 one to use and one to keep mint. Anyone else do this just with knives?
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If I could afford it, I would
 
southernknives said:
What I don't understand about myself is that I can drop $3,500 on a Nighthawk 1911 and the first thing I do is load it up and shoot the crap out of it. I can drive my Nissan GT-R like a rocket ship and redline every gear ( well maybe not that last gear yet, too fast off track) But when I drop $700 on a blade I am super anal about it and don't want to even use it. So I buy 2 one to use and one to keep mint. Anyone else do this just with knives?
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Exactly. I'm not scared to trudge through thorn bushes with my $160 MUCK boots, but my knives make me stop and think sometimes.
 
No kidding. I made a point to use this right after I got it... But the stonewashed finish hid it! I can barely wait for it to get some scratches and actually become mine like everything else in this picture.

 
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