Where to go?

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

Slipjoint Addict
Joined
Feb 2, 2005
Messages
20,039
When it comes to knives, I really enjoy the old patterns, both folding and fixed, but I appreciate the new steels, handles and craftsmanship custom makers bring to the table. Now, understand that I drive a 2003 Silverado and my tastes are not all caviar. I still like old Marlin and Ruger rifles, and shoot air guns, .22s, .410s mostly. I love guns and knives, but spend far too much on knives. I won't even tell you what one handed opener I traded into over the weekend, due to the rules, but it is the pinnacle of craftsmanship in our hobby, and most of the custom Tabers, Oesers etc I own are the pinnacle of craftsmanship as far as I'm concerned.

I now consider my Tidioute 73 a user. Countless forced patinas, and sharpenings, both by myself and by knife makers and knife shops, has left me with a well used but well cared for blade that looks like it is a hundred years old. Not grungy etc, just well used and cared for. I think it's a 2011 ;).

Anyway, I've decided to focus on custom slipjoints, Case Bose collaborations (both the annual and the new CV Tribal Spear lockback), old Remingtons from the 30s that need some TLC, and basically any old knife that needs some TLC. On the fixed blade front, I've been looking at Blind Horse, Battle Horse, ML, JK, Gossman, LT Wright and any other bushcraft/woodcraft blades. Especially modern takes on puukkos and Kephart patterns.

Now, other than using new steels in the fixed blades, I'm darn near stocked up with choppers, EDC blades and blades in the 4-6" blade length range.

I traded some unused Case Bose annual patterns at a knife shop on Saturday, and got back two knives I've missed, that I traded to the owner, a Laconico Kephart and a Gossman Orion (puukko interpretation). Now, my friends and associates here will chuckle at that, but I've been looking at my knives to downsize again, not to just get different pieces, but I have too darn many.

That never get used.

Some of these are high end pieces. I don't know if I will bring myself to get rid of my Tribal Spears, my LC's etc, but I did trade some of them on Saturday.

Other than scout patterns, there isn't anything that I really collect, I just accumulate stuff.

After bariatric surgery in April, the focus will transition from knife accumulation to bushcraft practicing, simple boy scout tasks I guess, and putting my blades through their paces. I thought I was doing it now, but apparently not.

I keep seeing Carl's message to me after my car accident, wherein I lost some blades, don't cry over things that can't cry over you. I keep going for my peanut in my pocket, my cadet and pioneer and farmer in my gear bags and pockets, my small fixed blade Gossmans, and my ESEE Junglas and machete.

Darnit Carl, you are too right about this hobby. I guess we all have to learn the hard way...
 
Dan, it's not so much where to go, but rather where we've been.

Going though life is quite an adventure in winging it. We go down the road, not knowing what's around the bend, but we can guess, prepare, and wonder. It's only when we've been there that we knife what counts. And our experience changes the more we go down the road.

Downsizing is a good thing, it clears out what's not being used, and if it's not being used, then we don't need it. What we use changed as our lifestyle changes with age. I used to have more choppers, but after a certain point in time, I realized that my true wilderness days were over. So the choppers went down the road and I concentrated more on the kind of knives that I could use every day. Really use in my life style. I think it's called evolution. Just like a star goes through changes, we do to. That's okay, embrace it.

In the end, a knife is just a tool. It's to cut something. When we give it aded status of cult worship item, that's just our own psyches and quirks coloring the experience. Take whatever knives you have not used in the past year, and send them to new owners and a new life. Keep a few choppers around, but the custom slip joints are easier to enjoy every day as you go about life, commuting to work, doing some yard work, and a hike in a state park now and then.

I remember my old man telling me that a knife is just a tool to cut something with. That from a man who carried the same knife for 40 years.
 
I agree with carl on this one. Your mindset is changing to better fit your lifestyle. It goes to follow that your every day items and overall possessions should too no?

Im not sure of all the struggles youve face throughout your life, but i know youve got some hand troubles and i can sympathize. Anything that gets you feeling good(short of the obvious nonos:rolleyes:) should be embraced. Especially if youve got new possibilities to enjoy a bit of recovered mobility and dexterity. Some days i cant hold a fork to feed myself, so i take it slow. Other days i feel my age(27) and i wake up ready to take on the world.

Keep what you use, need, and enjoy, nothing else matters. That goes for all things
 
Sounds like you need to visit a couple knife shows and ones that have lots of slippies and older knives. One coming up in March in Dalton GA that probably fits that characterization (assuming it's similar to the last one two years ago).

I think it's good to change your focus. I have done it and unfortunately, I later change focus again. So the buying repeats. But it's certainly fun.

Good luck with the upcoming surgery. Hopefully it will be a life changer for you.
 
I read a quote today that I believe is apropos of the sentiment being expressed in this thread:

“Whoever marries the spirit of this age will find himself a widower in the next.”
— Dean Inge (1860–1954)

Just substitute "knives that are right for you at a point in your life" for "spirit of this age". Change is good, especially when it's driven by self awareness.
 
You've been at this long enough Dan. Time to let things happen naturally, stop forcing it. You like the Tribal Spear. Who doesn't? But do you really need a half-dozen of them?

Don't buy things just to buy. It's much cheaper in the long run. Before you get doubles, or even variations, of a knife try living with it first. Use the knife and find its nuances. Learn what you do and don't like about it. That way, when you get your next one it'll actually be an improvement over what you already have.

Stop horse trading so much. Especially for the exact things you previously owned. Let me ask you a question. If the Laconico and Gossman are so good, why did you ever let them go in the first place?
 
After a good downsizing I made an important discovery. The less knives I had, both woods and everyday, the more they got used. I got more and more familiar with a smaller core of knives under real world carried use. Got to know more intimately how they felt in the hand, how to shift a grip for better slicing and dicing. How to maximize them in different kinds of cuts.

Sometimes in life, less really is more.

When I cut down on the large number of firearms I had, my shooting really improved. No more going to the range with a half a dozen guns. Taking some shots with a J frame S&W, then shooting a Ruger MK2 target with a bull barrel, then changing to a K frame model 617 revolver. MNow I just have the Glcok 26 and my very first handgun I ever bought, the Ruger standard model. That's it. I'm shooting better than ever in spite of my old eyes not being wha they were 25 years ago. Over the past few years, I've got so used to the Glock, that I can feel every nano movement of the trigger, how it's going to feel cycling. No more switching from gun to gun. Just ike no more switching knife to knife. Like my old friend and co-worker Andy, who used a Buck 303 for absolutly everything.

Lots to be said for having less.
 
Then there's that. I've been drawn to knives and guns as long as I can remember. I remember watching the Iron Mistress as a kid, and wanting a knife just like Jim Bowie's. Heck I wanted to be Jim Bowie and have his skill with a blade. But I never wanted to be the curator of a museum full of Bowie knives.
 
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I like where you're headed. I don't really find the knives themselves to be so wonderful. It's my intention to use them that brings life. When I buy a knife, that isn't merely an impulse purchase, the knife conjures images of use in my mind. Adventures are brought to me in daydreams. And sometimes I get to live out those adventures with my knives, in real life. Those are the knives that I strive to collect and use; the ones purchased with intention. So get out into the woods and put your favorites to use.

Collecting can slowly drain your life away. You spend all of your time searching, researching, and fretting over the small things. Subtle nuances become enormous in your mind. But in the end, if you don't get out and use your knives, it's all time wasted away. Live life to the fullest while you can. Live out those adventures. Understand what it is to really use a knife, under less than ideal circumstances. It brings a whole new appreciation, not only for your equipment, but for yourself as well.
 
Buzzbait said:
I like where you're headed. I don't really find the knives themselves to be so wonderful. It's my intention to use them that brings life. When I buy a knife, that isn't merely an impulse purchase, the knife conjures images of use in my mind. Adventures are brought to me in daydreams. And sometimes I get to live out those adventures with my knives, in real life. Those are the knives that I strive to collect and use; the ones purchased with intention. So get out into the woods and put your favorites to use.

Collecting can slowly drain your life away. You spend all of your time searching, researching, and fretting over the small things. Subtle nuances become enormous in your mind. But in the end, if you don't get out and use your knives, it's all time wasted away. Live life to the fullest while you can. Live out those adventures. Understand what it is to really use a knife, under less than ideal circumstances. It brings a whole new appreciation, not only for your equipment, but for yourself as well.
Click to expand...

Can I have this as my signature line. :D

In all seriousness, when I am in the knife frame of mind, caused by reading the pages here, I often find myself dreaming of living a lifestyle where I really depended more on knives. (Living off the land, hunting/fishing for dinner not sport, a job where I needed a knife daily, or had the skill set to make my own users so I wouldn't have to buy any. :))

I find more joy in using than storing.
 
jackknife said:
After a good downsizing I made an important discovery. The less knives I had, both woods and everyday, the more they got used. I got more and more familiar with a smaller core of knives under real world carried use. Got to know more intimately how they felt in the hand, how to shift a grip for better slicing and dicing. How to maximize them in different kinds of cuts.

Sometimes in life, less really is more.

When I cut down on the large number of firearms I had, my shooting really improved. No more going to the range with a half a dozen guns. Taking some shots with a J frame S&W, then shooting a Ruger MK2 target with a bull barrel, then changing to a K frame model 617 revolver. MNow I just have the Glcok 26 and my very first handgun I ever bought, the Ruger standard model. That's it. I'm shooting better than ever in spite of my old eyes not being wha they were 25 years ago. Over the past few years, I've got so used to the Glock, that I can feel every nano movement of the trigger, how it's going to feel cycling. No more switching from gun to gun. Just ike no more switching knife to knife. Like my old friend and co-worker Andy, who used a Buck 303 for absolutly everything.

Lots to be said for having less.
Click to expand...

To each his own. I'll take more. But I am thinking about downsizing in the firearm area to something that I could actually carry to the range for a day of shooting. Been shooting mostly rifles these days with bursts of plinking with handguns. On knives, it's mostly little money and I don't worry about accumulating a pile.
 
kamagong said:
You've been at this long enough Dan. Time to let things happen naturally, stop forcing it. You like the Tribal Spear. Who doesn't? But do you really need a half-dozen of them?

Don't buy things just to buy. It's much cheaper in the long run. Before you get doubles, or even variations, of a knife try living with it first. Use the knife and find its nuances. Learn what you do and don't like about it. That way, when you get your next one it'll actually be an improvement over what you already have.

Stop horse trading so much. Especially for the exact things you previously owned. Let me ask you a question. If the Laconico and Gossman are so good, why did you ever let them go in the first place?
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It might be a half dozen.

A Case Damascus Tribal Spear, one in antique bone, one in ebony. Then a custom Taber and a custom Oeser. So yeah, for all intents and purposes a half dozen. :eek:

When it is a fun sickness to have, not a problem, when it rules your collecting, then it becomes an issue.
 
Buzzbait said:
Collecting can slowly drain your life away. You spend all of your time searching, researching, and fretting over the small things. Subtle nuances become enormous in your mind. But in the end, if you don't get out and use your knives, it's all time wasted away. Live life to the fullest while you can. Live out those adventures. Understand what it is to really use a knife, under less than ideal circumstances. It brings a whole new appreciation, not only for your equipment, but for yourself as well.
Click to expand...


Wow that is some good stuff, well said ... after my last thread I have been rethinking things too wanting to restrain myself in purchases. I don't have all that many now but like you say its easy to get involved in every little detail and constant reading of forums.
 
Buzzbait said:
I like where you're headed. I don't really find the knives themselves to be so wonderful. It's my intention to use them that brings life. When I buy a knife, that isn't merely an impulse purchase, the knife conjures images of use in my mind. Adventures are brought to me in daydreams. And sometimes I get to live out those adventures with my knives, in real life. Those are the knives that I strive to collect and use; the ones purchased with intention. So get out into the woods and put your favorites to use.

Collecting can slowly drain your life away. You spend all of your time searching, researching, and fretting over the small things. Subtle nuances become enormous in your mind. But in the end, if you don't get out and use your knives, it's all time wasted away. Live life to the fullest while you can. Live out those adventures. Understand what it is to really use a knife, under less than ideal circumstances. It brings a whole new appreciation, not only for your equipment, but for yourself as well.
Click to expand...
Well said.


The second paragraph really seem like is directed to me lol.


Knives are like women, a necessary ailment

Sent from my SM-J700T1 using Tapatalk
 
silenthunterstudios said:
...When it is a fun sickness to have, not a problem, when it rules your collecting, then it becomes an issue.
Click to expand...

When collecting starts ruling your life, then it's an issue. I think you have bigger problems than buying some knives, even expensive knives. Interests change or at least our focus on those interest changes. Let things evolve to a stable point. If you like to buy and sell, just keep control of it.
 
Knives are not my issue right now, my issue is my health. Instead of tackling that head on, I dove into my hobbies instead. Now, I'm looking at reevaluating everything. Knives are a necessity for my outdoors interests. Fishing, hiking and bushcraft, and I haven't been out hunting, just shooting, in a long while. I'm looking forward to doing a couple overnighters, with my water of course for bariatric patients.

Yah, I've got more issues right now than pocket knives. All here responded with some common sense, thank you.
 
I've come to where I carry the same couple of knives daily (Peanut or a Stockman and my #55). It's been months now and I'm just enjoying these few. The rest (about 7 other traditional folders) are in the gunsafe and get a day in the pocket once in awhile.

I know what I like and what works for my needs. I like simplicity. I own one wrist watch. Drive the same vehicle that I've driven for years. Packed the same Leatherman on my belt daily for 23 years. Etc, etc. I'm a creature of habit and enjoy simple and reliable things.

Dan this has been a good reminder on the important things in life. Stay focused and your goals will come in due time.
 
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