When I was a small child I watched my dad sharpen his deer hunting knife on Arkansas stones every year before the season. This knife was one that he got in the Navy during WWII. It is a 6" "Western" made knife from Boulder, CO. It is a combination utility/fighting knife with a blood groove. When he was finished sharpening, he would run the blade across his arm at an angle, and the hair would fall from his arm. I was amazed that hands and a stone could take such a large piece of metal and make an edge so keen that it would shave hair from an arm so effortlessly.
Dad is gone now, but his Western knife lives on. This image is what started my obsession for knives, and I have always owned and carried knives, but was never an addict until recently. About 1.5 years ago I decided that I needed to learn how to use and to carry knives for defensive purposes. I work in an environment where gun carry is not allowed, but carrying a knife that will fit in my pocket is allowed. This started my search for the best tactical folding knife I can find. Then I started looking at fixed blades for general woods, camping and hunting chores for obvious strength reasons. Now I am hopelessly addicted to all knives. I live in a "shall issue" state, and concealed gun carry is legal. I have carried a gun for decades for defensive purposes, but my current place of work does not allow it. I know, never bring a knife to a gun fight. But having a knife is better than having nothing.
Now I am into everything surrounding knives. Metallurgy, hardness, temper, impact resistance, forging techniques, maintenance, sharpening, edge retention, etc. This obsession has even gone into other edged tools such as kitchen knives, hatchets, axes, mauls, machetes. I just cannot seem to get enough.
My father started this thing some 50 years ago, and I am still searching for the perfect tactical folder, fixed blade bushcraft, tactical fixed blade, hunting... etc. knife. Fortunately for me, I do not think that it has been made yet, so my quest continues. Happy New Year to all.
