Would you carry a GREAT antique if it has been sharpend???

junkfan04

junkfan04

Joined
Feb 26, 2009
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406
By way of survey, how many of you would carry an incredible antique knife if it had been sharpend versus putting it up in a drawer, display, etc...?

I LOVE old stag, bone or ebony handled knives and have been guilty of carrying some when I get them and they have already been sharpend. I can't get over how much better they usually look than the more modern production knives and the character they have acquired being carried in a pocket over the years.
 
Depends on it's value, dollar or hierloom? I don't carry my great grandfather's knife because I don't want to loose it. It's at least 50 years old, and one scale is a bit loose. It is a very sharp knife, and works very well.

I guess it's up to you, if you enjoy carrying and using it, then go for it. Everything has a value, and you can loose or damage any knife during use. Life is too short for just looking at nice things. I say use them old knives if you want, or display them how you like. Either way, enjoy owning them how it pleases you.
 
@Foxx - Good point about the heirloom. I wouldn't carry my fathers knives for the same reason...

I carry anthing from Case Tested, Bradford, a Shapleigh Stag handled sleeveboard and then some... I really like the ebony or bone handled easy openers with a swell end. I am guilty, guilty, guilty!
 
I regularly carry an old stag Vom Cleff stag penknife that I was given. The older ones just have that certain feel that you cannot easily duplicate.
 
Many of us here carry such knives. (Even if we were the first to put our own edge on it.)
 
I just got a Schatt & Morgan Splitback whittler with Titusville tang stamp (1903-1932), sharpened it up and dropped it in my pocket.
 
I recently went through the stressful process of deciding whether or not to carry an old Ulster Scout knife that was handed down to me. It's not really an antique (60's or 70's era) but it is well used and has great sentimental value.

I litterally lost sleep trying to decide but in the end I cleaned and oiled the joints, sharpened up the blade, and dropped it in my pocket.

I'm very happy with my decision.
 
Hi,

If I didn't carry it, how would I get the flavor of it? While I don't really have anything really collectible, I do carry the heirlooms that are fit to use. Not everyday, but for those occasions when I want the memories with me.

Dale
 
I carry lots of antiques, if they already have a little use on them, and I don't feel a bit guilty.
On the other hand, sharpening and using a 70-100 year old mint knife is just plain foolish!
 
waynorth said:
I carry lots of antiques, if they already have a little use on them, and I don't feel a bit guilty.
On the other hand, sharpening and using a 70-100 year old mint knife is just plain foolish!
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I think there's room on both sides of that argument, Charlie. Some folks aren't necessarily concerned with aftermarket value nor preserving the knife in a pristine state for future generations.
So, while I can certainly appreciate that point of view, I think the decision ultimately rests with the person who paid the freight and that there's no obvious "right or wrong" approach per se.
 
I once carried an original Remington bullet knife. It's value was about the same as a Strider SMF. I used it gently and later resold it for a good deal more that I paid for it. I didn't sharpen it
and the pleasure of carrying such a knife was worth the risk.
 
Your question depends on the degree of sharpening the knife has had.
I carry a couple of very old knives-but they have been there and done that-so badly ground it wasn't funny-so the decision to use them wasn't hard, so they come out in the garden with me.
I don't think I would use an extremely tidy to mint Antique, possibly if it had been used or sharpened and in very tidy condition as you put forward...it would be carried, and lightly used.

A mint one of age that hasn't had use?, I wouldn't dream of sharpening, but unfortunately I don't have that kind of beautiful knife ( yet).
Its a personal thing, but to me, I am in the mind of, if a incredible knife has got so far and remained in such beautiful condition, it would be a shame to devalue the knife in the way of $value and especially for me - the preservation of that knives condition would be extremely important.
 
waynorth said:
I carry lots of antiques, if they already have a little use on them, and I don't feel a bit guilty.
On the other hand, sharpening and using a 70-100 year old mint knife is just plain foolish!
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I definitely agree.

There are tens of thousands of readily available well-used old knives out there that still make great users today. OTOH, those that have survived the passage of time with relatively full blades and a good deal of their original finishes intact have become rare and valuable ties with our past, never to be replaced. Using them as common tools so late in the game is selfish, shortsighted and wasteful. You might as well start cracking open the display cases in our museums to use all that cool old stuff as if it's nothing more than the contents of a fancy hardware store. As knife lovers, we need to show some restraint and respect for these finite old examples of cutlery's history.

How would you feel if you were fascinated by the knife manufacturing methods of the past, but never had a chance to examine a true crocus polish? The old finishes are fragile as spun sugar and moonbeams, and there are fewer intact examples every year due to carelessness and abuse. It won't be long until the only remaining examples are locked away in museums, and the knife lovers of the future will never get the chance to handle, let alone own, one of those beautiful old pocketknives firsthand unless we preserve them now.
 
Yeah i sure do!..i love using this old 13inch Wade & butcher...heavily sharpened,but beautifully balanced and such a joy to use (skinned a couple of deer)...BRL put this knife in the category of so few of them around,that it has little value.....so why not use it!!!..................FES

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Samael said:
I like the way you think. I'm guilty of doing that with quite a few knives.
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Thank you, brother. :thumbup:

For me personally it's a case by case situation with the pros and cons being weighed in each instance. (Of course, I don't actually have any of these perfect examples in any case.)

And while I sure don't advocate breaking into any museums or trying to mar all the pristine knives in the world (that's just silly), I do think we can make rational decisions without having the decision legislated for us in advance. (And fortunately it seems we have a number of excellent custodians looking after such pristine examples, both privately and in the "museums".)

This same argument is and will continue to be played out regarding the knives of our highest echelon of custom makers as well. There are those who vociferously argue against their carry and use.
There are those who argue as strenuously for their carry and use.

When some of these makers are no longer with us the rift will be even more pronounced imho.

And so it goes...


EDITED TO ADD:

Carefully sharpening and experiencing the wonderful steel in this old Winchester (1919-1940) was definitely worth any possible "damage" I may have done to its "value" imho.
This knife was not "pristine" but as Charlie and I learned from the dealer I bought it from at the Blade Show a few years ago, he has rarely come across them in this condition.

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Blues said:
Carefully sharpening and experiencing the wonderful steel in this old Winchester (1919-1940) was definitely worth any possible "damage" I may have done to its "value" imho.
This knife was not "pristine" but as Charlie and I learned from the dealer I bought it from at the Blade Show a few years ago, he has rarely come across them in this condition.
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Fortunately for those of us who believe in preserving rare and valuable antique knives, Elliott here can carry and "use" a nice knife for many long years and it will be as pristine as the day it left the cutler. ;) :D
 
Rick said:
Fortunately for those of us who believe in preserving rare and valuable antique knives, Elliott here can carry and "use" a nice knife for many long years and it will be as pristine as the day it left the cutler. ;) :D
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You think? I doubt that the normal tasks I'd do with such a special knife would be harder on the edge than that sharpening. I'll let you know in forty years or so. ;)
 
I occasionally carry some of my antiques. If they already have a good amount of use, I don't have any problems using them more.
 
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