"You got your knife on ya?"

[Vivi]

When was the last time someone asked you this question we've all heard at some point or another?

Last night I was helping my friend put his new bed together. The mattress came wrapped in some pretty thick plastic. My Wenger Handyman cut through it effortlessly.

before that, the same friend used the same knife to take apart his bass amp that stopped working on us one night.

I think I'm just gonna buy him a SAK. I've been explaining to him why I'm so interested in knives, and the other day we spent some time using a variety of my knives to cut designs into cardboard. I let him experience how different blade thicknesses make a big difference in cutting cardboard, carrots and other objects. Was fun.

 

[Planterz]

Giving him a knife is a nice gesture, but realize that you're still going to have to sharpen it for him. No good deed goes unpunished...

 

[Gringogunsmith]

In all honesty.. I really dont know anyone ( or care to) that doesn't have their own knives, or guns.

 

[kgriggs8]

"When was the last time someone asked you this question we've all heard at some point or another?"

How about every stinking day? I work with a guy that doesn't carry anything. He doesn't have a knife, Leatherman, pen, paper, or watch. He is alway asking to borrow my knife thoughout the day to cut open plastic packages of wire or to slice card board. He is my boss so I can't tell him to go f&$k himself. I bought him a nice CRKT folder with a kydex neck sheath so he could hang it in the truck and know where it is. He never uses it! He uses my Para and now I have to sharpen it a lot more than I would really like. S30V is no fun to sharpen.

 

[Guyon]

He doesn't have a knife, Leatherman, pen, paper, or watch.

Darwin candidate.

Carry a cheaper folder at work. Keep the Para in your car for when you get off.

Or grow some cojones and tell your boss you're tired of sharpening your Para for him.

 

[ahgar]

anyone that knows me doesn't even have to ask, unless nekkid i always have a knife on me. later, ahgar

 

[G3]

anyone that knows me doesn't even have to ask, unless nekkid i always have a knife on me. later, ahgar

Thats no excuse! Where a belt then.

 

[ahgar]

necker, ahgar

 

[Bufford]

I never go anywhere without a knife. I have a gold replica of a bowie knife that Jot Khalsa (Hope I spelled his name right) made for me nearly 20 years ago on a gold chain around my neck. It's a beauty about 3 inches in length overall and I can feel its weight around my neck.:thumbup: This one makes it through airline security, although I don't think it could be of any use for self defence. But the point is (no pun intended) that I never am without a knife of some kind. As for lending any knife? Well I found that it is better to have the person who is asking me for a knife to simply let me do the cutting for him. This simplyfys things alot. I once lent a knife to a buddy camping with me, and in no time he was bleeding like a stuck pig when he didn't realize just how sharp I maintain my edges. It was time to get the electrical tape out, and once I even had to apply a wire connector to his finger tip. Needless to say his finger stood up to our electrical codes here. The other time I lent a knife, it was returned to me dull and chipped. Now I never lend any of em out.

 

[DeathByCactus]

Yeah, thats why I carry my old Kershaw Leek in my back pocket. Its dull, but sharp enough to get the job done and best of all its beat to all hell . Unlike my Emerson or BM, which are both sharp sharp.

 

[kamagong]

Not really. Those who know me always know I carry a knife. The question I get asked most is "Can you cut this for me?"

 

[Mentor]

A member of my family once suffered hundreds of dollars worth of dental dammage after pitting his teeth against some heavy duty packing tape. I bought him some Tylenol (for the exposed roots) and a Leatherman Juice. The strange thing is, he still uses teeth and fingers on packages even when he's wearing the multitool on his belt.

This and similar experiences have led me to believe that actually using a knife properly requires a certain philosophy about tools. For us knife nuts, it's natural to pull out a blade to cut things and counterintuitive to forego using such a tool in favour of gnawing or clawing (acts that nature has left us poorly equiped for). For many others, even having ready access to a knife only means that there is a third option to employ after nails and teeth have failed. In my experience, it takes a bit of time and patience to coax a new knife owner into a position of comfort and familiarity with their blade(s). Of the dozen or so people I have given knives to over the years, I would guess that less than half have incorporated them into their daily lives in an EDC fashion. The rest have decided that teeth, nails, and car keys are sufficient tools for any situations that may arise ...

One additional observation: When someone asks to borrow a knife to cut something, I am always fascinated at the way they hold it. I usually EDC a Becker Necker, a DDR-3, or an M16. Regardless of which of these I pull out when asked for a knife, It's usually a good bet that the person asking will immediately feel a sense of unease about the knife, even if they don't say anything. Sometimes, this translates into them holding the knife as though it was a poisonous snake or something similarly hazardous. I have watched in awe as one of my female colleagues tried to cut some plastic ties with my cord-wrapped Becker Necker while holding the handle between her thumb and fingers. Of course, you can't put any pressure on the blade like this, and after watching this go on for a minute I took over and showed her how to hold a knife properly (and safely). Fascinating.

- Mike

 

[Joe Dirt]

A member of my family once suffered hundreds of dollars worth of dental dammage after pitting his teeth against some heavy duty packing tape. I bought him some Tylenol (for the exposed roots) and a Leatherman Juice. The strange thing is, he still uses teeth and fingers on packages even when he's wearing the multitool on his belt.

This and similar experiences have led me to believe that actually using a knife properly requires a certain philosophy about tools. For us knife nuts, it's natural to pull out a blade to cut things and counterintuitive to forego using such a tool in favour of gnawing or clawing (acts that nature has left us poorly equiped for). For many others, even having ready access to a knife only means that there is a third option to employ after nails and teeth have failed. In my experience, it takes a bit of time and patience to coax a new knife owner into a position of comfort and familiarity with their blade(s). Of the dozen or so people I have given knives to over the years, I would guess that less than half have incorporated them into their daily lives in an EDC fashion. The rest have decided that teeth, nails, and car keys are sufficient tools for any situations that may arise ...

One additional observation: When someone asks to borrow a knife to cut something, I am always fascinated at the way they hold it. I usually EDC a Becker Necker, a DDR-3, or an M16. Regardless of which of these I pull out when asked for a knife, It's usually a good bet that the person asking will immediately feel a sense of unease about the knife, even if they don't say anything. Sometimes, this translates into them holding the knife as though it was a poisonous snake or something similarly hazardous. I have watched in awe as one of my female colleagues tried to cut some plastic ties with my cord-wrapped Becker Necker while holding the handle between her thumb and fingers. Of course, you can't put any pressure on the blade like this, and after watching this go on for a minute I took over and showed her how to hold a knife properly (and safely). Fascinating.

- Mike

I agree. I have the same kind of experiences with the people I work with and the people around me. Just this year I got my wife comfortable enough to use her knives daily.

Knives make such a huge difference in your life.

Ever watch "Survivorman"? If I'm ever caught somewhere I don't want to be without a knife. He proves that you NEED one out there.

 

[Mikjk]

if i get the question, 'can i borrow your knife?', i always reply, 'where is yours?'

if they still want to use my knife... and i'm in a good mood (not often theses days), i ask them what they need it for. if the answer is anything other than to cut something a knife was intended to cut, i tell them to get the appropriate tool.

if that person is still thick headed enough to say, 'oh, come on, i just need it for a sec...' , i tell them politely 'no'.

now, i have had a couple jackass crybabies say, 'he won't lend me his knife, what a ****'... well, let's just say i discuss the matter with the rubber and let him know never to ask me for a tool again... knife or otherwise.

in general, i don't lend out my knife...

 

[VampyreWolf]

There's a reason I have a pile of sak classics around. I probably make a gift of a knife every couple weeks. Might need to restock soon, have 4 left in my storage, 2 in my bag, and should be starting a new job soon(find out monday or tuesday if I got this one, and have another interview set up for tuesday morning).

My mother used to carry a buck minitool on her keys(one of the 3 knives I've given her), she moved it to her purse a few weeks ago. She only had her keys with her on thursday and had to borrow one of my knives to open a package. I put another classic on her keys when I got home .

With ppl who know me it's more of "have a knife I can borrow?" than even questioning if I have one on me. I have a knife on my neck 24/7/365... sleep, shower, gym. Comes off for swimming only because I have a thinner one that clips IWB into my trunks better.

 

[rebeltf]

When I started my present job about 2 years ago , I noticed that they used simple razor blades for just about everything, and it irritated me for some reason. They would just leave them laying around , sometimes on the ground , wherever , no big deal to them.
A razor blade would ceratinly be better than nothing and in some uses a razor blade will do the job not many other blades can but for general use a knife is my choice (of course).

 

[jryan]

the only people who ask to borrow my knife are my good friends, cause they are the only ones who know I always have one on me. I think buying a knife for these people is kind of pointless, cause they probably won't carry it. And they certainly won't maintain it.

one of my friends has a benchmade, i know he used to carry it, but doesnt anymore. last time I was at his place i saw it sitting on top of his tv, it was all dirty and grimy.

I got my dad a SAK for xmas a few years ago. Its sitting in his desk drawer, I believe its never been used. looks brand new.

 

[Vivi]

I was planning on getting some people SAKs and a few others Native's or Delicas for gifts in the next few months.

I think if you show someone how to properly use them and explain knives a bit to them, they get a bit more appreciation for them, especially when they see they're useful for certain tasks. I think anyone I do give a knife to, I'm going to type up a small paper of instructions for general maintenence, do's and don'ts, that sort of thing.

 

[kgriggs8]

It does make you feel good when you turn someone into a convert though. My dad was given a Benchmade mini-Grip by my brother and I showed him how to use the pocket clip (some people really have no idea what it is for). Now he carrys it like it was meant to be carried and he uses it more often because it is always at the ready and he doesn't have to search his pockets for it if he just wants to slice open a package or open a letter. It also stays cleaner not being in with the lint and grit of a pocket.

Having a knife is like being civilized. When I see people opening packages with car keys and tearing at things, it makes me cringe. It is so easy to just grab the knife that is always at my side and make my cuts and put to clip the knife back on my pocket that it has become second nature. I know I can open a package a lot faster than some jerk with a set of car keys.

 

[ocelot777]

I was planning on getting some people SAKs and a few others Native's or Delicas for gifts in the next few months.

I think if you show someone how to properly use them and explain knives a bit to them, they get a bit more appreciation for them, especially when they see they're useful for certain tasks. I think anyone I do give a knife to, I'm going to type up a small paper of instructions for general maintenence, do's and don'ts, that sort of thing.

Cool! can I have a Delica pls? (only joking )

Seriously, the "instruction sheet for newbies" idea is very interesting -- perhaps a thread just for ideas on this? I volunteer to edit it (some of you guys really can't spell I spell stuff for a living:yawn: ).

Make a printer-friendly, downloadable version for general use?