Forums.NitroExpress.com

Where to start my $.02...

I make knives. Quite a number of my knives are, right now, strapped to Molle vests on US Army soldier's and Marine's chests in combat theaters throughout the world. In addition, I use them hard, probably harder than they get used by many of the fellows I give them to. I am hard on such rigging and pay no particular attention to taking care of such stuff.

Making a good knife is not complicated, but does require a good grasp of what the goals for its use are. Edge-holding, ease of sharpening and toughness are my goals and my knives achieve them. I use scrap materials to make them and I will stack my knives for utility, hunting and military purposes against any knives ever made.

The commerical knifemaking industry churns out millions of knives each year. It survives on gimmickry and "Madison Avenue". Millions of fellows buy knives based on incredible claims and then go on to sit the knife on a shelf where it gets looked at but never nicked, dulled or scuffed. If it does get used it is not used for much.

Knife company claims are not necessarily false. However, many times the features incorporated in many "new and improved" knives are esoteric to the true basic demands of a hard-use cutting tool. Much like selling a .308 by convincing the buyer that he NEEDS a .308 because his .30-30, .300 Savage, .30-06, .300 H&H and .300 Weatherby just don't "cut it". {pun intended}

The cutting tools that are used hardest are those used on sugar, nut and tree plantations, on commercial fishing boats and in meat cutting facilities the world over. Such knives {and machetes} are "junk" by comparison to the wonder-blades sold to thousands of collectors.

I applaud all advances in knife technology, even this one cited here, but that does not make all advances practical or sometimes even advantageous! Some features are downright ruinous of service utility of a knife. Excessive hardness seems to be the most common sales gimmick these days. This "feature" lights up the eyes of scads of fellows, especially those who never intend to use a knife hard enough to require sharpening...

Will you notice this or that new advance in the field? Maybe. Most if not all guys will never use a hunting knife enough to know the difference or if they do notice a difference will not use it hard enough to find out its downside.

Art is a different story. Many knives are made as pieces of art and really are never intended to be used. I am not referring to such knives. They remain in a separate category entirely and can be appreciated regardless of their utility value. My knives are ugly. Serviceable and tough, but ugly. I admit it.

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What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?