I also like to be adventurous, and have been in many ways throughout my life. As we get older, though, it can be harder to want to experiment. I keep trying. And yes life is full of paradoxes.
In any case, a couple of recent experimental purchases have provided me with some realizations. It would be cool if other folks also shared their similar thoughts and experiences with knives (of even with other stuff that is somehow relevant).
I decided wanted to experiment with:
1. Smaller knives
2. Serrations (and narrower edge angles) on more of my folders-- esp on FFG blades
(thanks to JD, Evil D, Vivi, Gringo, Cambertree, Wartstein and others for their inputs and enthusiasm on serrated blades)
3. Little did i know, i also wanted to try carrying modern knives without clips
My last purchase included :
1) SE Lil Native (i had been pretty sure i didn't want a smaller Native-- "The Native is plenty small, " i thought. Wrong! I love the lil thing. The entire family is really good-- and oh those Golden mid lockbacks! (AKA Backlocks)
2) SE Native Salt
3) SE Dragonfly 2 Hawkbill Salt (DHawk)
These knives have prompted a few thoughts-- especially about the value of trying new things.
I had been wishing there were a G10 handled SE ground Native 5. I like linerless G10 handles. I haven't found one if they exist-- and yes i know i could make one myself. The happy coincidence is that this fact is part of what drove me to buy a Lil Native. Since i could get the Lil in a backlock with SE edge and G10 handle i decided to go for that instead of the FRN Native 5 in SE with S35VN.
I've been wanting an H1 SE hawkbill for a long time. For a while (under the influence of Bloke) i thought i wanted a LadyHawk... (maybe too small for me) i was back and forth a bunch and ended up with the DHawk (in part because of Evil D's comparative observations about the two and lots of of other positive impressions). the DHawk is really great. The size is really nice and easy to use very precisely. It has a lot of utility in the garden and nearly everywhere. It is a little freaky looking tho.
I almost bought an orange sprint SpyderHawk when they were still available at MAP. I would still like one, but doubt i would carry it as much as the lil DHawk.
Not sure why, but I decided to try out my new Lil Native without a clip. It is just lovely to start with, but without the clip it is super nice.
On most modern folding knives i prefer the clip to be there for bracing fingers against while opening and closing. With the Dragonfly, i am pretty sure i want the clip there, but the Lil Native works great for me without it. I may put it back on for security of keeping it, but i like it clipless. I find that both the Lil Native and DFly fit pretty easily into most of my pants change/ watch pockets.
Serrated blades are nice for lots of reasons (edge retention, cutting aggression, ability to cut fibrous materials, ease of sharpening (surprise!?), general utility and on and on...) but there is also something else going on...
One point that Vivi used to make repeatedly is that the chisel ground nature of the SE blade grind gives the user a much narrow inclusive edge grind from the factory than a V-grind plain edge does (Of course this creates its own cutting dynamics/ deflection. And most SE blades are chisel ground on the "wrong side" for right handed users to do precise work. I understand that "wrong side grind" may be a safety feature for the average user, but it is still not my preference)
IIRC Vivi cited (as someone who appreciated narrow edge angles and had put lots of effort into reprofiling knives) that narrower inclusive edge angles as a main reason for his preference for SE to get the narrower edge from the factory without having to do the work himself. I am thinking i may agree.
I know many of us like to thin our edges out and some have lots of experience with it. The cutting performance advantages of thinner edges are undeniable and the durability tradeoffs are highly personal.
Cambertree encapsulates this principle very well here:
Further thoughts on the ghost that is the edge? Afi batches? How you do or don't regrind your own edges?Cambertree wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 7:24 am...
Generally if you want to customise an edge for your particular needs and cutting style, just start off by grinding an acute edge, then if you get any damage, sharpen it out at a slightly more obtuse angle, or using a microbevel. When the edge stabilises you’ll know you have an edge thickness/angle which is optimised for your needs. After a while you’ll get pretty good at guessing what point to thin the edge out to to begin with.
SE tips: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=84544&p=1429067#p1429067
Thinner grinds-- Afi Performance Flash Batch thread: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=79799
TLDR; How have you pleasantly surprised yourself on your personal knife journey? Please share.