Unpopular opinions

[Tucson Tom]

My most unpopular opinion.. brace yourselves now..

People who carry knives daily, but only cut apples and open letters are "users" too! There, I said it!

I’ve had a knife in my pocket every day for over a decade. In a given day, I may open mail/packages, cut up an apple at work, cut a loose thread off of clothing, maybe cut some rope here and there, or perform any one of a dozen similar tasks for which a knife is a sufficiently handy tool. If I need to perform a “harder use” task than any of those.. well, I probably have a tool designed specifically for it..

Generally, I understand that this hobby is pretty subjective.. people like what they like and I'm a-okay with that. If you want to spend 17 hours a week filming yourself cutting 3274 ft of cardboard and chopping down small trees in your backyard with your pocket knife, that's fine by me.. have at it! Hell, I’ll even admit that it's pretty cool to watch sometimes and that the data collected can be really interesting.

Where I'm rubbed the wrong way though, is when these people adopt an attitude that they are somehow superior to less intensive users because of their own perceived “hard use.” Could I cut every cardboard box that I see into 217 pieces with my PM2? Sure. But why? I have no reason to. If I want to “break down” a box, I use my knife to cut the tape at the opening and .. wait for it.. fold the box in half! It lays just as flat… shocking, I know! Why does my ability to resist the urge to unnecessarily dice the box into a zillion pieces with my pocket knife make me any less of a “user?” Could I take my Shaman out into the woods and chop down 17 medium sized tree limbs with it? Yeah, probably. But I can think of five or six tools off the top of my head that would be better choices for the job..

You see where I’m going with this? In a pinch, I’m sure I could use my knife pretty reliably to perform any number of hard use tasks.. Hell, I admit, I’ve abused a knife or two in my day working construction/landscaping jobs.. but typically.. why would I risk my edge or my knife when there are more appropriate tools that are literally designed to perform these jobs? Hello.. Boxcutter.. the intended task is the name of the tool.. what, that's crazy!?!

I guess my point here is that I don’t really care how people use their knives. I am bothered when people start to look down on others for how they use (or don't use) theirs. As far as I’m concerned, anyone who carries a knife and uses it in any way, no matter how “insignificant” the task, is a “user.” We’re all here because we enjoy knives and we should all be able to enjoy knives in our own way. Hahah, end of rant.

This is so right on. Thanks!

[aicolainen]

Hi Aicolainen,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

Thank you, Sal!!

[jpm2]

My most unpopular opinion.. brace yourselves now..

People who carry knives daily, but only cut apples and open letters are "users" too! There, I said it!

I’ve had a knife in my pocket every day for over a decade. In a given day, I may open mail/packages, cut up an apple at work, cut a loose thread off of clothing, maybe cut some rope here and there, or perform any one of a dozen similar tasks for which a knife is a sufficiently handy tool. If I need to perform a “harder use” task than any of those.. well, I probably have a tool designed specifically for it..

Generally, I understand that this hobby is pretty subjective.. people like what they like and I'm a-okay with that. If you want to spend 17 hours a week filming yourself cutting 3274 ft of cardboard and chopping down small trees in your backyard with your pocket knife, that's fine by me.. have at it! Hell, I’ll even admit that it's pretty cool to watch sometimes and that the data collected can be really interesting.

Where I'm rubbed the wrong way though, is when these people adopt an attitude that they are somehow superior to less intensive users because of their own perceived “hard use.” Could I cut every cardboard box that I see into 217 pieces with my PM2? Sure. But why? I have no reason to. If I want to “break down” a box, I use my knife to cut the tape at the opening and .. wait for it.. fold the box in half! It lays just as flat… shocking, I know! Why does my ability to resist the urge to unnecessarily dice the box into a zillion pieces with my pocket knife make me any less of a “user?” Could I take my Shaman out into the woods and chop down 17 medium sized tree limbs with it? Yeah, probably. But I can think of five or six tools off the top of my head that would be better choices for the job..

You see where I’m going with this? In a pinch, I’m sure I could use my knife pretty reliably to perform any number of hard use tasks.. Hell, I admit, I’ve abused a knife or two in my day working construction/landscaping jobs.. but typically.. why would I risk my edge or my knife when there are more appropriate tools that are literally designed to perform these jobs? Hello.. Boxcutter.. the intended task is the name of the tool.. what, that's crazy!?!

I guess my point here is that I don’t really care how people use their knives. I am bothered when people start to look down on others for how they use (or don't use) theirs. As far as I’m concerned, anyone who carries a knife and uses it in any way, no matter how “insignificant” the task, is a “user.” We’re all here because we enjoy knives and we should all be able to enjoy knives in our own way. Hahah, end of rant.

This is so right on. Thanks!

Then there’s the other extreme.... those that use their knife for everything, eg: scraping twisting prying etc.
They/we catch a lot of flack too.

[PStone]

Me reading this thread:

[SpyderNut]

Me reading this thread:

Hahaha!

[wrdwrght]

Need to add another to my earlier list.

Guided sharpening systems are a complication that takes the zen out of edge-maintenance and -repair; the Sharpmaker is a wonder, but I prefer using freehand abrasives and exploring Spyderco’s other excellent offerings.

[vivi]

You can't get a good feel for how a knife steel behaves without using it enough to need to sharpen it multiple times.

You can't get a really good feel for how a knife steel behaves without experimenting with edge angles.

You can't get an extremely good feel for how a knife steel behaves without doing the above on multiple blades, ideally with varying geometry.

[Mini2white]

I like many knives but wish the blade steel was something else. The Bow River is something I could use but I'd like a better steel option. The Tenacious and Resilience again are a great design but need a better steel option. For the same reason I don't buy the high carbon steels that rust if you look at them sideways. That corrosion on the outside is a lot worse on the inside.

[Ankerson]

You can't get a good feel for how a knife steel behaves without using it enough to need to sharpen it multiple times.

You can't get a really good feel for how a knife steel behaves without experimenting with edge angles.

You can't get an extremely good feel for how a knife steel behaves without doing the above on multiple blades, ideally with varying geometry.

I agree completely with that.

I would add in edge finishes to that also.

[Naperville]

Me reading this thread:

Mostly 5, 6, and 10!

[PStone]

Me reading this thread:

Mostly 5, 6, and 10!

Haha! It almost syncs up with page numbers too.

[legOFwhat?]

You can't get a good feel for how a knife steel behaves without using it enough to need to sharpen it multiple times.

You can't get a really good feel for how a knife steel behaves without experimenting with edge angles.

You can't get an extremely good feel for how a knife steel behaves without doing the above on multiple blades, ideally with varying geometry.

I agree completely with that.

I would add in edge finishes to that also.

I've finally come around to understand this and it has made owning a using these great steels far more enjoyable. Makes me also appreciate just how much goes into every knife I own.

[Ankerson]

You can't get a good feel for how a knife steel behaves without using it enough to need to sharpen it multiple times.

You can't get a really good feel for how a knife steel behaves without experimenting with edge angles.

You can't get an extremely good feel for how a knife steel behaves without doing the above on multiple blades, ideally with varying geometry.

I agree completely with that.

I would add in edge finishes to that also.

I've finally come around to understand this and it has made owning a using these great steels far more enjoyable. Makes me also appreciate just how much goes into every knife I own.

Absolutely, one just can't really appreciate the knives and especially the steels if they never really use them for much of anything.

[Higher]

We all sat in a circle and took turns saying: "Hello, my name is so-and-so and I am knifeholic". Strange, but we do not feel like strangers among these people. And we didn't come here to fight ourselves.

Like the author of this you, I also have a long time with Spyderco knives. More than 10 years. I always read on the forum and rarely write.


"Unpopular opinions". What to say? We became unpopular with others after choosing these knives with holes. These knives are of unusual shapes. Others look at these knives and say: "This is strange, the knife should not look like this."
I answer them "the knife has the right". (translation difficulties are possible) People are full of stereotypes. I might be rude, but don't misunderstand. Some people say, "It's a matter of taste." I will answer: "No, taste can be developed." If you surround yourself with wonderful products, beauty, so that our eyes rejoice. Then the craving for beauty will come to us. That's when we start choosing these knives. That's when we choose Spyderco knives with you.
If this photo is deemed obscene (?) I can delete it. I'm talking about a photo with a knife
*Image Removed - A little too racy for our forum. - TazKristi*


"unpopular opinions". Yes, I myself used to be full of stereotypes. But it's good that there are people like you who helped me change. I didn't understand the serrator before. Many years ago I thought: "how so? What is this? wtf? Does it have to be on the knife? What for?". Then I tried it, I liked it, and my life changed. And when I learned to sharpen it I was delighted.


"unpopular opinions". What's with the size? But nothing. It's okay. Yes, the knife can be small. For me it was strange before. And it remains strange for other people now. When am I in the forest to sharpen a spear with a knife? I do not remember. Perhaps never. That's when I might need a big knife. But no. Other people see my little knives and are surprised. But they are comfortable. They are convenient for most jobs.


"unpopular opinions". The less extra weight on you, the better. The weight in the pockets pulls the pants down. Why is this if you can carry a light knife. It's comfortable. Just **** convenient. I will not take a heavy knife with me if it is possible to take a knife easier. Sal even grinded off his keys. I saw this somewhere in an interview. Maybe I should do that too?


"unpopular opinions".
"Why do you need so many knives? They are all the same" I hear this often. I say, "they are all. Different."
When you and I plunge into some topic, we begin to learn a lot for ourselves. An inquisitive mind. How much do we learn about steel, materials, history, and more? Lot. This gives us the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and develop. It seems to me that this is good. We are not standing still. We are moving forward and developing. Is it unpopular?


"unpopular opinions".
I am very unpopular in what I cut with a knife. I am strange in that I do not unscrew the screws with them, do not lift the manhole cover, do not open a tin can, do not try to make a hole in the wall. I have another tool for these tasks. The knife should cut. I think so. Yes, sometimes you have no choice or you can't hesitate. But these are exceptional cases and they are rare.


-----
There, I said it:)

[James Y]

Here’s an unpopular opinion:

As users, I like some models in Spyderco’s Seki-made line every bit as much as my favorite models in their Golden-made line.

Jim

[steelcity16]

Here’s an unpopular opinion:

As users, I like some models in Spyderco’s Seki-made line every bit as much as my favorite models in their Golden-made line.

Jim

My opinion must be even more unpopular then because I like the Seki designs BETTER than the Golden designs. The quality on both are amazing, but the Seki FRN models are my favorite.

[sal]

High Higher,

Nice post. Thanx. We stand on the shoulders of others so we can see farther.

sal

[BornIn1500]

If this photo is deemed obscene (?) I can delete it.

Well, considering it shows a nipple because of her see-thru top.... pretty sure nudity isn't allowed

[Higher]

High Higher,
Nice post. Thanx. We stand on the shoulders of others so we can see farther.
Sal

Thanks Sal,
Thanks to the whole team,
Thanks to all users and collectors.

Spyderco knives are changing us. They change our thinking for the better. And we bring this positive to others, we try to do better.