Why are we drawn Â… ?

[redyps04]

For me, it's the aspect of having something around that can come in handy in so many different senarios. I think above everything though, it's that never-ending search for useful gadgets that we seem to have instilled in us from an early age. I remember seeing my dad's SAK on his ketchain for the first time an just being enamored by the usefulness of it. When I got my first SAK as a kid, I would imagine all these crazy senarios in which I would be stuck out in the wilderness with only that knife, or picture an end-of-the-world senario where that was the only thing I had to survive (I was a pretty imaginative kid if you haven't guessed). But having something you could technically classify as "pocket jewelry" doesn't hurt either- (i.e. Kiwi, Caly3, Al Mar folders).

[D1omedes]

I love knives because:

1. I appreciate the versatility of the knife as a tool including a tool for defense.
2. I appreciate good workmanship and fine materials that often go together in a quality knife.
3. I appreciate the "mechanicalness" and "gadgetness" of a fine folding knife. This probably speaks volumes about my "nerdiness".

This sums it up pretty well for me. From a young age, I was always drawn to swords and such. I remember visiting the Museum of Natural History in NYC and staring in wonder at all the weapons and armor from Japan, Europe, China, Africa, etc. The craftsmanship and aesthetics were striking.

I think it was just a matter of time before I started to collect sharp things. I suppose the world of pocket knives has my interest because of its affordability, variety and utility. Lets face it, you're not going to be able to carry and use a katana every day but a :spyder: can be in your pocket 24/7. :)

[Pharmagator]

Semper Paratus

[Jester]

Be Prepared

[nightsirk]

That's probably the biggest reason. :) But seriously I think that knives offer a sense of security, and that can draw people in, it's a preparedness thing.

Very well put. I've thought about this myself, and having a nice reliable EDC knife definitely makes you feel more prepared to overcome challenges. For me this mostly involves knowing i will be able to open packaging, cut through tape,cardboard, string etc without having to hope i find some tool at my current location to solve these (mundane) tasks.

[Joshua J.]

They make my life better, in a significant way, on a daily basis.

[Ed Schempp]

From the time we are born we begin to try and shape our world. As I have been into knives since I can remember and I have been carrying a knife from the age of 5, I think that developmentally that the knife opened a huge array of possibilities that had a huge impact on me.

Learning knife as tool before puberty leaves a lasting impression that we carry through to our graves. I started working with metal about the same time, first files then cold forging, always building weapons not tools. I think that is because the prettiest smartest child of the marriage of steel and knives is weapons. They represent the most power. As a child I saw the main difference between adults and myself was size and power. For some strange reason at puberty I started building tools again. Maybe perspective set in.

I almost died from the only edged encounter I ever had. I had a bear cub cornered and was poking it with my Sergeant Preston 4.5 inch clip point bowie. I had my coon skin cap and was 4 years old. Davy Crocket killed a bear when he was only 3 and after all I was 4. I remember going air born and bouncing on my dads shoulder seeing the mama bear 40 yards behind us as we ran into the cabin and quickly closed the door. Maybe I learned something there, that didn't set in until puberty.

Our experiences help shape our lives, but I can't remember when I didn't like knives...Take Care...Ed

[quattrokid73]

I think the hammer is probably the oldest tool (unless you want to count the human hand as a tool). Either way, I think there is more to it than age.

Part of it is the versatility/handiness that is ALSO totally portable, but also "tunable".

By "tunable" I mean that a knife can be improved in performance for various tasks. A hammer basically works one way and no amount of polishing/modification will dramatically change how hard you must swing it to perform a task, but a knife can be sharpened such that it will work far better than some might expect. I think this has a lot to do with why *I* am enamored with knives.

Surely the hammer was a primitive matter separator!

[Lostification]

http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30394

A few of the responses I received are quite relevant to your topic.

[bh49]

Since I was a kid I always loved knives and tools. I never was a scout, hunter, or adventurer. I never had real need for the knife, except may be the time when I was an engineering student and need the set of sharp pencils to make drawings. So for me it is probably genes of my ancestors, who were nomads, hunters, and craftsmen .

[Jazz]

I honestly can't explain why for me. I just love them - looking at them, using them, "fondling" them, the bit of security they provide, their usefullness... I don't know. I've had one since 9 years old and, whatever - they're just cool and I don't need a profound reason for loving them. :)

- best wishes, Jazz.

[dbcad]

I bought a couple of fairly nice knives before Spyderco came and bit me. The Gerber trendy and the little Fox 440 series folder. They're both good little knives and are still used today.

Then I bought the Spyderco Lum Chinese, and almost a year after that joined the forum. Since then my view of knives has completely changed. Function over form works for me.

For me there is something which I still can't define which makes Spydercos desirable. Maybe it's the quality of material in conjunction with ergonomics and price. I love quality with value :)

Charlie

[GronK]

I always had knives around since I was young. Didn't think much about them until I found myself in Saigon during Tet 68 with no weapon but a dagger I'd purchased in the Philippines. I've been a bit obsessed with pointy edged tools ever since.

[Lucentdawn]

I have an architectural background and I would say that for me, I'm drawn to the combination of form and function in a knife. A great knife seems to be half art, half engineering and this is really what true architecture is (or should be). We architects are typically drawn to things that are not only beautiful, but that work exceedingly well. It seems like most Spydercos are designed with the philosophy that form follows function...it was only when I held the Delica in my hand that I realized how simply beautiful a thing it is. I think it was Mies van der Rohe that said "Less is more."

[Nonprophet]

It's primal. One of man's oldest tools is the blade. With it most other things can be made or done....

[dbcad]

What all of you say is what I feel. An appreciation of quality and function.

Charlie

[chuck_roxas45]

What all of you say is what I feel. An appreciation of quality and function.

Charlie

I like. Simple and for me, true.

[jackknifeh]

I have liked knives since my Dad started showing me how to use them. He did a good job of teaching how to use a knife and safety was a big issue. He, my brother and I would go hunting and fishing quite a bit when I sas young as well as Dad taught me loads about working with all kinds of tools dealing with carpentry and woodworking. My interest continued on a low level and when I started working 90% of my jobs required heavy use of knives and I prided myself on always having a nice knife. That went on until about 4 or 5 years ago when I started learning more about knives and found out my nice knives were just a tad below average.

My interest started with my father. Then it grew as I used them more and more as life went on. Now I'm intrigued with the craftsmanship needed to make good knives and nice knives and there is a difference. A "good" knife is one that never lets you down when you need it no matter what the conditions or even if you need to abuse it a little. A "nice" knife is prettier and more expensive. It is well built with good material but not the knife you would take into the woods when it may be exposed to extremely adverse conditions even though it would perform just fine. Compare you knives to trucks. You wouldn't load a nice pick up with cinder blocks and lumber. That is what your good truck is for. That's my explanation anyway.

My interest has nothing to do with self defense. It is not my weapon of choice should the need arise. If I'm not mistaken you can carry a baseball bat anywhere without getting arrested just for having it and I would rather bring a bat to a knife fight than a knife.

Jack

[RJNC]

I like that they're tools and weapons in one simple package.

[grunt0331]

they're cheaper than motorcycles!