Spyderco Forums

As I read through the different posts in this forum, I see a common thread, a sense of camaraderie that we all share. I am just curious if a knife is a simple tool or if it carries a deeper meaning for you.
A knife for me represents a tool which bridges the gap of man and nature, allowing us to manipulate it at will.
A knife is the fruit of mankind's efforts to blend raw steel and other materials to create these phenomenal tools. We live in a time where we are at the pinnacle of such efforts.
I often think about the creativity and orchestration of all work and resources that come together to make these works of art. Akin to red wine, a knife gains character with age. Many of which can be appreciated for generations to come.

Thank you Sal, Eric and the rest of the Spyderco team for adding this element to our lives.

On a very practical level a knife is foremost a tool, and is appreciable simply in those terms. A really good knife should just work well.

However, my passion for them has been lifelong, and not always so practically minded. As best as I can articulate, I love knives for their ability to balance form and function. Occasionally their function is even enhanced by their form, where the shape of the handle and blade actually improve performance and aren't merely pretty. A great example of this, in my mind, is the Yojimbo 2. The form of the knife is defined by the intended function and cutting attributes that Michael Janich was aiming for. But it also resulted in making Yojimbo 2 an incredibly visually striking knife.

I also have a longtime fascination with materials properties, manufacturing, and machining that comes from having an older brother who was a machinist. As a result I get all giddy hearing about things like CNC, CAD, wire EDM, micrometers, and waterjets.

I've also had a passion for historical edged weapons since I was a kid. I couldn't go to an antique store with my parents without coming back with a bayonet, or some jewel studded souvenir kukri.

Between earning my Totin' Chip and practicing sword fencing for a few years, I've always had a love of all things sharp.

For me a knife represents strength, ability, responsibility, and freedom.

Able dog and Spydergirl88 - thanks for the response. I can relate to your sense of "giddiness" about these things. I am fascinated with he metallurgical aspect of these blades. It is mind boggling how the addition or subtraction of elements on a molecular level can shape the steel characteristics. I remember in the 90s where ATS 34 was all the rage. Now we have all of these new steels like 3V, Maxamet, or even Rex 121 that are in a different league. Imagine what the next 20yrs holds...

I get what you mean, I think, steeljunkie about it being a tool made from knowledge passed down and how each generation manages to improve and put it's own mark on this very old idea. And that these tools made from passed down knowledge allow us to overcome the elements and shape the world around us. The edge, the flame, steel; Flashlights, lighters, knives, pocket tools. I've been collecting them since I was a kid. I wish I could show 12 year old me my current spyderco collection.

ZrowsN1s- you get what I mean! Thanks for your feedback.

Can't explain. Tool, toy, shiny steel, patinaed steel, metals, beautiful and/or tough handles, exceedingly sharp edges... I don't know. I've been fascinated since I was old enough to be fascinated. I enjoy them. Spyderco makes excellent "them".

I agree with all of you and all of what you said, the original poster and responders.

Everybody got a knife!
It can be just what they want it to be, a needle, a wife or something that you just can't see! :eek:

If it wasn't for knives we would still be cave men and we would still be throwing rocks and sticks at each other.

I don't have to use my teeth :D

Preparedness. A good knife can often mean the difference between life and death in survival situations. A knife can save a life, or take a life, it can break down materials that would ordinarily be impossible or very difficult to break down with your bare hands, in mere minutes or even seconds. To think that we all carry these capabilities in our pockets, in a small but excellently engineered tool, sometimes without even leaving a noticeable footprint in our blue jeans, it's pretty amazing.

I love my knives. I always feel much more prepared to handle any situation that may arise when I have a good knife in my pocket. Thank you Spyderco, and all you other quality knife companies, for making tools we can depend on every day.

Steeljunkie wrote:As I read through the different posts in this forum, I see a common thread, a sense of camaraderie that we all share. I am just curious if a knife is a simple tool or if it carries a deeper meaning for you.
A knife for me represents a tool which bridges the gap of man and nature, allowing us to manipulate it at will.
A knife is the fruit of mankind's efforts to blend raw steel and other materials to create these phenomenal tools. We live in a time where we are at the pinnacle of such efforts.
I often think about the creativity and orchestration of all work and resources that come together to make these works of art. Akin to red wine, a knife gains character with age. Many of which can be appreciated for generations to come.

Thank you Sal, Eric and the rest of the Spyderco team for adding this element to our lives.

Am I the only one who thinks it's a bit cringy to have thoughts like this? To me, a knife is just a tool like hundreds of other modern tools. A good knife like a Spyderco is also a work of art and represents fine craftsmanship. I get enjoyment from carrying it. But that's it. I don't try to over-analyze it. IMO, there are so many things that humanity has done which are more awe-inspiring than a knife in my pocket.

A knife is not just like hundreds of other modern tools. Sharp things, as both tools and weapons, have had an extremely significant impact on humanity since the birth of civilization. For some odd reason the wheel gets the credit for being the invention that brought us out of our caveman past. The edged tool was the backbone of civilization in the beginning and then shaped our history as it was the dominate weapon for much longer than firearms have been around. Sure today most people live a domesticated life where you can almost live without a knife, especially with fast food and packaged/processed food and easy open packaging. I am thankfully not one of those people. I love to cook and I hunt, fish and spend a lot of time practicing wilderness survival stuff. I need a knife to do those things and it is an invaluable tool for me.

FreelanceForty wrote:

Steeljunkie wrote:As I read through the different posts in this forum, I see a common thread, a sense of camaraderie that we all share. I am just curious if a knife is a simple tool or if it carries a deeper meaning for you.
A knife for me represents a tool which bridges the gap of man and nature, allowing us to manipulate it at will.
A knife is the fruit of mankind's efforts to blend raw steel and other materials to create these phenomenal tools. We live in a time where we are at the pinnacle of such efforts.
I often think about the creativity and orchestration of all work and resources that come together to make these works of art. Akin to red wine, a knife gains character with age. Many of which can be appreciated for generations to come.

Thank you Sal, Eric and the rest of the Spyderco team for adding this element to our lives.

Am I the only one who thinks it's a bit cringy to have thoughts like this? To me, a knife is just a tool like hundreds of other modern tools. A good knife like a Spyderco is also a work of art and represents fine craftsmanship. I get enjoyment from carrying it. But that's it. I don't try to over-analyze it. IMO, there are so many things that humanity has done which are more awe-inspiring than a knife in my pocket.

FreelanceForty: I get where you are coming from. I actually had the sense that my original post was a bit "cringy" as you say. Maybe I was a bit too reflective but my take away point was that these objects seem to have an intangible attraction for many of us whether it be admiration, nostalgia, sentiment, or something else.
I am in agreement with you that there are many things in life that are awe-inspiring. I appreciate those things as well - just not on this forum. Thanks for your input.

bearfacedkiller wrote:A knife is not just like hundreds of other modern tools. Sharp things, as both tools and weapons, have had an extremely significant impact on humanity since the birth of civilization. For some odd reason the wheel gets the credit for being the invention that brought us out of our caveman past. The edged tool was the backbone of civilization in the beginning and then shaped our history as it was the dominate weapon for much longer than firearms have been around. Sure today most people live a domesticated life where you can almost live without a knife, especially with fast food and packaged/processed food and easy open packaging. I am thankfully not one of those people. I love to cook and I hunt, fish and spend a lot of time practicing wilderness survival stuff. I need a knife to do those things and it is an invaluable tool for me.

Well said sir!

Knivesinedc wrote:I love my knives. I always feel much more prepared to handle any situation that may arise when I have a good knife in my pocket. Thank you Spyderco, and all you other quality knife companies, for making tools we can depend on every day.

Agreed

Love the feeling sensation in my hand when a knife has great haptics. Love the weight, the sturdiness, the stability and balance in my hand. Love the smooth action if the knife offers this. Yes, there are knives that don't - those are not being played with as much.

Love to know that any Spydie can here in Europe be sold and replaced by any other Spydie with no big financial loss (if any).

Love to know that if I need a tool to cut, there's always (!) one with me. Though I'm a town person, my carried Spydies are being used.

Love to know that in case someone shows aggressive behaviour towards me or moreover towards my family, and that if my sound mind thinks that drawing a knife may likely change the situation to the better, I know I can do so.

Love to know that a :spyder: is SO MUCH MORE than just any $5 knife from a supermarket!!!

Yes, love the shininess, superiority, and exoticness (is that a word?) of the :spyder: knives steels over those junk knives. :)

Many other things I am missing right now. Thanks to the Spyderco gang for their great work!!

The first three ages of man are the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age. We define the time periods surrounding the birth of civilization by what material we made our tools out of. That says a lot to me about the importance of sharp things.

bearfacedkiller wrote:The first three ages of man are the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age. We define the time periods surrounding the birth of civilization by what material we made our tools out of. That says a lot to me about the importance of sharp things.

Don't forget the Copper Age.

The historical importance of cutting tools is also a very romantic subject.

The notion that the process of creating alloys like bronze or steel had a massive impact on shaping the world is staggering.