Knife hobby and our perceptions of materials

MrStabby7 said:
You should google "the hedonic tredmill" I think this is probably the root of your problem. It applies to alot of areas in life. No matter what knife, steel, handle you get eventually it won't satify you anymore. It's probably best to try to find contentment with what you have. I think most guys here have this problem including me.
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I have worried about this sort of thing and have for the most part managed to avoid it. I used to be more snobbish about blade steels but pared that attitude back and two of my most recent purchases include ‘lowly’ RWL-34 blades. A year ago I foolishly passed them up for that very reason but this year I came to my senses and chose overall aesthetics and action above raw materials, and have been very satisfied, though my wheelhouse is still titanium and carbon fiber when it comes to frames/scales/inlays.

There are knives I handle and carry less and that genuinely lose their original spark, and I do try to recognize that in time and sell them off to pass the joy along to others who may appreciate them more but for the greater part I keep them because they’re simply marvels of engineering and craftsmanship so beyond my current capabilities (and possibly even understanding) that they don’t really go ‘stale’ on me. All it takes is a couple seconds of handling and a few flips for me to recall why I’ve kept each one and I do not guilt myself for not carrying each one every single day. I also have a couple of really nice suits I basically don’t break out ever except for funerals and job interviews and I never really analyze their place my life either.

I think if you can put a knife away for a year, take it out, still feel most if not all the joy you felt the day you got it, that’s perfectly fine. I don’t think there is (or should be) a schedule or hourly minimum requirement to how people as individuals should enjoy or use their knives in this hobby but their should definitely be enough regularity to just check-in, make sure you’re still feeling great about a particular piece, and if not, consider moving it along. Just don’t make any rash judgements in either direction that lead to regret—don’t buy or sell on a whim. If you know what you like but are also willing to try out new things based on either trusted recommendations or a sense of adventure, do the research, then make the choice.

And definitely, definitely don’t get hung up on blade steels. We truly do live in an age of ‘super steels’ where nearly every blade produced today will out perform those of 20+ years ago by an order of magnitude in categories like stainlessness and edge retention. Even if they’re using a 20-year old formula! Because manufacturing and quality control processes have improved, as have fundamental blade smithing techniques. For me now it’s become about finding that like-a-glove fit of the perfect midtech with an eye popping design and giggle-inducing sure-fire action without going full custom. And as another cliché reminds us: it’s about the journey, not the destination.
 
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Eliteone2383 said:
I think I've become too concerned about steel and handle materials to a point the hobby has become less fun for me.
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Do you consume a lot of knife content on youtube? Most of it is essentially just advertising and hype. The scale material and knife steel is just a bullet point and something to yak about to try and sell you on the knife or just to fill up time to make the video longer. Being overly concerned about it is probably not normal, but it might seem normal if you consume a lot of that content because what else are they going to talk about?

Doing an actual in depth review of a knife takes a lot of effort. It's easier to just talk about the simple details and move on to the next video. Youtubers are trying to make money, and spending too much time on a single video isn't cost effective for most of them. To actually use the knife and give you a detailed review takes a lot of time. It might also get them in trouble with knife companies who will be less willing to send them knives to review in the future, and so they're purposely trying not to be too honest or critical. Talking about things like knife steel and handle material isn't likely to upset the manufacturer.
 
Guy McVer said:
Do you consume a lot of knife content on youtube? Most of it is essentially just advertising and hype. The scale material and knife steel is just a bullet point and something to yak about to try and sell you on the knife or just to fill up time to make the video longer. Being overly concerned about it is probably not normal, but it might seem normal if you consume a lot of that content because what else are they going to talk about?

Doing an actual in depth review of a knife takes a lot of effort. It's easier to just talk about the simple details and move on to the next video. Youtubers are trying to make money, and spending too much time on a single video isn't cost effective for most of them. To actually use the knife and give you a detailed review takes a lot of time. It might also get them in trouble with knife companies who will be less willing to send them knives to review in the future, and so they're purposely trying not to be too honest or critical. Talking about things like knife steel and handle material isn't likely to upset the manufacturer.
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Yes I do take in a lot of knife content in general across different platforms.
 
TheManInBlack said:
I have worried about this sort of thing and have for the most managed to avoid it. I used to be more snobbish about blade steels but pared that attitude back and two of my most recent purchases include ‘lowly’ RWL-34 blades. A year ago I foolishly passed them up for that very reason but this year I came to my senses and chose overall aesthetics and action above raw materials, and have been very satisfied, though my wheelhouse is still titanium and carbon fiber when it comes to frames/scales/inlays.

There are knives I handle and carry less and that genuinely lose their original spark, and I do try to recognize that in time and sell them off to pass the joy along to others who may appreciate them more but for the greater part I keep them because they’re simply marvels of engineering and craftsmanship so beyond my current capabilities (and possibly even understanding) that they don’t really go ‘stale’ on me. All it takes is a couple seconds of handling and a few flips for me to recall why I’ve kept each one I do not guilt myself for not carrying each one every single day. I also have a couple of really nice suits I basically don’t break out ever except for funerals and job interviews and I never really analyze their place my life either.

I think if you can put a knife away for a year, take it out, still feel most if not all the joy you felt the day you got it, that’s perfectly fine. I don’t think there is (or should be) a schedule or hourly minimum requirement to how people as individuals should enjoy or use their knives in this hobby but their should definitely be enough regularity to just check-in, make sure you’re still feeling great about a particular piece, and if not, consider moving it along. Just don’t make any rash judgements in either direction that lead to regret—don’t buy or sell on a whim. If you know what you like but are also willing to try out new things based on either trusted recommendations or a sense of adventure, do the research, then make the choice.

And definitely, definitely don’t get hung up on blade steels. We truly do live in an age of ‘super steels’ where nearly every blade produced today will out perform those of 20+ years ago by an order of magnitude in categories like stainlessness and edge retention. Even if they’re using a 20-year old formula! Because manufacturing and quality control processes have improved, as have fundamental blade smithing techniques. For me now it’s become about finding that like-a-glove fit of the perfect midtech with an eye popping design and giggle-inducing sure-fire action without going full custom. And as another cliché reminds us: it’s about the journey, not the destination.
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My ZT 0450 cf always puts a smile on my face. That action is just unreal and very snappy. No knife regardless of price point feels better when opening and closing.
 
I still think of any powder metallurgy steel as being "premium". And while I do appreciate premium handle materials like titanium and carbon fiber, I will admit that titanium can get a little boring after awhile. I like more variety, both in steels and handle materials. A collection dominated by monochromatic M390 and titanium framelocks would bore me. I like G10, micarta, and aluminum just fine. And I even appreciate lowly FRN for several reasons. I have multiple FRN knives and they're great utilitarian pieces.
 
Eliteone2383 Eliteone2383
I’ve actually moved in the opposite direction as this sickness has progressed. I actually prefer g10 because I think it functions best in actual performance. I literally pay almost no attention to which steel I’m buying because at this point in the game, most knives at a certain price range have a steel thats good enough for me and my uses.

I must admit I have plenty of titanium folders with high end steels but it’s primarily because of the makers I love and support than with the materials I’m getting. For me it’s more about the whole package and functionality is the most important criteria. I actually convert some ti folders to g10 scales because I can’t get knives I love with it.

Congrats on recognizing your dilemma and just try to remember that’s it’s simply about what makes you happy. So much of materialism is about impressing others. Getting to the point of not caring at all what others think can be difficult but recognizing when you’re doing it is key to ending it. Good luck and just enjoy it for your own sake.
 
Eliteone2383 said:
I think I've become too concerned about steel and handle materials to a point the hobby has become less fun for me. I think up until recently I took a vacation from the forum for around 2 years. Let me give an example of what I'm talking about. I want a beater paramilitary 2 but look at blade steels like s30v and g10 and just turn my nose up at it. Then I look at 20cv and again immediately think not good enough.
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You are definitely way too concerned about blade steels and handle materials. It's good that you recognize this.

The best way to cure yourself of knife snobbery is to actually use and sharpen your knives. That will sober you up right quick.

My EDC knives are a Victorinox Rambler and a vintage Gerber Harsey AirFrame. The Rambler is my most used knife of all, the AirFrame is a 25 year old design with a 154CM blade that was considered a top grade blade steel in the late 90s, but is now considered to be effectively pot metal by far too many "collectors", today.

My most used fixed blade is a vintage Gerber Pro Guide II that has a 420HC blade and injection molded nylon scales. It's a cheap knife by any stretch of the examination (unless you try to buy one on eBay, these days, where they are fetching ridiculous prices), but I have relied on it in the woods for many years without worry. The steel is tough and easy to sharpen with field expedient sharpeners. Ten years ago, when I first moved to New England, and lived in an off-grid cabin, that knife processed an entire Winter's worth of kindling for my woodstove (my only source of heat), during the coldest Winter in many years.

I can say without even a hint of irony that 420HC is my number one most favorite steel for a backcountry knife. It is very corrosion resistant, very tough, and easy to sharpen. Yes, it doesn't hold an edge the way exotic crucible steels can, but I'd rather have a knife I can sharpen easily in the field and never have to worry about "ruining".
 
fuyume said:
I can say without even a hint of irony that 420HC is my number one most favorite steel for a backcountry knife. It is very corrosion resistant, very tough, and easy to sharpen. Yes, it doesn't hold an edge the way exotic crucible steels can, but I'd rather have a knife I can sharpen easily in the field and never have to worry about "ruining".
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If you bring a small sharpening stone with you, the more exotic steels are easy to sharpen as well.
If you don't bring a small sharpening stone of some sort, not that easy to find things to sharpen on out there "in the field."
 
It's taken me a year to figure out what lower end knife I want to settle on. I've bought quite a few higher end knives in my pursuit of sub $100 knife. I've decided on the Smokey mountain knife works exclusive Case peanut butter jelly bone Trapper. Just have to wait for it to be back in stock.
 
Eliteone2383 said:
Case peanut
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If you are going that small then you might also like the Case Swell Center Jack .
I LOVE those things and have several , from plain 'ol black synthetic to Abalone.
as per my usual MO I have removed (cut off) one blade or the other ; I prefer to do this so I can make better use of the handle shape without having folded blades in the way . E.G. I usually remove the spay blade off all my full size trappers and the Swell Center gets the same treatment.

Enjoy your new Peanut Exclusive !
 
I have found (for me) the handle (human machine interface) is so very important, I enjoy using all of the fancy steels but other than me working in an industry that is very hard on steel, lots of solvents I actually have to be aware of what steel I can use to work. I also have some 1075, 1095 etc. they all work, I just can’t bring some of them into work or they corrode quickly. Other than that I can honestly say the only difference in steels this dumb guy can tell is how often I have to sharpen them.
 
beeinak said:
So many choices in steels and handle materials now. Lots of popular knives are not what I want to carry. I have it easy- I buy what I like and don’t care what anyone would think.
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This right here with everything in life! Not sure if it’s reaching a certain point in your life and gaining wisdom, or if it’s just getting older and not caring what others may think. But it’s liberating to not worry about what the next person may think and living life to your standards!
 
Eliteone2383 said:
I think I've become too concerned about steel and handle materials to a point the hobby has become less fun for me. I think up until recently I took a vacation from the forum for around 2 years. Let me give an example of what I'm talking about. I want a beater paramilitary 2 but look at blade steels like s30v and g10 and just turn my nose up at it. Then I look at 20cv and again immediately think not good enough. If a knife is not exactly how I want it I view it as subpar ( This is a me problem I know) That's only one example of 1 knife from 1 company. This is a ongoing problem for me across the board. And I need to admit to myself that when I show someone a knife I don't want their immediate thought to be "oh its only s30v with g10, nothing special there" So others perceptions I have started to care about in this hobby. Thanks to this forum and content creators like Nick Shabazz and Metal Complex my outlook on the hobby isn't as relaxed and modest as it once was. I did some ribbing in the shirogorov thread but it wasn't serious as I fully understand the desire to have the best possible and I think maybe in my case it's become a unhealthy obsession and egotistical. Am I alone in this?
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Perhaps if you shift your focus fro current or contemporry knives to knives with some historical connection, you will find some inner peace.

Sure, go on the eternal quest for a satisfacory EDC, but when you find something you like, move out the "old one" for the new one. One thing I see in many younger folks is the "early adopter" syndrome, where thay must have the newest iteration of a phone or sport shoes . . .or whatever.

The knife makers will always come up with a new knife for these reasons, if it is only a trendy handle material, steel or a subtle change in blade blade finish (high polish vs stone washed).

For years now, my only "keeper" has been a Leatherman Wave as my EDC. Along the way, I have lusted for other knives that were unaffordable and passed them by. . Lif changes and I can now loosen up a little. Recently, I acquired a cute little William Henry that was below market. I sent it off to WH for some spa tretment and the cost was reasonable. In other news, I am looking for nice examples of WW-II GI issued pocket folders. Got hooked when I saw a 10th Mountain Division issued little folder. Now I am on the look out for several other variations. The challange is finding aone in good shape at a reasonable price and doing whatever is necessary to clean it up if necessary.
 
I have done the snobbery, but also have learned what I like and kind of stick to that. Change if something better for my intended purpose comes along. I love G10 as it's durable and can hold an aggressive checkering. Micarta is pretty good. Carbon fiber is only ok for a knife I intend to use since it's kind of slick at times. Rubber is good, unless and until it peels or gets sticky from breaking down.

I like some steels more than others, I don't like S30v because I've had it chip. I prefer S35 or S45. For a tough knife I like 3V and AEB-L for a balance between edge retention and toughness I like Cru-Wear in carbon, or Magnacut in Stainless. S90 for extreme edge holding, and 5160 for extreme toughness (mostly swords or machetes). I'm neutral with 80CRV2, but I have some small Winkler knives and an axe because I like them.

I'm only snobbish anymore about very low end steel, especially when it's overpriced. I'm not paying $100+ for some 440A. I'm not paying $400 for 1095. Same with some of the cheap plastic handles. I have, and will buy Beckers with Grivory because the knife is good and the price isn't quite stupid, but replacing the scales with G10 or micarts starts approaching it. I do love my BK19 Harpoon and was glad to spend the money on the G10, and eventually a sheath that fits.
 
For pocket knives, I couldn't care what steel they use. I mainly buy mid/high end knives so I doubt it's a cheap steel.
For kitchen, I love blue #2, I believe it is ancient.
 
Ok I was able to get one before they sold out. Once I get it my goal is to carry it every day for a year. So even if im carrying something else the case pbj trapper will still be in my small pocket also. Gonna force myself to use it as my primary though. Hopefully this helps me break the cycle of madness lol.
 
Glad this thread circled back around again. Been participating in using a traditional knife for a month. My choice was a trapper in 420. A week to go and I cannot wait.

I swear I'm going to try my best to not make broad statements and try instead to keep it at a personal level because I know good and well I don't speak for everyone.

I've already been at the point I'm so happy we have better steel to choose from these days. Does 420 cut? Of coarse. But if I have an even slightly higher knife user kind of day then that blade will at a minimum need touching up that evening. And I'm not talking hard use. Cut tape on boxes, cut open packing slips, slice open shrink wrap, cut strapping, and at that point I have to switch to the other blade by the afternoon. I don't know if Case leaves their 420 super soft or what. I'm a bit of a box hoarder since I never have one when I need one and yet I will end up with two dozen or more floating around the garage. So I flatten them and cut them in half to get them to fit the can when I get tired of them. I got rid of maybe half of them and that blade was DONE. It makes me look at the older knives I have from my father and grandfather. All but a few of them have some serious amounts of steel removed from sharpening over the years. I know I can't 100% conclude this means they sharpened them daily, but from this last few weeks it sure feels like it.

There have been several times now I had to stop myself from pulling out the Spyderco or whatever else I have and just quit. I had no idea something like S30V has me so spoiled and yet I too have caught myself being let down at "yet another new S30/35/45" knife. The newer Bodacious is a perfect example. Another S30V with G10 from Spyderco... Yawn... But even today S30V beats anything I had just ten years ago. I even used to whine what a pain D2 was to sharpen. Now my current favorite steel is K390 from Seki City and I sing it's praises enough some people may think I own stock in the company. I even bought a Para 3 in 15V since the glove was thrown down that I felt I didn't need better. Granted I only have minimal use with it so far. But the K390 Delica is also still running with it's factory edge being stropped back a couple of times. From a year ago. That's insane to me.

But I've had to sharpen the trapper twice now.

I'm happy for anyone else that's good with "older" steels. Not sure how to politely label them. I will still carry a Case or something as a second or third knife, but to keep it as my primary? That feels like saying an old Model T is all anyone really needs. If anything this month feels like it's really opened my eyes on just how good we have it these days almost without really knowing it. As in I know modern steels were better but now I KNOW they are better. Can I still enjoy a Buck, Case, or anything else with a traditional older steel? Once again, of course, but I can still prefer something more modern.

Don't worry K390, daddy will be back for you next week. ;)
 
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