silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2005
- Messages
- 20,039
It all started while reading the Mens Journal. Nestled between the Viagra ads and the Viking Resorts ads, was a review of the Gerber Silver Knight. The model in the picture was one with wood scales. I thought to myself, "What a pretty little knife." And that was it.
Several months later, after crossing the river from China knockoff brands to Cold Steel and Camillus, I found myself thinking about the Gerber. I looked and looked and looked, but the model had been discontinued. No one had any. I finally found one, I don't know if I bought it on here, on flea Bay, or from an online retailer, but I finally got one. It wasn't my EDC, but when I did use it, it was not only a pretty knife, but a pleasure to use. Carrying some big Cold Steel folders at the time, this was my back pocket EDC, before I knew what an EDC was
.
After some time here, I started to become a steel snob (still am, but I have gotten better). After looking in a distributor catalog, I saw the steel listed as
Last year, I started to develop a deeper appreciation for traditional folders. Maybe its my susbscription to Backwoodsman magazine, maybe the fact that I can't purchase the high dollar folders anymore, maybe I just found more character in the older knives. I don't know. Anyway, I saw a thread about the Silver Knight. I posted about my Silver Knight. And, to my horror and guilt, AG Russell posted, stating that the steel in the Japanese made Silver Knights was AUS8.
I was taken aback. Did I really get rid of that knife because the steel wasn't listed in a catalog? It was AUS8 you dolt! I frantically started searching flea Bay, and posting here and on other forums, that I wanted a Silver Knight. I finally found one on eBay, but when I got it, the blade was a little smudged, the scales were somewhat worn, but it wasn't what I had seen in the magazine those few years ago. So, I ordered another one off of eBay. It came today. I was more excited opening the package for this folder than I was when I got my Sebenza
? Opening and closing it driving to work this morning, I realized that the first one I had bought was from an earlier run, and the one I had just received was from a later run. Was AG referencing the one made earlier, later or both? An acquaintance at the Chesapeake Bay knife club made mention of the fact that AG had gotten a small run of the SK's. I started to think "What if it isn't AUS8 steel?".
I finally realized that steel isn't that important to me. If this knife, this one that was such a joy to use, only a knife knut touched by the disease that is collecting would know the feeling, could elicit such an emotion, then I should keep this knife. Whether it was nostalgia for something from my childhood, whether it was just the simplistic beauty of the knife, or whether I am just certifiably insane, I don't care what steel it is. I'll still carry the Benchmades, the Spydercos, the Striders, the Swamp Rats, the customs. This knife does not measure above the others in its useability, it is a gentlemans knife, and might not hold up to daily wear and tear, but it is a great find, and a great tool. And it is mine, again.
Sad fact of the matter is this, those two blade Silver Knights looked pretty damn nice, and I think I need to get one...
Several months later, after crossing the river from China knockoff brands to Cold Steel and Camillus, I found myself thinking about the Gerber. I looked and looked and looked, but the model had been discontinued. No one had any. I finally found one, I don't know if I bought it on here, on flea Bay, or from an online retailer, but I finally got one. It wasn't my EDC, but when I did use it, it was not only a pretty knife, but a pleasure to use. Carrying some big Cold Steel folders at the time, this was my back pocket EDC, before I knew what an EDC was
.After some time here, I started to become a steel snob (still am, but I have gotten better). After looking in a distributor catalog, I saw the steel listed as
. It wasn't even listed as 440A, or 420HC! Was it even the steel used in liners? I didn't know, and frankly, lost all interest in the knife. In retrospect, that was my first mistake. Then, as it took up space in my knife roll, my distaste for it began to grow. After some time, I either sold it on BF, or on eBay, I can't remember, I think it was here though. I have bought and traded many Buck folders of similar design as the Silver Knight, but none were as nice IMHO. I finally gave up on the small lockback folder, and focused more on what some consider "tactical" folders.
Last year, I started to develop a deeper appreciation for traditional folders. Maybe its my susbscription to Backwoodsman magazine, maybe the fact that I can't purchase the high dollar folders anymore, maybe I just found more character in the older knives. I don't know. Anyway, I saw a thread about the Silver Knight. I posted about my Silver Knight. And, to my horror and guilt, AG Russell posted, stating that the steel in the Japanese made Silver Knights was AUS8.
I was taken aback. Did I really get rid of that knife because the steel wasn't listed in a catalog? It was AUS8 you dolt! I frantically started searching flea Bay, and posting here and on other forums, that I wanted a Silver Knight. I finally found one on eBay, but when I got it, the blade was a little smudged, the scales were somewhat worn, but it wasn't what I had seen in the magazine those few years ago. So, I ordered another one off of eBay. It came today. I was more excited opening the package for this folder than I was when I got my Sebenza
? Opening and closing it driving to work this morning, I realized that the first one I had bought was from an earlier run, and the one I had just received was from a later run. Was AG referencing the one made earlier, later or both? An acquaintance at the Chesapeake Bay knife club made mention of the fact that AG had gotten a small run of the SK's. I started to think "What if it isn't AUS8 steel?". I finally realized that steel isn't that important to me. If this knife, this one that was such a joy to use, only a knife knut touched by the disease that is collecting would know the feeling, could elicit such an emotion, then I should keep this knife. Whether it was nostalgia for something from my childhood, whether it was just the simplistic beauty of the knife, or whether I am just certifiably insane, I don't care what steel it is. I'll still carry the Benchmades, the Spydercos, the Striders, the Swamp Rats, the customs. This knife does not measure above the others in its useability, it is a gentlemans knife, and might not hold up to daily wear and tear, but it is a great find, and a great tool. And it is mine, again.
Sad fact of the matter is this, those two blade Silver Knights looked pretty damn nice, and I think I need to get one...
.
.
