Are you better than your knife?

[tobes01]

I've been following the thread about the new Ray Mears SWC knives, and it brings me back to basic sharps lust: yes I want one, but I can't justify it until my skills are ready for it. I'm lucky enough to have a Bernie Garland bushcrafter, and the knife is so much better than my skills. In the hands of an expert, it can produce beautiful feather sticks, elegant spoons, delicate fish hooks. In my hands everything comes out looking just a bit pointed

So, who can say they're better than their knife? And if you are, which knife is better than you?

 

[launditch1]

I bought a better knife as i got better with my knife,but i wont let a better knife get the better of me.

 

[tjwuk]

I'm going to take the philosophical approach with this one.

I don't see me or my knife better, its more an understanding between the two. It can't cut wood without me, and I can't cut without it. My teeth aren't that sharp.

 

[Front Room Woodlander]

Like launditch said.
it is you and your hands that decide how good any tool can be.
I work people and its about how you interact with your chosen media (wood, stone or people) that effects how well you use your tools.
'
admittedly as one refines ones skills and comes to understand the media of your work then one may find ones tools require refinement or adaption.

A good question and I will be interested to what others reply.

 

[BorderReiver]

It's like every other manual skill, you select the right tool and you practice your chosen task until you become proficient.

Buying a posh knife won't make the skill acquisition happen any quicker.

 

[Porcupine]

no


that said, knifes are tools, and a large part of the trick is knowing wich tool to use when.

 

[Tadpole]

you and your knife should grow together in skill with each use. My axe and I can make the most finest of feather stick, between us we can cut where we aim and aim where we want to cut.

My friend who is much more skilled with his own tools, than I am with mine, is unable to use my tools in anyway as skilful as he is with his own.
I guess it's because, I am used to my tool, as between us, we have got used to the vagaries of the angles of the blade and the handle set. my knife, a clipper, and I are as handy together as any can get when you use a tool every day or nearly everyday.

A new knife, be it £20 or £300 would take a while to get use to and my skill level will drop until I get used to the new tool. YMMV
My knife and are equal.

 

[Everything Mac]

i only ever make my own knives - as they get better so do i.

but i imagine that sounds terribly arrogant.

as with anything in life - you get better with practice! simple as that.


andy

 

[sapper1]

Sorry but most of the replies in this thread are pure philisophical rubbish.A knife is an inanimate object,it cannot grow with you.
I am better than any knife you care to name.Give me any task and I will do it better than any knife.Pick a task and I'll show you how I can do it better than any knife.

 

[Ratbag]

Sorry but most of the replies in this thread are pure philisophical rubbish.A knife is an inanimate object,it cannot grow with you.
<snip>

I agree with this part - as long as the knife is of a decent standard and fit for purpose then it's the user, not the knife, which is the variable element.

Example - You can see from Mors K's skills that all you need is a (sharp) £10 Mora. It just so happens that he has bucket loads of skill and experience. Would Mors be any better with a "better" knife? I'm guessing probably not!

Rat

 

[FGYT]

I dont think its a case of better
its a case of will your Knife allow you to do what you want to do with it for your current knowlege and Skill set

If No then theres 2 answers
either up your skill set etc
or
look for a more specialised knife that makes that skill easier

a Woody bush knife is not a specialist in any area but should be able with skill to perform well in most

ATB

Duncan

 

[John Fenna]

I think I am better than my knife...
MY knife is one I forged myself....it was made by an incompetant novice and is far from perfectly shaped and shows "bruise"marks of where things went wrong, the handle is stained and old and battered looking, the sheath an experiment in leatherworking...

Old looking, stained, bruised, battered but sharp...OK maybe my knife and I are a perfect match after-all!

 

[robin wood]

I am going to answer this question by posting a link to one of the most skilled knife users I know of. This chap is in a different class to Ray Mears or Mors or any of the folk who use knives part time. He has been using a knife the primary tool of his day job for 60 years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7yipq2xd7o

Stuart King and I visited him in Romania in 1998. His knife is old and worn and it is soft, he sharpens it with a file. By any of the standards applied in the world of bushcraft you would say it was a really bad knife. Watch this video and understand the quality of the knife does not matter any where near as much as the skill to understand it and use it well.

 

[johnboy]

Robin,

Thanks for posting the Link to the YT video.. That says it all...

 

[John Fenna]

Wow - he can carve!
He is certainly skilled - how would he fare with a brand new top of the range knife...better or worse?
Or just the same...?

 

[Ex Member - Sidney Bounty]

Are you better than your knife?

most defenetly...

 

[Siberianfury]

HaHa, My knife is definatley better than me, it passes mors test and carves a new needle no probs.

ATB
Josh

 

[Peter_t]

i think knives get to a certain standard then don't get any better. i think a mora is as good as any custom ray mears knife but its just not a pretty. some may argue that a mora is not as strong but imo only brute force and ignorance will break a mora.

Pete

 

[sapper1]

HaHa, My knife is definatley better than me, it passes mors test and carves a new needle no probs.

ATB
Josh

Does it jump out of its sheath and do that by itself Josh?Or is it you who uses it to do that?

 

[Siberianfury]

Does it jump out of its sheath and do that by itself Josh?Or is it you who uses it to do that?

its got a mind of its own, needs no manipualation by physical forces.
however, when people are looking i just hold it normaly, makes me look good