Emphasis on knife use

[Wayland]

I have a couple of nice knives, for me it is about the craftsmanship not the blade technics.

The knives I actually use most are my pocket knife and craft knives simply because they are there or because they are right for the job.

As for sharpening, if it cuts it's sharp enough, if it doesn't I'll sharpen it with something handy.

 

[Tadpole]

Without practicing a multitude of skills, when using the knife you don’t ever learn what you are not good at. Feather sticks just don’t cut it.
Last year’s Moot I did the net needle carving, and although my knife was scary sharp, (hair shaving and all that Nonsense) I had not learnt the art of getting a razor sharp knife tip, my knife skill were good up to but not including a point. Without trying to learn new things you don’t know what you are not good at.
My test for a new knife (should I every need to buy one which I doubt as I have 4 already) would be to carve a net needle and a dovetail notch and dove tail. If it can do those two things It can (I feel do most everything else)

 

[pastymuncher]

There is nothing wrong in owning/liking fine tools, however fine tools do not make you use them any better. To really understand a good tool you need to use it, and the better you can use it the more you an appreciate it's qualities. A knife sat in a glass cabinet is just an inanimate piece of metal with no purpose, i.e useless.
JohnFenna makes a very good point that many don't appreciate, many proper woodworking tools come in an unfinished state, so that the user can finish them according to their own tastes/requirements, you can only start modifying tools to you own requirements if you use them.

 

[udamiano]

While a handmade knife is a beautiful piece of the cutlers art, We must never forget that they are our most important tool, and acquiring the skill to use it properly should be the first thing we learn or teach. I've seen many whom shown me exquisite knives who's very sight are things of beauty, but would not use them either because they couldn't or wouldn't for fear of getting the blade 'dirty'. What a shame that is! Knives have become more a status symbol than a tool of our trade with to much given to form over function and the name on the blade. Although don't get wrong I'm not saying that we shouldn't have beautiful knives, Im saying that they should be left at home unless you are willing to use them. Skill with any edged tool comes after much use and hard earned lessons over time, as many wood-workers on this forum could tell you; not by sitting in front of the tele watching the latest RM episode with your much loved knife in hand or watching tutorials on the computer, but from actual use.

A beautiful knife and the skill to use it! now that impresses me !!!

 

[DavidJT]

I agree with the O.P. There's often too much emphasis on knife selection and sharpening, not enough on knife skills.

 

[mountainm]

There's some double standards at work here. People want the best equipment to make their task easier and you see the like of RM himself pushing the Woodlore knife in his books so it's no real surprise that people don't get kitted out with Moras when they go out and binge on gear. A novice will always try to buy the best (read most expensive) equipment they can afford - with a knife this doesn't always equate to performance but no one is telling people that.

Being afraid to get it dirty? Well that happens with anything that's expensive. But once past the initial first hurdle then I don't think it stays an issue for long. Let's not chastise people for being eager to learn and trying to be well equipped.

 

[Retired Member southey]

haha that sums up alot of people around these days!

I think it's partly due to the marketing of knives though and the fact there is such a massive choice for people to spend their extra money on.

What bothers me is when people meticulously go on about blade hardness, grinds and materials like a bunch of snobs. I can appreciate good steel that holds an edge but some take it too far.

I have to take issue with your comment Samon, this is a discussion forum, so to discuss the properties of a thing is what happens here %90 of the time, it is not snobbery to talk about the finer details of a things construction, it is part of the interest.

 

[Biker]

Have to agree about skill vs the tool. I'm a carpenter by trade and work with hand tools a lot, rather than using power tools, so handling certain kinves etc works well enough for me.
However, certain techiniques you'd use when carving with a knife take some mental adjusting when you're used to using a chisel. I bought myself a Frost Spoonknife a while ago and gave it a good workout on a spoon, but a couple of close calls got me thinking it wasn't for me. Not that my usual tool use skill was lacking but the tenchinique was different. Once I dug a gouge out of my bit roll I was up and running in no time carving out the bowl with confidence.

"Horses for courses" is another good phrase to remember, as well as the "All the gear and No idea" one.

That spoon carver vid above was very good, but what's he like at making a leather sheath or paddling a canoe? Being too specialised in one field isn't always a good thing. Save specialisation for the insects I say.

 

[Samon]

I have to take issue with your comment Samon, this is a discussion forum, so to discuss the properties of a thing is what happens here %90 of the time, it is not snobbery to talk about the finer details of a things construction, it is part of the interest.

Discussing the properties of a knife isn't snobbery it's educational.

I mean when people turn their noses up at more simple knives/steels and hold very expensive fashionable knives in higher regard than something cheaper is the snobbery.

Having read up on most knives I've bought online I've come across a few comments that bothered me and kind of refelct some peoples needs for super specs over practical function and that's what bothers me.

 

[robin wood]

Once I dug a gouge out of my bit roll I was up and running in no time carving out the bowl with confidence.

That spoon carver vid above was very good, but what's he like at making a leather sheath or paddling a canoe? Being too specialised in one field isn't always a good thing. Save specialisation for the insects I say.

Using the tool you know best will always get results.

Ion Constantin lived a long way from waterways where he would be paddling a canoe but he was one of the most versatile skillful folk I have met. Kept pigs, sheep, poultry, baked all their bread in an outdoor oven etc. I watched him slaughter and butcher a sheep for the Easter feast whilst we were there with the same knife he used for spoon carving and equally efficiently.

 

[Biker]

Using the tool you know best will always get results.

Ion Constantin lived a long way from waterways where he would be paddling a canoe but he was one of the most versatile skillful folk I have met. Kept pigs, sheep, poultry, baked all their bread in an outdoor oven etc. I watched him slaughter and butcher a sheep for the Easter feast whilst we were there with the same knife he used for spoon carving and equally efficiently.

Then I sincerely apologise for my judemental remark. Sounds like a handy man to know and learn from.