I think this shift in perspective has been largely due to societal focus and attention shifting over time. We used to be focused on family and community, farming, building, growing, and cultivating. As media has gained prevalence and focused on more sensationalized and divisive topics people have move to finding tools appropriate to the task at hand. Things that once symbolized tools to build, craft, and harvest have been replaced with those that are designed to protect or defend.
I don't think we are too far off from knives falling firmly into the same category as firearms. If you look across the pond to our friends over in the UK, they have receptacles to turn in knives of every variety. As our focus has shifted from one of prosperity and growth to one of fear and self preservation, our tools have likewise adapted. What once may have been a functional work of art, has now become something cold and impersonal.
I think we need to find a way to shift the focus back to one of prosperity and growth so we can get back to creating a world filled with functional beauty, rather than minimalist survival.
This perspective is thought provoking, and it makes sense. A current 24/7 media cycle, combined with the long-standing policy of 'it bleeds - it leads' then throw in the addictive nature of clickbait headlines that are created to sow division in society, and fear builds. Fear in turn leads to enhanced feeling of a need to protect.
The UK thing is really crazy. The smallest knife I carry, other than the one on my keychain is a little Opinel No. 6 from France. Very small, has to be opened with two hands, and then another operation with two hands to twist the locking collar in place. Wooden handle, extremely slight blade. What's considered a gentleman's knife through and through. Yet in the UK it is considered a 'dangerous weapon' and is illegal to carry. The Opinel company had to completely redesign the knife so that they could offer something legal for use in the UK. This new knife for the UK market is without an actual point, and sort of functions like a slipjoint. I fear that the UK is no longer a free country, and I worry that we may well be following down their dark path.
Ultimately, you're right, we have to get our society back on a united and positive pathway, or surely our future will be much darker than our past.
I still carry a folding knife, but no longer on my belt. These newer knives usually have a clip that I can hook onto my pocket. Most of the people I work with carry one the same way. My step-son also carries a knives in his pocket.
I always like the nice Buck knives with the brass ends when I was younger. No one in school would say anything if you had knife in your pocket. I guess we were smarter back then and didnt required the supervision the kids do today.
There's just something about how the brass and ebony matched together to create something really beautiful. I recognize the value of modern composites for knife scales, they are so much better at preventing slippage in use, and of course don't require any care to remain good, but they sure are ugly in comparison!
I often wonder about the violence we see in schools today. Years ago, as discussed here, arms were not verboten, and we didn't have the mass senseless shootings. Today schools are zero tolerance when it comes to weapons, have security, but we have this violence. I know that it is considered un-pc to talk about the reasons for that, but I have to wonder what it is. A lack of involved fathers in too many kids lives maybe? The psychoactive prescription drugs that so many kids are put on today?
Back in the day, when the earth was young and I was too, the 3 things I always had in my pockets were a knife (an old timer folding knife), keys and my wallet. Bringing these to high school was normal. Being late to homeroom class on opening day of deer season was normal. Teachers would walk out to the truck at lunch to see the prize for that day
The current generation has gotten soft. Their idea of a weapon is to video record it on their phone and post it to social media Carrying a knife is out of the question in the gentler kinder world we live in.
I’ve expanded to 2 knives on me at all times. The one is none, two is one, idea taught by my experience in law enforcement.
For a great many years, in addition to farming, my family was in the wholesale fruit business. (That industry has now been largely consolidated into a handful of large companies, but up until the 1990's was largely composed of small operations.) So the knife I've probably spent more time carrying than any other is an odd thing called a 'fruit tester' or 'mellon tester.' A really long blade with a thin profile, specifically designed for cutting into the heart of melons to check ripeness.
They aren't really practical for anything else, but they are rare now, and kind of cool and I've kept three of them around. Most often they had advertising on the scales, from little one man operations, to big outfits like Dole and Chiquita, so that made them all distinctive.
Those old ones, with the advertising are readily available fairly cheap on places like Ebay and Etsy, so a guy could build an interesting collection if he was so inclined.
I haven't carried one of those in decades, but for a long time they were a constant companion.
Today those knives would be technically illegal to carry in some of our big cities here in Washington. Crazy. What was a tool of a trade is now classified as a 'dangerous weapon' simply due to the length of the blade. This despite the fact that the things are about as un-weapon like as a butter knife.
I suppose that I'm technically a two knife guy too. I've got a great little stainless folder that's had a place on my keychain for a long time. It's tiny, but I find it remarkably useful for all kinds of things.
In any event, I am really concerned about the softness you mention. I fear that our society no longer teaches boys to be men, or even allows them to develop into men. I don't think that can continue if we are to maintain our collective strength.
Another well written and thought-provoking piece. I still have the Buck model 110 I bought when I was 18. It served me well over the years and the countless sharpening's have left the blade with a slightly altered configuration. I took it to Vietnam with me, and it was on my belt every day. The leather case sure took a beating, and it shows. Today clip knives seem to have taken over and you can see the distinctive clip exposed on many, even well-dressed individuals. I also remember gun racks in the back windows of pickup trucks in my high school parking lot and most of the time the doors weren't even locked. The same held true in the teachers parking lot. I was given my first gun when I was 10. It was kept on a rack over the door of the bedroom I shared with 3 brothers. It now resides in my gun safe. Thanks for this bit of nostalgia.
I too got my first gun when I was pretty darn young, but my dad and grandfather had kind of strange ideas about that. My brother and I didn't get BB guns until after we were proficient with actual guns. Their thoughts were that by doing it that way it would keep us from developing dangerous/idiotic habits. I think that was probably wise.
But, their choice of a first gun was also kind of odd. A long barrel, 9 shot, .22 revolver. In a thick cordovan leather holster. I still love that thing today. It was followed by a .410 shotgun.
When it comes to knives, steel has certainly been interesting through the decades. The fancy new steels sure hold an edge well, but they seem to be mighty hard to sharpen. The old stuff I could do well enough with an Arkansas oil stone, with the fancy new steels I've had to move to diamonds and ceramics.
Thoughts on your thoughts. Let's discuss the Buck first. I too used to carry a 110, but there were three things about them that I had issue with. 1) that ol beast was heavy, like practically a small pistol heavy. (why I went to the 112) 2) Buck's point was brittle. I must have broken the points on four of five of them over the years. 3) the pouch on the side was just awkward especially if you are also wearing a duty belt, a tool belt, or any other thing around your middle. 4) it didn't have a clip, and I sort of LIKE clips. 5) no hole for a lanyard, which is why I've left at least two bucks at the bottom of various oceans.
I normally carry a Benchmade, half saw blade, with a tanto tip. stronger, lighter, better for cutting things like seatbelts (one of my past lives was as a cop) and better steel. The sawblade portion curves are just the right diameter for stripping the outer jacket off of "shielded Twisted Pair" wire, which was a constant need in another one of my past lives.
I also carry a SOG multitool. I got out of that habit when I became a desk pouge but now that I'm a farmer, well it goes in my pocket first thing in the AM.
And I carry a small, lockblade version of what used to be called a pen knife. I keep that one surgically sharp, because that's what I end up using it for, is digging stuff out of my body that doesn't belong there.
Now let's talk about Firearms. I love a beautiful wood and deeply blued or even better case hardened charcoal blued firearm. The thing is this: I ain't taking that work of art on a hunting trip where me and the rifle are liable to end up rolling down the mountain side. That's why there are those things you bemoaned as a " parkerized, plastic monstrosity."
Yes, those beautiful pieces have a place. But sadly it's in the guncase or on the wall. stuff that I'm going to take out into the elements? Yeah give me something that I'm not going to beat to death as it's slung over my shoulder and beating against the but of my pistol.
Thanks for this, I like reading your thoughts about my thoughts!
Yep, the 110 is heavy as hell. That never bothered me when I was young and skinny, but, now of course I'm old and fat. A fat belly, combined with a distinct lack of ass does make it hard to keep one's pants up!
One thing I should mention, in case you have those with a broken tip laying around, Buck will replace the blade, and rebuild the knife for $10.
I'll admit that I too do like clips. But they generally don't work for me. Between a can of snus, car keys, and the rest, my pockets are already full.
I'm with you on case hardening, that can really be beautiful. And I take your point on damage. I did, right after I bought that beautiful Browning, fall while hunting. That did put a pretty good gash in the barrel. My grandfather's fancy Remington though, he used it a lot in horrible weather, and I've done the same since he passed, and it looks as good today as it did when new.
yeah, see keys go on a beltloop clip, and no cans of anything go in my pants, never having picked up that particular habit (nicotine) No, sadly I don't have any of the broken ones around any longer, this is a story of fifty years worth of knife carrying (my father was adamant, a gentleman is not dressed without a knife, a handkerchief, a wallet, and a safety pin. I would add a pen, and some sort of emergency money to that list.)
I've seen folks take those beautiful pieces out to the deer blind, or the duck blind, and many times nothing bad happens. But I've had a Marlin lever damaged to the point that i had to completely refinish it, after steaming out the dents, and sanding... because the shipmate I loaned it to, had it slung "american style' IE muzzle up, and had beat the butt stock do death against the handgun he had on his hip. Needless to say I was nonplussed.
I don't know why, but I could never get used to the keys on the hip. And of course, as a 100% Genuine Addict, can never leave the house without at least one can of dip. Lest the entire thing turn into a panic trip to the nearest convenience store.
I think your father was completely right on the handkerchief too. I didn't pick the habit of carrying one up until later in life, but those little pieces of cloth can sure be handy.
To the list I'd add a lighter. Nothing fancy, but some way to get a flame, preferably one that will work when wet. I find that super handy as well.
Sorry to hear about your Marlin. I remember as a kid that my dad had an experience like that when he loaned a gun to a friend who left it in the rain. That's how I learned how to properly reblue a gun.
My first knife was a standard fixed blade hunting knife. Was a Christmas present when I was about 11-12 years old. My first hunting rifle was also a Christmas present around the same time, a 30-30 lever action, perfect for the bush around this part of Washington, but not nearly as sexy as my dad's pre-64 Winchester .270 model 70. He had inherited it from his father and it is a piece of collectible art. I loved that gun. Sadly, I'm left handed, and my father just assumed I can't shoot anything designed for right handed shooters. Of course, that's bullcrap, us lefties adapt and overcome those sorts of obstacles every day. But, after my dad passed it ended up with my brother, along with everything else my dad owned.
As far as the modern sporting rifles popularity, it is popular because most veterans are very familiar with it. It's what I carried and trained with. It's a rifle I can disassemble and clean almost blindfolded. It's functional and accessible. In addition, much like Harley motorcycles, there are a bajillion aftermarket parts and accessories to customize the platform. With a standard bolt action rifle, you're biggest decision is what scope to mount on it.
Also, the design is genius. The buffer spring greatly dampens recoil. The inline straight design of the stock with the barrel also reduces muzzle rise allowing faster and more manageable target reacquisition.
It's not pretty. It's not a work of art. It is a tool and a highly efficient one, sadly demonized by the press and the left with completely idiotic labels and direct comparisons with mass murder and military operations. So stupid. More people are killed by baseball bats than these rifles.
I forgot to add, my high school even had a rifle team. Open peephole sight .22 rifles. This was back when Washington was a true liberal state, not the progressive crap we see today.
I think this shift in perspective has been largely due to societal focus and attention shifting over time. We used to be focused on family and community, farming, building, growing, and cultivating. As media has gained prevalence and focused on more sensationalized and divisive topics people have move to finding tools appropriate to the task at hand. Things that once symbolized tools to build, craft, and harvest have been replaced with those that are designed to protect or defend.
I don't think we are too far off from knives falling firmly into the same category as firearms. If you look across the pond to our friends over in the UK, they have receptacles to turn in knives of every variety. As our focus has shifted from one of prosperity and growth to one of fear and self preservation, our tools have likewise adapted. What once may have been a functional work of art, has now become something cold and impersonal.
I think we need to find a way to shift the focus back to one of prosperity and growth so we can get back to creating a world filled with functional beauty, rather than minimalist survival.
This perspective is thought provoking, and it makes sense. A current 24/7 media cycle, combined with the long-standing policy of 'it bleeds - it leads' then throw in the addictive nature of clickbait headlines that are created to sow division in society, and fear builds. Fear in turn leads to enhanced feeling of a need to protect.
The UK thing is really crazy. The smallest knife I carry, other than the one on my keychain is a little Opinel No. 6 from France. Very small, has to be opened with two hands, and then another operation with two hands to twist the locking collar in place. Wooden handle, extremely slight blade. What's considered a gentleman's knife through and through. Yet in the UK it is considered a 'dangerous weapon' and is illegal to carry. The Opinel company had to completely redesign the knife so that they could offer something legal for use in the UK. This new knife for the UK market is without an actual point, and sort of functions like a slipjoint. I fear that the UK is no longer a free country, and I worry that we may well be following down their dark path.
Ultimately, you're right, we have to get our society back on a united and positive pathway, or surely our future will be much darker than our past.
I still carry a folding knife, but no longer on my belt. These newer knives usually have a clip that I can hook onto my pocket. Most of the people I work with carry one the same way. My step-son also carries a knives in his pocket.
I always like the nice Buck knives with the brass ends when I was younger. No one in school would say anything if you had knife in your pocket. I guess we were smarter back then and didnt required the supervision the kids do today.
There's just something about how the brass and ebony matched together to create something really beautiful. I recognize the value of modern composites for knife scales, they are so much better at preventing slippage in use, and of course don't require any care to remain good, but they sure are ugly in comparison!
I often wonder about the violence we see in schools today. Years ago, as discussed here, arms were not verboten, and we didn't have the mass senseless shootings. Today schools are zero tolerance when it comes to weapons, have security, but we have this violence. I know that it is considered un-pc to talk about the reasons for that, but I have to wonder what it is. A lack of involved fathers in too many kids lives maybe? The psychoactive prescription drugs that so many kids are put on today?
As a society, we need to figure that stuff out.
Back in the day, when the earth was young and I was too, the 3 things I always had in my pockets were a knife (an old timer folding knife), keys and my wallet. Bringing these to high school was normal. Being late to homeroom class on opening day of deer season was normal. Teachers would walk out to the truck at lunch to see the prize for that day
The current generation has gotten soft. Their idea of a weapon is to video record it on their phone and post it to social media Carrying a knife is out of the question in the gentler kinder world we live in.
I’ve expanded to 2 knives on me at all times. The one is none, two is one, idea taught by my experience in law enforcement.
For a great many years, in addition to farming, my family was in the wholesale fruit business. (That industry has now been largely consolidated into a handful of large companies, but up until the 1990's was largely composed of small operations.) So the knife I've probably spent more time carrying than any other is an odd thing called a 'fruit tester' or 'mellon tester.' A really long blade with a thin profile, specifically designed for cutting into the heart of melons to check ripeness.
They aren't really practical for anything else, but they are rare now, and kind of cool and I've kept three of them around. Most often they had advertising on the scales, from little one man operations, to big outfits like Dole and Chiquita, so that made them all distinctive.
Those old ones, with the advertising are readily available fairly cheap on places like Ebay and Etsy, so a guy could build an interesting collection if he was so inclined.
I haven't carried one of those in decades, but for a long time they were a constant companion.
Today those knives would be technically illegal to carry in some of our big cities here in Washington. Crazy. What was a tool of a trade is now classified as a 'dangerous weapon' simply due to the length of the blade. This despite the fact that the things are about as un-weapon like as a butter knife.
I suppose that I'm technically a two knife guy too. I've got a great little stainless folder that's had a place on my keychain for a long time. It's tiny, but I find it remarkably useful for all kinds of things.
In any event, I am really concerned about the softness you mention. I fear that our society no longer teaches boys to be men, or even allows them to develop into men. I don't think that can continue if we are to maintain our collective strength.
Another well written and thought-provoking piece. I still have the Buck model 110 I bought when I was 18. It served me well over the years and the countless sharpening's have left the blade with a slightly altered configuration. I took it to Vietnam with me, and it was on my belt every day. The leather case sure took a beating, and it shows. Today clip knives seem to have taken over and you can see the distinctive clip exposed on many, even well-dressed individuals. I also remember gun racks in the back windows of pickup trucks in my high school parking lot and most of the time the doors weren't even locked. The same held true in the teachers parking lot. I was given my first gun when I was 10. It was kept on a rack over the door of the bedroom I shared with 3 brothers. It now resides in my gun safe. Thanks for this bit of nostalgia.
Thanks, I'm glad that you liked it!
I too got my first gun when I was pretty darn young, but my dad and grandfather had kind of strange ideas about that. My brother and I didn't get BB guns until after we were proficient with actual guns. Their thoughts were that by doing it that way it would keep us from developing dangerous/idiotic habits. I think that was probably wise.
But, their choice of a first gun was also kind of odd. A long barrel, 9 shot, .22 revolver. In a thick cordovan leather holster. I still love that thing today. It was followed by a .410 shotgun.
When it comes to knives, steel has certainly been interesting through the decades. The fancy new steels sure hold an edge well, but they seem to be mighty hard to sharpen. The old stuff I could do well enough with an Arkansas oil stone, with the fancy new steels I've had to move to diamonds and ceramics.
Thoughts on your thoughts. Let's discuss the Buck first. I too used to carry a 110, but there were three things about them that I had issue with. 1) that ol beast was heavy, like practically a small pistol heavy. (why I went to the 112) 2) Buck's point was brittle. I must have broken the points on four of five of them over the years. 3) the pouch on the side was just awkward especially if you are also wearing a duty belt, a tool belt, or any other thing around your middle. 4) it didn't have a clip, and I sort of LIKE clips. 5) no hole for a lanyard, which is why I've left at least two bucks at the bottom of various oceans.
I normally carry a Benchmade, half saw blade, with a tanto tip. stronger, lighter, better for cutting things like seatbelts (one of my past lives was as a cop) and better steel. The sawblade portion curves are just the right diameter for stripping the outer jacket off of "shielded Twisted Pair" wire, which was a constant need in another one of my past lives.
I also carry a SOG multitool. I got out of that habit when I became a desk pouge but now that I'm a farmer, well it goes in my pocket first thing in the AM.
And I carry a small, lockblade version of what used to be called a pen knife. I keep that one surgically sharp, because that's what I end up using it for, is digging stuff out of my body that doesn't belong there.
Now let's talk about Firearms. I love a beautiful wood and deeply blued or even better case hardened charcoal blued firearm. The thing is this: I ain't taking that work of art on a hunting trip where me and the rifle are liable to end up rolling down the mountain side. That's why there are those things you bemoaned as a " parkerized, plastic monstrosity."
Yes, those beautiful pieces have a place. But sadly it's in the guncase or on the wall. stuff that I'm going to take out into the elements? Yeah give me something that I'm not going to beat to death as it's slung over my shoulder and beating against the but of my pistol.
Thanks for this, I like reading your thoughts about my thoughts!
Yep, the 110 is heavy as hell. That never bothered me when I was young and skinny, but, now of course I'm old and fat. A fat belly, combined with a distinct lack of ass does make it hard to keep one's pants up!
One thing I should mention, in case you have those with a broken tip laying around, Buck will replace the blade, and rebuild the knife for $10.
I'll admit that I too do like clips. But they generally don't work for me. Between a can of snus, car keys, and the rest, my pockets are already full.
I'm with you on case hardening, that can really be beautiful. And I take your point on damage. I did, right after I bought that beautiful Browning, fall while hunting. That did put a pretty good gash in the barrel. My grandfather's fancy Remington though, he used it a lot in horrible weather, and I've done the same since he passed, and it looks as good today as it did when new.
yeah, see keys go on a beltloop clip, and no cans of anything go in my pants, never having picked up that particular habit (nicotine) No, sadly I don't have any of the broken ones around any longer, this is a story of fifty years worth of knife carrying (my father was adamant, a gentleman is not dressed without a knife, a handkerchief, a wallet, and a safety pin. I would add a pen, and some sort of emergency money to that list.)
I've seen folks take those beautiful pieces out to the deer blind, or the duck blind, and many times nothing bad happens. But I've had a Marlin lever damaged to the point that i had to completely refinish it, after steaming out the dents, and sanding... because the shipmate I loaned it to, had it slung "american style' IE muzzle up, and had beat the butt stock do death against the handgun he had on his hip. Needless to say I was nonplussed.
I don't know why, but I could never get used to the keys on the hip. And of course, as a 100% Genuine Addict, can never leave the house without at least one can of dip. Lest the entire thing turn into a panic trip to the nearest convenience store.
I think your father was completely right on the handkerchief too. I didn't pick the habit of carrying one up until later in life, but those little pieces of cloth can sure be handy.
To the list I'd add a lighter. Nothing fancy, but some way to get a flame, preferably one that will work when wet. I find that super handy as well.
Sorry to hear about your Marlin. I remember as a kid that my dad had an experience like that when he loaned a gun to a friend who left it in the rain. That's how I learned how to properly reblue a gun.
My first knife was a standard fixed blade hunting knife. Was a Christmas present when I was about 11-12 years old. My first hunting rifle was also a Christmas present around the same time, a 30-30 lever action, perfect for the bush around this part of Washington, but not nearly as sexy as my dad's pre-64 Winchester .270 model 70. He had inherited it from his father and it is a piece of collectible art. I loved that gun. Sadly, I'm left handed, and my father just assumed I can't shoot anything designed for right handed shooters. Of course, that's bullcrap, us lefties adapt and overcome those sorts of obstacles every day. But, after my dad passed it ended up with my brother, along with everything else my dad owned.
As far as the modern sporting rifles popularity, it is popular because most veterans are very familiar with it. It's what I carried and trained with. It's a rifle I can disassemble and clean almost blindfolded. It's functional and accessible. In addition, much like Harley motorcycles, there are a bajillion aftermarket parts and accessories to customize the platform. With a standard bolt action rifle, you're biggest decision is what scope to mount on it.
Also, the design is genius. The buffer spring greatly dampens recoil. The inline straight design of the stock with the barrel also reduces muzzle rise allowing faster and more manageable target reacquisition.
It's not pretty. It's not a work of art. It is a tool and a highly efficient one, sadly demonized by the press and the left with completely idiotic labels and direct comparisons with mass murder and military operations. So stupid. More people are killed by baseball bats than these rifles.
I forgot to add, my high school even had a rifle team. Open peephole sight .22 rifles. This was back when Washington was a true liberal state, not the progressive crap we see today.