Howard's disposable SAK.

[cbl51]

When we moved to Texas in 2015, the 55 plus neighborhood we bought in had a breakfast club. I should say, an old farts breakfast club. The fellow old retired guys would need for breakfast every Thursday morning for the BS and tall tales meeting, as well as discussing neighborhood issues. Its quiet a collection of characters.

On in particular I got to be friends with is Howard. An old time born and raised Texan that has worked in the oil fields, as a ranch hand, and general rough neck and roust about. He knows how to do a lot of things from installing a gas water heater to a top end job on an engine, to installing new kitchen counters. A very handy guy to know, once you understand what the heck he's saying. He has a west Texas drawl that you need a cement trowel to deal with. No, thats not right, maybe a coal shovel.

Howard is old school. Very old school. Like with guns, he's still using a single action Colt .45. None of those new fangled semi autos for him. He doesn't even like a double acton revolver, got to be a single action. Maybe its the cowboy heritage, Howard certainly looks the part. Like a badly weathered creased Ed Harris, he looks like he's made of old rawhide and barb wire. In Texas speak, that's pronounced "Bob-whar."

Howard also thinks its just silly to spend more than 10 dollars on a pocket knife that he's going to toss in the trash in a year or two. Howard grew up using those old shell handle Imperials that the five and dime store sold for about the same price as a small nail clipper. When they because a thing of the past, he went to the little Buck mini Buck lock blade. He'd use them up by heavy use and stropping on whatever was at hand right now. A iron railing, a smooth stone from the creek he's fishing, the sole of the cowboy boot he's got on his foot, anything. He says he wears out or breaks the mini Bucks in a year or so.

One of Howard's quirks is, he wants a knife small enough that it drops in his watch pocket of his jeans with room to spare and not make a bulge that is annoying reaching into the right hand main pocket. Thats where Howard carries his .38 double barrel derringer. In other words about a 3 inch closed size, or less. Little pen knife size. We got to talking about knives once and his comment was sooooo typical of the old timers like Howard. He said "Well chicken piss, if I'm goin huntin, I'll carry a huntin knife. For fishin, I got a fishin knife. The penknife in my pocket is just for whatever little thing I gotta cut." With Howard, that could mean anything from stripping wire for an electrical job, to breaking down a cardboard box for the recycle bin or cutting off the end of the cigars he likes.

Then some 10 years ago, Howard was on the hunt for a new knife. His old Buck mini Buck with the black plastic handles broke and he needed another "penknife." At Walmart he didn't find the mini Buck like he was used to,  they were out of stock. They had some other knives that were too big, and a few other small enough knives, but they were made in China, and Howard won't buy a Chinese knife, even if it has the Buck brand on it. And it had to be 10 dollars or less. Preferably less, as it was going to be tossed when "used up" as Howard out it. Then the clerk showed him a classic. it was small enough, had one blade, which is all Howard says he needs, and he was intrigued by the little screw driver tip on the nail file as he saw it as maybe not breaking his blade prying something. The scissors he was moot about but thought they could be useful. Only trouble was, it was not madden U.S.A.. But the Walmart clerk deserved to have a medal pined on him. He told Howard that Switzerland was neutral, and definitely not a communist country. A miracle happened and Howard bought a 'foreign' made knife.

Over the next year or two, Howard used the ever lovin dog poo out of that poor little classic. It cut, sniped, screwed, and actually held together. It stripped wire for soldering, and it pleased Howard with its ability to deal with small Phillips screws. Howard had never had a small SAK before, and it was a revelation to him. He even used the scissors for cutting fine copper 'whar" as Howard's Texas drawl put it. A handle cracked off so Howard put some epoxy on it and stuck it back on and kept on going. After almost two years it was a wreck, and true to his nature, Howard went to Walmart and bought a new classic. They were a little over 10 dollars by this time but Howard got it. He likes how it has more capability than his old single blade Mini Buck, even if its a two dollars more in price.

The Victorinox classic became Howard's new disposable knife.

Howard is amazed at how people will spend 30 or even 40 dollars for a pocket knife. To Howard and some of his generation, a pocket knife is a disposable item that gets used up. I showed him my executive and he was like "oh hell's bells son, I can buy three of these little things for that price. Thirty four dollars. jeez Louise."

I guess its all in where you are coming from and how you grew up.

[SurgeUk]

Love it. That's what it's all about   

[ddogu]

When we moved to Texas in 2015, the 55 plus neighborhood we bought in had a breakfast club. I should say, an old farts breakfast club. The fellow old retired guys would need for breakfast every Thursday morning for the BS and tall tales meeting, as well as discussing neighborhood issues. Its quiet a collection of characters.

On in particular I got to be friends with is Howard. An old time born and raised Texan that has worked in the oil fields, as a ranch hand, and general rough neck and roust about. He knows how to do a lot of things from installing a gas water heater to a top end job on an engine, to installing new kitchen counters. A very handy guy to know, once you understand what the heck he's saying. He has a west Texas drawl that you need a cement trowel to deal with. No, thats not right, maybe a coal shovel.

Howard is old school. Very old school. Like with guns, he's still using a single action Colt .45. None of those new fangled semi autos for him. He doesn't even like a double acton revolver, got to be a single action. Maybe its the cowboy heritage, Howard certainly looks the part. Like a badly weathered creased Ed Harris, he looks like he's made of old rawhide and barb wire. In Texas speak, that's pronounced "Bob-whar."

Howard also thinks its just silly to spend more than 10 dollars on a pocket knife that he's going to toss in the trash in a year or two. Howard grew up using those old shell handle Imperials that the five and dime store sold for about the same price as a small nail clipper. When they because a thing of the past, he went to the little Buck mini Buck lock blade. He'd use them up by heavy use and stropping on whatever was at hand right now. A iron railing, a smooth stone from the creek he's fishing, the sole of the cowboy boot he's got on his foot, anything. He says he wears out or breaks the mini Bucks in a year or so.

One of Howard's quirks is, he wants a knife small enough that it drops in his watch pocket of his jeans with room to spare and not make a bulge that is annoying reaching into the right hand main pocket. Thats where Howard carries his .38 double barrel derringer. In other words about a 3 inch closed size, or less. Little pen knife size. We got to talking about knives once and his comment was sooooo typical of the old timers like Howard. He said "Well chicken piss, if I'm goin huntin, I'll carry a huntin knife. For fishin, I got a fishin knife. The penknife in my pocket is just for whatever little thing I gotta cut." With Howard, that could mean anything from stripping wire for an electrical job, to breaking down a cardboard box for the recycle bin or cutting off the end of the cigars he likes.

Then some 10 years ago, Howard was on the hunt for a new knife. His old Buck mini Buck with the black plastic handles broke and he needed another "penknife." At Walmart he didn't find the mini Buck like he was used to,  they were out of stock. They had some other knives that were too big, and a few other small enough knives, but they were made in China, and Howard won't buy a Chinese knife, even if it has the Buck brand on it. And it had to be 10 dollars or less. Preferably less, as it was going to be tossed when "used up" as Howard out it. Then the clerk showed him a classic. it was small enough, had one blade, which is all Howard says he needs, and he was intrigued by the little screw driver tip on the nail file as he saw it as maybe not breaking his blade prying something. The scissors he was moot about but thought they could be useful. Only trouble was, it was not madden U.S.A.. But the Walmart clerk deserved to have a medal pined on him. He told Howard that Switzerland was neutral, and definitely not a communist country. A miracle happened and Howard bought a 'foreign' made knife.

Over the next year or two, Howard used the ever lovin dog poo out of that poor little classic. It cut, sniped, screwed, and actually held together. It stripped wire for soldering, and it pleased Howard with its ability to deal with small Phillips screws. Howard had never had a small SAK before, and it was a revelation to him. He even used the scissors for cutting fine copper 'whar" as Howard's Texas drawl put it. A handle cracked off so Howard put some epoxy on it and stuck it back on and kept on going. After almost two years it was a wreck, and true to his nature, Howard went to Walmart and bought a new classic. They were a little over 10 dollars by this time but Howard got it. He likes how it has more capability than his old single blade Mini Buck, even if its a two dollars more in price.

The Victorinox classic became Howard's new disposable knife.

Howard is amazed at how people will spend 30 or even 40 dollars for a pocket knife. To Howard and some of his generation, a pocket knife is a disposable item that gets used up. I showed him my executive and he was like "oh hell's bells son, I can buy three of these little things for that price. Thirty four dollars. jeez Louise."

I guess its all in where you are coming from and how you grew up.

I LOVE your story and the way you tell it. I could literally hear the guy saying "whar" ))
Thank you for sharing.

[knifecoop]

Great story, many thanks for sharing.

[Max Stone]

A really fun read, thank you for sharing. 

Howard’s a man that appreciates a simple, affordable tool that’s going to be worked hard and must give dependable service. 

[RF52]

Great story, thanks for sharing

Sent fra min FRD-L09 via Tapatalk

[Rich S]

I really love Howard! A man after my own heart (although I'm a Tinker guy).
Rich

[Rapidray]

Oh boy, I know one or two guys just like him!   

[gregozedobe]

Great story, thank you 

[Sos24]

Great story. 

I love reading your little stories. They could should be consolidated and put into a book like the Chicken Soup ones - “Chicken Soup for the Old Timers Soul”

[Hevy (CT-782)]

Very nice story!

Was a pleasure to read!

Enviado de meu moto g(6) usando o Tapatalk

[Barry Rowland]

I agree!

Great story. 

I love reading your little stories. They could should be consolidated and put into a book like the Chicken Soup ones - “Chicken Soup for the Old Timers Soul”

[Simon_Templar]

Good story! 

[magentus]

With a little bit of care the Classic will serve Howard for the rest of his life and save him $12 a year.
Can't help but feel a little disappointed that he feels a decent knife is throwaway but then each to their own.

[Don Pablo]

With a little bit of care the Classic will serve Howard for the rest of his life and save him $12 a year.
Can't help but feel a little disappointed that he feels a decent knife is throwaway but then each to their own.

That's old people for you.
My granddad often seems happy to push tools to the limit.... How many screwdrivers has he broken? 

[VICMAN]

Nice story cbl!

[Storm]

Thanks for sharing cbl, feel free to share any more that come to mind. Its aways a pleasure to check the forum and see you've started a thread

[cbl51]

With a little bit of care the Classic will serve Howard for the rest of his life and save him $12 a year.
Can't help but feel a little disappointed that he feels a decent knife is throwaway but then each to their own.

Thats the point; he doesn't care. People like Howard are not collectors or obsessed fan boys of an object.

Howard looks at a knife as a tool to be sued up by cutting, scraping, peeling, prying, and whatever. He won't buy an expensive knife because then it won't be the same carefree thing to use. I've known a LOT of those old guys, who were ranch hands, oil rig workers, roust about, and laborers, and they never had a lot of money while working, and they work in rough environments. And f they do al to of cutting, no matter stripping wire working an electrical job, bailing twine while working in the hayfields getting in the winter feed, or the oil rig platform cutting loose material bound by dirt and grime impregnated cord/duct tape/wire/zip ties, blades get dull. They don't have time to sit there and hone a blade to a fine razor sharp picture perfect edge, so the closest file, rock, will have to do. They know it will only get dull again so they don't gt obsessive over that fine and refined edge. A cheap knife will cut bailing twine just as well as a fine expensive knife, and they don't feel guilty about using a rock on it.

Hard dirty jobs breed a whole different culture and way of life. They take pride in their huntin rifle, or pickup truck. But the pocket knife that they use to scape mud off their boots with is just a tool to be used. Or used up.

[comis]

Great story. 

I love reading your little stories. They could should be consolidated and put into a book like the Chicken Soup ones - “Chicken Soup for the Old Timers Soul”

   Thank you for another great read. 

[Storm]

My father is one of those men, just has a buck 110 knock off or similar from the local supply store, it'll cut alkathene pipe,  twine , wood and then he'll sharpen it with a file from under the ute seat or a grinder if hes in the shed
But you should see his fishing rods !

[ElevenBlade]

It must be where I live...  I've never found a knife priced in the disposable range... Except for those tacticool part-serrated ones with a thumb stud, that I can find at the flea market in the summer.

For me and my friends a knife purchase is thought of as a semi-permanent investment made either at an outdoor outfitter, or online.   Nowadays, buying online requires some trust in the quality of a brand, which increases cost.

For my grandfather, he would get a pen knife from the UK (locally) or Germany, and carefully sharpen one of the two blades as and when needed, and leave the (almost) factory edge on the other.  He'd sharpen it on a stone and nothing else, stropping it on his belt would make him worried that he'd ruin the blade and the belt!  It would have to last him a decade or more.

Ultimately Howard and my grandfather will have probably spent the same amount of money on knives over their lifetimes, though undoubtedly Howard will have used his for more heavy tasks.  If I'm honest, I'm cut from the same cloth as my grandfather

That's what makes the world an interesting place... Isn't it? 

[Old Boy]

I love these stories and have so much respect for these folks. Each time I hear these stories it only reinforces my opinion that budget steels are really the best. I own a few super steel knives but keep going back to knives that are a good balance of edge retention, corrosion resistance, etc. but ultimately field serviceable. At the end of the day a knife will eventually get dull and you may not have easy access to your favorite sharpener or the inclination to take a long time to sharpen.

[SirVicaLot]

I was always worried about getting the „perfect“ edge on my knife blades. I was disappointed when I could not get it razor sharp. Eventually I realized that it doesn‘t need to be that sharp. It needs to be sharp enough to do the jobs I need it to do, and it needs to get back in to shape quickly. I am never gonna shave with my SAK, so what is the point getting it razor sharp? It is just gonna dull quicker.

Since having the Fieldmaster (which seems to be the perfect SAK for my needs) I also realized that I don‘t need to spare my SAK any hard jobs. If I need it to break down boxes, it will do it. That is why I have it in my pocket after all. If it only lasts a few years due to abuse, then that is perfectly fine. It will serve me well, and SAKs are affordable enough 

Expensive blades don‘t make any sense to me. They cannot do anything a SAK can‘t do either. I understand the collectors appeal, but I will never spend $300 on a folding knife. That doesn‘t mean though, that I do not enjoy your guys‘ pictures of them 

[ElevenBlade]

The price of a SAK is certainly part of its appeal.  Having misplaced a few knives, I'm glad that SAKs are easily replaceable... It's just that in 30 years of owning one, I've never needed to.

[cbl51]

I was always worried about getting the „perfect“ edge on my knife blades. I was disappointed when I could not get it razor sharp. Eventually I realized that it doesn‘t need to be that sharp. It needs to be sharp enough to do the jobs I need it to do, and it needs to get back in to shape quickly. I am never gonna shave with my SAK, so what is the point getting it razor sharp? It is just gonna dull quicker.

Since having the Fieldmaster (which seems to be the perfect SAK for my needs) I also realized that I don‘t need to spare my SAK any hard jobs. If I need it to break down boxes, it will do it. That is why I have it in my pocket after all. If it only lasts a few years due to abuse, then that is perfectly fine. It will serve me well, and SAKs are affordable enough 

Expensive blades don‘t make any sense to me. They cannot do anything a SAK can‘t do either. I understand the collectors appeal, but I will never spend $300 on a folding knife. That doesn‘t mean though, that I do not enjoy your guys‘ pictures of them 

Thats where I came to only in late middle age when age brought me a little bit of common sense finally.

In my knife nut days, I used to waste way too much money on knives. Expensive knives. I was firm in my belief that by spending an outrageous amount of money on a knife, I was getting some kind of mythical Excalliber level blade. I even had a small collection of Randall knives, a few by Jay Hendrickson master smith of the American Bladesmith Foundation, and some other high dollar custom knives.

It was all BULLHOCKY!

The Randall were a mediocre knife of run of the mill steel, way to thick. The only good thing about them was the rabid Kool-Aid drinking fan boys would pay the money so I sold them all off with no loss. Same for  most the other customs. The high end factory stuff like Al Mar's and such I just gave away on blade forums. It was a long strange trip, but in the end I ended up with the knife that I always came back to after an experiment with some high end, highly hyped and over priced hunk of nothing. Look at all those Schrade Old Timers with the old carbon steel blades that working class guys carried for a few generations and got by very well with on construction sites, warehouses, remodel jobs, machine shops, and other trades. Or the basic Camillus pocket knives issued out by the millions by the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines in WW2, Korea, and Vietnam.

The high end life market is like the high end car market, for snobs that want bragging rights. Yeah, that Porsche is nice, but will it really get you to work any better than a Toyota at a fraction of the price? No, but the Porsche driver may need a hanky more for the nosebleeds from having his nose so high in the air.

No, the SAK is THE perfect pocketknife. Its got a wide mission range capability, is good enough steel for almost all jobs a pocket knife will do, and if you need to sharpen it, its as easy as stropping on the bottom of the nearest coffee mug. I'm an old fart, and I resent anything that takes my time away from living life. Too much fishing, doing things with the grandkids, spending time with my better half of more decades than I want to think about, whatever. I don't want a knife that if it gets dull, I'll bout in th shop for an hour sharpening that danged thing. On my work bench out back, I've got an old Imperial Barlow with the old thin carbon blades. Its used for shop stuff and when ingest dull, a few swipes in a few mints on the old stone and its ready to go again.

Thats the way a pocket knife should be. And SAK's still are.

[Nick4]

On my work bench out back, I've got an old Imperial Barlow with the old thin carbon blades. Its used for shop stuff and when ingest dull, a few swipes in a few mints on the old stone and its ready to go again.

As a child, I dreamed of having 'a real Barlow knife', just like Tom Sawyer. 

And my father made his working knives from used bandsaw blades.

Thats the way a pocket knife should be. And SAK's still are.

You can have sharp knives, you can have very expensive knives, but SAK just performs its tasks. Anytime and anywhere.