Well used knives

[AimlessWanderer]

We've all seen pictures of well used knives. Knives acquired from previous owners, with blades still sharp and usable, but noticeably reduced from their original form, and handle scales worn from many years in the pocket, many hours in the hand, and maybe the occasional mishap or repair along the way.

But how many of us have knives that look like that, which we got new? Knives where all that wear and patina has come from our own use and handling?

The reason I ask, is that I don't.

My oldest pocket knife was new to me approaching 30 years ago, and sure, it doesn't look new anymore, but it hasn't substantially lost metal, despite having a fair amount of use and carry. There's a couple of traditional slippies that I own, which might have had a year or so of continual carry, before I started carrying multipurpose tools of one form or another. I steeled the edge when it didn't cut as I wanted, and removed metal when steeling didn't fix it. Aside from some scale wear, and a change of grinding marks on the edge, they don't look much different.

Now, I'll openly admit, I live in an age and enviroment where many people get by without a knife at all, and so I'll have probably cut less things than maybe someone 50+ years ago might have. Also, I think we're now more aware that we can coax an edge back into action on a car window or bottom of a coffee mug than folks were before, when knives might have visited the old oil stone weekly for rehoning, if not before.

We also own more of them and tend to swap around a fair bit 

So let's see 'em. Fixed, folding, field or kitchen. Show the knives that you got new, and now proudly wears the signs of an active life, and share your thoughts on whether you might do stuff differently from those original owners of those old workhorses we see from time to time.

[AimlessWanderer]

This is the 30-ish year old knife. The patina is possibly a bit darker than captured on the pics, and the edge has almost receded back to the bottom of the sharpening notch, but is still fairly straight. It's certainly got some miles on the clock though, yet is sharp oiled, and ready to go.

[Rapidray]

Thats not bad looking at all! 

[sak60]

This Taylor’s Eyewitness is about as close as I have. Bought late 80’s early 90’s I think. Used it pretty well back then.
My next would be a Green River but it’s stainless and doesn’t show a lot of wear apart from some blade loss.

[ezdog]

I tend to carry heavier blades for EDC and use them in construction throughout the day so I guess it is no surprise that my most used are the bigger ones.

The Adamas is as beat as I can get it and still resists all attempts to make it worse!



Same pretty much with the ZT0350 in the middle here.
This one has Aluminum Scales though and so they will tend to wear more clearly than G10 type scales in general.
What you cant really see from these pics is the small chips in the blade of both that I have to work out as they are made.




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[AimlessWanderer]

Thats not bad looking at all! 

Thanks Ray 

[AimlessWanderer]

This Taylor’s Eyewitness is about as close as I have. Bought late 80’s early 90’s I think. Used it pretty well back then.
My next would be a Green River but it’s stainless and doesn’t show a lot of wear apart from some blade loss.

Nice one 60  I can see that's done some work.

Any pics of the Green River?

[AimlessWanderer]

I tend to carry heavier blades for EDC and use them in construction throughout the day so I guess it is no surprise that my most used are the bigger ones.

The Adamas is as beat as I can get it and still resists all attempts to make it worse!

(Image removed from quote.)

Same pretty much with the ZT0350 in the middle here.
This one has Aluminum Scales though and so they will tend to wear more clearly than G10 type scales in general.
What you cant really see from these pics is the small chips in the blade of both that I have to work out as they are made.

(Image removed from quote.)


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That top one looks great! Not much blade loss, from what I can see, but you can tell it works for a living. That ZT has some pocket wear on the scales, but the blade looks barely touched. Hope you can get the chips out of the edge without too much hassle.

[AimlessWanderer]

I have an aluminium handled folder too, ezdog. This was the first knife I ever bought, and it's a couple of years younger than the one I posted before (which was a gift). It hasn't had as much use as the first one, but it still looks like its done work.

I've tended to use this as my dirty work knife, when I don't want to wreck one of my nicer ones, but didn't sharpen it often (I didn't know how to deal with serrations back then), so it doesn't show much loss.

[SteveC]

My Buck 112 is probably my most well used by me knife.

[LoopCutter]

I have a couple plus a knife my Grandfather used everyday at the paper mill. 


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[sak60]

My Buck 112 is probably my most well used by me knife.



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I like that.
I’m going to have a 112 soon.

[sak60]

Green River Dadley. The leather sheath is no more.

[Barry Rowland]

I've a Queen Jackknife that's perfect for this thread.  I'll post a picture when I get home!

[AimlessWanderer]

My Buck 112 is probably my most well used by me knife.



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Nice one, Steve   

[AimlessWanderer]

Green River Dadley. The leather sheath is no more.

Thanks 60  That's developing the look nicely 

[AimlessWanderer]

I've a Queen Jackknife that's perfect for this thread.  I'll post a picture when I get home!

 

 

[LoopCutter]

I have a couple plus a knife my Grandfather used everyday at paper mill.

My few EDC knives used for work, often used for removing cable casings, before making connections.


Two little ones, the tango road in watch pocket and the small My was my first, an award received in 1976 and carried every day till late 90s, and sharpened frequently. 

The last is my grandfather’s work knife used to cut new paper when the roll was full and trim end for new roll as the pulp wood was processed before shipping.  Do not know the age, but knew he worked the mill for over thirty years.



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[AimlessWanderer]

My few EDC knives used for work, often used for removing cable casings, before making connections.
(Image removed from quote.)

Two little ones, the tango road in watch pocket and the small My was my first, an award received in 1976 and carried every day till late 90s, and sharpened frequently.  (Image removed from quote.)

The last is my grandfather’s work knife used to cut new paper when the roll was full and trim end for new roll as the pulp wood was processed before shipping.  Do not know the age, but knew he worked the mill for over thirty years. (Image removed from quote.)(Image removed from quote.)



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Some excellent examples there, LC