Now, this knife was a nice surprise.

[The Tourist]

JShirley, I don't want to start anything. It was a decision I made based on ideals I find of value.

Yes, forums cater to different people. I am jazzed and enthused when I sign onto Keeping Sharp at KF. This week I actually likened polishing pumice to high priced toothpaste.

Our discussions would put most of THR to sleep.

My belief--and I mean over several decades--is that a man's actions must come from a moral center, no matter what that action is.

My service to a client must come from the same ideals Valkman uses in his job, or as a sensei uses to teach a skill to a troubled child.

Plainly, if you act like a spoiled idiot, why should I listen to anything you have to say?

 

[JShirley]

I don't disagree. We just usually work to avoid disparaging remarks about other complimentary enthusiast forms.

I'd really be happy if you called me John.

 

[Piedmont Plinker]

I'm a member at Bladeforums, I post there regurarly. I have some problems with some of the moderating there, but's it Vbullitin (that's why I don't do KF or EDCF that much) format and does have a lot of volume.

I'm not trying to start a forum war, or anything like that.

Appeal to authority- that's just pretending you are an expert on something. I'd say my comments (and Boats) were some ad hominem tu quoque, mine was a little bit of appeal to spite, some biased sample, circumstantial ad hominem, and a whole lot of hasty generalization.

 

[JShirley]

Pres,

I don't go to KF just because it's not VB, as well.

J

 

[Eleven Mike]

Appeal to authority- that's just pretending you are an expert on something.

Only if the authority to which you appeal is you. It usually means you're quoting or referencing someone else.

http://www.logicalfallacies.info/appealtoauthority.html

Appeal to Authority
Explanation

An appeal to authority is an argument from the fact that a person judged to be an authority affirms a proposition to the claim that the proposition is true.

Appeals to authority are always deductively fallacious; even a legitimate authority speaking on his area of expertise may affirm a falsehood, so no testimony of any authority is guaranteed to be true.

Wait, what is this thread about?

 

[Piedmont Plinker]

I was using a different website- I took it to mean that "X has experience with something, thereby what X says is true."
Oh, wait...KaBar...

On lockbacks, like I said, I can get a Gerber Gator for $35-40. It's a good knife, made in the US, with a handle material I really likle. My dad's had one for years, used it hard, still going strong. I don't if it's avaliable in PE, which is what I prefer.
Of course, my Al Mar Eagle Talon is a 9" open lockback- but it also cost $140, so it's hardly in the same class.
Be the be all, end all in lockbacks is the Buck 110, I'd say. It looks classy (something neither the KaBar nor the Gator can say), is made in the US, has decent steel (420HC) that's got a superb heat treat by Paul Bos, comes with a good sheath, and costs only $25 at WalMart. If you go to Gander Mt, for $30, you can get one with a leather rather than nylon sheath, for $5, I'd take that.
I think the Endura and it's eastern brethren, the Cara Cara, are in this size range. I'm sure the Endura is an excellent knife, and my Meadowlark has been ver good, for the money, I just don't do thumb holes.

 

[Piedmont Plinker]

Good lord, I almost left out the CS Voyager. From what I've heard, these aare very good knives, and go all the way up to 6"

 

[The Tourist]

To be fair, I seem to stay with forums where there is a "round-table" feeling of guys who work in enhancing their skills.

These folks will meet in a forum, discuss the projects they are completing, and openly present their successes and flaws. In essence, it's other professionals helping you refine your craft, not kids flaming for sport.

Does it work? I believe it does. The supplier for some of the finest sharpening systems and supplies, (in addition to the guy who is his stiffest competition) informs me that there are five major working tinkers. Lots of sharpeners, very few tinkers.

And we all know each other. We've even helped each other when one got hurt.

The owner/supplier of one of the stone providers sent his entire package of products to the other supplier--at no cost. That's right, he provided all of his products for the other guy to test. That's like Ford sending over a new model to Chevy.

So if I seem a tad protective of my own circle of professionals, please excuse me. I have seen so many forums crash and burn, die of neglect or simply rip themselves apart. You might honestly not care for the work I do, or the style in which this work is completed.

Then just start a thread, "Tourist, I disagree." A forum of adults can disagree, and still not be disagreeable.

Oh, and these five tinkers--none of use the same tools, sharpen in the same way, or even derive research from the same historical period.