People testing sharpness

[ironhead7544]

I carry a small multi tool to lend people who need a knife. I bought it at a gunshow for $1.00 back in the early 90ties. Keep in mind that to most people a knife is just a knife, like one in the kitchen drawer.
I carry a Benchmade CQC7 for work that I use as a tool. Its in a pancake open top fitted sheath. Wont fall out. Dont know what I would do without it. The blade is tough and I have had it sharpened four times since 1997. I dont lend it out.
I do service work and one day I was in an elderly ladies big old house. Sitting in the corner of the dining room was a Japanese military sword. Just propped up in the corner. I asked her about it and she said someone had given it to her. Her father was a big time general in WWII. She had a lot of officers over for dinner parties including Patton and his son. At one of the parties an officer saw the sword and declared he would show everyone how sharp they really were. Pulled out a hair then proceeded to lose half of his left thumb and forefinger trying to cut it in two. I asked to look at the blade and it had rust spots from what looked like blood. She said no one had looked at the blade since the incident.

 

[Cesiumsponge]

I asked to look at the blade and it had rust spots from what looked like blood. She said no one had looked at the blade since the incident.

Shame. Maybe it was a generic gunto or a real heirloom nihonto. Hope it doesn't remain in a state of disrepair.

I won't show fancy knives of swords anymore unless they're friends who are also knife aficionados. I usually carry a Microtech Socom or a Delica wave for EDC and they're both used enough that any unintended harm from "borrowers" isn't really a big deal, but it still bugs me. I've flat-ground the Delica anyhow as an experiment so I'm not too worried about it, and they're cheap user blades anyhow.

That reminded me that I've had a friend who wasn't familiar with autos handle one of my Microtech OTF. He thought it would be cute to open it against an apple on the kitchen table and got apple juice all over the blade. I think I need better friends

 

[22-rimfire]

I loaned one of my SOGs to a fellow worker. As I recall, I never saw it again. "I gave it back to ya!" What can ya say? Not a huge loss as it was more of a work knife, but it was brand new.... Now I'll dig up a utility knife.

 

[rayman]

Nice Knife, rude for doing what they did. I was like that till I lost all my cool stuff till I met someone with a garage full of tools reconstructed what I lost for a fraction of the cost. Now I'm a firm believer of make it yourself. Screw the big manufacturers...

 

[Quickdraw Limpsalot]

I don't buy knives that aren't going to be used. If you do, that's fine and I understand your point (OP,) but that's just not the case with me. I keep all my knives very, very sharp and if you need/want to use it that's fine, but you'll get my standard "It's very sharp, be careful" response as I hand over the knife along with the responsibility of not being a moron and cutting yourself. I'll most likely be resharpening it very soon, so go nuts... cut stuff. I don't care, as long as you aren't abusing it.

 

[amd6547]

I worked at a backpacking store which carried Spyderco knives. I personally saw three different occaisions when customers asked to look at an Endura and immediately ran their finger down the edge...cutting themselves.
I took to shaving some hair from my arm and warning them that the blade was very sharp before allowing them to touch one.

 

[Cosmoline]

If someone hands me a knife, I assume they don't mind if I handle it lightly. Since they actually handed it to me. If they don't want me touching it, they should not put it in my fingers.

Nigel Tufnel: Look... still has the old tag on, never even played it.
Marty DiBergi: [points his finger] You've never played...?
Nigel Tufnel: Don't touch it!
Marty DiBergi: We'll I wasn't going to touch it, I was just pointing at it.
Nigel Tufnel: Well... don't point! It can't be played.
Marty DiBergi: Don't point, okay. Can I look at it?
Nigel Tufnel: No. no. That's it, you've seen enough of that one.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088258/quotes

 

[CaliCoastie]

anyone heard this "my wife sure. my toothbrush maybe. my knife never." dont let anyone touch your knives unless you make sure that they understand what they can do with it. Im always curious how sharp other peoples knnives are compaired to mine, so it someone says to look at this knife.... why i look at it and that includes to see how sharp it is, thumb, then forearm if it looks like it'll shave.

 

[Dravur]

When someone hands me a knife to look at, I usually try to find a crusty old paint can that I can pry the lid off of.

Or, I try and stick it in the ground, just to see if it will....

 

[JVoutilainen]

Sounds absolutely reasonable

 

[Ryder]

I can't agree. The fit in the hand, the balance, the texture, smoothness of action, ergonomics of controls are all something that can't be communicated by just looking.

Their perception will vary from yours though. Ergonomics is a very personalized thing.

If I don't trust someone to respect my equipment I don't hand it to them and if I want something treated in a specific way I simply tell them so.

 

[justgoto]

Or, I try and stick it in the ground, just to see if it will....

I was going to say that.