I pretty much hit this stage back in 2012 when after a decade of collecting, I finally admitted that my wall display of 100+ knives that I never touch was completely and absolutely unnecessary, so I sold off about 75% and basically stopped using the forums. A few years ago I did start buying the occasional Cold Steel knife again. The brand that brought me into the hobby is now still pretty much my mainstay because their knives are just plain fun, things of pure entertainment and they don't apologize about it. Being perfectly honest with myself I feel infinitely more comfortable keeping a box full of premium mall ninja toys than a display case full of men's jewelry.
Great vid Pete, I carry in a rotation so it takes me 3 months to put a week's worth of use on a knife unless I am testing for review, it would take me forever to notice if my non-review knives were 8cr. We do take this stuff way to seriously. I need more Cold Steel Swords in my life.
😂😂😂😂 boy, don’t you dare leave us without our knife lab days..... don’t you do it..... we know it don’t really matter.... we Know..... but Don’t you do it! 😂😂😂😂 keep up the great work bud
Ah! A fellow introvert. I just turned 76, the majority of boxes Ive opened in my life, have been with my house key, (the original serrated edge?) If this stuff isn't fun, why oh why?
@@tomr3641 I always keep a little knife sitting at my desk for that exact reason. Good for opening packages, food (lollies, etc.), letters, seals on things, etc. You don't have to do anything, but it's very convenient.
Holy crap, this was one of the most balanced and sane perspectives of a hobby I've heard in a long time. I have always believed that once a hobby puts constant pressure on you to perform, it's no longer a hobby, it's an occupation. If I was ever to start a RUclips channel, I would not get caught up in the stat-obsessing, popularity contest that social media can create. On Instagram, I don't care how many followers I have, and I don't care if any drop. My hobbies are for me and while I enjoy the sense of community that is part of them, it's not the primary reason I adopt them. Well said Pete!
I'm glad you did this vid. I couldn't agree more with all 3 points. I've actually slimmed my knife collection down significantly because all I realistically need on my day-to-day is a trusty Victorinox.
I know this is one of the scent true I have a bunch of late little cheap knives that I keep in bags and stuff and then my carry knives are all cheaper Gerber knives are decent Gerber knives that I like. Because despite all the ragging steel they use in the way they make it is it bad maybe once a week I strap one of my knives just to get back to sharpen start cutting again
I know this is one of the scent true I have a bunch of late little cheap knives that I keep in bags and stuff and then my carry knives are all cheaper Gerber knives are decent Gerber knives that I like. Because despite all the ragging steel they use in the way they make it is it bad maybe once a week I strap one of my knives just to get back to sharpen start cutting again
Well said. Love the channel. Simple works in life. K.I.S.S. the knife lab, don't lose the love. My daily steel is S30V. Works for me, and that's all that matters, what works for each of us. Remember, no one golfs with just 1 club. Keep what works and makes you happy.
Don't know how I missed this one. Great stuff. I really like it when we can get past the RUclips facade and talk about real humanity. You're good about being "more real" than most, but I love it when we have "real conversations. Thanks for never being afraid of being exactly who you are and not bowing to all the different pressures of the RUclips community to be a certain way. Keep up the good work. Thank you.
My pals laugh at my pocket knife collection because I can't stand carrying things in my pockets. I'll even put a deep carry clip on a knife that I never intend to carry. I don't feel that I owe anyone an explanation for my purchases/preferences. Of course, I ventured into knives long after establishing my gun hobby. Honestly, despite the example you used in this video, the same truths apply in the gun hobby. Realistically, anything beyond a revolver is a luxury. You can tell yourself that you need all 30+ guns in your safe. In reality, you probably find the prepper lifestyle to be fun and you've stylized your gun collection around it to maximize your pleasure in the hobby. Of course, there will always be the people that get a little TOO into their hobbies. But for me, it's an interest in mechanics, chemistry, hand/eye skills, elegant craftsmanship, and being outside. Great video. I dig your content and your sense of humor.
You're absolutely right. This made me realize a lot of things about my knives and how I collect them. Most disturbingly, I now realize there is a gaping hole in my collection that should have a "tree climbing knife" in it. Whew. I knew I was missing something. Thanks. Great videos.
I probably have 30 knifes that I have never carried or used but at the end of the day I just enjoy looking at and holding them. The other half of my collection get carried randomly depending on what I feel like carrying that day. I always enjoy your content. Thank you.
Yep! Knife Buddha has spoken. I remember reaching this point of enlightenment when I bought an Opinel AFTER buying my Sebenza. I think i’ve fallen out of the “hobby” like 6 times by now. You’re a smart dude, dude.
Dude thank you for being you and making all of this stuff. I really appreciate this video. I am not involved in the knife community, but I do watch it and I have plenty of knives and will continue to buy random shit. It's very refreshing to hear a similar perspective.
@Cedric & Ada Gear and Outdoors Really interesting video, Pete thank you but I have to tell you the only justification I’ve ever given for buying a knife is “I like knives.” 😄
I believe you are spot on about how we are not meant to keep up with and care for more than a small village worth of people. I really think that not following this is perhaps the root cause of a lot of people's anxieties.
That thought about the human brain being able to function on a community level and not a world level is truly profound. I have never thought about it like that and now I can’t stop mentally exploring that concept. Did you hear that somewhere or did you come up with that? Truly brilliant
I like these philosophical talks man they are very nice to listen to. The way I live my life is very simple. Everyone has something I like to call a "sphere of influence" and inside that sphere is all the things you can directly influence like your job and interpersonal relationships and of course your crippling addiction to titanium flipper framelocks, outside the sphere is things you simply can't like weather, politics on a national scale, world conflicts, and the actions of others. I put all my energy into influencing everything within that sphere and I prepare to react to things outside that sphere. The most important thing is that you don't stress out about things you can't control.
Your point #3 exactly. Coincidentally, yesterday I unfollowed almost every group I was following on fb for exactly the reason you said. Takes too much energy with too little reward. Takes a pandemic to refocus ones priorities, it seems. As for the knife stuff, I have one knife and that's the one I edc. I don't care about the steel. I only care that it cuts when I want it to cut. I don't watch your videos to gain great knife knowledge. I watch them because they are interesting and insightful, in general. Thank you for that. Stay safe.
Marketing hype- there are a million ways to separate a fool from his money. Knives remained relatively unchanged until social media came about. After the proliferation of RUclips, Instagram, etc... the race was on by manufacturers to have the “post that shit” knife of the day. Nowadays, those in the know can date a modern knife based on it styling queues. Beforehand, you had to be a keen observer of tang stamps and such to know how old a knife was as they rarely changed (I’m talking basic knives, not high end custom stuff). At any rate, fantastic video Uncle Randy. By the by, how’d you know about my Scotch and Mozart ritual? This is spot on the reason why I “moved on from knives” so to speak. Read about the 7 year cycle. Interesting stuff. Explains why we tend to change hobbies, get marital woes, etc... at the seven year point. 👍👍
Not so sure about your timeline. Sal Glesser and Bob Terzuola were developing pocket clips and opening holes/discs in the 80s. Walker and Reeve were designing the liner and frame locks in the 80s. Blackie Collins, Ken Onion and Kit Carson were doing assisted and flipper knives in the mid/late 90s. McHeney and Williams introduced the axis lock in 98. All of this predates Myspace, much less Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Social media has undeniably increased the "flavor is the month" factor, but knives were changing rapidly from slip joints and the buck 110 before even dial up internet was widespread.
I know exactly where you are coming from mate. I started a channel for Bushcraft and tool reviews and it can get quite consuming, you forget that you started it for a bit of fun. Now I feel like I have to do it because I have subscribers (not as many as I'd like ?) and guys that genuinely like what I put out. I enjoy your vids and your edge retention experiments serve me well as I'd never take that time myself.
A great way to look at the more absurd & fun overbuilt stuff most of us probably have in our collections - they can make otherwise tedious & boring tasks fun. I was helping a friend clear out some brush that sprouted up between his garage/barn and a horse fence along the back of his property. For shits and giggles he grabbed a cold steel bolo machete and a sog tomahawk. I don't care how old you get, but hacking through shrubs with a tomahawk is a blast.
Finally someone is saying it! The first two points in particular I really embraced as I started to get into swords in addition to knives. It’s just for fun, no need to take it so seriously!
ive come to terms with the fact that i just love cutting tools, i can talk to people about it and they can be interested because it doesnt have the same stigma as my "big scary guns" but hey when you realize you just enjoy knives and it makes you happy it solves all the problems
Pete I enjoy your introspection videos. I guess it's because you make so much sense. I will never own as many knives as some YT channels but my next one will be because " that really looks cool ". Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I always appreciate the way you keep it real. One day I started collecting knives a few years back. For me, it was also a way to collect information about knife steels, knife handles, knife locking mechanisms, knife blade shapes and knife deployment or action. How many knives does a guy need to experience these things first hand? How much money and time does one put into such a hobby? Thanks for sharing your perspective on finding your zen in your knife hobby.
I love my SR1 lite as much as the 4Max, and even more than the regular sr1. All are good, but I carry the 50$ sr1 lite tanto a lot and I love it. And I have the 20cv 4Max... but I love the 8cr13mov sr1 lite tanto! It’s crazy to me sometimes
Great honest talk! I can relate and agree on pretty much all of your points. I do love coming up with reasons to get another knife though 😉 which reminds me... A cork handled Mora for when I'm near water!
My most used working knife is a K-Bar Dozier Hunter in AUS-8. I've abused the hell outta that knife, and apart from the day I spent cutting carpet with it, it's held a fantastic edge (I've put a very thin edge on it). Even on the carpeting day when I totally dulled the blade repeatedly, it sharpened back up in just a few minutes on a diamond plate. Try that with a fancy super steel. Most of my other daily use folders are in 440C and 8cr13mov. Sure I would love to have some of the popular hot shit spyderco knives, and I totally understand the desire for them, and other high end knives, but honestly the steel isn't worth it to me. Guess I learned my lessons as a former high end watch collector, lol :)
I absolutely love the Dozier in aus 8. I have a spyderco manix 2 in maxamet and theres plenty of times id use my Dozier over the manix 2. Especially in a hard use situation. In my opinion the Dozier is the best hard use knife that was never designed as a hard use knife lol.
I have started a Go-fund-me page for you for a new neon lighted sparkly “In the Knife Lab” sign... so far we have enough for the letter “I”. 😁 I would for sure like to see your cute little blue Spyderco Ladybug tear into your current signage!
I came to a practical term with myself, made peace with myself saying that I do not need more knives than I have unless the ones that I have now are broken. And I don't need them supersteels to be a better man / knife-user of myself, because truth be told, even the not-so-premium knives (schrade, cold steel etc) cut just as good. So yeah, I'm at peace.
I'm enjoyed what you said about it's just for fun and completely agree. Sure, a knife is primarily a tool, but I also really enjoy a well-crafted knife that's aesthetically pleasing. I think that's why I enjoy channels like yours and advanced knife bro, because you have fun and joke around a bit with knife culture while still offering up useful information and reviews. Thanks for that!
This video hits home. Once you realize you have over a hundred knives and only 2 hands. I'm waiting for my "Grail" knife on order. Once I recive that Im going curb my addiction. I hope :)
I ditched my entire knife collection 2 years ago. I kept 5 main users. All benchmades because I just love the axis lock for my daily use. I'm over it. S30V is all I need.
Good points ,I know my so called collecting has dropped off considerably as I came to the realization that I can only use 1 at a time. I still have 3 or 4 on my list that I'll get eventually, just going to slow down and enjoy the ride. 😊
Great vid, Pete. Controversy in the knife world is like gossip in the women’s mags. :P Great mantra in terms of your hobby: I’ve seen youtubers change once it takes their hobby and enslaves them with it. Keep it where you need it to be.
In regards to point two, I love fancy knives. But I bought a grail knife, a beater, a leathetman and a Spyderco in H1 for sailing and stopped. I get my fix asking to fondle friends knives and watching Cedric ADA on youtube
I've had a Sebenza, a Para 2 and a bunch of Kershaw Leeks; I always end up using my Victorinox Pioneer, Cadet, Huntsman, Leatherman Rebar, Buck 120, Bahco Laplander or Fiskars hatchet for any of my tasks. Fancy and amazing edge retention doesn't mean shit if you're afraid to use it or can't fix the edge if damaged. My Leatherman Rebar, Victorinox Pioneer and Buck 120 have never failed me in the last 8 years. 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏾♂️
@FlamQ Dbltap I'm a gymnastics coach. I cut up a lot of food for the kids' lunches at my gym, lots of athletic tape, cardboard and use my knife to make feathersticks most nights when I start my grill. Out of all of that, it all gets done with my Pioneer. Once a week, I run it like 3 times on each side on the Spyderco Sharpmaker and it's ready for whatever I throw at it.
My edc consists of a manix 2 in maxamet in my front shirt pocket. Used for cutting tasks only. A leatherman charge plus used for stuff i wouldn't want to use the manix on. And a busse team Gemini light brigade for anything that the others can't or shouldn't do cuz the damn thing seems indestructible lol.
Very good points! I totally collect knives because I think they are cool, and have way more than I will ever need. I could probably survive with a Swiss Army knife if I didn’t want the others. But I also have a coin collection, and have collected rocks at multiple points in my life so necessity has never really been my collecting goal. I’m just a collector so it obviously runs into my knife collecting. Though if I ever had aspirations to start a small knife army I could. (Small knife being the key phrase most of my knives are under 3.5 inches)
A few months ago Inreturned to the Ontario Rat II (having given my original away) with a similar reality-check mentality... then I bought 2 of them! (One is AUS-8 and one in D2). So basically that plan was nonsense but I have hit the pause button on any new purchases since... Work in progress! 😉
oh so true!! i use my victorinox bantam the most and its like one use per 2 weeks average... IMHO i think it could apply to alot of hobbies (camping gear, fire arms , computer mouse/peripherals , cars/bikes/atv etc)
Pete, thank you for being the one most earnest and transparent individuals in this community. You bring a refreshing point of view and I appreciate the work you put into your videos. Keep it up, man!!
Always great content. I like commenting 3Y after videos are made. Have a lot of knives that serve no purpose other than I like them. Almost always carry a small Sebenza, sometimes a PM2.
Most of my ‘best’ collection knives are 420HC... all my Taylor’s Eye Witness, Classic Pumas and Bökers. Other traditionals are either 440c. And is that a problem? No, absolutely not!
On the occasional day when I’m breaking down lots of cardboard, I’d notice the difference between 8cr13 and S110V pretty quickly. Otherwise it would take quite a while. I agree that more than a couple knives is a luxury, but it can be a relatively cheap luxury. When a new Jaguar pulls up besides my crappy 15 year old Honda it makes me smile to pat the Umnumzaan in my pocket.
Thanks for the vid. It helped me when I accepted the fact that I was substituting the words reason/need for excuse. After this I lost the guilt for having almost 150 knives. Can/will I use them all, never but I enjoy handling, using and sharpening them. With new knives and steels I admit being like my dog when we are playing or he is chilling and sees a squirrel , that’s all he wants until the next squirrel comes along. I get it and it’s my thing, which I can live with. My wife my have a different opinion along with others that don’t understand and are obviously wrong 😆. Like anything, as long as it’s not infringing on priorities it’s all good. Sorry for sounding serious, keep the vids coming and accept being “knife people”😂😂
I love the theoretical topics and the “bigger picture” topics. Sorry if I’m just labeling however I feel fit here and not coining this correctly, but I really do appreciate hearing about what another collector/enthusiast/hobbyist/knife guy has to say about why or how he collects. And we are all guilty of many of the same things that may or may not feel like guilt - we all have more than we need, want even more, and really have to hone it in sometimes. I stopped collecting budget knives because I have been relentlessly chasing customs that are a bit harder to find ... and then there was this absolute awkward feeling of being able to pick up a Civivi in multiple places with the fit and finish I preferred, and wondered why I thought it was more fun to chase alllll the time, when there are the best knives we have ever seen for crazy prices these days. I have to remember to have my head in the fun , but not my heart - I can get discouraged, or bummed out over a hobby and that’s where I draw the line. This is supposed to be fun for us and the things I found that weren’t feeling fun, I stopped - no more chasing sprint runs and paying twice as much as someone who is hoarding 4 or five of the same knife for a discount on Reddit, or feeling burned when I miss out on a knife that was marked up. The one knife you have is all you need and the rest is all peripheral and fun. I started collecting when I wanted to carry a knife while working in my office, and I needed a solid “gent carry “ and now 5 years later I’m buying customs because I’m convinced that they’re more appropriate for the office .... a Swiss Army knife is best for the office and the only knife I have ever been able to justifiably let someone use without having to show them first lol. Good insight and always very perceptive. Thanks again from Cali! 👊🏼🤙♥️
it's amazing how a life event - or a world event - can change one's perspective entirely (or many's perspective, as it were). Like turning a light on in a dimly lit room. Nothing really changed, expect the way you are seeing things. nosce te ipsum
It's all true... Can't deny it. Well... maybe not completely agree with 8cr13mov thing bcoz I'm getting sick when I use my SAK and it dulls after few passes through cardboard. Thanks for all your effort and commitment. Stay strong.
_"Jackie Treehorn treats objects like women...man."_ That pretty much sums it up for me after being in this knife collecting business for going on about a decade now; it's not comfortable truth to admit and it's not really something to brag about, but there it is.
Oh and i forgot to mention, if all my knives turned to 8crmov13 steel. Pretty sure id notice pretty fast. Cuz my edc is usually the manix 2 in maxamet. And those 2 steels act pretty differently lol. Id be wondering how my maxamet became so stainless all of a sudden and why im sharpening it every few days. Ive owned the manix 2 in maxamet for 2 years and sharpened it once on dmt and ceramics. And since then ive only stropped it. I definitely can't say the same for any of my 8cr knives. And as for my large beater knives. Now i can't be sure about this but i believe if i treated them the same regardless of whether they were 8cr or 3v..pretty confident 8cr would be broken. Or at least in very very bad shape.. case in point my broken bear grylls 8cr knife. The only other knife ive ever snapped was an outdoor edge in 440c.
Yep, your maturing. I went through those stages a couple of times as a collector. First with antique American Civil War revolvers, and later with more modern military surplus rifles. I found it easier to avoid going off the deep end with knives because of my earlier experiences.
Great perspective man, gotta try and stay upbeat these days especially! When you're feeling in the mood another dickhead survival video would be awesome! Case of beer and full Bear Grylls kit, and bring a saw for safety if you get too drunk hahahah!
I like how you don’t talk negatively about your viewers like other large channels do. It’s like they spend half the video talking about dumb viewers. It gets old. Man do what makes you happy, no matter what that means. Your viewers just like you and want to make u feel good. They don’t really care if u make 5 or 50 videos a month. Don’t feel pressure. Nobody’s gonna unsub u either way
This in fact is the process of mentally and emotionally maturing. It's so cool to see people with influence talk about that, even if it's "just" about knives. I still love knives and will buy stuff I dont need. But I'll do so less and less as I get older lolz. Solid video man!
Hey Pete I just wanted to thank you for all infotainment over the years. I’ve been a long time subscriber and your channel was one of the ones who gave me the inspiration to start my own channel. The hard work with all the testing, editing, expense and effort can get taxing and I appreciate your dedication. My best to you and your family take care and stay safe.....The Big Canucker.
I do a great deal of box opening and breaking down everyday. I can say that I would and do notice when carrying spyderco Vg-10 or below in edge retention. 8cr13mov usually doesn't make it through a shift. However, the lower end steels usually have less than ideal cutting geometry, so I'm sure that makes a difference. And then there's the fact that I should really be using a box cutter, but where's the fun in that?
For fun and pragmatism cold steel is great. I want to go on and on about all the cold steel products I have and their many uses but let me first say I am only speaking of their low priced budget tools and knives . I picked two to talk about briefly they may not be my favorite or first choice but these two amongst many cold steel products and combinations of them are excellent choices for camping or survival or just for fun and for under $50usd you can own both , first is the special forces shovel , second is the bushman knife I like the bowie style but either bushman is great , debate away but for fun and only $50 ?? For the price of one expensive knife you could build a large collection of fun affordable cold steel tools. You're right about the steels my $150 / s35vn sits in my drawer while my $25 / 4116 rides in my pocket . Thanks
Oh man, You went right for the throat when you started talking about knives in the safe, still excellent content per usual and always and I mean always entertaining. Cheers
(Thought)proving video. I love it. And I agree! It. Is. Just. For. Fun. I sell knives, when I can and have 10-15 "keepers". There are still knives I would like to have (Endura ZDP for instance), but I know I don't NEED more knives. But I love having and using nice knives. And I don't buy knives before all the boring stuff is paid for 🙂 Great vid as always. Keep it up ❤🔪
I couldn't agree more on the geometry vs composition of a blade. This is the reason I always give the "Behind the Edge" Thickness measurement in all of my videos. First and foremost the geometry dictates the performance, composition/heat treat dictates how long it will perform. But most I really enjoy the overall message... Thanks!!!
Great video, with lots of truth there!
Nick, thanks for your recent article in Knives magazine
Deep down,
I have noticed that when i buy a user in a better steel, i dont notice the better steel UNTIL i go to sharpen it and it takes forever!
FlamQ Dbltap if you have diamond stones, you can get maxamet way sharper, way faster, than most softer steels.
@@lindboknifeandtool Anything with more edge retention than s30v or s35vn, I would definitely use diamonds lol.
Camelotsmoon absolutely. Especially when you value your time. Sometimes it’s fun to break out the alumina stones and sharpen zdp though.
I use good naniwa waterstones and things like my pm2 k390 @66hrc aren't a problem, but I also remember why I had to buy them in the first place :D
With diamonds it’s pretty easy to sharpen K390.
Why you don’t have just as many, if not more followers as some of the “best” in this community, is beyond me ...
cuz youtube likes rewarding people who have made this their job rather than a good hobbiest who everyone can relate to
Lynn with the witcher music will be watched a million times by me...
I pretty much hit this stage back in 2012 when after a decade of collecting, I finally admitted that my wall display of 100+ knives that I never touch was completely and absolutely unnecessary, so I sold off about 75% and basically stopped using the forums.
A few years ago I did start buying the occasional Cold Steel knife again. The brand that brought me into the hobby is now still pretty much my mainstay because their knives are just plain fun, things of pure entertainment and they don't apologize about it.
Being perfectly honest with myself I feel infinitely more comfortable keeping a box full of premium mall ninja toys than a display case full of men's jewelry.
Great vid Pete, I carry in a rotation so it takes me 3 months to put a week's worth of use on a knife unless I am testing for review, it would take me forever to notice if my non-review knives were 8cr. We do take this stuff way to seriously. I need more Cold Steel Swords in my life.
Has combat knife: “I guess I can put it in my car, use it once or twice in earnest.” Me watching, eating a sandwich: “Whoa.”
😂😂😂😂 boy, don’t you dare leave us without our knife lab days..... don’t you do it..... we know it don’t really matter.... we Know..... but Don’t you do it!
😂😂😂😂 keep up the great work bud
Ah! A fellow introvert. I just turned 76, the majority of boxes Ive opened in my life, have been with my house key, (the original serrated edge?) If this stuff isn't fun, why oh why?
New idea... house keys in super steel! too bad we use KABA/KESO keys here, they are non-serrated
Nah man, gotta have a little knife sitting around to open boxes.
@@travv88 I get, gotta have a little knife sitting around. yep. Box opener as justification? Meh.
@@tomr3641 I always keep a little knife sitting at my desk for that exact reason. Good for opening packages, food (lollies, etc.), letters, seals on things, etc.
You don't have to do anything, but it's very convenient.
Holy crap, this was one of the most balanced and sane perspectives of a hobby I've heard in a long time. I have always believed that once a hobby puts constant pressure on you to perform, it's no longer a hobby, it's an occupation. If I was ever to start a RUclips channel, I would not get caught up in the stat-obsessing, popularity contest that social media can create. On Instagram, I don't care how many followers I have, and I don't care if any drop. My hobbies are for me and while I enjoy the sense of community that is part of them, it's not the primary reason I adopt them. Well said Pete!
I'm glad you did this vid. I couldn't agree more with all 3 points. I've actually slimmed my knife collection down significantly because all I realistically need on my day-to-day is a trusty Victorinox.
My SA Classic is my most used knife .
Most of my favourite designs are in cheaper steels, as in D2 and Sandvik 14c28N? I was told you can’t sharpen D2, it’s not that hard to sharpen.
Jones thank you for that information, D2 hardened to 63hrc is also harder to sharpen. It’s all swings and roundabouts.
I know this is one of the scent true I have a bunch of late little cheap knives that I keep in bags and stuff and then my carry knives are all cheaper Gerber knives are decent Gerber knives that I like. Because despite all the ragging steel they use in the way they make it is it bad maybe once a week I strap one of my knives just to get back to sharpen start cutting again
I know this is one of the scent true I have a bunch of late little cheap knives that I keep in bags and stuff and then my carry knives are all cheaper Gerber knives are decent Gerber knives that I like. Because despite all the ragging steel they use in the way they make it is it bad maybe once a week I strap one of my knives just to get back to sharpen start cutting again
Yours is my favorite knife channel. You do whatever you want, whenever you feel like it.
Well said. Love the channel. Simple works in life. K.I.S.S. the knife lab, don't lose the love. My daily steel is S30V. Works for me, and that's all that matters, what works for each of us. Remember, no one golfs with just 1 club. Keep what works and makes you happy.
Don't know how I missed this one. Great stuff. I really like it when we can get past the RUclips facade and talk about real humanity. You're good about being "more real" than most, but I love it when we have "real conversations. Thanks for never being afraid of being exactly who you are and not bowing to all the different pressures of the RUclips community to be a certain way. Keep up the good work. Thank you.
I agree with your points. It made me realize that Uncle Randy is probably more self- aware than many of us in that he sticks to his 110.
My pals laugh at my pocket knife collection because I can't stand carrying things in my pockets. I'll even put a deep carry clip on a knife that I never intend to carry. I don't feel that I owe anyone an explanation for my purchases/preferences. Of course, I ventured into knives long after establishing my gun hobby. Honestly, despite the example you used in this video, the same truths apply in the gun hobby. Realistically, anything beyond a revolver is a luxury. You can tell yourself that you need all 30+ guns in your safe. In reality, you probably find the prepper lifestyle to be fun and you've stylized your gun collection around it to maximize your pleasure in the hobby. Of course, there will always be the people that get a little TOO into their hobbies. But for me, it's an interest in mechanics, chemistry, hand/eye skills, elegant craftsmanship, and being outside. Great video. I dig your content and your sense of humor.
You're absolutely right. This made me realize a lot of things about my knives and how I collect them. Most disturbingly, I now realize there is a gaping hole in my collection that should have a "tree climbing knife" in it. Whew. I knew I was missing something. Thanks. Great videos.
I probably have 30 knifes that I have never carried or used but at the end of the day I just enjoy looking at and holding them. The other half of my collection get carried randomly depending on what I feel like carrying that day. I always enjoy your content. Thank you.
Yep! Knife Buddha has spoken. I remember reaching this point of enlightenment when I bought an Opinel AFTER buying my Sebenza. I think i’ve fallen out of the “hobby” like 6 times by now. You’re a smart dude, dude.
Dude thank you for being you and making all of this stuff. I really appreciate this video. I am not involved in the knife community, but I do watch it and I have plenty of knives and will continue to buy random shit. It's very refreshing to hear a similar perspective.
This isn't just knife advise man, this is great life advice. Stay happy and healthy bud 👍
@Cedric & Ada Gear and Outdoors Really interesting video, Pete thank you but I have to tell you the only justification I’ve ever given for buying a knife is “I like knives.” 😄
Exactly what I say every time my wife asks me why I have so many. Lol
InfiniteEnso LOL! 😄
I believe you are spot on about how we are not meant to keep up with and care for more than a small village worth of people. I really think that not following this is perhaps the root cause of a lot of people's anxieties.
That thought about the human brain being able to function on a community level and not a world level is truly profound. I have never thought about it like that and now I can’t stop mentally exploring that concept. Did you hear that somewhere or did you come up with that? Truly brilliant
The steel thing has become a revelation to me recently as well. Pretty much would be happy if all my knives had vg10.
Something about Cobalt bearing alloys that makes me like the knife more. They seem to cut longer and better???
I like these philosophical talks man they are very nice to listen to. The way I live my life is very simple. Everyone has something I like to call a "sphere of influence" and inside that sphere is all the things you can directly influence like your job and interpersonal relationships and of course your crippling addiction to titanium flipper framelocks, outside the sphere is things you simply can't like weather, politics on a national scale, world conflicts, and the actions of others. I put all my energy into influencing everything within that sphere and I prepare to react to things outside that sphere. The most important thing is that you don't stress out about things you can't control.
Your point #3 exactly. Coincidentally, yesterday I unfollowed almost every group I was following on fb for exactly the reason you said. Takes too much energy with too little reward. Takes a pandemic to refocus ones priorities, it seems. As for the knife stuff, I have one knife and that's the one I edc. I don't care about the steel. I only care that it cuts when I want it to cut. I don't watch your videos to gain great knife knowledge. I watch them because they are interesting and insightful, in general. Thank you for that. Stay safe.
I quit FB once I figured out it was putting my name on my image. I'm proud that I can't find an image of myself on Google.
Your philosophy cuts deep dude.
Also is your shirt button or snap?
Marketing hype- there are a million ways to separate a fool from his money. Knives remained relatively unchanged until social media came about. After the proliferation of RUclips, Instagram, etc... the race was on by manufacturers to have the “post that shit” knife of the day. Nowadays, those in the know can date a modern knife based on it styling queues. Beforehand, you had to be a keen observer of tang stamps and such to know how old a knife was as they rarely changed (I’m talking basic knives, not high end custom stuff). At any rate, fantastic video Uncle Randy. By the by, how’d you know about my Scotch and Mozart ritual? This is spot on the reason why I “moved on from knives” so to speak. Read about the 7 year cycle. Interesting stuff. Explains why we tend to change hobbies, get marital woes, etc... at the seven year point. 👍👍
Not so sure about your timeline. Sal Glesser and Bob Terzuola were developing pocket clips and opening holes/discs in the 80s. Walker and Reeve were designing the liner and frame locks in the 80s. Blackie Collins, Ken Onion and Kit Carson were doing assisted and flipper knives in the mid/late 90s. McHeney and Williams introduced the axis lock in 98. All of this predates Myspace, much less Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Social media has undeniably increased the "flavor is the month" factor, but knives were changing rapidly from slip joints and the buck 110 before even dial up internet was widespread.
@@dm3639 knives also changed a *lot* in ancient and medieval eras.
I know exactly where you are coming from mate. I started a channel for Bushcraft and tool reviews and it can get quite consuming, you forget that you started it for a bit of fun.
Now I feel like I have to do it because I have subscribers (not as many as I'd like ?) and guys that genuinely like what I put out.
I enjoy your vids and your edge retention experiments serve me well as I'd never take that time myself.
ABSOLUTELY LOVED REALLY LOVED the Lynn Clip with the Witcher music 💚💚
A great way to look at the more absurd & fun overbuilt stuff most of us probably have in our collections - they can make otherwise tedious & boring tasks fun. I was helping a friend clear out some brush that sprouted up between his garage/barn and a horse fence along the back of his property. For shits and giggles he grabbed a cold steel bolo machete and a sog tomahawk. I don't care how old you get, but hacking through shrubs with a tomahawk is a blast.
Finally someone is saying it! The first two points in particular I really embraced as I started to get into swords in addition to knives. It’s just for fun, no need to take it so seriously!
ive come to terms with the fact that i just love cutting tools, i can talk to people about it and they can be interested because it doesnt have the same stigma as my "big scary guns" but hey when you realize you just enjoy knives and it makes you happy it solves all the problems
Pete I enjoy your introspection videos. I guess it's because you make so much sense. I will never own as many knives as some YT channels but my next one will be because " that really looks cool ". Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Anyone who puts Lynn Thompson clips in their vids is my kind of guy!
Subscribed!👍
That was a heap of common sense keep up the good work Pete at your convenience of course
I always appreciate the way you keep it real. One day I started collecting knives a few years back. For me, it was also a way to collect information about knife steels, knife handles, knife locking mechanisms, knife blade shapes and knife deployment or action. How many knives does a guy need to experience these things first hand? How much money and time does one put into such a hobby? Thanks for sharing your perspective on finding your zen in your knife hobby.
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 you have turned my world upside down..
I love my SR1 lite as much as the 4Max, and even more than the regular sr1. All are good, but I carry the 50$ sr1 lite tanto a lot and I love it. And I have the 20cv 4Max... but I love the 8cr13mov sr1 lite tanto! It’s crazy to me sometimes
Becoming isolationist scotch/Walker/classical guy is now on my bucket list.
Great honest talk! I can relate and agree on pretty much all of your points. I do love coming up with reasons to get another knife though 😉 which reminds me... A cork handled Mora for when I'm near water!
I put that cork handled Mora on my wish list this weekend!! Laughing!
Finally, the quality of sound recording is improved! I salute these, periodical reality checks, man. The one about bushcraft is pure gold.
My most used working knife is a K-Bar Dozier Hunter in AUS-8. I've abused the hell outta that knife, and apart from the day I spent cutting carpet with it, it's held a fantastic edge (I've put a very thin edge on it). Even on the carpeting day when I totally dulled the blade repeatedly, it sharpened back up in just a few minutes on a diamond plate. Try that with a fancy super steel. Most of my other daily use folders are in 440C and 8cr13mov. Sure I would love to have some of the popular hot shit spyderco knives, and I totally understand the desire for them, and other high end knives, but honestly the steel isn't worth it to me. Guess I learned my lessons as a former high end watch collector, lol :)
I absolutely love the Dozier in aus 8. I have a spyderco manix 2 in maxamet and theres plenty of times id use my Dozier over the manix 2. Especially in a hard use situation. In my opinion the Dozier is the best hard use knife that was never designed as a hard use knife lol.
@@mikeboyce21 yeah, there's just something about that knife design that really works.
I have started a Go-fund-me page for you for a new neon lighted sparkly “In the Knife Lab” sign... so far we have enough for the letter “I”. 😁 I would for sure like to see your cute little blue Spyderco Ladybug tear into your current signage!
You are quite brilliant, to be honest. I certainly appreciate your viewpoints.
I came to a practical term with myself, made peace with myself saying that I do not need more knives than I have unless the ones that I have now are broken. And I don't need them supersteels to be a better man / knife-user of myself, because truth be told, even the not-so-premium knives (schrade, cold steel etc) cut just as good. So yeah, I'm at peace.
I'm enjoyed what you said about it's just for fun and completely agree. Sure, a knife is primarily a tool, but I also really enjoy a well-crafted knife that's aesthetically pleasing. I think that's why I enjoy channels like yours and advanced knife bro, because you have fun and joke around a bit with knife culture while still offering up useful information and reviews. Thanks for that!
..also, I'm totally looking at my knives right now trying to determine which is my best "tree climbing knife".
This video hits home. Once you realize you have over a hundred knives and only 2 hands. I'm waiting for my "Grail" knife on order. Once I recive that Im going curb my addiction. I hope :)
This is so very painfully funny, Pete. And absolutely true. Thanks!
I'm pretty sure we've all come to terms that it's for fun, but we all need a reason to give our significant others to buy just. One. More. Knife.
I ditched my entire knife collection 2 years ago.
I kept 5 main users. All benchmades because I just love the axis lock for my daily use. I'm over it. S30V is all I need.
4:11 I just graduated to my first luxury knife after about 2 months. I just had to get a pm2, I'm a dirty boy.
Good points ,I know my so called collecting has dropped off considerably as I came to the realization that I can only use 1 at a time. I still have 3 or 4 on my list that I'll get eventually, just going to slow down and enjoy the ride. 😊
On that secret switch, I would notice good stainless vs not stainless...D2, for example. Another good vid.
Great vid, Pete. Controversy in the knife world is like gossip in the women’s mags. :P Great mantra in terms of your hobby: I’ve seen youtubers change once it takes their hobby and enslaves them with it. Keep it where you need it to be.
In regards to point two, I love fancy knives. But I bought a grail knife, a beater, a leathetman and a Spyderco in H1 for sailing and stopped. I get my fix asking to fondle friends knives and watching Cedric ADA on youtube
Fantastically honest! It's great to have a good deep think, about what we're actually doing here. Cheers mate. Best to you and the fam. ✌
I like sharpening and doing maintenance. It helps justify the whole thing. I need to take them out and oil them if I'm not using it.
I've had a Sebenza, a Para 2 and a bunch of Kershaw Leeks; I always end up using my Victorinox Pioneer, Cadet, Huntsman, Leatherman Rebar, Buck 120, Bahco Laplander or Fiskars hatchet for any of my tasks. Fancy and amazing edge retention doesn't mean shit if you're afraid to use it or can't fix the edge if damaged. My Leatherman Rebar, Victorinox Pioneer and Buck 120 have never failed me in the last 8 years. 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏾♂️
So true. I have nice fix blades yet its my mora that gets used.
@FlamQ Dbltap I'm a gymnastics coach. I cut up a lot of food for the kids' lunches at my gym, lots of athletic tape, cardboard and use my knife to make feathersticks most nights when I start my grill. Out of all of that, it all gets done with my Pioneer. Once a week, I run it like 3 times on each side on the Spyderco Sharpmaker and it's ready for whatever I throw at it.
That fiskars x7! In my opinion is the absolute best bang for the buck tool ever, rivaling even Mora's. They just work like a beast and are so cheap.
My edc consists of a manix 2 in maxamet in my front shirt pocket. Used for cutting tasks only. A leatherman charge plus used for stuff i wouldn't want to use the manix on. And a busse team Gemini light brigade for anything that the others can't or shouldn't do cuz the damn thing seems indestructible lol.
I definitely need a tree climbing knife...I could use that...going shopping now...
Very good points! I totally collect knives because I think they are cool, and have way more than I will ever need. I could probably survive with a Swiss Army knife if I didn’t want the others. But I also have a coin collection, and have collected rocks at multiple points in my life so necessity has never really been my collecting goal. I’m just a collector so it obviously runs into my knife collecting. Though if I ever had aspirations to start a small knife army I could. (Small knife being the key phrase most of my knives are under 3.5 inches)
A few months ago Inreturned to the Ontario Rat II (having given my original away) with a similar reality-check mentality... then I bought 2 of them! (One is AUS-8 and one in D2). So basically that plan was nonsense but I have hit the pause button on any new purchases since... Work in progress! 😉
oh so true!! i use my victorinox bantam the most and its like one use per 2 weeks average...
IMHO i think it could apply to alot of hobbies (camping gear, fire arms , computer mouse/peripherals , cars/bikes/atv etc)
I’m a simple man. I hear wololo and subscribe instantly.
winee nee
Cedric & Ada Gear and Outdoors aiyo yoyo.
Pete, thank you for being the one most earnest and transparent individuals in this community. You bring a refreshing point of view and I appreciate the work you put into your videos. Keep it up, man!!
Love it, keep up the content. And please. For the love of the knife gods. Stay YOU !!!
Keep on keeping on from British Columbia
Always great content. I like commenting 3Y after videos are made. Have a lot of knives that serve no purpose other than I like them. Almost always carry a small Sebenza, sometimes a PM2.
Most of my ‘best’ collection knives are 420HC... all my Taylor’s Eye Witness, Classic Pumas and Bökers. Other traditionals are either 440c. And is that a problem? No, absolutely not!
That mario bit in the beginning got me. I laughed for a solid 45 seconds 😂
On the occasional day when I’m breaking down lots of cardboard, I’d notice the difference between 8cr13 and S110V pretty quickly. Otherwise it would take quite a while. I agree that more than a couple knives is a luxury, but it can be a relatively cheap luxury. When a new Jaguar pulls up besides my crappy 15 year old Honda it makes me smile to pat the Umnumzaan in my pocket.
Thanks for the vid. It helped me when I accepted the fact that I was substituting the words reason/need for excuse. After this I lost the guilt for having almost 150 knives. Can/will I use them all, never but I enjoy handling, using and sharpening them. With new knives and steels I admit being like my dog when we are playing or he is chilling and sees a squirrel , that’s all he wants until the next squirrel comes along. I get it and it’s my thing, which I can live with. My wife my have a different opinion along with others that don’t understand and are obviously wrong 😆. Like anything, as long as it’s not infringing on priorities it’s all good. Sorry for sounding serious, keep the vids coming and accept being “knife people”😂😂
Oh, shit. I don't have a tree climbing knife....I will keep my eye on Three Rivers Manufacturing for their next drop. Thanks Pete.
I love the theoretical topics and the “bigger picture” topics. Sorry if I’m just labeling however I feel fit here and not coining this correctly, but I really do appreciate hearing about what another collector/enthusiast/hobbyist/knife guy has to say about why or how he collects. And we are all guilty of many of the same things that may or may not feel like guilt - we all have more than we need, want even more, and really have to hone it in sometimes. I stopped collecting budget knives because I have been relentlessly chasing customs that are a bit harder to find ... and then there was this absolute awkward feeling of being able to pick up a Civivi in multiple places with the fit and finish I preferred, and wondered why I thought it was more fun to chase alllll the time, when there are the best knives we have ever seen for crazy prices these days. I have to remember to have my head in the fun , but not my heart - I can get discouraged, or bummed out over a hobby and that’s where I draw the line. This is supposed to be fun for us and the things I found that weren’t feeling fun, I stopped - no more chasing sprint runs and paying twice as much as someone who is hoarding 4 or five of the same knife for a discount on Reddit, or feeling burned when I miss out on a knife that was marked up. The one knife you have is all you need and the rest is all peripheral and fun. I started collecting when I wanted to carry a knife while working in my office, and I needed a solid “gent carry “ and now 5 years later I’m buying customs because I’m convinced that they’re more appropriate for the office .... a Swiss Army knife is best for the office and the only knife I have ever been able to justifiably let someone use without having to show them first lol. Good insight and always very perceptive. Thanks again from Cali! 👊🏼🤙♥️
it's amazing how a life event - or a world event - can change one's perspective entirely (or many's perspective, as it were). Like turning a light on in a dimly lit room. Nothing really changed, expect the way you are seeing things. nosce te ipsum
Latin for what?
Nice to see you still uploading man
It's all true... Can't deny it. Well... maybe not completely agree with 8cr13mov thing bcoz I'm getting sick when I use my SAK and it dulls after few passes through cardboard. Thanks for all your effort and commitment. Stay strong.
Hi from Brisbane mate. Love your content. I thought that this was a good watch. You're a smart cookie
_"Jackie Treehorn treats objects like women...man."_
That pretty much sums it up for me after being in this knife collecting business for going on about a decade now; it's not comfortable truth to admit and it's not really something to brag about, but there it is.
Tree climbing knife had me laughing 🤣🤣🤣
Oh and i forgot to mention, if all my knives turned to 8crmov13 steel. Pretty sure id notice pretty fast. Cuz my edc is usually the manix 2 in maxamet. And those 2 steels act pretty differently lol. Id be wondering how my maxamet became so stainless all of a sudden and why im sharpening it every few days. Ive owned the manix 2 in maxamet for 2 years and sharpened it once on dmt and ceramics. And since then ive only stropped it. I definitely can't say the same for any of my 8cr knives. And as for my large beater knives. Now i can't be sure about this but i believe if i treated them the same regardless of whether they were 8cr or 3v..pretty confident 8cr would be broken. Or at least in very very bad shape.. case in point my broken bear grylls 8cr knife. The only other knife ive ever snapped was an outdoor edge in 440c.
I regrind most all my knives on diamond stones. My benchmade puukko was one of them and it was easy. Try it.
Great video, Cedric. :)
Yep, your maturing. I went through those stages a couple of times as a collector. First with antique American Civil War revolvers, and later with more modern military surplus rifles. I found it easier to avoid going off the deep end with knives because of my earlier experiences.
I’ve bought more knives during the lockdown then I have in years but I do agree with you though. This hobby is for fun.
Same, Lockdowns get the shopping juices flowing
Knife shopping in place, am I right?
Yep do/buy what you like, and don't let social media suck you dry. Zen level 💯
I rarely comment or participate, but wanted to say this was an excellent video!
Great perspective man, gotta try and stay upbeat these days especially! When you're feeling in the mood another dickhead survival video would be awesome! Case of beer and full Bear Grylls kit, and bring a saw for safety if you get too drunk hahahah!
I like how you don’t talk negatively about your viewers like other large channels do. It’s like they spend half the video talking about dumb viewers. It gets old. Man do what makes you happy, no matter what that means. Your viewers just like you and want to make u feel good. They don’t really care if u make 5 or 50 videos a month. Don’t feel pressure. Nobody’s gonna unsub u either way
This in fact is the process of mentally and emotionally maturing. It's so cool to see people with influence talk about that, even if it's "just" about knives. I still love knives and will buy stuff I dont need. But I'll do so less and less as I get older lolz. Solid video man!
Hey Pete I just wanted to thank you for all infotainment over the years. I’ve been a long time subscriber and your channel was one of the ones who gave me the inspiration to start my own channel. The hard work with all the testing, editing, expense and effort can get taxing and I appreciate your dedication. My best to you and your family take care and stay safe.....The Big Canucker.
I do a great deal of box opening and breaking down everyday. I can say that I would and do notice when carrying spyderco Vg-10 or below in edge retention. 8cr13mov usually doesn't make it through a shift. However, the lower end steels usually have less than ideal cutting geometry, so I'm sure that makes a difference. And then there's the fact that I should really be using a box cutter, but where's the fun in that?
For fun and pragmatism cold steel is great. I want to go on and on about all the cold steel products I have and their many uses but let me first say I am only speaking of their low priced budget tools and knives . I picked two to talk about briefly they may not be my favorite or first choice but these two amongst many cold steel products and combinations of them are excellent choices for camping or survival or just for fun and for under $50usd you can own both , first is the special forces shovel , second is the bushman knife I like the bowie style but either bushman is great , debate away but for fun and only $50 ?? For the price of one expensive knife you could build a large collection of fun affordable cold steel tools. You're right about the steels my $150 / s35vn sits in my drawer while my $25 / 4116 rides in my pocket . Thanks
Nice video. Wasn’t expecting the Persona outro
Oh man, You went right for the throat when you started talking about knives in the safe, still excellent content per usual and always and I mean always entertaining. Cheers
(Thought)proving video. I love it. And I agree! It. Is. Just. For. Fun. I sell knives, when I can and have 10-15 "keepers". There are still knives I would like to have (Endura ZDP for instance), but I know I don't NEED more knives. But I love having and using nice knives. And I don't buy knives before all the boring stuff is paid for 🙂 Great vid as always. Keep it up ❤🔪
When you actuate your Microtech OTF D/E in bayonet grind, and behold it, you will know. It is a super steel.
I couldn't agree more on the geometry vs composition of a blade. This is the reason I always give the "Behind the Edge" Thickness measurement in all of my videos. First and foremost the geometry dictates the performance, composition/heat treat dictates how long it will perform. But most I really enjoy the overall message... Thanks!!!
Uncle Randy is perfectly satisfied with 420HC!
Right. Thats all it is for me is a hobby. Simply fun. One could have way worse choices in hobbies and get into trouble instead.