I have over the years had some very interesting discussions with manufactures, makers, collectors and users.  I started having the discussions as a collector and they evolved as I became the owner here and they evolved again when I began publishing A Sharper Life.

My first question…what do you look at when you receive a new knife?  How do you look at it?  Donnie and I actually do two totaling different things.

Whether it is a user or a collector.  If it is a manufacture knife I start with, how it fits closed in my hand.  The first thing I look at is the back spring, no gaps, cracks, how big is it?  Then when I open it, how hard is that? Is the half stop tight?  When I close it, is it a smooth action?  Then I get a good look at the blade, Is it rubbing anywhere?  Is it sharp?  Then it is on to the fit and finish.  How do the scales look, are there gaps, are the pins seated or sticking up?   LOL, then it starts all over with a polishing cloth.

• Do I look to see if the blade is absolutely centered?  No I actually do not. I need it to be seated where it is opening and closing unimpeded, straight and not rubbing. 
• Do I look to see if there are cracks in the scales?  Sort of.  If I see what may be a crack or a split, I run my fingernail over it.  If my nail catches, there is a crack if not, then no. 
• Do I check to see if there is play?  I certainly do.  All knives are built to be tools, even if I am choosing it for a collectible.  This is the point I am most critical of.

Now for the kick, I look at a custom differently.  Over the years I have learned it is the difference between looking to buy a Jeep or a Range Rover.  Do I expect them both to work as designed and hold up to use YES!  Do I expect that paying 3 to 10 times more for one than the other means there will be more attention to every detail YES. 

A maker gets more for his knives than a manufacture.  Many will tell you that you are not paying for materials, you are paying for the talent that created it.  Do I expect that the sole maker, selling knives at that price point, prove to me that his talent is worth the expense?  Yes I do and rarely have I been disappointed.

I do not put either of those knives under a magnifying glass for their inspection, I would hard pressed to be using them for the intended purposes under those circumstances.  I don’t take one out and baton with it unless it was created for that use.  Never would I use one as a pry bar to see its strength.  OK, I know your laughing now, but really…this is a conversation I had just last week.  A collector told me they do all these things when they get a new knife.  So let's have a bit of a survey

Now back to my original question… what do you look at when you receive a new knife? 

Jan