OK! I know that when I set this blog up I told you guys that one of the things I would do is to dispel some all too often made myths or misnomers about knives. I know that most of you out there are aware of these misnomers, but I am doing it just the same to let some people out there who may not know of these myths in on them. Besides, it has been a really busy day at work and I am fried! I just wanted to do something for you! Read on!
Like I said I know a lot of you out there in internet reader-land have heard this but here I go: How many times have you been in a military knife shop like the one I manage or on a camping trip or some other activity with a bunch of dudes carrying knives? The subject gets on folding tactical knife cuz guys/gals like to talk about fighting knives and then all of a sudden you hear some kind of knife myth uttered from the mouth of babes? Someone spit out an old wives tale about tactical knives.
Here is an example: “If you give someone a self-defense knife for a gift it is bad luck because you have just cut the ties of the relationship?” Ever hear that one? Or what about this one: “If you give a combat knife to someone as a present don’t forget to collect a coin in exchange?” Have I never really gotten that one? Or check this one out: If the knife you are working within the kitchen falls and hits the floor, then a family member is coming to visit.”
I don’t know about you, but as long as it is not my mother in law I really don’t give a good Goddamn! The fact of the matter is that one is a bunch of buffalo crackers too! The fact of the matter is that many of these knife myths can actually affect the way in which people work with knives. Here are some more of the most major buffalo muffins about tactical knives out there:
- Dull Combat Knife Is Safer To Use
Can you believe that many people feel that a “dull combat knife is safer to use.” That’s a load of crumbles and we all know it, but you would be very surprised to find that many people have drunken the Kool-aid on this one! Some folks actually think that it is quite reasonable to let a tactical knife get real dull before you go for an all-out re-sharpen because it is safer to use when dull.(I wonder what flavor the kool-aid is this month?) These folks think the fighting knife is safer to use because when it is dull it has a blunt edge and thus does not present a danger and will not make a clean cut.
(Oh boy! I am knee high in it now!) In my humble opinion, a cut is a cut and that is that! The fact of the matter is that when cutting with a dull tactical knife it takes more pressure to do the cutting and therefore can multiply the possibility of injury if the knife slips and yes with a dull fighting knife with the cut will be more drastic and hurt more. In retrospect, a sharp tactical knife will take much less pressure against it does perform the same cutting chore. Do yourself a favor and keep your combat blades sharp rather than letting them get dull. The old saying is this: “If you don’t let your tactical knives get dull, then they will always be sharp!”
- Rolled Edge Tactical Knife
Here is another pearl of wisdom from people who are misinformed. The edge of a tactical knife is gone if and when the knife is dull! (Man, those buffalo muffins are really beginning to smell!)This is not true at all and anyone who tells you this and they know knives are full of methane. You know what I mean? Best survival knives get dull like any other knife, but when a good quality military knife gets dull the edge as many believe does not wear away or goes away.
It merely folds over or “rolls” over on itself. Many of us say that the combat knife edge is “rolled.” It is hard to see a fight knives edge as it is very thin microscopically and this makes the “rolled” edge difficult to see. When you are performing cutting chores the pressure asserted during cutting makes the edge of the blade fold. Sharpening the edge can straighten the edge out and so can honing the edge with a tactical knife steel and both will restore the sharp edge to your favorite knife.
- Some Military Grade Knives That Stay Sharp Forever
Here is another oldie but a goodie: “I heard there are some military grade knives that stay sharp forever.” Another myth or misnomer ever since the advent of the “Ginsu” which was supposed to never need sharpening. I can remember those fighting knives came around even before Spyderco or any other best tactical knife brands else thought about putting serrations on pocket knives. (Man! I am dating myself here for sure!) There are some people in the world that have the nutz to advertise a tactical knife that will last a lifetime without sharpening. I imagine lots of folks who bought those were not expecting to live long.
This is just more kangaroo crumbles and is just plain bull! Besides the fact that it is just not possible to make a cutting tool that will never need to be sharpened. It does not matter what the knife blade is made from, at one point or another it is going to need to be sharpened and that goes for titanium blades and ceramic blades as well! Some military grade blade, of course, will stay sharper longer than others, but no matter what they will all need to be sharpened at one point. The fact of the matter is this: It all depends on how the tactical knife is used and what it is that it is used one and in turn that will dictate how often the combat blade will need to be re-sharpened.
- Dishwasher Helps to Keep Blade Sharp
Here is a lovely one that I get all the time when I sharpen tactical knives for folks. “I wash my knives in the dishwasher.” Oh Boy! I hear that all the time. People think they can take a shortcut and wash their knives in the dishwasher and they will stay sharp. Baloney! The fact of the matter is that the hot water and phosphates and phosphorous in the dish soap will dull a tactical knife edge quicker than you can say “cheeseburger.” Lots of tactical knives out there are advertised as being dishwasher safe and this is just not true for decent quality knives. The dishwasher can and will damage good quality stainless steel cutlery. Period! Wash your self-defense knives and utensils by hand and dry them by hand if you want them to last.
- Tactical Knife Fixed Blade Steel
A knife is a knife and blade steel is blade steel. I have heard this misnomer from many people and most of the time the ones I hear it from are the ones that don’t know anything about fixed blade tactical knife attributes and the ones that do not have a sense of quality, nor do they want to purchase quality at all! It is just ignorance at its best. There are so many variables in cutlery fixed blade steels and steels in general that I could write a definitive text on the subject, but right now I do not want to do that because I really would like to have a beer. I mean I know it is 5′O Clock someplace!
There are so many high-quality fixed blade combat knives at all price ranges and utilizing various amounts of alloys that one just can’t say that all steels are the same. Some will stay sharper longer than others and that is a fact! Do not get me wrong, this does not mean that harder fixed blade steel is more durable as other steels and that harder steel could also be more brittle and could chip easily. The fact of the matter is that edge strength and durability are derived from a combination of strength and flexibility that is only accomplished by using the right materials to make the tactical fixed blade knife.
- Its too hard To Sharpen My Tactical Knives At Home
This is one big, giant myth! Was it hard to learn how to ride a bike at home? I did not think so! It’s easy to learn how to sharpen a tactical knife at home. You just need to have the right tools for sharpening the self-defense knife at hand. Sharpening your own cutlery is learning able ease and something to be proud of since it is an ancient skill and art form. Being able to sharpen a combat knife is akin to being able to make fire and these are two things I think that everyone man, woman, a child should know how to do!
Knife sharpening like I said is an art form and skill. There are many myths and misnomers about survival knives out there and many of them are widely accepted by the majority of people. These myths and misnomers can and have made people buy the wrong type of military knives and care for them in wrong ways. No matter what it is in life that you wish to purchase whether knives or houses, make sure that you have done the proper research and that you know the truth about what you are doing and do not trust anyone and their misconceptions.
Thanks for stopping by,