They are made to use, they are tools like any other tool. Some are just more dressed up than others is all.

My first attempt at heat treating 440c stainless.

I think I did good, the file skid over the edge.

Sorry DiverTexas. Nice work.

And Catwhacker, it was your middle one that caught my eye. Cool handle shape, color and look. Does it have a wharncliffe tip design?
cwc

cwctx, Here is a full shot of it. Thanks

Mike C is right on the money. You can use these just like you would use a Buck or Schrade or Gerber, but you will work less hard and enjoy more. I carry a small Panch0 EDC as a daily work tool and a Truncali Folder in my pocket. I keep a Bush Monkey Baby Chup in my tool bag for extra heavy-duty work. My wife uses a Panch0 Kitchen knife daily and she is waiting on a clever from Chops. I have seen complete kitchen sets come from some of these guys and I got green with envy for the new owner of a set of stake knives from one. My Stic Hog Butcher set has disassembled several animals and cleans up nicely after the deed.

They come with better edges than commercial blades and hold that edge longer. I have never had to sharpen any of the ones I use except for my carry Folder which has been pulled across a ceramic stone a few times to get that super edge back. None have ever been pulled over a stone or steel sharpener. If an edge got that buggered up, I would send it back to the maker for a new edge grind. They are made with more attention to detail than commercial blades and there are no "Seconds" from any of these guys! Use with pride and confidence
Perhaps a really dressed up Lambkin or a fully filed folder from Whiskers Allen I would hesitate to take to the field, mostly because they cost so much and would not want nicks and scratches, but for the most part, I do or have or would use them all.
cwc

wow, there are some amazing knife collections on here and some master craftsman.
looks like i have some more collecting to do

here are some that are prized possessions to me

from stic


from Pancho


from Randallss7 or SPotts


from Jeff at Bush Monkey


from D Crawford


from Kimmo

One with damascus I made

Awesome Craig. I was waiting for you to come along with some of yours. They are the cream of the crop!

Yep!

Awesome Craig, thanks for posting, your work is great!

My compliments to all of the knifebuilders that posted. We are fortunate to have you as members on the forum. Some of you are still on my wish list as I hope to have a collection with representation for all members. This is what I have so far:
Bush Monkey:


randallss7 or Steven Potts:








this one was for my brother:


Mike C.:

Amazing collection Pitchfork

Dumb question - I have a number of knives but they are inexpensive and I use most all of them. On custom knives like these do most folks just collect them or do some use them. Something that pretty would be tough to scar up - just curious

They are designed to be used, but I know where you're coming from.
I have a number of THF knife makers knives, Andrew Smith, Mike C, D. Crawford,
Kimmo and Jason Fry to name a few.
I'll have to admit they are in a display case because I know the work they put into them.

I use every knife I buy. I take good care of them like I do my guns. But I don't baby them, just like I don't baby my guns. Part of the satisfaction I get from them is holding them and admiring them. Equally important is the enjoyment of how well they perform.

I think most of us make our knives to be used. You can shoot a deer with a Savage or a Kimber, and it's just as dead. You can cut up a deer with a Buck or a Fry, and it's just as cut up. Some folks like using nicer stuff, and as Charles and others said, you do in fact get what you pay for. The knives we make will out-cut 99% of the stuff from the store. That said, many of the knives we make end up in a display case or gun safe. I've had a few of mine that I was sad to see used, as they came back abused. I've also had some that I was sad to see in a gun safe, as I made them to be used. Once its yours, you can use it or collect it either way.

We sure have a lot of talent on this little forum... You guys all have some great work! I've been lucky enough to acquire a few from you guys, and I'm always looking to see what you have to offer up for sale here. I'm watching... Good work!

I honestly can't bring myself to use mine. I just can't.

My brother Jason just alerted me to this thread last night, so I thought I'd post some of my work. I didn't want to miss the party . I've been in Canada for the last year, and have thus been away from my shop, and not making knives. I've made a few friends up here though, and I'll come back to Texas soon with quite a few blades heat treated and quite a few more forged out and ready to grind. Hopefully some will be forthcoming over the next few months. I have a few good ideas in mind, and a good bit of damascus that I made here in Canada.

Anyway, enough words. Here are some pictures of what I've made most recently, even though it's been a while:

Excellent work as always, Travis.

Yep

Outstanding work. Thanks for displaying it.

I can't judge the best....guess I'll just take one of each....

Great to see people using rasps for knives.Lots of awesome looking knives on here.<><

Jason, you do awesome work