The guy who sells me waterstones for my business often has me talk to potential professionals on starting a new business. It is important to realize that one master Japanese samurai sword sharpener (they are called 'polishers') opined that our craft might be "a curse." I agree. Frankly, if you want to make beautiful polished edges on knives, just quit, forget the idea and go play the lottery or work at McDonalds.

This is a craft where you either "have it" or you don't. If you want this only for a job, then clearly you don't have the necessary mindset.

I begin this thread by saying this because I feel it also covers us. How I made it into the inner circle of this sport defies logic. I used to go to the old West Side Cycle in Milwaukee and I met (and worshipped) old outlaws, their incredible bikes and their "lifestyle." If I had one dream, it was to be a crusty, defiant saddle tramp. Yikes...

As a newb, I entered this world around the time 'Easy Rider' hit the market. I was awarded my colors a scant eighteen months after I learned to let the clutch out on a big bike. It's a wonder I didn't become a statistic in a bike wreck or allow my foolish attitude to get me shanked in prison. While I was a lousy 'biker' I had mentors. And this was the last gasp of what we now know was the "golden age." When you imagine the stereotypical Angel, that's how we all looked and spoke. More to the point, that's how we lived. And some facet of my life garnered me a place in a club where I learned how to live in the company of men.

There are now about fourteen of us from that circle that are still alive. One member now opines that there might be over 200 men to ever wear our rags. Not good odds, and a lot of black memorial bricks at our clubhouse.

Right now, I am not a biker--for many reasons. I often say that I was not a biker when I joined a club, but I sure was one as I went inactive. In fact, the name 'tourist' actually is an epithet for a guy not seriously engaged in the lifestyle. My rags still hang in my closet, I am still a club member, but like that newb sharpener, this has been a long walk of learning ideals, not simply collecting club emblems.

I am hard on the same type of guys that I once was. That sounds hypocritical, but it is true. If you just want the emblem--or a really sharp knife--you are in the wrong pursuit. I think the first question we should ask is, "Why are you here, grasshopper?" And while that might sound trite, a boy with talent will immediately answer. A guy who looks baffled needs to be shown the door. That guy will die "out there."

You know thats another major observation I have as a consumer these days.....not whole lot of service after the sale and no more customer is always right. Which I think goes hand in hand with what you're saying....people tend to be doing things for the buck these days rather then for the love and quality and cusotmer satisfaction in a paerticular product.

When I bought my 2006 truck new and immediately developed a problem that they could not fix after multiple (6-8 or more times) returns to the dealer for the same thing, it qualified under the lemon law but the dealer would neither give me my money back nor another vehicle. Nor did I have the money or rather wanted to waste the time and money and just lived with the problem for 3 years and traded it for an '09 with which I am very very happy with. Whether ford,dodge,chevy whoever you'll run into the same problems trying to make them make good on their written coverage. Its shamefull.

I have much more respect for the MacDonald employee who serves you with the courtesy and proficient expediency then some shat spouting politician who has no intent on doing what he said...........

I agree 100%. In fact, I built my business on that very idea.

Look, any idiot with a wetstone and spit can make a knife marginally better. However, I add "theatre" to the mix. I tell jokes, I research knives of newer style and manufacture and my bevelss are 'cutting edge,' if you pardon the pun. But think about that idea. I use tools that are hundreds of years old in both concept and actual fact. What happened there?

In effect, even some of our ancestors decided that "almost sharp" was just as good a way to make money and save time as selling something of excellence. This mindset offends me both in consumer goods and as it applies to the people who govern us.