well-made things you get pleasure from using

As I hung up my old Aerostich roadcrafter suit the other day after a ride, started thinking about how nice it is to own a few things that are so well-made that they last almost forever, serve well, and are satisfying to use or even look at because of how dang well executed and well thought out they are. Designed and put together by somebody who cared about it. My 'stich is almost ten years old and still just as good as the day I first got it. Expensive but worth it. You know, pretty much the opposite of the usual cheap WalMart crap we all buy and soon throw out.

I can really only think of a few things like this that I own. Most of them I've had for many years and no plans to replace. Using them is a daily pleasure.

- Stich Roadcrafter 1-pc suit, as noted above
- Fuji X100 camera
- Kershaw Onion pocketknife
- Craftsman tools I bought 25yrs ago, esp combo wrenches (I hear the newer ones are not as good)
- Seiko 5 mechanical watch (inexpensive but a beautiful little machine that's always kept perfect time)
...that's about all I could come up with.


What's your list?

Chris Reeve small Sebenza folding knife. (EDC)
保护美国豪华电视广播员
Fender Princeton Reverb amp.

Pics of the telecaster?

Darien jacket.
Seiko Alpinist (minus the strap it came with)
The leather watch band I made for the above.
Akubra Traveller's Hat
McCullough chainsaw (a 1971 10A model that will eat the lunch of my dad and brothers Stihls, and starts easy as you please)
My Chippewa boots
Oh and my OKC Rat II folding knife.

Hmm... Probably some others, but I'll remember then later. Really like this thread topic. Be interesting to hear what others have/think of.

Snap-On 80 tooth ⅜" drive ratchet.

That thing is just so damn perfect in hand.

Lots of good ones above. I'd add the following:

Wiha torx drivers
Wicked Edge knife sharpening system
Custom made Vanson gloves
Weatherby O/U shotgun

My 1955 Ruger flat gate single six. Damn, what a finely engineered and designed piece of work.

A favorite Fuji camera that contributed toward receiving an artist's grant award a couple years ago.

My old made in america redwing boots.
Akubra hat
Winchester 94 rifle.

I have worked on IBM Selectric typewriters almost every (work day) for over 35 years. Very well made machines.

My little Robert Herder paring knife

Cuts and pares beautifully. The carbon steel blade is a dream to sharpen.
The handle on mine is worn smooth and is perfect. Mine has the more de-luxe plum wood handle.
Given to me my my now departed sister - I miss her more than anything else I ever had.

My Hasselblad
Festool tools, just about anything, but the track saw especially
+ 1 Snap-on 3/8 ratchet

Expensive but worth it. Good words. Hard to apply these days. There’s a few tools that I’ve had for many years that cost a bomb but I remember thinking at the time that they’ll be worth it. Crescent pliers, a Sidchrome 1/2” socket set I’ve had since my apprenticeship, a Fluke multimeter I’ve had for 25 years but that’s a fair time for a meter and I use it every day.

Other things are my Zippo lighter, I bought that when I was 18 with pretty much my first real pay check. When I gave up smoking it was that feel of the lighter and the smell of the fluid that I missed most. It’s still sitting in my top drawer. A Coleman lantern that’s been places and seen some shit in its life. A Mitchell reel and a Jarvis Walker rod, the trout I’ve caught with that combo. A pair of Zeiss binoculars that just about got me divorced.

I’ve got a very treasured leather Gladstone bag that was my pop’s, then my dad’s, they took it to work everyday. I’ve got a Seiko watch of my dad’s that has welding and grinding splatter, and marks from a hard working life. I’ve got some old gardening tools of my pop’s as well, things I can remember as a kid watching him use. I hope there’s some stuff my kids will remember me using, but in this day of throwaway crap it’s hard to imagine what that’ll be.

My leather jacket. I got it when I was 19. That was 35 years ago. Bought in Pittsburgh, been to Kathmandu. Not a particular well known brand and not very fancy but its mine.

2011 Ninja 1000
Milwaulkee Tools 1/2" M18 Fuel impact wrench
2005 Subaru Outback XT MT
Logitech Keyboard G710+
Plantronics Backbeat Pro headset

30-30 lever action Winchester that I got from Dad.

The Kubota.

DR650.

Leatherman I got 20 years ago.

Chippewa Boots.

Very pleased with my F250 that everyone told me NOT to get.

Hand knit socks from my wife.

Cowboy hat.

Allen Edmonds shoes
AWOL bag from Duluth Trading
Aerostich suit
Taylor GS Mini
Sig P320
Remington Nylon 66
Benchmade ATS-34

My Doc Martens wingtips, the real made in UK kind (Ive done a lot of business with them on my feet)
Each of my Case pocketknives
每个Victorinox瑞士军刀
Maui Jim sunglasses. I have the same pair for over twelve years. (If they break or get scratched MJ’s can fix them)
Propper tactical belt to keep my pants up
Maglite D cell flashlight

Other than my current house, the most expensive thing I have ever bought brings me pleasure every day. Its the kitchen we had put in after owning the house for 15 years.

I could have replaced the cabinets and appliances myself, but didn't have the ability to remodel to the extent we wanted. I paid almost twice what I thought it would cost. It was worth it. The quality of the work, the experience of the designer, the talent of the contractor and his coordination with subs, resulted in a gorgeous kitchen that is a pleasure to use.