A used tool carries decisions made by somebody you never met. The handle wore down in the places their hand favoured, the blade was sharpened at an angle they preferred, and picking it up puts you in contact with all of that, whether or not you know their name. Skill is passed on partly through objects, quietly and without instruction.

If you have inherited or bought something worn, pay attention to how it wants to be held rather than correcting it. The wear is a set of instructions, and following it for a while is a decent way of learning what the previous owner knew.