2023 Traditional Resolutions

[OldHercDude]

My resolution is the same as last year:
Carry the knives that I have more, and buy less. I pretty much kept last years resolution, but occasionally things come along that I just can't pass up. Like the BF Knife, or that big sale on the Case/Bose Premium stockmans a few months ago.

I hear you on the occasional things - this year a few Bokers did the siren call in my head.

My resolution is to just keep on keeping on and pick up any new Northfields that I like and some more Stag and just hope for another GEC 73 . The time for planning my life has passed me by . Now I just enjoy it .

Harry

Good luck finding your knives Harry, and best wishes for many enjoyable years to come.

Money will be going to things other than knives in 2023, with only one exception ...
I'd like to get in on the Alber's Lamb Foot when it drops but the chance of that happening is virtually nil.
After all, I have exactly zero(0) Alber's knives up until now. Other than that, I hope not to purchase another knife.
In fact, I've already posted every knife I have at least 3-10 times and may even slowly back off participation here.
... so the purchase of an Alber's Lamb Foot may even be more unlikely than nil.

I was lucky to get one of Eric's fixed-blades. Haven't been fast enough to grab any folders. Good luck and I hope you can get one.

I'm at the point I'm usually posting images of the same knives, just posed different. I enjoy the knowledge and interaction here, even if I reduce image posting I'll still hang around.

 

[OldHercDude]

Save my money.

Yeah. Getting more difficult recently.

probably the same thing ive been doing all these years, buy what i love and love what I buy. that being said, i probably dont have to buy much any more. With prices going the way they are, i have enough pieces in my collection to just watch, observe and enjoy.

Now that I've figured out what I like most and what works well for me, I'll be in the same boat with buying. Also in the same boat with watch and enjoy.

Resist the FOMO.
I know what I like. I know how much I am willing to pay for it. Also, I don't 'need' the knives I have much less new knives.
So I will enjoy you all enjoying your knives.
But if one comes along that meets all my parameters, I'll snatched it up on hot second.
I like posts with photos, so here's one that screams "I have a type."

View attachment 2026918

I can appreciate that "type".

 

[OldHercDude]

Without being too much of a chicken little it seems like almost everyone in this thread wants to back off a bit in 2023.

I backed off in 2022… bought exactly 2 knives: a nice puukko and the BF knife. Not deliberate policy but nothing released really called to me, which was awesome for my wallet, contrast to 2020/21 when almost everything I saw had my name on it lol.

In 2023 I’d like to take up whittling or carving in a real way. Dunno if it will happen but I’d like to try!

I hope the whittling works out well for you!

I just wished I could find a way to increase my income to overcome inflation
Bought a house just over 2 years ago (at record low interest rates ironically)
Since then EVERYTHING has cost more and more and I have less and less to show from it.

I would love to add certain sharps to my collection but also wanna add some more red wing boots and update my wardrobe some (I am 45 not 25)

So less a resolution and more a general lament
Growing up kinda sucks

I think most of us are feeling at least some budgetary pain. Being on a fixed income, with a large rent increase reduced my budget cushion to the point I had to empty a 10x10 storage room into the apartment and shift funds to regain some of the cushion. Which of course worsened the clutter issue I'm currently working to reduce. Wee...

To always have a little bit of sharp in my pocket that someone from my grandfathers generation would recognize. Doesn't have to be big, just sharp.

Succinct.

 

[OldHercDude]

My daughter's favorite kitchen knife is a carbon steel Pallares. The other day I saw it wet, in the sink. This year, I am going to teach that girl how to properly care for a knife. To wash and dry a carbon steel knife immediately. And how to keep them sharp.

I can't believe that I raised someone who doesn't know how to maintain a knife.

Ouch. Best wishes with the education/ training.

 

[Jake Dudley]

I got some new stones for Christmas so my resolution is to get better at freehand sharpening. I’d like to improve my chess game as well.

 

[Old Engineer]

I hear you on the occasional things - this year a few Bokers did the siren call in my head.



Good luck finding your knives Harry, and best wishes for many enjoyable years to come.



I was lucky to get one of Eric's fixed-blades. Haven't been fast enough to grab any folders. Good luck and I hope you can get one.

I'm at the point I'm usually posting images of the same knives, just posed different. I enjoy the knowledge and interaction here, even if I reduce image posting I'll still hang around.

Thanks very much Gordon !!!! I fully intend to be around for a while yet . Our doctor said that , " considering everything , you are in pretty good shape ".
Whatever the heck he means by that . Maybe I will just find another Arno Wart Hog ???? Wishing you the best of a New Year my friend !!!!

Harry

 

[Old Engineer]

Ouch. Best wishes with the education/ training.

You can tell your daughters anything , but you can't tell them much .

Harry

 

[OldHercDude]

Thanks very much Gordon !!!! I fully intend to be around for a while yet . Our doctor said that , " considering everything , you are in pretty good shape ".
Whatever the heck he means by that . Maybe I will just find another Arno Wart Hog ???? Wishing you the best of a New Year my friend !!!!

Harry

Great for you!

Almost opposite for me - years ago a flight surgeon remarked I seemed to be about 20 years advanced past my physical age. We laughed, then he said he was only half joking. Turns out he was closer to being correct. Started having issues in my mid 50s that my parents started having late 60s/ early 70s. Last 4 years have been a huge adjustment compared to earlier life.

You have a wonderful little collection already, good luck with your search, and best wishes!

 

[OldHercDude]

I got some new stones for Christmas so my resolution is to get better at freehand sharpening. I’d like to improve my chess game as well. View attachment 2027306

Nice stones. And chess is a great brain activity.

 

[mbkr]

Money will be going to things other than knives in 2023, with only one exception ...
I'd like to get in on the Alber's Lamb Foot when it drops but the chance of that happening is virtually nil.
After all, I have exactly zero(0) Alber's knives up until now. Other than that, I hope not to purchase another knife.
In fact, I've already posted every knife I have at least 3-10 times and may even slowly back off participation here.
... so the purchase of an Alber's Lamb Foot may even be more unlikely than nil.

I got my Albers by posting a trade ad in the Exchange

Now I just enjoy it .

Harry

That's my resolution

 

[black mamba]

• Lose some weight, walk/ride bike more often
• Buy fewer knives

 

[bayouace]

I would like to find a simple sharpening system to develop those skills more. I make no promises on reduced knife buying. Hope everyone has a great 2023.

 

[5K Qs]

... If I do end up visiting Spain in the Spring, there WILL be knives in my suitcase coming home; ...

I really like getting knives as souvenirs when I travel. I bought several knives when I visited my daughter in Spain 8 years ago, and am thrilled to have knives as tangible mementos of a once-in-a-lifetime trip for me!
I hope you're able to visit Spain, and find a cuchilleria in every place you visit!

... In fact, I've already posted every knife I have at least 3-10 times and may even slowly back off participation here. ...

I want to support everyone with their resolutions, but I have to admit I'll miss your participation if you cut back much on participation here, Jim. I usually find your posts creative, entertaining, and/or informative.

You can tell your daughters anything , but you can't tell them much .

Harry

My adult daughter is currently visiting us, and when I read her your remark, she said you were a wise man, Harry!

With regard to my knife-related resolutions for 2023, I can currently think of several.
1) For the past several years, I've used a weekly rotation schedule to do a pretty good job of making sure my knives almost all had their fair share of pocket time. But there's no denying that I like some of my knives better than I like others, and I'd like to carry those favorites more often. So I'm hoping I'll finally finish up my new rotation schedule this week that will assign me to carry my favorites about twice as much as I carry my other knives about which I'm not as enthusiastic.

2) I plan to stick to my "dollar a day" knife budget for 2023. This will probably mean that I'll buy fewer knives due to inflation.

3) I like the 3-bladed stockman pattern. Shouldn't I also like whittlers? I hope to give whittlers a serious tryout in 2023 (regardless of what my rotation schedule dictates).

4) What knives will I look for? I always keep an eye out for canoes and stockman (especially sowbelly) patterns, and for "international work knives". If it turns out I like carrying a whittler, I may pick up a couple of additional examples if I see something interesting. I'd like to pick up a Victorinox Pioneer X or Farmer X sometime in the year ahead. I also want to get a Schrade 5OT or 5UH in the near future, even if it's a Chinese version.

5) I can keep most of my knives sharp enough for my purposes by just honing them on unglazed ceramic "tableware". But I wish I could become more adept at reprofiling a blade using, say, diamond stones; I resolve to give that "the old college try."

6) I also resolve to improve at taking indoor knife photos during the dark and dreary months of winter.

- GT

 

[sitflyer]

I backpack and travel a lot. One thing that I really wanted this year was the GEC H20 to replace my backpacking knife. I have had zero luck finding one so far and it's such a shame because I know so many of them are just sitting around untouched. Anway, it means a lot to me so I'll be searching for one until I get lucky. That and I I won't be missing out on the next BladeForum knife.

Are you interested in an H30? It has nice Cherrywood handles and looking for a warm hand to use and care for it.
Oh yeah, BTW it's free for the taking!

 

[jc57]

No new knife-related resolutions here.

Other than the 2018 and 2022 BF Forum knives, I don't think I have bought any new pocket knives since mid-2016, so I think I have the "buy fewer knives" thing covered.

 

[kamagong]

2) I plan to stick to my "dollar a day" knife budget for 2023. This will probably mean that I'll buy fewer knives due to inflation.

Dollar-a-Day knife budget. I like that. Though I blew through it and then some last year, I think that's a good idea. That's a generous enough budget that it allows for some flexibility.

 

[waverave]

There was a time when buying fewer knives would have been a perfect resolution for me! Alas, those days are gone and I might only pick up a few new knives all year (as opposed to every week). It really depends how many tortoise shell covers GEC offers or if any of the remaining I am after become available Otherwise, I'm gonna keep on keepin' on. I have been enjoying giving away a lot of my collection this year and will continue that for as long as I can

 

[tongueriver]

I spent the last 15 years with a ratio of 99.8% collect versus .2% release. This year the ratio will look a little more towards balance. But I am not panicking yet.

 

[OldHercDude]

• Lose some weight, walk/ride bike more often
• Buy fewer knives

Best wishes with the thing in red.

Been working on that one myself.

I would like to find a simple sharpening system to develop those skills more. I make no promises on reduced knife buying. Hope everyone has a great 2023.

Hope you have a great year as well.

<snip>

With regard to my knife-related resolutions for 2023, I can currently think of several.
1) For the past several years, I've used a weekly rotation schedule to do a pretty good job of making sure my knives almost all had their fair share of pocket time. But there's no denying that I like some of my knives better than I like others, and I'd like to carry those favorites more often. So I'm hoping I'll finally finish up my new rotation schedule this week that will assign me to carry my favorites about twice as much as I carry my other knives about which I'm not as enthusiastic.

2) I plan to stick to my "dollar a day" knife budget for 2023. This will probably mean that I'll buy fewer knives due to inflation.

3) I like the 3-bladed stockman pattern. Shouldn't I also like whittlers? I hope to give whittlers a serious tryout in 2023 (regardless of what my rotation schedule dictates).

4) What knives will I look for? I always keep an eye out for canoes and stockman (especially sowbelly) patterns, and for "international work knives". If it turns out I like carrying a whittler, I may pick up a couple of additional examples if I see something interesting. I'd like to pick up a Victorinox Pioneer X or Farmer X sometime in the year ahead. I also want to get a Schrade 5OT or 5UH in the near future, even if it's a Chinese version.

5) I can keep most of my knives sharp enough for my purposes by just honing them on unglazed ceramic "tableware". But I wish I could become more adept at reprofiling a blade using, say, diamond stones; I resolve to give that "the old college try."

6) I also resolve to improve at taking indoor knife photos during the dark and dreary months of winter.

- GT

Love the "dollar a day" budget.

I can give you some basic tips for you on the winter indoor photos if you want.

 

[OldHercDude]

No new knife-related resolutions here.

Other than the 2018 and 2022 BF Forum knives, I don't think I have bought any new pocket knives since mid-2016, so I think I have the "buy fewer knives" thing covered.

Excellent.

There was a time when buying fewer knives would have been a perfect resolution for me! Alas, those days are gone and I might only pick up a few new knives all year (as opposed to every week). It really depends how many tortoise shell covers GEC offers or if any of the remaining I am after become available Otherwise, I'm gonna keep on keepin' on. I have been enjoying giving away a lot of my collection this year and will continue that for as long as I can

Also, excellent.

I'm going through stuff and making lists, and checking them twice. I doubt I'll be at your level, but some stuff will be going to others this year as gifts/ give-aways.