5 stages of knife collecting

Charlie Mike

Charlie Mike

Sober since 1-7-14 (still a Paranoid Nutjob)
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Nov 1, 2000
Messages
28,365
Infatuation, Justification, Appropriation, Obsession, and Resale

Infatuation: You see it (internet, show, store, dealer, friends) and you want it. You may or may not have told your wife at this point.

Justification: You convince yourself why you deserve this knife. You may or may not have told your wife at this point.

Appropriation: This involves obtaining the funds to buy the knife. Could mean the resale of other knives. You may or may not have told your wife at this point.

Obsession: This is a 2 part gig. Waiting for the maker to complete your knife as well as deliver it. It is far easier if the knife has already been made or factory and only needs to be shipped. The second part is after it arrives. This includes fondling, stropping, oiling, modding, carrying/using, taking pictures, posting on forums with pictures, and finally the obligatory youtube video. Also may include buying a duplicate to put in the safe. You may or may not have told your wife at this point.

Resale: May lead to another knife starting this cycle over. You may or may not have told your wife at this point
 
I've noticed that many times, though not every time, if I wait three months or more to buy a knife I "really want", I have much less to no interest in getting it. So, I usually wait three months now before wanting to buy a knife and buying it.
 
I typically apply some wisdom bestowed on me from a police Sgt. I use to work with. He was in the sally port, putting his hardware in the trunk of his patrol car (weapons not allowed in correctional setting). As he was was pulling his back up from his boot, I said "damn Greg, not taking any chances"! He said he strongly felt that any man who needs one weapon (firearm), definitely needed a second. I apply this concept to almost everything, much to my wife's dismay! As a result, I have have amassed quite the collection! Life is short, buy toys. You gonna save it for your kids? Please.
 
you forgot stage 6: cheap chinese knife, that does the same job for under 15 bucks.

Sanrenmu 710. All my other knives just sit in a drawer.

-Freq
 
freq18hz said:
you forgot stage 6: cheap chinese knife, that does the same job for under 15 bucks.

Sanrenmu 710. All my other knives just sit in a drawer.

-Freq
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A toyota corolla will get you to work and back, a $5 walmart watch will keep time just fine, $20 boots from payless will cover your feet just fine, a loaf of bread will keep you full for the whole day.

It's true that we can all use the bare minimum and they will do the same job just fine as their more expensive counterparts, but it's just not the same.
 
Somewhere in there must be a step for designing your own knife for a custom maker to make for you.
 
My stage 6 would be: trimming down the collection to essentials. I'm about to do exactly that.
 
Dagon said:
My stage 6 would be: trimming down the collection to essentials. I'm about to do exactly that.
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I've been doing that for the last 1.5 years. When your old lady gets laid off, it makes it easier. I'm thinking of listing my Reese/Emerson Super 7. Not because we need the money, but because it's just not my style anymore. Then I can devote those funds to more abrasive belts and sheath making supplies.
 
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