Unfortunately, I am not allowed to carry most of my custom knives now due to the laws in my state. While you can still carry fixed blades while out hunting and hiking, I am old enough now that I don't still do to much of that. But in days gone by, I certainly carried my best knives with me in the woods. My double edged daggers would be frowned on in public.
But I think the elephant in the room on this one is the collectors. And it isn't just knives - it's everything. People are afraid to put a scratch on their knives because now the collectors won't buy it when you decide to sell and those that will buy it will pay a pittance compared to what a mint condition specimen will bring. I know guitar makes that have thrown their arms in the air when describing how the collectors just buy their guitars and lock them up in their instrument rooms and wait for the price to go up and up and then maybe...maybe sell them at that point. But many don't even play the guitars. They are just a beautiful investment. Sadly, somewhat the same with knives. I bought a Buck Buckmaster the first year they came out - and I used it...alot. Now no one wants it because it is used and they want to hold out for an unused one with the box and papers - even if it's a much later model. Even my newer generation Ruana 28 CD has almost gotten too expensive to use. As soon as I use it, I lose $300. I have a bunch of De Leon knives that doubled in price when he died, but I would lose half the value as soon as I use them. I probably have the fanciest knife that Glen Hornby ever made, but I used it for bear and deer hunting and used to carry it for Cowboy Shooting with it's ivory and pink ivory scales. But he isn't as in demand as some other makers so the money loss isn't so acute - and Glen and his wife were friends of mine so I'm using it rather than leaving it in a safe.
Once you put wear and scratches on something, then it isn't difficult to continue to use it. But to take a mint item and put that first ding in it....well, that is getting harder and harder with todays prices.
absolutley brother
