Anyone carry and use a "collectible" knife in the woods?

[tknife]

I've seen folks posting up cool Woodlores and other knives that I would probably hesitate to use because of their value. I just bought a knife that was an old favorite that I stupidly traded many years ago and is no longer made (and I paid a premium on it) but I bought it to use and enjoy. Just wondered if anyone else carried a knife that would be expensive or hard to replace?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I EDC a "sterile" Izula. It's unlasered and uncoated. If I lost it I could always strip a regular one but it would take a fair amount of sanding to remove the laser engraving and it wouldn't be the same. Doesn't stop me from carrying it though!

 

[jonglow]

I use a graham knives knaxe when in the woods doing bushcraft be very hard to replace if lost as they are no longer made :-(

 

[Halberdier]

My Mora may not be a collectable right now, but in a hundred years it will be. Does that count?

Seriously though, I don't think many people do. I don't even think most 'rough use' knives get much use. Once you go north of $200-300, they're mostly trade-baits and safe queens.

 

[FrostyPA]

I have a CRK Neil Roberts Warrior that I use as a camping knife. However, I no longer use an original BHK Bushcrafter that I own after they stopped making them with 4140 saw blades and maple scales as a standard option setup. On the other hand, I also use a somewhat rare (less than 250 made) dealer special made by Randall knives as my all purpose outdoors knife. Having said all that, I guess I do both.

 

[pitdog]

I guess my Swamprat Chopweiler etc are pretty collectable but I have no reservations about taking them into the woods and beating on them, that's what I bought them for !

I think cost isn't really the issue, many of my knives hold sentimental value, I recently lost my JK Hiker which was gifted to me from John of JK knives. Fortunately thanks to my dog I found it again, knives such as that hold more value to me and would upset me far more to lose !

 

[MIKE MACINTOSH]

My Randall #25-5 Trapper comes out during Hunting season with out fail. the rest of the year I have other knives and other Randall made Knives that come out to play depending on the occasion or the mood.
This one looks just like mine
Pic borrowed from the web.CLICK PIC.
PS I had to add this note. Until a few years ago the Randall's and my more expensive knives were mostly safe Queens. Iwound up getting very Sick.while laying in the hospital it dawned on me that after I'am gone some one else would useing and enjoying those knives like i should have been doing all these years. SOit was a choice of use them or sell. I decided to use them.

 

[PeterPHWS]

The "bug" regarding knives bites many people differently ... some collect them to look at like Art ... some only see the purpose of buying them to use them ...

I like to use them.:thumbup:

 

[Samael]

I use about 10% of the really collectible ones. And not really all that hard, either.

 

[Myal]

one of my regular use fixed blades when we are in the scrub is a old skinner I got from a deceased estate .
brand unknown .. the blade is stamped DSS A/S Solngen ( small stamping and I have bad sight up close , I might has fluffed the spelling )

it was rusty when I got it , I cleaned it up to where it is , and use it regularly . got a good feel to it , one of them knives that almost tells you stories of where its been and what its done when you hold it

No way I could ever replace it if it got lost or stolen .

Dont know if youd call it a collectors knife unles its someone collecting old stuff .. but its one of them rarely seen things , and hard to replace things but it gets a workout often enough .

 

[MountainBilly]

I wouldn't use the first two custom damascus knives I bought from Pete Pruyn. He agreed to make this for me on the express condition that I use it. So it is my pickup truck and woods knife.

 

[kamagong]

I bought this custom puukko expressly to use during my day hikes.

Numerous details on this knife were chosen to make it easier for me to use. I asked Pekka to leave the forged finish on the flats so that I wouldn't cringe too much when I scratched the blade up. I wanted a dark brown sheath because I think it'll age better. I requested birch bark for the handle because of its qualities -- grippy and warm, as well as durable and good looking. I even mucked up the handle somewhat when I tried to finish it with some Tru-Oil. I finally got the goop off, but in the process left some grit in the handle so the knife looks older than it is. Now I have no choice but to use this knife, I'll never get back what I paid for it.

 

[Rockywolf]

My collection of fixed blades is almost all custom, so they get used! Except for the new Skookum...haven't decided what to do with it yet...

 

[kgd]

I don't collect knives, I just buy ones that I think will be the best thing since sliced cheese with the intent to use it. If its not usable, I don't want it.

 

[Chipped Karambit]

............Lone Wolf Defender with checkered cocobolo handles.................... I regret it. No damage, it worked perfectly. AN AMAZING KNIFE! but I just realized i did it after I came back. It can last it but I rather my defender be a suit knife

 

[dialton]

Everyone has their own idea of what do to with their money and possessions. For me: I have a couple of knives that I dont use. I have had many that I bought and later sold that have never been used. Mostly Busse and Microtechs but really have bought very few with the specific idea of keeping as safe queens and never use. I have used $400+ knives and not worried about it but I find that I can get a perfectly good, dependable, high quality user blade for way less money and have moved in that direction. I recently sold almost all of my safe queens. Lots of those come with a mirror or highly flashy finish which I don't care for in a user and the handle choices on mine, while very attractive, were not my first choice for a user.
Though they are not rare nor anywhere near the high end of the knife price range, I just acquired a Swamp Waki and a LE Ratmandu which I promptly unwrapped took out in the yard and started cutting things with. I forced a patina on the LE which I guess immediately ruined the collector value and made it a user. Really there is little that bugs me more than to see a picture "my favorite woodsie or my all time SHTF blade" posted without a scratch on the thing. I vote use em! Those campouts, hikes, etc: with gear being utilized are among the threads I most enjoy viewing on this forum.

 

[spatumba]

My custom woodlore by Mick Spain (England).

 

[gdpolk]

I only buy users. My most expensive knife is the one that I wail on the hardest. I have a fish tank and some decorations around the house to look at that make me happy in my home. The value of my guns, tools, truck, etc are all just tools for doing what I need or want to do.

 

[Barrabas]

Maybe when I am older I might have safe queens, but for now, I take it as the mercy of God anytime I can buy or trade for a good knife, and I plan on using them extensively.
A few years ago before we had all the expenses of kids, I had a few high end production knives..Some hard times came, and I had to sell all but one of my nicest blades (as well as my favorite guitar..ouch) to pay some bills...really glad I used them before it was time to let them go for the greater good... The Lord blessed so that recently I was able to get a micarta Sebbie..it will be used all over the woods, and for whatever else comes up, as long as it can be...there may come a point when it has to hit the road as well, but until then a movie quote I heard seems to go well with the thought.. "Yesterday is history..tomorrow is a mystery...today is a gift, that's why it's called the present.";
so as for the blades...if it comes to me and is worthy of use..I'll use em', while I have em'.

 

[thrillbilly]

BK16 First Production Run. less then 250 made (the production models are laser etched logo instead of stamped, and are FullFlatGrind as opposed to this one's Sabre Grind)


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