Are we original?

Jenner 515

Jenner 515

Joined
Nov 27, 2002
Messages
2,145
Looking over my collection of traditional and non-traditional blades I was struck by the idea that our culture and circumstances have allowed some of us to grow our collections considerably. (I'm approaching 200 pretty evenly distributed between Traditionals and Spydercos).

The internet, Bladeforums, ebay, big shows like BLADE and SHOT and the smaller PKA show coming to Denver in August have allowed us to indulge in our hobby of collecting blades.

But are we original in this pursuit?

As Cavemen would we have been the hunters with an extra two or three pieces of really nice knapped flint, an extra spear head and extra spear shafts?

Riding with Alexander the Great would we have been the trooper that carried an extra dagger despite the weight?

Crossing the American Frontier would we have been the type to have handy multiple blades of assorted sizes and uses?

Dropping into Normandy or coming ashore at Iwo Jima are we the GI with the extra Folder just in case?

I like to think that in another place and time...I'd act exactly the same way to the best of my resources.

What say you? Any other examples as to how we could have been collectors and users back in the day?
 
There's collecting and there's being practical. Sometimes it pays to horde what can't easily be found or replaced. I don't consider that collecting per se.

As for carrying extra...when I still went through doors for a living, I always made sure I had more ammo than I thought I'd need and a backup on the ankle.
(Same for knives. I never went into the wilderness with just one.)

Collecting is something we do for pleasure. Not because we may need to rely upon it.

My two cents, anyway.
 
Im with Blues on this one though I see where you were going with it. I don't think we are original though going from your line of thinking. We are just another generation in the line of collectors.
 
I think men before our time walked and rode pretty lean. I think most men my dad's age, born 1917 and earlier, carried 1 knife, if at all. I don't think the object was to collect, I think a man had the best he could afford to have and that became an extension of himself. When that knife became overly worn, another would replace it and the one before it retired or disposed of.
 
JohnnyR said:
I think men before our time walked and rode pretty lean. I think most men my dad's age, born 1917 and earlier, carried 1 knife, if at all. I don't think the object was to collect, I think a man had the best he could afford to have and that became an extension of himself. When that knife became overly worn, another would replace it and the one before it retired or disposed of.
Click to expand...

I think that take on it may be closer to the truth.

I know my dad, granddad, and thier generation of cronies, all had A gun, a pocket knife, and one of each hand tool. They didn't waste money buying what they already had, they were to busy living life to bother collecting things. Oh, there may have been one here and there who collected, but he was a rare bird back then, or one of the rich folk. In fact, if my granddad could see the collections that have been posted here, he'd think you totally insane.

Way back then, life was hard. Usually they were too busy dealing with life to think about collecting things. And they had a different attitude about things, not to mention that they did not have the disposable income that young people today have.
 
"Back when . . ." if people needed something, they grew it, built it, or bartered for it. They had too many unmet needs to worry much about wants. And money was very, very scarce for most people.

My grandfather, born the same year as the Springfield, 1906, was a farmer and a carpenter. When he died at age 89, he owned 1 pocket knife (I think it was a barlow), a model 17 Remington pump shotgun and, his most recent purchase, a very early Sturm-Ruger .22 pistol. Besides those, the only other possession of his I ever remember was an old silver dollar which he carried so much that it was worn smooth on both sides and nearly sharp on its circumference. I guess that was his "worry stone." He owned the same car for the last 10-12 years of his life, and it had less than 30,000 miles on it when he passed.
He was very frugal and practical about everything. One saying of his I remember at meal times was, "Take all you want, but eat all you take." He didn't tolerate waste.

No, I think collecting is a pretty modern thing.
 
Just goes to show how blessed and or cursed we as modern Americans to have the leisure time and resources to pursue hobbies like knife collecting. Just a generation or two back these luxuries weren't available to average guys and gals like us.

For all our kvetching we live amazing lives here in the USA.
 
I always look at my knives and think of Ecclesiastes in the old testament where King Solomon says, "All is vanity". This is not to put a negative connotation on our indulgences, just to feel blessed to be given more than enough. When I reached that conclusion, it motivated me to be not only content but thankful to God and to be humble about how blessed I am.
 
Jenner 515 said:
But are we original in this pursuit?

As Cavemen would we have been the hunters with an extra two or three pieces of really nice knapped flint, an extra spear head and extra spear shafts?

Riding with Alexander the Great would we have been the trooper that carried an extra dagger despite the weight?

Crossing the American Frontier would we have been the type to have handy multiple blades of assorted sizes and uses?

Dropping into Normandy or coming ashore at Iwo Jima are we the GI with the extra Folder just in case?
Click to expand...

I think you're right. I've often thought this myself.

I think we would be the guy with the extra knife/gun/whatever.

Even if you're wrong...I like the way you think :thumbup: :)
 
I tend to think that there's something deep in the fiber of us knife knuts that also existed in man 100 years ago, 1,000 years ago, etc.

Now of course, in leaner times, guys wouldn't have accumulated huge collections. But whereas most of our grandfathers carried one knife and used it till it was worn out, I bet there were guys who had that little "what knife should I carry today? Jack? Trapper? Stockman?" dilemma each morning, like we do.

And I have no doubt that at one time or another, this was heard around some Indians' campfire: "Hey, Cutting Man of Many Blades, can I borrow a knife?"
 
Collecting is a 'Hobby', something you do when you have spare time and money from just living.

The past generations were the 'expansion' era, when exploration, growth, trail-blazing and survival was more immediate. Your hobby was making a living. We 'mature' persons have one foot it that era and one in this era.......a rich period where we have to come to grips with limited lands and resources. Our children won't have to worry about expansion but 'soiling' on what they have inherited.....

I NEED a 3/4 axe, two skinning knives, small to medium sheath knife and pocket knife. A small file and a hard Arkansas stone. All else is fluff.

BUT I am in a lucky position of getting to have a Hobby........300Bucks
 
jackknife said:
I think that take on it may be closer to the truth.

I know my dad, granddad, and thier generation of cronies, all had A gun, a pocket knife, and one of each hand tool. They didn't waste money buying what they already had, they were to busy living life to bother collecting things. Oh, there may have been one here and there who collected, but he was a rare bird back then, or one of the rich folk. In fact, if my granddad could see the collections that have been posted here, he'd think you totally insane.

Way back then, life was hard. Usually they were too busy dealing with life to think about collecting things. And they had a different attitude about things, not to mention that they did not have the disposable income that young people today have.
Click to expand...

I havn't read through all the posts yet but had to comment on this. I agree with a lot of this when it comes to the SIZE of our collections that is for sure. However, my great grandpa who was first off the boat from Russia before the Depression was said to always have two pocketknives. His favorite user and one for trade in case he saw another one he liked.
 
I don't know if it's a hobby for me or an obsession. Is a hobby an obsession?I have a wave strapped to my belt 24/7, but I can't go anywhere without a slipjoint in my pocket.
 
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