Are you a collector or a user?

Collector or User?

  • Collector

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  • User

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JustinFournier

JustinFournier

Joined
May 7, 2012
Messages
4,971
Some of us like to collect shiny things. We think the craftsmanship, design, historical significance, materials or some combination of these factors displayed in an object create enough value in said object to keep it simply to admire, rather than use. You might get a second example of the same piece as a user, but one of them is intended to be preserved in it's original condition.

Some of us think such pursuits are frivolous and only want as many users as one feels they can reasonably justify, but wouldn't keep something they never intend to use simply for it's perceived collectible value.

Which are you?
 
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While I can see having an extra knife you're fond of or wanting to have a new iteration of that knife, I don't get having two or three of anything if none were ever used to begin with.

At that point, for me, it would seem the collector has ulterior purposes though they claim it's being sold because "it's just not what they're looking for."
 
I'm a collector.

I'm sitting here right now with an adult beverage, music in the background, burning the loose threads and singeing/melting the cuts on the webbing of my race ground LC sheath that arrived yesterday. Why? Cause they ain't even and smooth, but they will be soon.
 
I like to try out blades from different makers. When I find a maker I'm interested in, I look through his models to see which one looks like it might fill a specific or more general role, depending on my mood and need/want. Sometimes that blade shows up and I know immediately it is not going to work for me. Those blades get put on the proverbial chopping block very quickly before I am tempted to modify them and destroy their value.

I've made a lot of mistakes trying to judge a blade based on its picture, especially how the handle will fit. BUT, I'm getting better, learning my own self better, what I'm picky about, what doesn't bother me, not buying based on a whim as much :) I'm also learning how to pay closer attention to the specifications, and am better able to judge blade length and handle length and shape as to what will fit me.

So, all that to say that when I get a blade in that I'm really happy with (not 'the perfect knife' I found out a long time ago there is no perfect knife, only blades that perform certain tasks really really well) it gets used and moved into the category of 'keeper.' If it's a keeper, I put it through the paces. If I'm still in love with it after some good feedback, those are the models that I buy seconds or thirds, and those extras are put back for the day that I destroy my user. Sometimes that leaves me with a really nice, unused blade that is gifted. Other times those can be like money in the bank if you need to generate some funds quickly. But those are the only blades, other than some special blades that I've been lucky enough to get, that are left like new and collector quality. Everything else gets used or moved. That is just my personal method, and it works for me :)

FWIW I have found that the CPK Field Knife is one that has a permanent home, a keeper for sure :thumbup:
 
JustinFournier said:
Keeper?!

The FK is my all time favorite fixed blade knife. I prefer to not mention how many I have at this point.
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I have four blades by three different makers that are all 'my favorite' lol. The FK is one of those. Not gonna mention the others, but my sig line is pretty obvious. ;)

Burning the late night oil, too, bud?
 
Hard Knocks said:
I have four blades by three different makers that are all 'my favorite' lol. The FK is one of those. Not gonna mention the others, but my sig line is pretty obvious. ;)

Burning the late night oil, too, bud?
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Yeah Brother. Just cleaning up the sheath from my RLC, making sure everything is smooth and no loose threads. You know the drill!

I wonder how far designers like Lorien and Machinists like Nathan and Jo can really pushing things. They just keep getting better and better.

At this rate it looks like I will have no shortage of things to collect!
 
Right now I'd like to 'collect' a field knife with that forest green scale. I'm going to have to up my Friday sales game to get it done though.
 
Definitely a user. Even though when people do preorders I go overboard. I only got one field knife I'm quite proud of myself. If they do a lightchopper or heavy chopper list I can't promise anything though lol.
 
I m both a user and a collector. My LC is a user and the FK I preordered is going to be a user too.

Most of my knives are keepers as I find it troublesome to sell. Fortunately, most of them have performed fairly well. There are some that I will never use as they are collector pieces.



Don
 
I enjoyed the journey- bringing in different knives to fondle but not really use.
Then I decided to use them and found the cool knives I fondled didn't hold an edge well, the handles had hot spots and they were uncomfortable during actual use.
So I realized I didn't really learn anything from just fondling the knives and cutting paper.

Now I'm a User and have to be able to comfortably carry the knife as an EDC, it has to be comfortable to use, hold an edge well and I have to be able to sharpen it. There's something especially rewarding using a tool daily that compliments my existence.

I live in an urban environment, am a hardware technician and work in a technical office environment. I need a discrete EDC that can go undetected and functions well when needed.

I'm looking forward to Nathans EDC. If it fits the bill it'll be carried everywhere, used daily and be the only one I have 2 of.
 
JustinFournier said:
I wonder how far designers like Lorien and Machinists like Nathan and Jo can really pushing things. They just keep getting better and better.
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infinitely ;)
 
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