are you open to buying used knives?

[CJZ]

Of course! Out of about 60 slipjoints, just a single one was bought NIB.

 

[KYenglish]

I prefer finding used, old, knives myself, but I like new ones just fine to

 

[cpd670]

I buy used knives regularly.
As long as the knife is functional it doesn't bother me. I like some history behind my stuff.

I will pretty much buy everything I can used.
No reason to spend the extra money for something shiny when it is only going to get worn of the first time I use it anyway.

 

[arizonaranchman]

If it's something I like and want and the condition/price is right heck ya i'll buy used anytime. I've had nothing but positive experiences here on the Forum with buying used. In fact most of them were LNIB anyways. Other than having looked at it and stored it in the tube in their safe the previous owners had not even touched them. I see no difference in such cases than if the vendor had kept it on the shelf for six months prior to you buying it.

When I like and become attached to a pocket knife it truly does become a part of me. I don't view something as personal as a pocket knife as just a hunk of steel to be used and disposed of. They are well cared for and maintained and appreciated for the precision tools they are. And yes they have memories that become attached to them along the way as they age. I don't collect them at all. I have a total of about 9 traditional folders. Eight of them are GEC's. I carry and use them (some not carried or used as much as others, but they all see some carry time now and then) or I don't keep them. Now this doesn't extend to ALL knives I own (utility or kitchen knives for example), this is only meant reference my personal traditional pocket knives. They really are special items to me and I appreciate them for their quality and usefulness in my day to day life. They complete my daily "kit" and are a part of me.

I do see your point about the knife being "yours", very much so, but I don't feel that someone else having owned it prior to me excludes it from being something I can appreciate and enjoy. As some have said in the case of antique knives I find them intriguing in fact, to wonder what it's previous life was like with those who had it before.

 

[AddictedToGear]

I have no problem buying used knives, but usually they are lightly used or light-medium use. Mainly when it comes to higher end knives when they last after use.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Absolutely. Some of the best knives to be had can't be bought new anymore.

 

[black mamba]

I am probably less sentimental than most here about pocket knives. I buy used whenever possible, to both save money and acquire older knives I want. Two of my most cherished are a '30s era Robeson swell center pen knife and a '50s era Schrade Walden stockman. Not once have I considered what someone else may have used these knives for, but only how much I enjoy the quality and durability and cutting ability of these wonderful examples of American cutlery. To limit myself to only new knives would cost me too much of my enjoyment of this great hobby.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

i'm fine with being the only one. if i came across a knife from the civil war that was being sold for nothing in an antique shop, i'd grab it but thats a whole different story. i really dont care to imagine what someone else was using the knife for 20 or 30 years ago. my fathers old timer i will proudly inherit and cherish but we're talking family.

Nothing wrong at all with that, but just know you're removing yourself from a mind boggling amount of knives.

 

[Gevonovich]

I would never buy a used knife! Never

 

[WoodenChicken]

I have bought many used traditional knives (and modern flavors). Its sorta fun to get something like a Schrade LB7 that's been laying in someone's junk drawer for 20 years, and cleaning it up real good, getting the seller's mung off of it, and polishing the bolsters and blade with some Mother's Mag Wheel polish. I've brought it back to life, and have the satisfaction of know that when I die, my wife's next husband will throw it in the garbage along with everything else I have hoarded.

Nice!!!!! LMAO

 

[WoodenChicken]

I would never buy a used knife! Never

:thumbup:

 

[Shotgun]

reason for not buying used is it's someone else's chores, jobs, memories on there. i like to buy new because i like to be the only owner of the knife although i'll gladly lone someone my knife if they need to borrow it. i've always owned used cars and when i was a kid used some used hockey skates because you out grew them quickly, but with knives its different for me.

also i'm not a collector and wouldn't go over a dozen knives total.

i'm fine with being the only one. if i came across a knife from the civil war that was being sold for nothing in an antique shop, i'd grab it but thats a whole different story. i really dont care to imagine what someone else was using the knife for 20 or 30 years ago. my fathers old timer i will proudly inherit and cherish but we're talking family.

I'm the exact same way. I'm not a collector so I have no interest in EVERY pattern under the sun and I have no interest in the adventures that someone else had with a knife. Every scratch and stain on my knives is a story of where I've been, what I've done, and the company I had. Buying used tarnishes that experience for me.

 

[rinos]

just bought one old Wostenholm IXL,it must be used to own such knife,obviously i have nothing against used ones

 

[midnight flyer]

I have no problems at all with buying used. It seems to me that many of the older knives are better made than today's knives. Every once in a while I find one in good shape and I can't resist. If it is priced reasonably, I am powerless to resist if it is an old CASE or BOKER, the brands I grew up with.

Thankfully, around here I rarely see used knives that are affordable, so I don't have suitcases full of them at the house.

Robert

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

i'm sure there are some great deals to be had with used knives but i would never buy one.

To be honest, my preferences indicate I actually prefer buying 'pre-owned' and well-cared-for traditional knives. As mentioned, there are often great deals to be had, and the workmanship and quality of older knives is often better than found in brand new & current offerings.

Obviously, with used knives, it's always good to have a very clear idea of what condition it's in, prior to spending much $$ on it. On the other hand, sometimes great 'users' with a lot of scuffed/scratched history can be had for almost nothing, and there's not much risk taking a chance on them.


David

 

[Fired]

To the OP,

There are some really fine knives that are not made in bulk. If one so desires, they'd have to find one on the secondary market sometimes. But like they say, "to each his own."

 

[T. Erdelyi]

If I didn't buy it used, I never would have found this prize:

An early 1920s Robeson Pocket Bar Knife

 

[not2sharp]

i'm sure there are some great deals to be had with used knives but i would never buy one.

Most of knife collection is over 100 years old. Why wouldn't you buy used.

n2s

 

[bmz2678]

Absolutely! Buying knives is akin to anything else; you're going to get a LOT more blade for the money by going "pre-loved". As long as you purchase from a reliable seller and have some type of assurance regarding quality, you can't go wrong with used. I'm just getting into the world of knives, but my experience with firearms, flashlights and other gear has shown that buying used is usually the way to go. (Only got burned once!)

 

[jc57]

Works out well in the end. Someone has to buy them new to keep the companies in business. Without actually counting, I'd say that between 50% and 70% of my knives were purchased new through retailers, the rest lightly used or previously owned but unused from individuals.