are you open to buying used knives?

SAK Guy said:
The operative term here is...."new to me"! :D
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I resemble that remark.

Im noticing several different types of forum participants, including, but not limited to

collectors (owns knives that will never be sharpened, and will never cut anything)
accumulators (owns knives that have been sharpened, and will cut things)
dabblers (has no sharpening experience, and has no history using a knife)

Here are some of the viewpoints of different types of forum participants taken from posts in this thread so far

I use all my knives
reason for not buying used is it's someone else's chores, jobs, memories on there.
i'm not a collector and wouldn't go over a dozen knives total.
I have and do buy pre-owned (but thus far they have been in unused condition).
I have bought some great knives listed as used,nearly all were as new
There's a whole bunch of people who love to try and imagine the type of person and what their lives were like back then
i really dont care to imagine what someone else was using the knife for 20 or 30 years ago (1983 to 1993)
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
Two of my most cherished are a '30s era Robeson swell center pen knife and a '50s era Schrade Walden stockman. (60-80 years old)
I have no interest in the adventures that someone else had with a knife
many of the older knives are better made than today's knives
Most of knife collection is over 100 years old.
Honest Old Knives have character that a new one will only have after 40-60 years
I'm more of an accumulator than a collector
I appreciate one less competitor
 
Sometimes I seek out used knives, not only for the cost savings, but to ensure I will actually use them also.
 
jon_slider said:
Im noticing several different types of forum participants, including, but not limited to

collectors (owns knives that will never be sharpened, and will never cut anything)
accumulators (owns knives that have been sharpened, and will cut things)
dabblers (has no sharpening experience, and has no history using a knife)
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You left off:

forum participants who are unwilling to support Blade Forums with a paying membership.

It matters not to me whether a knife I acquire is new or used. A new one will be used as soon as I unwrap it, open the blade/blades and touch up their edges as necessary, and oil the knife. The advantage of a used one is that all of that has been done for me.
 
Mink said:
Sometimes I seek out used knives, not only for the cost savings, but to ensure I will actually use them also.
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There's a lot to be said for that, and I think it's a big part of why I started looking at used knives in the first place. No fears of scuffing, scratching or re-bevelling a used knife, especially when you don't know if you're going to like it or not. One thing that drove me crazy with brand new shiny knives was working up the nerve to 'make it my own' if I wasn't absolutely sure I was going to like it or keep it. That's a moot issue with a used knife.


David
 
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I have an interest in history as well as edged tools. I bought this knife off the auction site knowing it was Scandinavian but nothing else. Since I got it a few weeks ago I've learned it was made in the Toten area of Norway between 1890 and mid-20th century. There were at that time about 75 families making knives mostly by hand in the Toten area. The blade was most likely made in Eskilunta, Sweden and imported to Norway. I've learned a lot more about differences in quality and types of old Scandinavian knives. All this education just because I bought a used knife.
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I love used knives! Most of mine are used, or at least came to me "pre-owned." Prices are often better that way, and if there's a little too much blade-wiggle or something, I can fix it myself. Not to mention that some of my favorites are the old ones... They have a charm that a shiny new one can't match. I like to imagine the places they've been and the things they've done, and I wish that they could tell me their stories.
A brand new knife is nice, since it's just that - brand new. You get to see what it's like fresh off the assembly line, and develop a bond with it from the get-go. But, an oldie has its own appeal, equally strong, just in a different way.
 
A new knife just doesn't seem right to me until I've carried and sharpened if for a few years. A used knife seems right once I've cleaned it and carried it for a week. I've had this one just shy of a week, and it already seems right.

Schrade 108OT
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To OP,

I only buy new as well. Since I prefer a more plain knife I rarely spend over $50-60. Not interested in someone else's history, wear and tear unless it's an old tractor but that's another story.
 
They can all be sharpened and they all cut. New or used doesn't matter to me. Usually within an hour of me receiving a knife it is used.
 
At one time, I had a decent collection of slip joints. Most were red bone Case knives. The old ones, not the current red bone :eek:
Some had seen a little pocket time, and yes, some had actually been used. Some were pristine as well...

The used knives have already developed character. At some point, somebody had it in their pocket, and actually had a need for a knife, so they used it.
When I buy a used knife, or gun, I always try to imagine where it has been, and what it was used for, prior to my buying it.

In all honesty, I have bought very few new knives over the years. A few Case knives, a few Schrades, and recently a couple GEC 72 lockbacks.

I have been fortunate enough to have been gifted a few knives over the years. Those are the knives I cherish most, even though some have been used.

I think you are missing out by not buying a pre-owned/used knife. Buying a used knife that needs some TLC is very rewarding. A little cleaning, touch up the edge, and the knife will reward you with many years of service... Many times you can get a used knife at a greatly reduced price, compared to a new knife.
Win. Win IMHO
 
338375 said....
"I always try to imagine where it has been, and what it was used for, prior to my buying it...."

I do buy used knives. I have also been collecting vintage logging hand tools. Sometimes I get from the original owner. I always visit with them, their stories are priceless and lots of information can be gleaned from them. I also collect WWII military gear and firearms. I always wonder what stories they could tell, if they could only talk. Once and a great while I'll get an item from the original owner. They will share were they were stationed, but any other details aren't freely shared.

If they could only talk.

Yom
 
I buy used knives all the time. Some have been not so good but modt were in the condition stated.

I like to use my knives and guns and watches. Buying used or like new dulls the pain I feel when I get that first scratch.

Otherwise, I'll admit that I have gear sitting in the box that I have owned for some years, untouched but not unloved.
 
I recently bought a Schrade 7409SSD with a patent date of December the 21st 1909 I have several Case peanuts from the 1st decade of 1900s So I guess yes I'm open to buying used knives. A good friend saw the Schrade and knowing my weakness for peanuts and similar sized knives bought it being pretty sure I would like it,,,, he was correct. I'm also pretty sure I am not going to find one of either NIB.
 
Bought a super blue caly 3.5 from a fellow forum member. I was extremely pleased and I think I got it for a good deal. I think doing your homework is essential to buying used. Deals are out there though.
 
Modoc ED said:
You left off:

forum participants who are unwilling to support Blade Forums with a paying membership
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Not everyone has disposable income, I'm lucky if I can get one new knife a year... Not to say I wouldn't like to support the forum and probably will throw down with this year's tax returns. Figure I'll have been on here a coupla years by then.

I'd be happy to buy used if I found one I was fond of. Giving my most recent used buy to my coworker for Secret Santa. Wasn't planning on it but he just asked if he could use me as a reference for a new job and I felt a little honored that he'd think of me for that. Respect given means good presents from Saint Nick:rolleyes:
 
The only knife that I never wanted to pull the trigger on used was a Becker BK-2. Though I did buy one unused 2nd hand in the forum exchange.

My reasoning is there buying a used 2 would be kinda like a used jeep. Someone before me has already beaten it to hell and back and id like to know personally what kinda torture it's been through before trusting it to hold up to my abuse on a knife like that
 
I'm quite open to buying used knives. Every single SAK I get is through ebay, and often for half or less the MSRP.

It's hard to complain when you can get a barely used Huntsman for $13 total.
 
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