At What Price Point does a Knife become a Safe Queen?

[calm]

These type of threads always end up with the same comments that all knives have to be used and people should feel guilt if they are not using all their knives. In a forum, where just about all members have way more knives than they can regularly use and may even enjoy keeping some pristine for some reasons......

 

[Cobalt]

It's almost impossible to quantify safe queen with the only parameter being price, as other factors have a place in this. But price is one major factor that everyone uses to decide if something is worth buying and how they use it.

 

[Cobalt]

These type of threads always end up with the same comments that all knives have to be used and people should feel guilt if they are not using all their knives. In a forum, where just about all members have way more knives than they can regularly use and may even enjoy keeping some pristine for some reasons......

I agree.
I've been in this knife collecting world for 3 decades. I don't use all my knives, that doesn't mean I want to let them go. It's because of collectors that people can find gems 20 years down the road

 

[catspa]

Not about price.

I have a knife that my old hunting partner (now deceased) inherited from his grandpa. His widow gave it to me because, as she said, “Nobody else in this family is worthy of it.”

It sits in my safe because I have better knives to use for EDC. Occasionally I take it out and think of him. It is a mental artifact of our friendship gone by.

Similar with a knife I made to open my father’s ashes to spread them on his final resting place. That was its one purpose, now accomplished, and all it does today is hold those memories.

In our modern lifestyles, it’s not surprising that we use cost as a scorecard. Remember though, there are other kinds of scorecards, some of them much more significant.

Parker

 

[JWright214]

Not about price.

I have a knife that my old hunting partner (now deceased) inherited from his grandpa. His widow gave it to me because, as she said, “Nobody else in this family is worthy of it.”

It sits in my safe because I have better knives to use for EDC. Occasionally I take it out and think of him. It is a mental artifact of our friendship gone by.

Similar with a knife I made to open my father’s ashes to spread them on his final resting place. That was its one purpose, now accomplished, and all it does today is hold those memories.

In our modern lifestyles, it’s not surprising that we use cost as a scorecard. Remember though, there are other kinds of scorecards, some of them much more significant.

Parker

Those are some special stories, thank you for sharing them. You are exactly right. These are the types of sentimental things, for me, that make something a “safe queen”. I have a handful of sentimental knives from my dad, children, and my wife that will never be used or have been used and retired.

 

[Swamp Leech]

Less about price, more about the type of knife for me. My CS Laredo bowie gets used weekly as a machete around the property, and to process kindling for backyard fires. I also take it car camping, and horseback riding - the joy I get from this comes from use. There is something beautiful about using a 10" fighting bowie to cut some bamboo into roasting sticks. My CS Black Bear Classic (which was less expensive) never gets used, and probably never will (outside of opening mail). It's a particularly good one, with a perfect factory grind and a well made handle - the joy comes from looking at it, and holding it.

 

[AusLoX]

It’s not really a price thing for me. More about personal taste or sentimental value. Also, there’s some blades that are more of an art piece than a user.

 

[DocJD]

once discontinued and super rare...I start questioning whether I should use it if I havent......if I have been using...I'm far more careful with it. I don't have numbers in general.....its more each knife gets looked at on its own.....

there is no real logic in how I do it...it's far more emotional and silly....I'll admit that......

Exactly this ^^^^!

I started out with way too many safe queens ,and close to same , but eventually decided that wasn't much fun .

I really like to be able to use , abuse , experiment , test , modify etc without guilt or regret .

So , I resolved to buy only users . I have not entirely succeeded in really using them all . I still baby some more than others .

 

[DocJD]

safe for your “daily user” car or truck

It's called a garage !

But I have only a carport .

 

[elevator man]

I would use any knife, no matter how expensive. One knife I have is a limited edition model that I can't replace. But I still beat on it more than others. I have a 150 dollar knife that my wife bought me engraved, it's my most sentimental knife and I been working it hard. I really enjoy using nice things. I get collecting things, but I wouldn't exclude any knife from use based on cost or rarity or sentimental value.

 

[K.O.D.]

No safe queens here, but I do have a few folders that mostly just go for pocket rides.

Same. I carry and use my $900 damasteel RH Tasca 2.

On the rare occasion I dress up, I will carry my Alan Davis.

 

[Synov]

So it looks like we have a trimodal distribution:

1. The filthy peasants who won't use a $400 knife

2. The normal individuals who won't use a $1000 knife

3. The knife barons who use their jewel encrusted Napoleonic dagger as a pry bar

 

[ShaiHulud]

Treating knives like a dirty side piece unties a lot of knots, for my anyway. Now I treat them any which way without a care, the dirtier the better, they perform all the same
They can click, they can play, or giggle and wiggle, any ol' day

 

[ShaiHulud]

So it looks like we have a trimodal distribution:

1. The filthy peasants who won't use a $400 knife

2. The normal individuals who won't use a $1000 knife

3. The knife barons who use their jewel encrusted Napoleonic dagger as a pry bar

Well done on number 3

 

[Snacktime]

I am the filthy peasant who uses every knife I have bought. I have yet to buy any knife over $400. I think once you hit the firearm price point I have a hard time buy something that doesn't pew pew.

 

[SimplyMinded]

No knife safe queens but I do have gun safe queens and I've had a couple garage queen cars before.
It's easier not to use guns or cars though as they both require expensive add ons like ammo and gasoline.
As far as knives go I do pocket checks a lot more often if its my CRK than I do a Kershaw.
Yep still there..whew. I've lost more than one knife from the seat belt catching the pocket clip as I exited a vehicle.

 

[Hackenslash]

Ok. Let’s cut to the chase.

It’s not about having knives that are designated safe queens and you never, ever use them

This is about having so MANY knives that you can never, ever use them all.

Keep buying knives, my friends. There are only 365 days in a year anyway.

 

[AntDog]

I am the filthy peasant who uses every knife I have bought. I have yet to buy any knife over $400. I think once you hit the firearm price point I have a hard time buy something that doesn't pew pew.

I once had that mindset and limitation. Once you cross that line you see cool things don’t have to go bang.

I have no safe queens. I have a few that haven’t gotten used yet, but I wouldn’t hesitate to use anything I own.

 

[Midgetje93]

Well I’ll say my collection is limited by finances. Haha. I think the most I’ve paid is under $200. Although there are a few $200-250 I’m eyeballing. But even then, no where close to what you are talking about.

But I also use most of mine. There are very few I won’t carry. Some are due to age, some are passed down from family, or they aren’t appropriate to carry in public. But for the most part if I have it. I’ll use it. Some I try to keep cleaner than others, sure. But I like going to my music/knife room/office and looking at what I want to carry that day.

 

[Terry M.]

I do carry and use all my knives, even the 3k+ ones however I use them strictly as intended. No prying, etc. I’ve only bought one knife I couldn’t even bring myself to sharpen/use and in the picture you’ll see why. Just wouldn’t look right if I were to have sharpened it. I ended up selling because I wouldn’t carry it.