Attempting to understand the knife collecting mentality.

Why do people buy knives they never intend to use?
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So you can't have them.

Would you resell them to people who would use them?
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Over my dead body.

Certainly there are more productive or easily liquidated investments.
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There cetainly are. I do take pride in my knives that have appreciated in value, but I don't consider them an 'investment' and I'll never sell them anyway.

Certainly there are more accessible and presentable works of art.
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There are most certainly, absolutely not.

-Bob
 
I long ago gave up trying to figure out why people collect anything or what draws a person to a particular thing. I've seen people collect odd-shaped potato chips, different mustard flavors, even dinner plate sets.

I thought them all weird....but they probably think the same of me for oogling knives.

To each his own.

For me, I just enjoy knives, a nice hobby that makes me :D
 
I am just drawn to them. I have always wanted lots of knives, since I was a kid. I like to often just look at them. I enjoy the quality work. I can't explxin it myself. My grandpa had lots of knives too, maybe it's inherited.
 
I used to not use alot of my knives. I kept alot of them in perfect shape. At this point, I've gotten ride of them or began using them. I find that while it's nice to have your knives in perfect condition, it's more of an enjoyment actually using them as much as possible.
 
For me, it's just a neat place to be:D I like to use them for bit just to see how they function, then it's on to the next one. Over the last few years of collecting, I've also gained a ton of knowledge. Along with that knowledge, came "other" hobbies - like leatherwork, kit knives, etc. Actually, my collecting came as a result of me doing a bit of my own stuff, kit knives, then some leatherwork, then collecting. Along the way, I found out just how useful a knife can be:) It has spread to other things - tools, for instance, but then I've always had lots of tools...... lites, and on an on - all of it's great fun and a wonderful pastime for me. I have probably in the order of 125'ish production folders, plus 30 or so fixed blades with absolutely no intention of selling them:)

- gord
 
Quote:
Certainly there are more accessible and presentable works of art.

There are most certainly, absolutely not.
-Bob


Well said Bob...I heartily agree. Hard art is the best!
 
PhilL said:
Boats, you've been on these forums for 3 1/2 years and you have no clue as to why people collect knives? :confused: :eek: :confused:

My advice don't ever go on Ebay and see the stuff that other people collect, your head will explode. :rolleyes:
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Best posting! :)

From having exploded, one might build up an understanding of the question,
by separately asking, why do people collect things,
then, why knives.
To both, there's good answers, but they're not purely functional. That's the beauty of it. Why love certain people, cars, whatever? There's easier ways, functionally, than to invest in those emotional values. But it's a poor life that's only functional.
 
Hmmm. Why does one buy a boat over a jetski? Is it functional or emotional?Its a want! Its a need! Its functional! Its emotional! Whatever you buy has a multi-facetted reason for doing so.Knives-beautiful to look at,are a persons expression of function,limited and one of a kind pcs. in some cases.

MPE
 
Well, I use all my knives personally, but...if I were a "collector," I'd probably defend the hobby by asking if you planned to use your paintings to open boxes...some things are just art...of course, defining what exactly *that* means could take a few millenia.
 
Boats,


Knives are like art to some people, like myself...

I have a few I use and some I keep just to have as a beautiful (and dependable if needed) piece of art (not to mention that knives retain value better than most any other object that people collect). Thats why I have several, and some of them are just safe queens.
 
Hardly any of the knives I own are users. That's not to say they are unusable, rather that I choose not to use them. So I'm one of the people who "buys knives they never intend to use". That's not to say that I keep them in a vacuum sealed chamber and only handle them with gloves, if I need to cut something and one of my knives is around, and I am fairly sure that it won't damage the knife, I'll use it, but my EDC is a SAK. This is partly due to the UK's knife laws; nothing locking or over 3 inches allowed :eek::jerkit:

I agree that it's a very strange habit. I've often asked myself why I collect. So here are some insights. They may or may not be coherent, or useful.

Firstly, what do I collect?
Well, actually I collect pretty much anything with an edge. There's no real theme to my collection so far. I've got everything from victorian pocket knives, a WW2 bayonnet and modern day bowies.

So, secondly; when I see a knife, why do I buy it?
If it's got an interesting mechanism, like a balisong or pantograph, I'll probably grab it (disclaimer: balisongs are illegal in the UK so obviously I don't have any of those nasty evil ones......)
'exotic' materials like mother of pearl, stag, ivory, damascus attract my attention.
innovations, even simple ones such as the spyderhole or the opinel ring will interest me.
the weight and feel of the knife is important - I don't like collecting knives that don't feel like they're usable (which is even more bizarre given that I don't actually use them). If I wouldn't feel safe using it, I won't buy it.
I also like historical pieces.

Basically, I'll collect anything that appeals to me.
I've grown up in a society that is comprised mainly of sheeple, and the ownership, use and carrying of knives, let alone collection, is alien to a lot of people. I think that I collect knives because I appreciate how incredible important they are socially, politically, historically.

I'm not an outdoors person, I grew up in a very large town (just less than 200,000 people) and when I finish studying, I'll be working in an office for the rest of my natural life, and depending the company, some of my unnatural life as well, most likely.
So I've never needed, and likely will never need to use my 12" bowie, or most of the other knives in my collection. Certainly I'll never use the historical ones. But still I appreciate the workmanship that's gone into their creation (and have the upmost respect for those skilled in the art of knife making), and I suppose I want to mentally align myself with the sort of people who would use my knives.
Another reason I don't use the knives is that, because I've not grown up in a knife culture, I honestly don't know how to use them without damaging either myself, the knife, or the thing I'm using the knife on.

As to the question of whether I'd sell any of mine to someone who would use and possibly ultimately destroy the knife? Depending on who it was (and which knife), I'd probably give it to them. I'm not so unrealistic as to believe that knives aren't for use, it's just that I don't happen to use them.

There is little else that has existed nearly since the beginning of human history that is so personal, played such a pivotal role in our development, as a knife. In fact I can think of nothing offhand.

I enjoy looking at knives, appreciating the elegance of the design, the fitness for the purpose (one of the reasons I like my SAK), and the materials.

I'd like to point out that 'my collection' isn't really that impressive or mature yet, though I've been collecting for over ten years, I've never had the budget to acquire anything truly special (I'm only 24).

Well, that's my essay over. Hope you enjoyed :)
 
Boats said:
Certainly there are more productive or easily liquidated investments. Certainly there are more accessible and presentable works of art.
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Watch when someone puts a Loveless, Scagel, Moran, Lile, Hibben or a couple of dozen other known knifemakers knives up for sale and you will see that they are indeed pretty easy to liquidate. Even knives made by much lesser known names don't sit around long if they are quality pieces.

Much of the same is true of production knives in that people appreciate the quality, craftsmanship and the beauty of form and function.

I collect them simply because I enjoy them. I admire the craftsmanship, creativity, and the beauty of the materials. Many knives are indeed works of art. Unique one-of-a-kind creations by highly skilled artists and craftsmen.

And they are something of an investment. I have no doubt that I can sell my collection for considerably more money than I have put into it. I didn't buy them as investments but I know I can get my money back if things get tough and I need the cash. Someday I probably will cash out because I really don't have anyone to pass them on to. But for now, I just enjoy having them and admiring them. I like the thrill of finding something rare or different.

And I enjoy the fact that people buy the knives that I make and appreciate my work that was inspired by those who made the knives that I buy.
 
I would say why I have collected more knives, mainly Busses, than I can ever possibly use, but I will not because it is not something I have to justify to anyone else.
 
This is the first thread that made me laugh out loud...

Boats - you gotta embrace your insanity - It will set you free!!! HAHAHA

I got my first blade as a Birthday present when I was 8 and living in a small town in the middle of the desert in South Australia. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Loved knives ever since....
 
I have a collection of newspaper stories of bus plunges. Over 20 years worth.

It seems everytime a bus goes off the road into a river,valley or just onto a highway below it always PLUNGES .

I have gotten more fun out of showing this to folks then anything else.

In fact many people now send me clippings from all over.

Collect knives now thats weird..........;)
 
Boats said:
Simply because I don't get it......So what gives, those who buy but do not use?
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If you go to a camera show, or a gun show, or a model train show, you will see the same behavior. I've been a seller on Ebay for years and I never fail to be amazed by what I see on Ebay that people find of value. People collect coins, old bottles, ultility pole insulators, outboard motors, lawn mowers, cars, planes, boats, match books, postcards-- you name it. Donald Trump's ex-wives collect jewelry and alimony :D

When you get a really good collection and share it, it is called a museum :) I've seen more cutting tools and weapons in museums than I have anywhere else.

I guess it's part of our hunter-gatherer evolution that we like piles of goodies.
 
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