Buying secondhand knives

C

Charlie_K

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Jul 16, 2012
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Have you ever bought a brand new knife with the intention of using it for work for EDC purposes, but something stopped you, and you instead found yourself browsing ebay or other used item outlets to find a duplicate in a more worn condition to put to work?

I bought a brand new Victorinox Fieldmaster off amazon and paid full price for it, because after a lot of searching I believed it to be the perfect SAK for what I'd be needing it for. But the latent collector in me couldn't bear to scuff, scratch and ding it up inside a pocket, so I had to get one in decidedly less mint condition and put to use.

This wasn't the first time either. Even if a knife is intended for working and using hard, I still treat it like it's collectible and set it aside for presentation purposes. It's just something I can't do unless I have a spare.
 
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I understand this. I however am basically the opposite in this regard. Which is no better or worse. I can't have a knife that isn't a user. And at the same time that I'm being Mr. practical, I impulse or lust buy. I can make no sense of my buying as I swing back and forth. I have no real answer, now I just try to have fun with my toys and not sweat it.
:) It can be a funny hobby at times.
 
Have you seen the Exchange section here? Thousands of posts made over the years with knives sold and bought because they. Were "too nice to use". ;)
 
This is primarily why I don't buy presentation grade stuff that's intended to be collected and displayed. Gold inlays and commemorative engravings are nice and all, but they're not for me. But give me a mass production knife that's free of outstanding blemishes, like a very nice Buck 110/119, or a KA-BAR USMC with a leather handle, and you'll see the actions of a neurotic who believes one day it'll fetch a high price or make a great heirloom to pass down.

Maybe it's a case of beauty being in the eye of the beholder.
 
If I buy it it's getting used and used rough. No matter how nice it is. Must be why I don't buy high $ collector knives.
 
I've definitely bought 'spares' to keep in new condition to go along with my users. They always end up getting used though, so I usually just try to expand/change my collection at this point. I just keep telling myself that expensive knives are designed to be used hard. I also have a hard time really using expensive knives though. I'm so torn over what to do with my Busse AMS...on one hand it begs to be used and abused, but on the other hand I'm scared to scuff that beautiful coating. What to do what to do...
 
I bought a Vic Tinker used as a beater once. I hate how the gloss finish on a new SAK gets all scuffed up.
 
I suffer from this disorder as well. I tend to buy "users" and "collectibles." I get as excited when I find a good used knife as I do when I find a vintage or a classic in great shape to add to the collection. At times I am relieved that the knife I found is not in great shape, so I don't feel so bad putting it to use. I have a hard time watching an expensive new, pristine knife deteriorate before my eyes from my use, but I am okay with it if it was used when I got it. On the other hand, I enjoy handling and looking at the mint condition pieces in my collection.

Nice to know I am not alone in this, thanks for posting about this.......

Cosmo
 
Just bought a damascus skyline. I'm pretty much in the exact situation you've described. It's just too beautiful to put to use, so I've been trying to find a stainless version. I keep telling myself I can't use it because it'll rust, but deep down I'm lying to myself. It's too beautiful.
 
JustinWatts said:
Just bought a damascus skyline. I'm pretty much in the exact situation you've described. It's just too beautiful to put to use, so I've been trying to find a stainless version. I keep telling myself I can't use it because it'll rust, but deep down I'm lying to myself. It's too beautiful.
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At least you bought a damascus knife, I haven't even gotten that far yet.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm being unreasonable. But then you look at ebay and see vintage knives, knives that were the everyday tool for so many and seen as nothing special, and they command high prices today, and even higher when they're in good condition. So then I wonder if it's just a matter of long term views regarding them as a potential investment.
 
I've ended up getting rid of any knife to nice to use.
As far as SAKs go, you can get new scales for about $10, easy to replace, makes 'em look new again.
 
filedog said:
As far as SAKs go, you can get new scales for about $10, easy to replace, makes 'em look new again.
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That's true. But when the aluminum spacers break you can't replace them without either sending it in for warranty work, or tearing it apart yourself.
 
I bought my first Victorinox alox Soldier in 2009 and it instantly became one of my favorite knives. I bought another one right away with the intention of keeping it in the box because they had just been discontinued. I later lost the original one (I found it though a few months later) so I bought a couple used ones on ebay. I now have four of them and the original still rides in my pocket a lot of the time.
 
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