"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")

Hi Whetrock, that's a great patina, that's for posting the pic :)
 
It was formed via being submerged in Vinegar for a night. I'm too impatient for natural patinas. Aitor makes a grand knife for the money.
 
I asked a member on here a couple months ago how he was able to get to some really nice spots for vacation. He explained that he didn't spend all of his money on knives ;).

Yeah, I'm beginning to understand.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
I asked a member on here a couple months ago how he was able to get to some really nice spots for vacation. He explained that he didn't spend all of his money on knives ;).

Yeah, I'm beginning to understand.
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Not sure it was me...yet I remember saying the same thing to someone :rolleyes:

Fausto
:cool:
 
Yeah, Fausto, it was you :p. You are right :eek:.

I've been unloading knives recently, and have been looking at how much $ goes into my hobby. I also love getting out somewhere where I can fish, swim, hike and listen to some good music, all in the same day. Even though I am saving some of this $ for a custom Zulu knife, I know that I also want to not have this much $ tied up in this hobby. I really like a lot of the new knives out there, but I am thinking about paring down my collection even further to pay for a vacation this fall on the Eastern Shore. I won't deal with the crowds during the summer in the resort towns, at the Delaware seashore or Ocean $H!++y MD. Chincoteague VA looks like the optimum spot for me to visit, but the only time I can go is around the pony swim, and I don't want to go then. I figure that, after my sisters wedding in early October, would be a good time to go down. Cheaper rooms/apartments, cheaper meals in the offseason. Easier to get around. The Eastern Shore is such a beautiful place to visit, because of the slower pace down there. Durn tourists, like myself, make it so uncomfortable from Memorial Day to Labor Day...
 
Guilty :rolleyes:
I'm going through a weird thing now: I'm about to spend more than I've ever spent on one single knife (a custom), yet I feel that my "philosophy" isn't changing at all. I just want a nicer knife to take pictures of in many parts of the world :p
I'm not judging the way anyone spends his money, not at all. It's just that, for much that I love knives, no hobby really fills my soul like travelling and discovering new places, cultures, people, and traditions.
I can't say much about holiday spots in the US: I've only been to southern FL, and NYC (and a few other places that I had no time to visit decently), and neither probably fits your requirements. As for your Eastern shore plans, one thing that I've learned while collecting visa stamps is that the time of the year when you visit a place is almost as important as the place itself. And I've had enough of crowded holiday seasons in my life (here in Sardinia), so I try to avoid them as much as I can :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
silenthunterstudios said:
I've been unloading knives recently, and have been looking at how much $ goes into my hobby. I also love getting out somewhere where I can fish, swim, hike and listen to some good music, all in the same day. ... I really like a lot of the new knives out there, but I am thinking about paring down my collection even further to pay for a vacation this fall ...
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I can really related to this. I like knives, sure. But I'm much more into using/enjoying them than I am into acquiring and storing them. As of right now, I don't have a single knife that I paid more than $35 for. I have knives from Case, Opinel, Victorinox, Gerber, Schrade (USA), Buck and Leatherman.

Every so often some kid will post here at BladeForums.com: "I'm off to college in the fall. Which [insert name of some $200+ folder here] should I buy to take with?" My stock answer is: Take a SAK and put the rest of that money towards some experience you'll never forget! Go to Mardi Gras, plan a Spring Break canoe trip, backpack around Europe .... whatever. We've got a short run on this planet, after all. Now get out and enjoy it!

-- Mark
 
Mark,
I've been thrilled by the same kind of thread/question more than once as well. I never answered, because I don't want to upset anyone...but I agree with you.
Thinking back, when I was in University, I only had an old Vic Spartan, and eventually one inherited Sardinian folder at home.
But again, that's when I started collecting visa stamps :D

Fausto
:cool:
 
Yeah, Mark, but I've already got enough "grail" knives that I should be more than happy. Case Bose knives, custom Kepharts and Hudson Bays. It truly is a sickness. I have more paring down to do as it is. I've rejected tons of trade offers for many nice knives, just because I have too durn much already. I already have another Charlow coming to me, and an Ozark Hunter.

I see a road trip in the future... Maine seashore like I've planned since I was a teenager.
 
I bought a knife repair book at a knife show in April, and would like to try my hand at repairing old knives. I have gotten a kick out of sending old knives to a couple different guys and seeing what they do to restore them back to former glory. The best part about this hobby is the camraderie, the get togethers, the shows, the club meetings. I have more fun hanging out in a knife makers shop or using one of their blades at a campout, than I do buying the durn knives.
 
I haven't been able to travel lately because of small kids and lack of vacation time and funds, so getting knives from foreign countries has been my form of travel.

But I've been feeling weighed down by my collection, too. It is such a drag to do the buy/sell song and dance though.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
I asked a member on here a couple months ago how he was able to get to some really nice spots for vacation. He explained that he didn't spend all of his money on knives ;).

Yeah, I'm beginning to understand.
Click to expand...

Makes sense. I've finally reached a point where this strategy is feasible. I've long been into knives, always have, always will. But I've been at this for a while now and I no longer feel the desire to get every knife that catches my eye.

I'm trying to limit myself to one knife a year. I want the good stuff -- pretty, with good steel, fine craftsmanship, and excellence of design. After all I have more than enough knives and any I pick up from here on out is pure luxury. If I get something I want it to be special, otherwise I'm just accumulating stuff for its own sake and I don't want that.

- Christian
 
kamagong said:
Makes sense. I've finally reached a point where this strategy is feasible. I've long been into knives, always have, always will. But I've been at this for a while now and I no longer feel the desire to get every knife that catches my eye.

I'm trying to limit myself to one knife a year. I want the good stuff -- pretty, with good steel, fine craftsmanship, and excellence of design. After all I have more than enough knives and any I pick up from here on out is pure luxury. If I get something I want it to be special, otherwise I'm just accumulating stuff for its own sake and I don't want that.

- Christian
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I think that you hit it on the head.
 
I've bought one knife in the past 1.5 years...the 2012 forum knife, this year I dunno if I'm even going to be able to get the 2013. With medical bills and buying a carry pistol my funds have been stretched.

I do find myself only eyeing better quality knives though.
 
Christian,
your point of view makes perfect sense to me. Looking back in time, I bought very few knives for myself in my whole life...amd this year, at this very moment, I'm starting to follow a strategy very similar to yours. Less knives (I'm picky by nature, so I don't find it too hard to choose), and more quality, both as a general concept, and in matching my taste.
I don't know if I'm the only one in this, but acquiring less knives makes me enjoy them more (from the thought of a new knife, to choosing it, looking for it, getting it, and carrying it around). I know it wouldn't feel that good if I had a new knife every week. But that's just me :rolleyes:

Fausto
:cool:
 
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I am glad that there are lots of folks who collect the better brands of traditional knives and buy lots of them. I benefit greatly from them as they help keep these great companies alive and kicking. Truth be told we all owe them a debt of gratitude.

But I am kind of like a lot of you guys. I don't buy that many. Last one was about 9 months ago. Once you find the perfect knife, or two (which I have done), then it comes down to collecting. I know what I really like and when I see one I jump but that doesn't happen every day. I'm kind of a now and then buyer I guess.

But one really big benefit of carrying only a couple is that they age very well if they get carried a lot. My favorite knife has always been the two blade jack. But I never owned one in my whole life until I got married in October. In the 8 months since then this knife has really started to look sweet. It has the makings of a real masterpiece and should look great in a few years.

But I never disparage the real hard core knife collector/buyer. They help keep the hobby alive. :)

Will
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Fausto, I wouldn't mind a new knife every week :D...
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Nor I would mind a new visa stamp every month :D
Will,
I really agree with you. We're not all the same, and I have great respect for anyone here (from niche collectors to accumulators to hard users), because behind each and every attitude I see the same passion, just lived in a different way :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
quattromori said:
Christian,
your point of view makes perfect sense to me. Looking back in time, I boughtvery few knives for myself in my whole life...amd this year, at this very moment, I'm starting to follow a strategy very similar to yours. Less knives (I'm picky by nature, so I don't find it too hard to choose), and more quality, both as a general concept, and in matching my taste.
I don't know if I'm the only one in this, but acquiring less knives makes me enjoy them more (from the thought of a new knife, to choosing it, looking for it, getting it, and carrying it around). I know it wouldn't feel that good if I had a new knife every week. But that's just me :rolleyes:

Fausto
:cool:
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It's not just you Fausto. ;)

DrPenguin said:
But I never disparage the real hard core knife collector/buyer. They help keep the hobby alive. :)

Will
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Nor I. Passionate and generous guys like Charlie have been invaluable in my learning about what was, and is, a very enjoyable interest. They are the impetus behind companies like GEC upping their game. Those looking for a simple using knife aren't as particular.

Don't get me wrong, I still foresee plenty of new knives for me in the future. It's just that my attention is more focused now. I only plan on getting stuff that I really want. Thankfully I have a huge family. If ever I see the need to dispose of some knives I have plenty of nephews and nieces that could use a good knife or two.

I've also discovered that I like using my knives as much as I do getting them. The look of amazement on my daughter's face as she watched me finishing up a ball-in-cage is a memory I treasure. And I smile whenever she runs up to me with a fruit in her hand, asking me to peel it. Whether it's something as mundane as trimming the tree branches in my yard or opening some mail, I want to learn how to use my knives really well. Now I just need to find someone to teach me how to fight with a bowie. :D

- Christian
 
I, too, have curtailed my buying quite a bit. I just checked, and for the 1st quarter of this year I bought less than half as many knives as I did for the 1st quarter of 2012. Finances have nothing to do with it. It is a combination of finally having pretty much every type there is, and knowing which ones I would actually use. Time to unload some of the ones that I won't.
 
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