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

[BigBiscuit]

I had more fishing gear than any man could use in three lifetimes. As well as recreational fishing, I did a lot of commercial saltwater fishing. Much of it was rod and reel such as Striped Bass and Fluke/Flounder. All the Tuna gear is long gone. I sold off a lot of it, but still have quite a bit. This past year, I moved more of it than ever to fund a few knife purchases and pay bills.

 

[black mamba]

I sell guns to buy knives and sell knives to buy guns and sell guns to buy guns and sell knives to buy knives . . . .

I'm hopeless!

 

[MTURBO]

I'll sell knives to buy a gun but not the other way around.

 

[mrknife]

you guys are so lucky! im in one of the most anti gun cities in the US

 

[Peregrin]

Lately I've been selling knives when I see one I really want. Particularly if it's a custom or maybe a more expensive factory knife (like a Case/Bose collab or a Randall or a ....). I don't buy many anymore. I just can't justify it to myself. As it is, I have a major project on my hands to catalog what I already own. I know my sons will appreciate the hundreds to choose from, before they sell off the rest someday! Good Lord willing that'll be a few decades from now. There's a few I'm on the hunt for or will snap up if given the opportunity.

 

[Jack Black]

I keep meaning to do some cataloging myself Gary I'm even more useless at selling stuff than I am cataloging

 

[JB in SC]

I never owned more than a few knives at a time. I sold when I saw something different that interested me, never getting too far down the rabbit hole.

 

[btmccutcheon]

Lately I've been selling knives when I see one I really want. Particularly if it's a custom or maybe a more expensive factory knife (like a Case/Bose collab or a Randall or a ....). I don't buy many anymore. I just can't justify it to myself. As it is, I have a major project on my hands to catalog what I already own. I know my sons will appreciate the hundreds to choose from, before they sell off the rest someday! Good Lord willing that'll be a few decades from now. There's a few I'm on the hunt for or will snap up if given the opportunity.

I started cataloging mine about a year ago. Every time a new acquisition comes into my possession I enter it into the spreadsheet within a day or two. It's helped me out considerably for several reasons. I'm sure your sons will appreciate it. I myself need to slow down on my acquisitions.

 

[quattromori]

I never owned more than a few knives at a time. I sold when I saw something different that interested me, never getting too far down the rabbit hole.

This is pretty much my philosophy as well. I like having (and using) only a handful of knives...and to be honest, if some of them weren't "dedicated" ones (scrubs knife, outdoors/hiking knife, etc) I would own even less. Also, sometimes I see something that I like, and then time (and use) makes me realize there's something else that I want more...so I sell the old one not just to get the money for the new one, but mainly because I know the new one is going to dump the old one in the drawer and that's a fate I don't want my knives to deal with. I'm glad I'm not good at collecting or accumulating

Gary,
your pictures of NY state landscapes and outdoors scenes always make me dream of getting there sooner or later. Same thing when Kris posts pics of Montana. Not sure I will ever be able to visit those places...yet it's nice to see your pictures and dream. It's a very different countryside than the one I'm used to...although my homeland is really as beautiful. Just different

Fausto

 

[Jolipapa]

This was a prototype.
The actual one has a trap door hiding an emergency inflatable cognac bottle

edit It will perhaps be exported someday to the USA : France is now only the second wine drinker's nation, behind Oncle Sam's sons (& girls).

 

[Will Power]

Interesting, all this talk of selling off knives to buy yet more Makes me think of Shakespeare, "Let's talk of graves, of worms of epitaphs"

I just wish my knives could get back to normal.:grumpy: Meaning?? Lately it's turned violently cold: -29.6C the other morning...:barf: As the temp plummets the moisture vanishes, indoors it gets hot from central heating and 4 pane windows, moisture becomes extinct. I got a humidity reading of 9% this afternoon. This is less than kind for knives, Mr Stag, Bone, Wood and Horn don't like it one bit and begin to draw into themselves. They shrink away from liners or bolster, occasionally alarmingly so. Even with a powerful humidifyer on that pumps out 5 litres in about 5 hours I only get 30% humidity. Until it gets warmer outside my knives suffer, when the humidity returns they all rejoice and get back to normal. It's not so nice for humans either, the skin and throat get dry, the eyes too, water is the element of life it seems.

 

[knarfeng]

Coastal San Diego does not get cold enough for this to be an issue, but I would imagine that a humidifier might be a worthwhile investment.

I know that many folks who use wood-burning stoves keep a cast iron kettle filled with water on the back of the stove to add some humidity to the air.

 

[Peregrin]

This is pretty much my philosophy as well. I like having (and using) only a handful of knives...and to be honest, if some of them weren't "dedicated" ones (scrubs knife, outdoors/hiking knife, etc) I would own even less. Also, sometimes I see something that I like, and then time (and use) makes me realize there's something else that I want more...so I sell the old one not just to get the money for the new one, but mainly because I know the new one is going to dump the old one in the drawer and that's a fate I don't want my knives to deal with. I'm glad I'm not good at collecting or accumulating

Gary,
your pictures of NY state landscapes and outdoors scenes always make me dream of getting there sooner or later. Same thing when Kris posts pics of Montana. Not sure I will ever be able to visit those places...yet it's nice to see your pictures and dream. It's a very different countryside than the one I'm used to...although my homeland is really as beautiful. Just different

Fausto

Thanks, Fausto. I'm glad you enjoy seeing them. As for your home, Sardinia, even though I've never been there I know it's similar to Sicily and Calabria. You sir live in paradise!

 

[screened porch]

Back in 'Pan we heated with oil-stoves (kerosene heaters), and kept a kettle on top for humidifying.

 

[Jsega51]

Will...a few winters ago it got real cold for a long stretch like that here also and my house got drier than sawdust, the static electricity was crazy. My buddy was renting a room from me at the time and one night when he went to turn up the heat, a bolt of lightening shot out of his finger and actually fried the thermostat. I had to run and buy a new one. Needless to say, I cut into my new furnace duct work to install a drum humidifier. It definitely helps.

 

[knarfeng]

Going to comment here instead in the thread from which this was taken.

Now, now, let's not get too carried away.

I was taught that everyone is a lady or a gentleman until proven otherwise. Your posts have repeatedly shown you to be a great lady.

 

[kamagong]

Lately I've been selling knives when I see one I really want. Particularly if it's a custom or maybe a more expensive factory knife (like a Case/Bose collab or a Randall or a ....). I don't buy many anymore. I just can't justify it to myself. As it is, I have a major project on my hands to catalog what I already own. I know my sons will appreciate the hundreds to choose from, before they sell off the rest someday! Good Lord willing that'll be a few decades from now. There's a few I'm on the hunt for or will snap up if given the opportunity.

This is pretty much my philosophy as well. I like having (and using) only a handful of knives...and to be honest, if some of them weren't "dedicated" ones (scrubs knife, outdoors/hiking knife, etc) I would own even less. Also, sometimes I see something that I like, and then time (and use) makes me realize there's something else that I want more...so I sell the old one not just to get the money for the new one, but mainly because I know the new one is going to dump the old one in the drawer and that's a fate I don't want my knives to deal with. I'm glad I'm not good at collecting or accumulating

Sell a knife? The horror... I've sold some knives before. I don't like it, and I don't want to do it again.

I guess I've been lucky. I'm a pretty disciplined buyer, picking up a knife only when it really piques my interest. I don't go willy-nilly buying every knife that catches my eye, choosing to only acquire new ones that I like. It helps that I'm fairly picky, and I'll stay away from a knife if it has a detail I don't like (e.g., glued in shields, low end stainless, etc.).

At this point I can't imagine never getting another knife, or getting rid of one before I pick up another. I'm fond of all my knives, even if I don't have that many or use the majority all that often. Plus, my family loves to gift me knives. If I told them no more, they'd probably start giving me socks or ties instead. :grumpy:

 

[Catherine_Montana]

Thank you for posting the New York pictures!

Cate

 

[quattromori]

Christian,
as you probably know, I'm just as picky as you are...and production cutlery mostly doesn't seem to be exactly going towards me yet I don't like seeing knives gettingsad at the bottom of my drawer. I've sold some, and given away others here, with little or no emotional effort. Obviously some knives have a special place for me andthose ones I will keep, no matter whether I use them or not. As for socks and ties...

Gary,
Sardinia is better

Fausto

 

[r redden]

This is pretty much my philosophy as well. I like having (and using) only a handful of knives...and to be honest, if some of them weren't "dedicated" ones (scrubs knife, outdoors/hiking knife, etc) I would own even less. Also, sometimes I see something that I like, and then time (and use) makes me realize there's something else that I want more...so I sell the old one not just to get the money for the new one, but mainly because I know the new one is going to dump the old one in the drawer and that's a fate I don't want my knives to deal with. I'm glad I'm not good at collecting or accumulating

I wish I could be more like this I think it goes back to my childhood. We were dirt poor so even the occasional 12 cent comic book was just out of the question most of the time and a new toy only came at Christmas. Now a days I am able to afford somethings and knives have become this old man's toys. So I buy them when ever I see something I like no matter if they are going to be used or not. I no longer will stand by the 'toy counter' daydreaming about what I see so if I fancy it I will own it. The other side of growing up like this is that I get great pleasure from sharing my toys with others and that is why I give so many knives away.