Carry or Collect?A Conundrum

I don't buy many knives that I don't plan on carrying. I do have many knives that I don't carry.

See, I'm also looking for the Vorpal blade, like knarfeng. The ones that are close get carried, the ones that aren't don't.

So I guess I'm a collector that has no particular rhyme nor reason to their collecting, other then trying to find that one knife that will put all others to shame. With as long as I've been at it, I'm beginning to suspect that Ill never find it. But the fun is in the search!
 
I enjoy both - collecting and carrying - typically buy two from the maker in different formats or finishes...always carry at least one of them. It's hard to enjoy when it's in the safe but it's fun knowing its there!


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slide13 said:
I'm not a collector, just don't have that mindset and don't get any enjoyment of having a bunch of stuff that I don't actually use.
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I came to the same conclusion about myself long ago.
Collecting (or, at least, what I consider real collecting) requires a mindset which is not in my DNA...so if I buy a knife, is because I want to carry it and use it. And if for some reason I realize I'm not carrying it (or not anymore), then off it goes to a new home.
Yet...we're all different. Hearing opinions here will hopefully help you understand what works for you. In the end, that's the only thing that matters.

Fausto
:cool:
 
I'm similar to most posts here, I use them all and sell them if they aren't getting used! It's nice to have them, but the real fun is in using them, sharpening them, and enjoying them.


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I collect (hoard) just about any type of knife that interests me. Most of my new ones (GEC, Case, etc.) don't get used, just put away for future consideration. I also have many older knives that I collect, but I have been more willing to use and carry those, as unless they are super rare, used knives just don't have as much value, so why not enjoy them and appreciate the craftsmanship.
 
I have a couple of knives now that I use while out and about... But the rest of my knives were purchased to be kept within my collection. I don't call them "safe queens" because I actually use them to decorate my home. None are kept from sight, all being housed under glass in some sort or another display case. They always make me smile, so they serve my purposes ☺ In the end, it's what makes YOU happy 👍☺

Here is just one of many displays I have...

2d97ekz.jpg
 
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Every knife on my shelf is eligible to be carried, either in my pocket or on a camping trip. I don't own anything that cost more than $125, and most of my knives come in under $20. I have a few Rough Riders that I am holding off on carrying until I can pick up some leather slips for them. These are in saw cut bone, a finish I find very attractive, if a little gaudy. They just do not seem to wear well.
 
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Life is way too short to carry inferior knives. Take your nice knives out of the safe and pocket them.
 
The ones you have carried and used always have a way of becoming your favorites. Why would you want to risk your best knife not being your favorite?....

On occasions where I own more than one example of a given knife, I carry the one I like best.
 
I don't have a large collection of knives by any stretch of the imagination, but every one that I have is a candidate for being carried and used. I don't abuse them and I try to see that they don't get scratched just through carelessness. I take pride in them looking good and I'll strop them after using to keep them sharp. But, I don't get crazy if a scratch or a rub mark shows up...they can't stay pristine forever. My favorites get carried more than others of course, but all seem to find their way into my pocket at some point, even if it's just for a week or so.

I can see the allure of collecting though and if I had a very expensive, or rare, or delicate blade, it would probably reside under glass.

I just enjoy knives and like carrying them and using them. I keep waiting for the day when a co-worker or acquaintance sees me using one and says, "Hey, is that a Canal Street knife? I sure hated to see them go under" or something similar. Outside of the Internet, I'm the only knife guy I know, and it's pretty lonesome sometimes!

Buy the knives you like for whatever reason you like; whether you carry them or just admire them in a case. They're yours and you'll know when it's time to break one out and use it!
 
If I don't carry them, I move them for something I will... Nothing is too nice to do some work! These things are tools... I can't imagine buying a really nice hammer and being afraid to use it.

 
Jfowl31 said:
Nothing is too nice to do some work! These things are tools... I can't imagine buying a really nice hammer and being afraid to use it.
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I agree that nothing is too nice to use, but some tasks are reserved for what I deem as beaters. I have a Stiletto hammer, and you can bet I use it, but I sure don't use it to beat concrete or bang nails out of concrete. My cheapo Stanley is for that. Same thing goes for knives, which is why I typically carry two.... One for the really nasty stuff and the other for cutting stuff open or food.

Nice Schrade BTW! :thumbup:
 
I use all the knives that I own and have yet to buy one with the intention of keeping it mint. That being said I completely understand falling in love with a pattern and buying mass quantities in all different covers and blade shapes. I fight this urge and it keeps my carry rotation interesting. I'm still trying to figure out what my overall favorite blade shape, pattern and cover material actually is without getting task specific. I won't ever accomplish that without buying and using them. Lucky for me but unlucky for my wallet there's hundreds of variations.
 
draggat said:
I agree that nothing is too nice to use, but some tasks are reserved for what I deem as beaters. I have a Stiletto hammer, and you can bet I use it, but I sure don't use it to beat concrete or bang nails out of concrete. My cheapo Stanley is for that. Same thing goes for knives, which is why I typically carry two.... One for the really nasty stuff and the other for cutting stuff open or food.

Nice Schrade BTW! :thumbup:
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Agreed on all points. I don't abuse any of my tools. I use them for their intended purpose. I don't use a blade for turning screws... And I don't use a finish hammer to frame a house nor a framing hammer to trim a house.

Knives are for cutting. I buy what I want to carry. Some of my knives are reserved for "church carry" which is that they are dressier and get carried on non-work days where they won't likely be cutting anything that could scratch the blade or cause patina. Others are utilitarian and meant to do work. I consider my GECs as a knife that is built strong and should be used. That's one of the reasons I love their patterns. They feel stout and ready to perform.

All that said, I still wipe everything down at the end of the day and clean out the joint if needed. That Schrade is clean as a whistle now and the edge is touched up ready for another day on the job! It has been getting more pocket time recently because it doesn't require that second hand to use it.
 
Both for me! I have all of my collection in my rotation, but some knives get really used and others will get only put to work with certain "light" tasks like package opening.
 
I guess that I am a user and a collector . Right now , I only have 80 plus folders and just a few fixed blades . I prefer to carry at least 1 Stag at all times but I also have some decent ones that I feel need to be rotated to some degree. I normally carry a 73 in Stag and a 77 Barlow . I have a few older ones that I also rotate . I guess that ones other than my EDC's , I treat just like my wife does with her jewelry : Whatever I feel like at the time . I have many that I will not use as work knives . Those are the ones that my children have gifted to me because someday they will get them back .

Harry
 
Duper said:
Hi guys, do most of you have knives you use in a regular rotation or are you strictly collecting?
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Peregrin said:
I don't buy many knives that I don't plan on carrying. I do have many knives that I don't carry.

See, I'm also looking for the Vorpal blade, like knarfeng. The ones that are close get carried, the ones that aren't don't.

So I guess I'm a collector that has no particular rhyme nor reason to their collecting, other then trying to find that one knife that will put all others to shame. With as long as I've been at it, I'm beginning to suspect that Ill never find it. But the fun is in the search!
Click to expand...

As usual, my answer is reasonably similar to Gary's.
I don't collect knives. My purchases are an exploration of patterns, sizes, blade profiles, steel alloys, heat treats, and cover materials, which is to say, "designs". I'm always seeking the knives which perfectly meet my needs. "knives", because I've learned that I need different knives for different activities.

I have a couple which are perfect for their intended use. I will buy no others that are intended to fulfill that function. For other functions, the search is still on.

A byproduct of that search is that I have a lot of knives that are now carried infrequently. But all have been carried quite a bit when I was evaluating the design of that knife. IMO it is not possible to evaluate a knife without carrying it to see how well the design works. I keep those knives and do not sell them because they are my reference library of designs. Sometimes I go back and carry one for a spell to remind me of its positives and negatives.

So, I don't "collect" so much as I "accumulate" knives.
 
jrawk said:
if I don't use them, what good is it having all these sharpening stones, strops, belt sanders, buffers, and other miscellaneous tools I've purchased? :o
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Part of the joy I get from being a KN is using my hands with tools I've purchased, to work on the tools I've purchased.
 
I will use everything I buy once I decide it's a keeper. I rotate the knives I carry all the time and if something is falling behind and never gets carried or a new release needs to be financed then off it goes.

My 77 Barlow 2blade micarta and Ancient TC Ebony Barlow are my favorites. Can't imagine selling those.

Sometimes I order a knife just to gets it in my hands only to realize it's not for me and to the exchange it goes. Since we can't go to a store to see the different handles and colors it's the only way to try different patters and blades.
 
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