Collecting farewell??

carbon2329

carbon2329

Joined
Mar 22, 2017
Messages
66
Hello all,
I hope this is worthwhile. I thought it might provide some fun discussions.

I have been collecting for years, but only recently started contributing here on BF. I've mainly been collecting pieces in the $300-$1100 price range and have always kept my collection very refined (8-12 pieces, Thorburn, Skiff, CRK Shiro, etc...) because I use every knife and if I have too many they just sit.

Anyway, I have been trying to get two pieces (Norseman & Rask) for about 18months + and have had about a dozen near misses in trying to get them.

This has led to me being a little frustrated (first world problem, I know). So much so, that I am in the process of selling all my pieces because it's getting a bit too aggravating (no I'm not pouting :) ). Like I said in my sale thread, "I think I may be better off sticking with shooting etc.. things I can just get and not have to deal with secondary prices that are 2-3 times retail and 5 year wait lists". Let's be honest who is going to spend $7000 on a Rexford and actually use it when they move next week to open boxes or on the camp out when making dinner.(my guess is 1% of us, at most)

Money is not the main concern for me, however but the principle is. I am not really limited by budget, but I personally just cannot spend $1700-$2200 on a Norseman when it sold for $620-ish. I plan to USE each knife for:food prep, box tear down (I just moved), camping tasks (light tasks not batoning),....what they are designed for etc... If I buy a knife, I want to get something I like and not have ANY fear of using it...and fear includes fear of wasted money and wasteful behavior too (I hope that makes sense). For me that fear begins past $1399.00 :) (everyone's different). I was offered a Norseman with Damascus for $3400..I passed.
So....I'm selling just about everything.
I may give a shot at getting a Norseman and Rask, still. If I could really do what I wanted, I would sell everything and just get a Rask & Norseman and just cut into the sunset and leave the aggravation behind. (I know they say they will be selling more, but it's not fact until it actually happens, ya know)
I will still enjoy the community, but in the same way I do professional sports; I'll watch but not participate/buy etc... :)

I am, in no means, trying to come across bitter, but just thinking of moving on from the "hard to get" stuff, perhaps. Life it too short.

That's my story. Am I the only one?

Any thoughts, advice,...connections ;)
 
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Gosh, I surely hope so...
I had "prepared" a much longer exposition, but my wonderful computer kindly made it disappear at the last moment, and perhaps that's for the better.
I just don't agree with your particular logic...at all.
 
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I get why you wouldn't spend so much on a knife if you don't think it's worth that much, but I don't get why you're quitting collecting because of it. Kind of odd, it would be like a car guy giving up and selling his cars because he refuses to pay for an overpriced classic. Why let someone else take your hobby from you?
People overpricing things is just part of supply and demand, if they have the supply and others have the demand then they can overprice it to an extent.

Just my 2¢
 
Kinda sounds like my way or the highway,if I can't have what I want I quit. I mean ya posted it here for comments so here they come. To me you sound like a spoiled brat that is pouting about not getting his way. But other then that nice collection selling will make a few people happy. Maybe knives shouldn't be your thing I hear marbles are making a comeback.
 
carbon2329 said:
Hello all,


I am, in no means, trying to come across bitter, but just thinking of moving on from the "hard to get" stuff, perhaps. Life it too short.

Any thoughts, advice,...connections ;)
Click to expand...

"Life is too short"... damn right, and let me add that IT MAY ALL END FOR ANY OF US TOMORROW...

So ironically enough, THIS is exactly why I collect and enjoy owning many knives that I never in intend to use....

Let me put it this way, I could have kept the money that I put into knife collecting in the bank, in a CD, in stocks (whatever)... the point is that with the knives I can hold them in may hand, be amazed at the fit and finish, by the amazing action and degree of craftsmanship... I have seen my share of $100 bills, stock certificates, and impressive bank statements, but none of those has even come close to the feeling I get as I go through my knife collection

For the record, that is why I also buy/collect guns, cars, motorcycles, watches, etc. etc...

You can't take it with you and having an extra 300K (or whatever) in the bank, by virtue of denying yourself of things that you are attracted to, things that you would like to own and enjoy seems stupid to me personally
 
What you guys say is very true.

Kindly, I hope to express that's it's not a "my way or the highway", type of mentality, but it appears that my type of focused personally may not lend well to this type of thing.

I'm not trying to "stomp my feet", really.
I'm not selling to be angry, just separate myself,because I (not anyone else) am too much of an "all in" type of temperament.

I appreciate the brutal honesty, and enjoy the community here, I don't, however see the need for name calling.

We are all adults and I thought this could be a interesting discussion on knife value, availablity, etc...

This community is about wants, not needs, so I hoped we wouldn't get angry or mean. Just a good hearted roast, perhaps.

Keep it coming :)
 
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I would have :) seriously.

I guess for me, with any hobby, it gets old seeing things I get excited about and then they are unattainable (And it's not like these are the Mon Lisa, they are in theory more gettable, maybe,...maybe not:) )

I am just too focused, I think. My problem, I know.

But that's life.
 
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carbon2329 said:
I would have :) seriously.

I guess for me, with any hobby, it gets old seeing things I get excited about and then they are unattainable (And it's not like these are the Mon Lisa, they are in theory more gettable, maybe,...maybe not:) )

I am just too focused, I think. My problem, I know.

But that's life.
Click to expand...


Yes but part of the fun of finally getting the object of your desire is precisely because it's difficult to obtain. You know it's hard to get and now that you have it, you can kick sand in THEIR faces!
 
Sonnydaze said:
Gosh, I surely hope so...
I had "prepared" a much longer exposition, but my wonderful computer kindly made it disappear at the last moment, and perhaps that's for the better.
I just don't agree with your particular logic...at all.
Click to expand...

I just decided not to post what would probably have been a similar "exposition" myself...
So I'll just comment by saying that I'm with Sonny on this one..
 
Your absolutely right.

Is not logical at all. It's not sound reasoning or sensible...it's emotional. Neither is spending thousands of dollars on items we don't really need or truly use...it's emotion (enjoyment, fun, etc...) and not a bad thing either!!!!

But for me it's been a little more agravating than fun so I may just step back...(seems logical ;) ). That was a joke :)

I don't expect everyone to agree, or even understand entirely, but I imagine others have had some similar experiences in some way or the other. I am just sharing.
I am not giving up on the community, I still plan to look and appreciate the skill and craftsmanship. Just not get too focused on trying to get in on the "next run" of knives and miss it. Or just never get it.
Hope that makes sense.
 
A Grimsmo Norseman is probably my current grail and I have a price ceiling for that as for one I too will use it I don't like the idea of safe queens but I think this forum or Blade Show will be my best hopes at getting one. I wouldn't let the difficulty stop you from enjoying this just perhaps let somethings sit in a waiting room where you will pick it up if ever the price is right and it is available.
 
If a $7k Rexford was comfortably within my reach, I'd cut a "Dave Mod" and throw it in my left rear pocket.
 
Man, first world problems huh?

I agree with the above, letting other people (those selling knives for 3-5x what they sold for new) essentially run you out of the hobby with shenanigans only makes you unhappy, no one else sees it or would have known it had happened if it weren't for this thread.

Part of the excitement for me is the hunt. While I don't hunt the game you do (I'm a Benchmade, Emerson, Spyderco kind of guy), I do agree that if you have a knife you should use it. I am ultra picky, I know the second I hold a new knife whether or not I'll be keeping it. If I know I won't carry it, doesn't matter how expensive or rare, I get rid of it.

Maybe don't give it up, just step back and hunt just the two. If shooting makes you happier focus more on it for a while but a guy that buys the caliber knife you talk about appreciates knives as more than the sum of their parts or the utility they provide. Not that I don't appreciate my Griptilian but you both appreciate and can afford good/high end craftsmanship.
 
Totally, first world problems

That's why it's not too tragic either way. Whether I'm totally "into it", or just "step back" and enjoy watching (not trying to buy).

Some guys enjoy watching a game and others have there day ruined if their team looses...I guess I am attempting to be the former. :)
 
carbon2329 said:
For me that fear begins past $1399.00 :) (everyone's different).
Click to expand...

We play in very different parts of the "knife pool" -- that fear, for me, starts at about $200 -- but I found myself nodding often while reading your post. I totally get where you're coming from. Chasing things can be exhausting, and chasing things that you know -- for whatever reason, emotional or otherwise -- you won't actually use the way that you want to use them doesn't make sense to me.

It's taken me about three years, and a few dozen knife purchases, to figure out that I'm a one-knife guy at heart. I want one constant companion, the knife I think of as mine, to go into my pocket every day. It can be supplemented by knives stashed in specific places, or for specific purposes (I keep one in my dash, one in my disaster bag, one in my hiking pack, etc.), but I don't enjoy rotating knives and I'm conflicted about holding onto the ones that I own but don't EDC.

And that one knife has to be one I can use without reservation. Even if I know intellectually that a knife is made to be tough and capable, I won't really put it to work unless it feels a certain way. Irrational, but we can't always help how we're wired.

Hopefully that's not too much of a digression. I was looking for a connection between the aspect of your experience that resonated with me based on my own, and this was it. I love knife philosophy posts -- thanks for writing a thought-provoking one. :thumbsup:
 
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