Collecting vs using (case,gec,queen etc)

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bigfoot1127

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Dec 4, 2013
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I have a question for all the well versed knife collectors in this excellent forum...

Do any of you use the knives you "collect" or do you collect for monetary reasons?(flipping)

I've been wrestling with myself for a bit on wether to collect the knives for keeping/heirlooms or collect and use them in an EDC rotation.

What say you oh great blade forum collectors and users?

This is my modest start to traditional knife collecting:

Yeller trapper
Yeller mini trapper
Yeller med stockman
Amber bone stockman cv
Synth med stockman ss
Yeller peanut (cult beginning?)
Black sodbuster jr ss
Yeller sodbuster jr
Yeller hawkbill pruner
Old red bone pocket worn trapper ss

1znlbw9.jpg
 
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All of mine are users, that I take care of and don't abuse. I buy good knives so I can get some of my money back if I sell.... I really just like trying out different things.
 
I use all of my knives. I enjoy looking at all of them but I get the most enjoyment when I actually use them.
 
This question comes up every couple of months. With all the new posters here it's not a bad thing to see it once again.

I try and use all mine. Some get used more and harder then others. My next knife is always the one that's going to satisfy all my knife needs and preferences. I wish...
 
I don't collect, I use them. I have 9 traditional knives (all GEC folders). Some I use/carry more than others, but none just sit around in the tube. They all get at least some pocket time. Others get a lot of carry and use. Ultimately though if I just never "connect" with a knife and don't end up using it then it ultimately gets sold or traded for one I will carry/use.

It's up to you of course. Maybe just keep some unused and select certain ones to carry and use.

IMHO none of these is worth enough to call them anything like an investment. They hold their value fairly well if not abused, but none of them is anything more than things meant to be carried and enjoyed for the fine tools they are.
 
I don't consider myself a "collector". I'm more like a "man who has lots of tools from which to choose." Kind of like some fellas who like to work on cars and have their own full set of Snap-On tools in their home garage.

I'm always evaluating the performance of knife designs, and you can't evaluate them if you don't use them.
 
I like the was Frank explained it, I use all of my knives, some more than others, I buy expensive ones because generally they're funnier to use. :)
 
I seldom buy a knife to "collect" but it seems to work out that way sometimes. But I don't actively collect knives of any kind. Some get used and some just lie around. My Randall's have worked out to be "collector" pieces collecting dust mostly. The values on them have gone up and since I don't need to use them, I don't.
 
I have more knives than I need. Many are still new in box/tube. That is a result of new-to-knives exuberance (I.e. Buying frenzy) combined with enough extra disposable income to where I could afford it for a while. That phase has come to an end, I am knife-purchase-free for over a month now.

So now I have an accidental collection. I never intended to have a collection, just to have a selection of users in interesting patterns to choose from. The way I am now viewing it is this: I have my own little knife store, stocked with patterns and materials that I know I like. When I get the yen for a new knife, I'll 'buy' it from my 'store'. If at some point I decide some of my inventory isn't ever going to sell to my one customer (me) then I might try to recoup some of my money by selling them.

I don't think the typical collector is going to make much money on their knives, unless you are truly knowledgeable in the field and are buying the rare ones that are also sought after. "Flipping" only works when you know the market value of a knife, and you find a motivated seller who does not. Example is making a low ball offer for an entire collection that someone needs to get rid of in a hurry, that you then have the time to sell individually at your leisure. Widow, lost job, health issue kind of thing.

Unless you are trading in more expensive knives, the shipping and sales fees (Paypal, auction site fees) will eat up a lot of your profits.

My suggestion is to buy those knives that you enjoy owning, whether that joy comes from carrying and using them, displaying them, or photographing and talking about them with other aficionados. If you can net 70% of your original investment later, then I'd say you'd be doing well.
 
Users all of 'em. I do tend to just rotate through my favorites, so some do go unused for a while.
 
I only own few knives, and like to carry and use all of them, from my SAK's and Opinel's to my customs. Honestly, sometimes I wish I had more chances to use my knives... ;)
I'm not a collector at all. Like I said before, it's not in my genes, although I highly appreciate those among us who are dedicated to collecting, especially old knives or a single pattern. It's just not for me.
As for the monetary reasons, I might be wrong, but buying knives as an investment doesn't sound like a good way to preserve your money.
Not that buying knives and using them works any better :D

Fausto
:cool:
 
It all lies in what makes you happy. Some I collect, some I use and some I haven't got around to using yet. My biggest problem seems to be I enjoy the buying more than the selling :rolleyes:
 
Use them and enjoy them thoroughly. GECs are terrible collectibles seeing as a lot of them have carbon blades and even springs, makes me want to use mine, rather than to just let them rust. I sort of collect knives, but use them as well. Knife enthusiast might be a better moniker for me.
 
I've accumulated some knives. Some I use everyday, some I use occasionally and some I just look at, but never a thought of them as an investment.
 
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I buy all my knives to be users. The only reason I buy a knife is because I think it will fit my needs in a knife and looks fun to carry. I only have a small collection and most of those are sodbusters. I guess I have a utilitarian beauty thing.
 
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