Collector Knife "NO-NO's"

Locutus D'Borg said:
Here is the knife owners' paradox: on the forums, many will beat the drum on how knives are tools to be used, and owners proudly boast that they really use their knives.

Then you go to the Exchange, For Sale section, and virtually every knife is described as BNIB or LNIB or never cut, original edge. And some of these sellers are the ones who look down on people who DON'T use their knives.

Yeah. So I ignore all the voices and do what I want with my knives, which is mainly polishing them with Ren wax and fondling them. :eek:
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And in the same time not carrying a knife or at least non locking mega folder is considered suicide in here. 🙄
 
Every knife I purchase is intended to be used, and they all get carried/used to varying extents. Admittedly, I’m not a hard user in the first place, and of course, the more I accumulate, the actual use each sees is spread over the collection during each one’s rotation in carry. This usually means I end up never having any that would qualify as legit “beaters” and most will ultimately become light to medium users while I have them. If I do ever use a knife to the point where I feel it’s likely not going to get any attention online, whether it’s an unpopular model or (since there does seem to be a general threshold of interest for light use and LNIB knives) because of condition, I usually throw it into my kid’s collection to avoid the hassle of posting it for sale or trade when I know I will likely not get a reasonable return on it.

Sometimes I buy a knife I thought I’d like more than I actually do once I get it in hand, or I find after a while that I’m not carry something very often to justify hanging onto it. Those usually get resold or traded, simply because I’m not the type to hoard them just for collector or intrinsic monetary value. Sometimes, I parlay a few at a time toward a higher dollar one I might be eyeing.

Also, I’m not the type who needs to own one particular model in every colorway and/or blade steel offered, or jumps on sprint runs unless a particular one really jazzes me. There are just too many brands and models out there to focus on any one in particular. Variety is the spice of life, as they say.

So, I know I’m not a hoarder. I tend not to keep more than 10 or 12 modern folders at a time, so I don’t think I’m an accumulator. Hobbyist? Enthusiast? Amateur? Who knows. I’m just a guy who has always liked knives. As long as it doesn’t put me in the poorhouse, and I’ll never let it, so it’s all good.
 
So back to me Flitz'n the frick'n etch off...

In theory: To clean it up, I should have just wiped it down with rubbing alcohol (or similar/preferred), applied a light coat of mineral oil (or preferred oil/wax), or applied nothing at all (because it's not that serious) and called it a day.

Moral of the story: If the blade is etched and you get a few light scratches (my OCD kicked in), you have a choice to make. You can either keep both or keep none. Those are your options. Makes sense now that I've done it.

How many more lessons are there to learn? This one hurt my feelings.
 
321Bandaid said:
So back to me Flitz'n the frick'n etch off...

In theory: To clean it up, I should have just wiped it down with rubbing alcohol (or similar/preferred), applied a light coat of mineral oil (or preferred oil/wax), or applied nothing at all (because it's not that serious) and called it a day.

Moral of the story: If the blade is etched and you get a few light scratches (my OCD kicked in), you have a choice to make. You can either keep both or keep none. Those are your options. Makes sense now that I've done it.

How many more lessons are there to learn? This one hurt my feelings.
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What knife is it?
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
Here is the knife owners' paradox: on the forums, many will beat the drum on how knives are tools to be used

Then you go to the Exchange, For Sale section, and virtually every knife is described as BNIB or LNIB or never cut, original edge.
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The ones that get me are the people that spend hundreds of dollars on super-steel hard-use knives and then also carry a clampack Kershaw for daily cutting use because they don't want to ruin their 'good' knife. Some people are in it for the hunt, some just want the status of owning 'the best', some people just want to use nice knives.
 
OP, you can always try your hand at putting a brushed satin finish on it. I do it immediately on all my traditionals with polished blades and bolsters. Resale value be damned, I collect for me.

"Little Rattler" etched on the blade was corny anyway ;)

H16t8iY.jpg


zO3Oa6N.jpg
 
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Danke42 said:
Collectors are going to be more specific and methodical. So they may only look for Randall knives, or antique Bowie knives or be even more narrowly focused.

Accumulators is going gather up random knife shaped objects. One day they're buying Spyderco folder, then next it's Gerber fixed blade, then next it's custom SAK and so on.

The rules of collecting are the same whether it's knives, cars, airplanes, beanie babies, or CDs. Other collectors see more value rare or scarce items. The collection can be new or well used but it can't be abused or modified. And if whatever you collect comes with optional accessories you better have them and if it comes in a box or package and has documentation you better have all that too.

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with being either but after only a couple weeks of engagement I would hesitate to consider someone a collector.
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A collector is what happens when an accumulator starts to present/display parts of their collection under an organized unifying theme. That theme can be as simple as “My knife collection…or can be as focused as SAKs of the 1970s. There is also no reason why someone wouldn’t be able to accumulate various collections.

n2s
 
luethge said:
321Bandaid 321Bandaid - Welcome to blade forums ( great name , super glue works wonders as well ).

Have fun and post pics
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Thank you, kindly!!
Knives&Lint said:
OP, you can always try your hand at putting a brushed finish on it. I do it immediately on all my traditionals with polished blades and bolsters. Resale value be damned, I collect for me.

"Little Rattler" etched on the blade was corny anyway ;)

H16t8iY.jpg


zO3Oa6N.jpg
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Ohhh... me likey!!!
Knives&Lint said:
OP, you can always try your hand at putting a brushed finish on it. I do it immediately on all my traditionals with polished blades and bolsters. Resale value be damned, I collect for me.

"Little Rattler" etched on the blade was corny anyway ;)

H16t8iY.jpg


zO3Oa6N.jpg
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Ohhhh... me likey!!! haha
 
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not2sharp said:
A collector is what happens when an accumulator starts to present/display parts of their collection under an organized unifying theme. That theme can be as simple as “My knife collection…or can be as focused as SAKs of the 1970s. There is also no reason why someone wouldn’t be able to accumulate various collections.

n2s
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Oh for sure. Just that most folks on here with collections (especially when the come on here to sell it) are very much like squirrels collecting nuts for the winter.
 
Danke42 said:
Oh for sure. Just that most folks on here with collections (especially when the come on here to sell it) are very much like squirrels collecting nuts for the winter.
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A very accurate description!
 
Knives&Lint said:
OP, you can always try your hand at putting a brushed satin finish on it. I do it immediately on all my traditionals with polished blades and bolsters. Resale value be damned, I collect for me.

"Little Rattler" etched on the blade was corny anyway ;)

H16t8iY.jpg


zO3Oa6N.jpg
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What's your preferred method?
 
321Bandaid said:
What's your preferred method?
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There are various methods, and I'm far from expert, but I prefer keeping the abrasive medium stationary and moving the knife in a straight line across it. I've experimented with sandpaper set on top of a leather strop so it has a little bit of give, but my favorite thing to use is a 3M product that you can get in the sandpaper section of the hardware store that is like a little sandpaper block with a foam core shaped like a sponge. They key is to keep in a perfectly straight line so that over numerous passes the scratches start to form a pattern. With bolsters I use painters tape to protect the handle covers and roll the knife as I go to follow the shape (still keeping it straight of course). I've actually done most of mine on a window sill because the light is good and I find it aids in keeping things straight. It may seem a bit daunting but remember you can always clean up a mistake with subsequent passes, and I haven't ruined one yet. Honestly I find the process rather meditative.

Here's a couple more examples, one on another traditional and I also did the flats of the blade of the Demko for a two-tone look
ezesZ2l.jpg


Likewise, on the bolsters of this one I taped it off in sections leaving the bands polished
NgF4Nte.jpg
 
I like it. Not sure I have the patience for it, but I'll give it go!
(Now, where's my DA sander? 🤔)
 
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