Collector or user?

I collected limited edition knives for many years, slipies and and some lock backs, mostly Case. It brought me much joy. Gave some away and sold most to fund my switchover to modern locking folders and a few fixed blades. I’ve had a blast the last ten years trying out new knives.
I believe if you like collecting then you should do it. Screw what anybody else thinks.
For me personally, if I don’t use it I don’t keep it, except for a couple of blades that were gifted.
 
Yes, this topic comes up regularly. I am/was both a collector and user. I understand and expect to lose money on most of the knives I own, if and when I sell them. I bought some of them used anyway so maybe I won't lose so much on those. :)

I carry and use a small subset of the knives I own, but if I live long enough I may get around to all of them.
 
Any knife I feel is worth buying will get used eventually. I have resisted some for a long time but in the end, they get used. I guess the ones I use least are my collectable ones. More power to those that buy just for looking. As long as people keep buying knives, there will be someone making them. Win win.
 
My situation is that there are a WHOLE lot of knives I like but can only use so many. :( I cannot see why I should use a knife just to use it or not have it because I won't. If I am happy using one or two or three for a given purpose, why use another just because? :confused: I will if I want to try it but I don't feel I should just because I own it; sometimes I like to have and enjoy seeing and handling/fondling it. This hobby of ours is open to many interpretations, and I'm happy with that. :thumbsup:
 
If the knife is hard to find/rare, it goes to the collection. Bragging rights goes to the collection. Everything else will get used eventually. Based on what I have with a monthly rotation of users, it will take the rest of my lifetime and someone else's to finally use the knives I have. I do sell some off from time to time, but more show up than go away.
 
It's been a fun game over the years figuring out what works for me and what I like. However, any tool I buy I will use. I've never sat on the couch and drooled over a new hammer, then never used it.

I have my grandfather's 1944 M1 carbine, which when I was healthy, I shot regularly. I've put probably 20,000 rounds through it. Not to mention how many it saw in the war. Yeah, it's an heirloom, but it is also a tool, meant to be used.

I've own and have owned customs, and the ones I've kept see regular use.

But everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Even when mine is better.:rolleyes::eek:
 
Bad Ninja said:
A coworker bought me a ZT 350 after bragging about the brand for months. I opened the box, checked it out and proceeded to open bails of material, cut packing straps and metal tape
:p
Thought he was gonna have a stroke.

That said, it's a fantastic knife and every bit as tough and overbuilt as they claim.
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The ZT 350 is certainly a workhorse. I would have loved to have been there to see the look on the guy's face as he clearly didn't believe in using a ZT very hard. You know... too expensive, even the 350 which I believe is one of the lower priced ZT's as I recall.

It is the first ZT I held in my hand trying out the brand to see what all the hype was about. I liked it, but it was a bit over built as an edc for me. I bought my first ZT about a month later.
 
knarfeng said:
Beats me. I don't have a collection. I have an accumulation of knives I have used for weeks or months before I moved on to something else that looked interesting.
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That's my take as well even though there are some that simply never get used for anything even though I am willing to do so. I just move on to the next one that I find interesting.

I love fixed blades, but I really seldom have need to use one. But I just can't help picking a couple a year up for "whatever" unfolds for them.
 
Both. But I have been selling a lot of the "collection" pieces, meaning things I have that I know I won't use and bought because I liked them and wanted them in the "collection." Trying to get down to the ones I will use or at least will theoretically use. It's tough because the "wow" or "cool" factor is high on some of the ones I know I will not carry. It helps knowing that I am equally "wowed"/motivated by my bank account after selling some of these semi-safe queens off (even though it is always at a loss).

I'll probably stay a combination of the two. But I have been learning that just staring at something is a different enjoyment than using it, and the using it enjoyment to me is greater. So if I won't use it I really am not enjoying it (it's like waiting to enjoy it but knowing I won't because it's not a good fit or not my style), and what is the point of having things I am not enjoying.

Eh. Not the greatest job explaining it.
 
I sold dozens and dozens of higher quality production knives that didn't qualify as something that would benefit me at work.
Now I have a dozen(ish) knives that qualify as utilitarian and are users.
That being said, I pretty much just use the Spyderco Maxamet Native 5 or the Spyderco Bradley 1 or 2.
Currently using the Bradley 2.
It makes me happy.
 
We now need to discuss the distinction between "carry" and "use". Most of my good knives (20?) are in the sub $200 range and I carry them all, which does not mean I do yard work with all of them. I have a Zieba Shinola MS3 that I only carry when I'm wearing a suit, so the blade rarely comes out. I frankly would not want to open a carton with it. Is it a user, carrier or collector? I collected vintage guitars for about 30 years and get not wanting to use stuff for fear of reducing the value. I often referred to them as caged animals, and recently sold pretty much all of them. Hopefully someone will play them.
 
5881 said:
We now need to discuss the distinction between "carry" and "use". Most of my good knives (20?) are in the sub $200 range and I carry them all, which does not mean I do yard work with all of them. I have a Zieba Shinola MS3 that I only carry when I'm wearing a suit, so the blade rarely comes out. I frankly would not want to open a carton with it. Is it a user, carrier or collector? I collected vintage guitars for about 30 years and get not wanting to use stuff for fear of reducing the value. I often referred to them as caged animals, and recently sold pretty much all of them. Hopefully someone will play them.
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I'll support anyone that has a love for the blade.
But I can't understand carrying a knife that won't ever be used.

Is it just man jewelery?

Not that there's anything wrong with that...
DSGmwea.jpg

I just don't get it.
 
5881 said:
We now need to discuss the distinction between "carry" and "use". Most of my good knives (20?) are in the sub $200 range and I carry them all, which does not mean I do yard work with all of them. I have a Zieba Shinola MS3 that I only carry when I'm wearing a suit, so the blade rarely comes out. I frankly would not want to open a carton with it. Is it a user, carrier or collector?
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Difficult to draw a fine point on this distinction as it likely varies from knife to knife and situation to situation. Generally if I carry a knife, it is available to use. But I certainly wouldn't use what I consider an expensive knife for really rough tasks when I have another knife with me. (I'm talking $500+ knives.)

To take it to an extreme, >if I was carrying my most expensive folder only, I might pass using it at all given the right circumstances. Tough question to answer without a lot of thought. But there are situations that I might pass using any knife I carry and look for another tool.

I almost always have a Vic SAK with me that accompanies any other knife I might have in my pocket so this kind of extreme case is not likely to come up for me.

To me, a knife that is carried but seldom used is still a user. Maybe selective user...
 
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22-rimfire said:
Difficult to draw a fine point on this distinction as it likely varies from knife to knife and situation to situation. Generally if I carry a knife, it is available to use. But I certainly wouldn't use what I consider an expensive knife for really rough tasks when I have another knife with me. (I'm talking $500+ knives.)

To take it to an extreme, >if I was carrying my most expensive folder only, I might pass using it at all given the right circumstances. Tough question to answer without a lot of thought. But there are situations that I might pass using any knife I carry and look for another tool.

I almost always have a Vic SAK with me that accompanies any other knife I might have in my pocket so this kind of extreme case is not likely to come up for me.

To me, a knife that is carried but seldom used is still a user. Maybe selective user...
Click to expand...
 
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