Collectors or users?

B

Buckcustom

Joined
Nov 15, 1998
Messages
440
Okay, I know we all use knives, but do you mainly collect them or are you mainly a user looking for the perfect knife? I have three using knives, a Buck Vanguard, a Buck 503 with Siberian Imapala scales and a Buck 532 with Mastodon ivory scales. All my other knives have never been used, they are strictly collected. So, I guess I am mainly a collector. How about you? And if you are mainly a collector, what do you collect? What are your favorite handle materials? My favorite is mastodon ivory. There's just something about the idea of it being between 10,000 and 20,000 years old that does something for me.



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John
Lifetime member Buck collectors club
Member NKCA
Member AKTI
 
I do not like to call myself a collector, this is because my wages don't justify such a fancy hobby, but they do justify it if I am going to use them, trouble is I work so much trying to save for the next knife I never get to use the previous, so I am sort of a collector, I think????

I collect knives which look good and have heard good things about, I don't worry much about handle, sheath etc, etc.

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Hunting? Don't be a wise guy, what do you hunt with a knife?

Name it!
 
I collect knives for using...or maybe I use the knives I collect...
There are some knives that I have that I don't use at all because I want to keep them in pristine condition, but I have no intention of selling them and I don't really display them. And, in principle, I wouldn't hesitate to use them. But I have more knives than I realistically could ever use. What does that make me, besides an idiot?
 
Although I wouldn’t call what I own a “Collection” yet, my rules for what I use and don’t use are simple. My everyday carry knives are my “Users.” Right now that’s a SAK and a Spyderco Walker lt/wt. These “users” must be easily replaceable, for me to feel comfortable to carry and use them.

I’m trying to stay focused on my buying other knives to just Stag, my favorite handle material. I like other natural handle materials, but I really want to put together an All Stag Display, before purchasing anything else. I would like to upgrade my every day carry SAK, to “Rucksak” one rehandled in Stag by Jake Evans. I do look at knives to replace the Walker, but it’s not a priority.

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"Will work 4 Knives!"
Homepage: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=254126
 
It would break my heart to see a beautiful knife locked away where it could never 'do its thing.' Sure, it will wear out eventually when used, but so will each of us, and I prefer to get my wear and tear actually accomplishing something, rather than sitting around.

Think of a knife like a pet... sure, you could have your pet stuffed and mounted at the peak of its beatuy, and it will stay that way for a looong time, or you and your pet can have fun, and it will eventually 'wear out,' but the time leading up to that made it worthwhile.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
I guess you could call my knives collectors for the most part,tactical folders to be exact,favorite handle materal is carbon fiber.
I do have users but they are just that users and my customs are just for display,I know that some people can't understand how and why
someone buy's a fine piece of custom cutlery and never use it but there is somthing about a well thought out display and the pride in ownership and sense accomplishment when a particular display is complete.

Kevin
 
I agree with e_utopia. Knives were made to be used. All of mine are users.
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AJ
 
I tend to aquire rather than collect....and i use them all, some only occasionally though. That is partly to justify to myself that yes, i need every one of my knives
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All knives are created equal, then i get my dirty big hands on them and the real fun begins.
 
Collect - Aquire - use - so what - I guess mine are all users but some much more than others - there's a couple that are just too pretty to take out in the woods or just have too much sentiment invested to use as toenail trimmers. Some are always there and in use - others not - BUT I NEED MORE !

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Don't wrestle with the hogs - they enjoy it and you get dirty !
Jonesy
 
I am still pretty much in the user camp. I have stuck mainly with production knives and find that there just seems to be more satisfaction in using knives than displaying them. I have found that if you are going to keep some pristine knives, that you offset this by having a similar model to use. This way you keep from wondering in the back of your mind how a particular knife will perform and feel while being used. A couple of examples of this is my stag handled Blackjack collection that I am presently trying to supplement with black Micarta users, a large plain Sebenza soon to be joined with a 2000 Damascus wood inlay and a Damascus and MOP custom folder ordered along with a slightly less dressed up version for daily carry. Some might raise an eyebrow as to the value of owning similar knives, just makes dealing with the addiction a little easier on me is all
wink.gif
!

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It's only a mistake if you fail to learn from it!
 
I will NOT ever buy a "pure collector".

I own a total of two "pure utility knives", a Gerber Multiplier and a Swisstech Utilikey.

I own two current-rotation carry defense knives, one worth $200 (daily carry Sifu) and one worth $450 (weekend carry custom fixed blade).

I have three FORMER daily carry folders, now obsolete. They see duty only if there's a high risk of loss (as in having to hide one in a bush outside of a planned court date).

I have two fighters that are also great utility/survival knives, one Mad Dog ATAK variant and one HI 21" one-off lightweight Khukuri. These see rotation only as needed. The Khukuri is also a fantastic martial arts practice blade. When I score a whole pile of Kydex/Concealex, I may try my hand at doing a street-legal yet discrete sheath for the Khukuri, for the rare "extreme-hazard street duty" situation. It's the finest one-handed fighter I ever intend to own, in any blade length.

Obviously, I'm stretching the ragged edge of "user only" but I'm not racking up a huge collection either.

Buys for the future: a better multitool at some point. A smaller backup fighting folder will make the cut too...the best bet forthcoming seems to be the new SOG 5" dagger megafolder. If somebody builds a good Muscrat, I'll buy it, flat out, at any price under $500.

In general, I'll pay relatively big bux for a defense knife even fractionally better than current. When something as groundbreaking as the Sifu comes down the pipe, it's a must-own.

Jim

[This message has been edited by Jim March (edited 04-17-2000).]
 
I used to be an accumulator and changed to collector-status when I found out I could not buy all the knives I want. Much earlier I found out I could not buy one of each...
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.
Now I'm between higher end factory and customs.
I buy users and do not use them. When I was an accumulator I used every knife I bought.
Greetings
red
 
I use all of my knives, unless I intend to sell or trade them. I've got a custom damascus folder coming up that might never see use... I'm sort of undecided on that. On one hand, using it will decrease its value considerably, but on the other hand, I could say the same thing about my car...

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For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23


 
I'd like to be a collector, but after spending all my hard earned money, I just have to use what I buy. Sometimes I buy two, one to use, one to collect. But I either end up using the collector or selling it to get another user.
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But I don't think I'd ever buy a knife that I would never use whether it' because it's impratical or too nice...
I'd sure like to get that Talonite Cetan by Simonich with the 3.5" blade, and blue and black G2 handle with Kydex sheath
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Don't hate me because I'm a user...
smile.gif


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Riley
Do it right,or not at all.

[This message has been edited by Riley (edited 04-17-2000).]
 
I personally would consider myself a little of both. I do carry some of the knives I "collect" trying to find the best "carry" knife. I am settled on either a Auto-Stryker, or a Raven for now, but I am sure that will change.
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I also have knives that I would never carry in my collection such as my Boker damascus/pearl folder, or my C.A.S. Iberia Sykes commerative damascus dagger, a few special edition Benchmades, and a few Cases. So I would consider myself a collector, and a user

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Matt
If you are not living on the edge, then you are taking up to much room!
AKTI member# A000233
NKCA member# 33662
http://www.geocities.com/qballhk40
 
Kevin,

My sentiments exactly. There is a lot of pride and satisfaction in building a great collection to display.

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John
Lifetime member Buck collectors club
Member NKCA
Member AKTI
 
I'm a user, for the most part, I do put the knives I get to work, not too hard usually. But there was one knife that I just couldn't bring myself to use and so I traded it to Paul Davidson. It's one of the knives that I even named, called it ~Ricky~ just because.
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Paul seems to be in the same situation with that knife as he can't bring himself to carry and use it either. Oh, what knife is it? It's the Spyderco Jess Horn with Jigged Bone handles, plain edge and cute as a button! And it'll probably always stay that way!

G2

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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...


G2 LeatherWorks
 
I carry and use a Phill Hartsfield Kwaiken, a knife deemed by many to be too expensive for what it is. What it is is a very sharp and strong knife that cuts open the mail, slices cheese, and even trims the bushes. I admire art knives and have great respect for the makers of art knives. If I were going to be an art collector, I'd probably want to collect art knives! But for now, I will buy knives so that I can use them.
 
I am a user of knives. My personal carry knife for the last 2 years has been a slip joint folder (I made, but no longer sale). It had a micarta handle. My next personal carry knife will be a Patrolman (7 3/8" overall fixed blade) with micarta handles. Micarta, is strong, wear resistant, won't shrink, won't swell, and will outlast all of us.

In short, I am a knife user, and I like Micarta handles
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Lynn Griffith-Knifemaker

See you at Blade Show (table 13c)

griffithknives.com
GriffithKN@aol.com
Griffith Knives Forum
 
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