Confessions of an Accumulator

Phil Elmore

Phil Elmore

Joined
Feb 28, 2002
Messages
7,636
I was going through a bunch of knives I found, after packing them away some time ago and forgetting where I put them. As I was doing so, I realize something:

I own no collector knives.

I don't own anything that's worth much, not really at all. Sure, I have some users that go for between 100 and 200 USD when new, and plenty of knives in the 100 USD range, and a boatload of stuff in the 50 to 100 USD range, I guess, if we're talking retail prices... but I just plain don't have any nice knives. I see folks here post pictures of their beautiful collector pieces, and some truly stellar customs and semi-customs and even 300 USD production knives, and they're very nice. I admire them. But I don't ever really feel like buying any. It's not that I don't feel the need; I understand why they're desirable. I just... don't.

I realized today that I'm an accumulator, not a collector, of knives. All of my stuff is ordinary.

What about you?
 
i think im more of an accumulator also...although ive only been really into knives for like 4 months. (always had them though...i was a boyscout) i generally buy knives because they are tools and come in handy...i dont necessarily need customs...although i am only 18 so my money wont allow me to splurge on a custom...haha. maybe in the future i will collect. but right now im an accumulator.

peace.
thomasvsgodzilla.
 
I can kind of agree with that. I see plenty of really expensive knives I like (XM-18!), but honestly, I couldn't see myself even being uber rich and needing more than a Spyderco [Stretch 2 :D]. Same with guitars, I can't see myself playing a custom... I guess I really just enjoy finding something preexisting that fits my needs. It's sort of a thrill, you know? It's really hard to explain, but I think a lot of people here will understand. I don't baby my knives by the way, I use them as they're intended to be used.

I wouldn't call myself an accumulator though, as I'm very picky about knives, and I'm on a budget. Once again, same with guitars. I could tell you right now the next 5 guitars I'm going to buy, - Ibanez PGM301, ESP Eclipse 2, Rickenbacker 481, Edwards LP, possibly a Hamer Explorer - but honestly, those will probably be the only guitars I want or need for the rest of my life, unless someone comes out with a new design, which doesn't happen very often (I'd have to love the design of course). I know probably my next 3 knives, as well - Spyderco Stretch 2, Benchmade Bali, Benchmade Activator 211 is very likely. For the next year or so I won't need any more than that.
 
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I realized today that I'm an accumulator, not a collector, of knives. All of my stuff is ordinary.

What about you?
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I'm in the same boat as yourself....I accumulate.
 
I'll just say I have knives ranging from $8 each to $300 each and tons in between. I have no predjudice although what I actually carry tends to be a well regarded knife of some sort.
 
I am terrible in that I keep about one out of every ten knives I make. So, I have 25 stone handled knives right now in my personal collection. They are pretty much the best of the best in what I am able to do and as I get better I actually have been able to thin the "herd" out once and sold five of them to finance an upgrade to my equipment..... I was looking at some of the mammoth ivory I have in the safe and decided I need to do a couple more for my personal collection if I can get caught up on the back log I have in custom orders.... I counted 19 knives on my main bench currently being worked on; 19 firm orders or Christmas gifts yet to do and a request for 3 more I am discussing now so heck I should be busy well into November!

So, I am a bit of a mix as I have ACCUMULATED a big COLLECTION of my own works... ;)
 
I'm a stone accumulator. I have some collector knives, but there's no rhyme nor reason, no theme, no direction. I just buy stuff that tugs at me when I see it.
 
Phil, you and I may differ in many respects (I got less hair and less color in the little that I do got:D), but in this we are much alike, except you got nicer knives and more of them.

Aside from my 440C Bucks that I got in the '60's, I don't have much in the way of knives that are worth much. Stuff happpens to knives when they get used, and I won't buy it if I won't use it. I have found that I can buy very usable knives with very good steel for $50 or less if I am careful about what I buy. Shucks, my current favorite is the Monochrome, and I got that for about $33.
 
Former 'accumulator'...

Currently in the process of dumping everything possible that would serve no other purpose than to wind up causing a burden on my family if I died (mommy what do we do with daddy's 300 knives?), lost in a flood or fire, or confiscated by someone.

I came to a personal decision after the nonesense that went on after Katrina that I would convert my unnecessary steel into cash.

As much as it has been painful, the end result is freedom. I know longer worry about what my EDC will be, or my 'chopper' , etc.

I'm not done yet but I'm getting closer...

Interesting thread btw
 
Accumulating is good. Collecting is good too, but I don't know if I'll ever call myself a "collector".

I accumulate, for sure. I probably always will be, as I made a commitment NOT to buy anything I wouldn't carry. Then I turned around and bought an anniversary Buck 119, just to hold and look at: brings back lots of good memories. I'm also looking at getting a Sebenza and/or a Busse, once we pay the car off in December. So, maybe I'm slidin' down that slippery (collector) slope, and didn't even realize it...

thx - cpr
 
Mongrel said:
Former 'accumulator'...

Currently in the process of dumping everything possible that would serve no other purpose than to wind up causing a burden on my family if I died (mommy what do we do with daddy's 300 knives?), lost in a flood or fire, or confiscated by someone.
Click to expand...

But...but...you'll be nekkid...! :eek:

Interesting point - are you planning to keep one or two EDC's? And if so, are they going to be tough users, or something nicer?

thx - cpr
 
orca8589 said:
Accumulating is good. Collecting is good too, but I don't know if I'll ever call myself a "collector".

I accumulate, for sure. I probably always will be, as I made a commitment NOT to buy anything I wouldn't carry. Then I turned around and bought an anniversary Buck 119, just to hold and look at: brings back lots of good memories. I'm also looking at getting a Sebenza and/or a Busse, once we pay the car off in December. So, maybe I'm slidin' down that slippery (collector) slope, and didn't even realize it...

thx - cpr
Click to expand...


I think that you and I are Knife Enthusiasts! We appreciate knives much like a collector, just in a different manner, mirite?
 
NOTHING wrong with accumulating instead of collecting.

Do you use and enjoy them all? yes probably right?

nuff said.
 
I am an accumilator as well. The most expensive knife I own is $93 and the cheapest is $11. I own around 20 knives so far, and will be accumilating many more if I keep going down this lost highway.;)
 
used to be an accumulator, a few yrs back i would have NEVER spent over $50 or so on a knife, now i have a couple worth over $1K and a dozen or so in the $400 - $600 range.
 
I'm not even an accumulator; I'm just a guy who likes knives. I own less than 50 all together. If I get one that I don't carry mone than once or twice, I either trade it off or give it to a family member. Don't own any knife that cost more than $200 retail. And yet, I love the knives I keep. I carry and use them all. Heck, my EDC for 5 years was a Kershaw Vapor. Lot of times I gone to a show or store intending to my a "high-dollar" knife, but end up getting something I think would be good to carry in my pocket and use for everything I use a knife for, and I do tend to be hard on them. I like the scars and mars they get. Guess I can't bring myself to ugly up a $500+ knife.
 
I'm both a collector and an accumulator. Four of the knives I own, There are another half dozen that I use when the need arises. I probably have another thirty knives that I never use and that are not part of my collection. Every once-in-awhile I consider getting rid od the ones I never use, but it never happens.

My custom knife collection is now up to fourteen, with about seven more on order. Two more of these will be coming before the end of this year.

I no longer accumulate. The only knives I purchase now are either for my collection, or they are knives that I am going to use. One of these days I'm going to get rid of those thirty or so knives that have accumulated over the years...really.
 
I might be able to help you with that, Keith;):thumbup:
 
I accumulate knives- collector and otherwise. I have a heap of expensive Busses, but I also have a heap of Rough Riders that I enjoy. I use them all. I like knives and I buy what I like- my problem is that I like a lot. I wish I had the focus of those guys who collect only Case 10 dots, I would have a lot more money. My collection is out of control- it is huge and getting huger. I think I'm well over 200 pieces now- if I ever get the house to myself I'll have to do an inventory and group photo shoot someday.

My collection is divided into several categories:

Busse
Spyderco
Benchmade
Buck
Case
Assorted other slipjoints (GEC, Remington, Imperial, Rough Rider, SAKs etc.)
Assorted other fixed blades (Becker, Ka-Bar, Ontario, WWII era Japanese Katanas)
Assorted other folders (Kershaw, CRKT, Boker, Ed Halligan, Gerber)
Multitools

With subcategories in each of these collections. I collect different lock mechanisms, different steels, different handle materials, whittlers, stockmen, trappers, toothpicks etc. I collect choppers, and fixed-blade EDCs, and neckers, and pen knives. I collect cheap Chinese gas-station switchblades and balisongs. I like American knives, and Japanese, and Chinese knives, and French, German, Italian, Spanish and Finnish. I like stainless and carbon steel- it goes on and on and on. I have a few Native American stone tools I found when I was a kid. I have Leatherman, Gerber, SOG and Byrd multitools. Basically, if it has an edge, I have a reason to be interested. It's a sickness.

And then there are the guns.
 
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