Do you consider yourself a collector? A post on philosophy and terminology.

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
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Jan 12, 2013
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I go back and forth on this all the time. I picture a "collector" as someone who has a collection of knives that exist only to be admired and maybe handled. Any knives that are carried and used by that same person would fall outside of that collection.

What about those of us with a large assortment of knives we carry and use? I have roughly a dozen fixed blades and a half-dozen folders that I regularly carry and use. They're not on display, they're not in pristine condition, but it's definitely a -collection- of some variety. I would describe myself as a "hobbyist", but am I also a collector?

There are a number of topical questions to consider:
- How many knives do you have to have before it becomes a collection?
- Is it a collection if you bought them with the intent to use them, and regularly do use them? For example, would a tool box be considered a tool collection, or is that an unfair comparison?
- Is it only "collecting" if you have a specific perception regarding what you own? Meaning: are you only a collector if you consider yourself a collector?
- Would it be more accurate to say there are different kinds of collectors, as opposed to black and white collector vs non-collector terminology? For example, "user collector" "fantasy collector" "custom collector" etc

I don't really know where I fall here. I don't collect knives just to own them - but I do value and appreciate them and photograph them and discuss them, primarily from a functional standpoint... But does that really keep me from being considered a collector? Is "hobbyist" a more accurate or descriptive term, or does it reflect a degree of intellectual dishonesty by trying to distance one's self from the term "collector"?

I don't really like the idea of being called a collector because that brings to mind images of a glass case of unused baubles that have been amassed just to be admired... But maybe that's just a specific kind of collecting, and I practice a different method of collecting.
 
So is this a thread about the definition of a word?

Several on-line dictionary sites can help you understand all of the variations of "collector, collect, and collection" and see if you feel comfortable with any of those permutations being applied to you.

I usually go with "knife hobbyist." But collector may apply as well.

What difference does it make to you what your specific set of behaviors is called? Make up a word for it if you like.
 
I don't define my interest in knives. I'm just a guy who likes knives, a guy who needs knives to cut stuff, and a guy who appreciates the value of a cutting tool..

I have some knives that I have beaten on, and I have some knives that have never been out of my house and have never been used to cut anything, and they probably never will.

I have a variety of knives, more than I could ever need. I have a variety of reasons for owning the different knives I own. And I appreciate the different knives I own in different ways.

I'm just a guy who likes knives. :)
 
No way. I use all my knives. If its too nice to use, I won't own it.
 
jc57 said:
So is this a thread about the definition of a word?

Several on-line dictionary sites can help you understand all of the variations of "collector, collect, and collection" and see if you feel comfortable with any of those permutations being applied to you.

I usually go with "knife hobbyist." But collector may apply as well.

What difference does it make to you what your specific set of behaviors is called? Make up a word for it if you like.
Click to expand...

Dictionary definitions are not what I'm looking for, but personal perspectives. I see that we would describe ourselves similarly, given what has been made bold.

killgar said:
I don't define my interest in knives. I'm just a guy who likes knives, a guy who needs knives to cut stuff, and a guy who appreciates the value of a cutting tool..

I have some knives that I have beaten on, and I have some knives that have never been out of my house and have never been used to cut anything, and they probably never will.

I have a variety of knives, more than I could ever need. I have a variety of reasons for owning the different knives I own. And I appreciate the different knives I own in different ways.

I'm just a guy who likes knives. :)
Click to expand...

That might be the best way to look at it overall, instead of getting tied up in definitions and terms.
 
Humans have an inherent compulsion towards "collection." I suppose the designation of a collector is a "matter of scale" (as you once observed in another thread on a related subject). You can have a reasonable number of any particular thing without being labeled a collector. You value form and function without becoming obsessed by it.

I think the first sign that you're a collector is when you ask yourself if you are one.:D
 
I am certainly a collector, I collect cheap flea market specials.
Some are shaped like guns, spiders,bullets...ect and they all have novelty factor.
I don't really like to collect anything that is worth using, so if it's any good it's a user.

Let me tell you unless your collecting as an investment, this is the best kind of collection to have.
They cost under 10$ and there's such a wide variety so you can easily build up a collection for not a lot of money and your eventual kids or grandkids won't be fighting over them or trying to sell them for a quick buck as they have no real value 😁
 
Comeuppance said:
What about those of us with a large assortment of knives we carry and use? I have roughly a dozen fixed blades and a half-dozen folders that I regularly carry and use. They're not on display, they're not in pristine condition, but it's definitely a -collection- of some variety. I would describe myself as a "hobbyist", but am I also a collector?
Click to expand...

Relative to you, I have twice as many fixed blades and probably four times as many folders. Guess that makes me an "addict" or "junkie" then, eh? :p


killgar said:
I don't define my interest in knives. I'm just a guy who likes knives, a guy who needs knives to cut stuff, and a guy who appreciates the value of a cutting tool.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'll go with this explaination instead...
 
My father liked food. He was a newspaperman who wrote about food. He was a terrific cook.

He once wrote a cookbook. The introduction was a short essay on what he should call himself. He discussed "gourmet", and "gourmand". "Foodie" was not yet part of the lexicon. His conclusion: "whatever you want to call us, we are all pigs".

I guess I am the same way about a lot of things: first motorcycles, then guns, now knives. I like 'them. I buy them. I read about them and talk about them. For the most part I use them. I even bought a knife called "Pigman".
 
I'm an accumulator. I see a knife I like and I buy and use it. Then I repeat.

Collection implies some sort of overreaching plan and all that goes with it. It implies the items are displayed and viewed. Bought and sold as investments.

I might have a pack of knives but I"m no collector.
 
I consider myself an admirer who is continuously exploring his ever evolving appreciation and affinity for different types of cutlery.

I'm definitely not a collector. I feel like the defining characteristic of a collector is the need or want to ACQUIRE that next thing. Whereas I want to EXPERIENCE a new design, material, etc.
 
Danke42 said:
I'm an accumulator. I see a knife I like and I buy and use it. Then I repeat.

Collection implies some sort of overreaching plan and all that goes with it. It implies the items are displayed and viewed. Bought and sold as investments.

I might have a pack of knives but I"m no collector.
Click to expand...

This fits my definition of collector. I am a knife accumulator. Hoarder is a related term. There is no rhyme or reason to what knives I own other than if you consider the chronology, you can see how my interest developed and when (if you record purchase dates or lord forbid, remember them).

Knife hobbyist is a good term for many of us.
 
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killgar said:
I don't define my interest in knives. I'm just a guy who likes knives, a guy who needs knives to cut stuff, and a guy who appreciates the value of a cutting tool..

I have some knives that I have beaten on, and I have some knives that have never been out of my house and have never been used to cut anything, and they probably never will.

I have a variety of knives, more than I could ever need. I have a variety of reasons for owning the different knives I own. And I appreciate the different knives I own in different ways.

I'm just a guy who likes knives. :)
Click to expand...

I'm with killgar.
I love having different knives, even some that are considered collectibles, and will still use it.
But I wouldn't consider myself a collector, my definition is someone who keeps them in pristine condition. Like someone who collects stamps or rare historic items.
 
I don't collect knives, they tend to "collect" on their own somehow...
I do use each one that shows up at my door though.
 
Yes, I am a collector or knives. If I weren't, I'd have one or two folders and one or two fixed blades. There's no way in heck I need the roughly 70 knives I currently own, but I keep buying them because I just like knives and want a wide variety. I use almost all my knives from time to time, but using one's collection doesn't necessarily mean one is NOT a collector. I think the distinction should not be between "user" and "collector" but between one who uses their collection and one who collects simply to appreciate and occasionally fondle.
 
Although my forum name reflects that, I'm quite the opposite.
I might change it actually to socalknifecarry
:)
 
I have many knives that I don't use in my collection. Still, if I where to use them I would not consider them to be "unfit".
 
Collector for sure. I've had many collection interests in my life. I feel like if you have more than you need or can can reasonably use, then you are collecting. As far as knives go, I use many, but not all that I own. Some are simply not EDC suitable for me (too big, too heavy, etc), yet I still had an interest in acquiring them. I keep around 6 - 8 of them in my night stand as my EDC rotation - and the rotation changes over time.
 
I have a collection of knives, but am not a collector of them, in that I do not actively acquire knives and related items for the sake of collection. I have some antiques that have fortuitously come into my ownership, and I have a few knives (very few) that I bought "just for fun" but functional application is the primary driving force of my accumulation.

By contrast, I am a scythe collector, with a focus on American scythes and related tools and ephemera. I have many blades, snaths, documents, printing blocks, etc. etc. that I own purely for the purpose of research and collection.
 
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