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

Hey man...I am certainly a knife collector. I have a couple dozen folders & many dozens of hand-made fixed, my true passion. I don't carry folders any longer, but I do rotate open carrying all of my fixed...& when I carry a knife, I will always at least use it for med-light EDC stuff. A # of my fixed will never see anything in the realm of medium to heavy knife use...no real wood processing is what that basically means, because I want them to stay pretty. I've allocated plenty of my fixed to perform the heavier tasks, but ya, a good % of my hand-made fixed just get to hang onto my belt & parade around.

And that's really the main point I thought of when I saw this thread...I've read countless BF threads that relentlessly shame folks who don't subject every single knife they own to hard use, or even abuse...as if it's the cool thing to do. In most of those threads, those who are cool are the 'knife users' & the weaklings who baby their knives are the 'knife collectors'. I don't know, I'm a knife user/lover/enthusiast/& certainly I'd categorize myself as a knife collector, as well...& that's OK....because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and......
 
I don't see anything wrong with collecting as a hobby, but I started out seeing knives as tools and see unused knives as wasted money. If I don't put a knife into my pocket or on my belt for two months or so, I sell it because I clearly don't need it. If I decide I won't carry or use it, I sell it immediately while it has the most value so I can ply it towards other knives that I -will- use.

Collectors, though, are just doing a thing they want to do and you won't hear me begrudging them for not using their knives. Consumer goods are consumer goods and what you want to do with them is nobody's business but your own. I have a "collection" of BIC lighters and I don't smoke (cigarettes) anymore, but every time I see one that I think is neat, I buy it. I'll bet there's some forum out there with some kind of weird elitist class of lighter collectors that would shame me for not carrying and using them. They can suck an egg and a wide variety of less tasteful things because it's my stuff I bought with my money.

Edit: took a picture, because why not.

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I wouldn't consider someone who buys a bunch of knives and uses the hell out of them a collector. That would be someone who needs tools so they buy them and use them. They may buy a bunch of them but they all get used so it's not really a collection. I would consider a collector someone who goes after rare and exquisite pieces. They may carry and fondle them from time to time, but if any cutting needs done they would carry a secondary to perform such duties.
 
mjpgolf1 said:
I wouldn't consider someone who buys a bunch of knives and uses the hell out of them a collector. That would be someone who needs tools so they buy them and use them.
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I use my knives.
I'd still count as a collector...I don't need to get any more knives, and I had no need to get the last 30 knives, either.

I have a collection of knives that get used, some of which are rare and expensive. :)
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Do you buy them 'cause you like 'em and not 'cause you need 'em? Then you're a collector, live with it.
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You are either a collector or accumulator. Use has little do to with it for me. I use the ones I want to and the rest just sit to be looked at occasionally. There is little focus to my knife pile which to me means I am a accumulator. I have a certain size range that I prefer, but just today I was looking on line at a folder that is typically larger than what I like (a Benchmade 940). Honestly, I think I want to handle one again to refresh my memory of them before I drop $150+.
 
Okay, I'm really a knife dragon.
Dragons sleep on piles of treasure, and I can almost do that with my knives. :D

Not quite, but it is getting hard to find places to put them without that being the case. ;)
 
I use every knife, machete, tomahawk, axe, and other edged tool I own. I am an accumulator.
 
stabman said:
Knife knuts seem to get hung up on terminology a lot. :D
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Hobbyists, man. Hissyfits, terminology arguments, elitism, obsession, compulsive purchases, brand loyalty that extends beyond all reason, brand condemnation that goes beyond all reason...
 
Comeuppance said:
Hobbyists, man. Hissyfits, terminology arguments, elitism, obsession, compulsive purchases, brand loyalty that extends beyond all reason, brand condemnation that goes beyond all reason...
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I know all about the compulsive purchases. :D
Other than that, I don't think I have it...except for hating the Mantis brand...but that's just common sense. ;)
 
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.
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Same here, buy what you like and abuse the heck out of it until something else catches your eye.
 
What's the difference between collecting and accumulating? I think the distinction some are trying to draw is essentially non-existent.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
What's the difference between collecting and accumulating? I think the distinction some are trying to draw is essentially non-existent.
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Perhaps people that say they're accumulators think that collectors are snobs.
Or it could be the idea that a "collection" must be pristine, preferable untouched by human hands since the moment of creation.

Or they just like having even more terms. :)
 
stabman said:
Perhaps people that say they're accumulators think that collectors are snobs.
Or it could be the idea that a "collection" must be pristine, preferable untouched by human hands since the moment of creation.

Or they just like having even more terms. :)
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Obviously it's just our individual opinion on the matter, which is what the OP asked for. The way I see it is if you look at car collectors for example. They buy, sell, restore, preserve, and enjoy their cars of choice. They even may take them to the track every now and then, but the cars in their "collection" get babied and kept as pristine as possible. Sure the cars were made to be driven, beaten on, and abused and they can probably take it, but they are more interested in polishing and showing off their collection. They may even have certain cars that are considered "drivers" that they take out and don't mind getting caught in the rain or if someone dings a door.

Another example is I have 3 or 4 different shovels out in my garage. I don't consider myself a shovel collector but they are used for different things so that I have options.

i could go on and on. When someone sells off a collection at an auction, whatever the items may be, they are usually cherished, pampered, and kept as pristine as possible. It's great if people use the hell out of their knives. That's what most people buy them for. But there is no doubt in my mind that there are guys that buy a lot of knives to use and there are guys that "collect" knives to preserve and admire the craftsmanship. You can go on the exchange here and there are regulars that are constantly flipping mint condition high end knives. Their pictures are professionally taken in a photo area and they are presented as works of art.

Obviously there are going to be differing opinions on this matter. I'm just sharing my conception of the idea of a "collector".
 
mjpgolf1 said:
Another example is I have 3 or 4 different shovels out in my garage. I don't consider myself a shovel collector but they are used for different things so that I have options.
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If you had 45 to 80 shovels of different designs from around the world though, I'd call you a shovel collector. :)
 
stabman said:
If you had 45 to 80 shovels of different designs from around the world though, I'd call you a shovel collector. :)
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If the shovels were displayed and kept as pristine as possible then yes I would agree. If I went out in the yard and used the hell out of all those shovels I think it would be called shovel hoarding. Lol
 
mjpgolf1 said:
If the shovels were displayed and kept as pristine as possible then yes I would agree. If I went out in the yard and used the hell out of all those shovels I think it would be called shovel hoarding. Lol
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I think you need to store them in a heap for it to be full-on hoarding. :D
Every episode of Hoarders I have seen involves heaps.
 
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