Do you find it hard to get rid of your knives or tools

[he who say]

liberate yourself before your things own you.

 

[tirod3]

I'm with knarfeng - too frugal and conditioned by Depression era parents to let things go. I find it hard to sell books when I am no longer interested in the subject.

But, once I decide, it's gone. I've sold off some Spydercos and such, and haven't looked back. I'll sell off some more soon. I don't mind those, it's the cheap ones I traded away that bother me now. Most from the '80's, and I can't get them back, even if I won't use them. That's sort of thing, the "I wish I had it because I can't get one now" thinking. It keeps me picking up odd tools at Harbor Freight just in case.

So I've really slowed down and look much longer now, buy better stuff much less often - running on a 12 month cycle lately. It's actually easier than picking up a new fad knife and getting tired of it in a few short weeks just to slide back to an older favorite. Grab your Lum while you can, hang on to the Atwoods if you can, just go a little slower and enjoy having some of it rather than trying to corner it all.

 

[Bob W]

I do not think I will be able to replace it later on, and then I will arm and a leg to get it back.

That's no exageration. I once had a small batch of 13 knives stolen. Nothing fancy, just ordinary factory knives. It took about 13 years, one year per knife, to eventually find identical replacements for each knife.

 

[aj1985]

liberate yourself before your things own you.

Yes oh wise one

See the thing you do not understand is it isn't the item itself, but the reminder it gives you years later.

I just bought a Spyderco Kris and used it to cut balloons for all the little kids at my parents 25 wedding anniversary. You think any amount of money will get me to sell or trade this knife. By simply just carrying it and using it on that special day it has become priceless to me.

Everybody probably has stories such as these. It's not the item itself, but it's a reminder of good days gone by.

aj

 

[aj1985]

That's no exageration. I once had a small batch of 13 knives stolen. Nothing fancy, just ordinary factory knives. It took about 13 years, one year per knife, to eventually find identical replacements for each knife.

Wow 13 years eh atleast you finally replaced each and everyone of them.

aj

 

[Rich357]

I find it hard to get rid of knives and tools. I buy them becuase I want them for myself, not to sell to someone else.

 

[Bob W]

Wow 13 years eh atleast you finally replaced each and everyone of them.

And it would have been impossible without eBay.

So if I have 300 knives now, and something happened to them, would it take 300 years to find replacements?

 

[aj1985]

All i can say is I have a love and hate relationship with ebay. For every one good deal there are usually two bad ones to be had from ebay. Therefore I try to buy most of my knives through the forums.

congrats though Bob on replacing your knives eh

aj

P.s just wondering is there any specific way your collection is geared

 

[aj1985]

I'm with knarfeng - too frugal and conditioned by Depression era parents to let things go. I find it hard to sell books when I am no longer interested in the subject.

Grab your Lum while you can, hang on to the Atwoods if you can, just go a little slower and enjoy having some of it rather than trying to corner it all.

Thanks for the advise what can i say except I'm young therefore I'm impatient, but slowly trying to change.

take care
aj

 

[aj1985]

I don't find it easy to trade knives and tools but I will say that some are easier to trade or sell than others. There are other purchases I am saving for that have also caused me to sell some knives here but I will say that there are a few that are just untouchable. That may change for some of the knives I own down the road but not all. I've noticed that we tend to recycle a lot of tools and knives amongst ourselves here on the forums and many remain unused kind of like when I use to trade cards and stuff as a kid. Perhaps you will be able to pick up some of the other knives and tools again in the future.

May I ask what are your untouchables

aj

 

[aj1985]

I have to frames of thought when purchasing a custom knife: 1) It is NOT to sell or trade. 2) It is purchased with the intent of selling or trading.

Your a stronger person than me thats for sure. I just look at a knife as something meant to be used no matter how expensive or how pretty. Maybe later I might develop a bit of your mentality, and start collecting high end customs. Right now i'm happy as a user.

aj

 

[aj1985]

I have sold knives to be able to afford others, and made a couple of trades. If I had to sell my knives because of an emergency, I would. Then I would start my collection again.

You sure have quite a sound mind when it comes to knives. I would do the same as you, but it would take me a good few years to buy back the Spydies since so many models get discontinued every year. The main thing that irks me is I really like the hard to find spydies that have been discontinued for a good 4-15 years. Spyderco knives are way to collectible so people do not part with them & finding discontinued users is just as hard as finding new ones. Oh well all part of the game I guess you gotta pay to play.


aj

 

[Bob W]

P.s just wondering is there any specific way your collection is geared

I've always bought just whatever knives caught my eye. Traditional pocketknives, hunting knives, modern, interesting actions and locks, and a few military bayonets. I do specialize in a couple of areas - Schrade USA Old Timer and vintage German Bruckmann - but I don't intend to ever stop buying other knives as well.

 

[Bill Bond]

Don't do trades, but I find it is almost as much fun selling
a knife as it is buying a new knife.

If I sell some knives it will free up money to buy more knives.
If I never sold a knife I would never have had the chance to fondle
so many different knives.

 

[flyfishrman]

But also I'm a packrat by nature and I hold onto whatever I have.

That just about sums me up! I have really been working to get myself out of that mentality, but its tough.

 

[J. Rosa]

May I ask what are your untouchables

aj

Sure. Currently I parted with some blades in the past I considered untoucheable and they weren't cheap. Oddly enough the blades that I thus kept include 2 ZT folders, 2 spydercos, a Sibert fixed blade, and various small-medium sized fixed blades from makers on this very forum. Not the most illustrious keepers to most but they are the ones that I happen to like and/or use the most. I have some on the way that will likely never be traded or sold from three different makers. I like their work a lot and they will most likely get used. I wouldn't consider myself to be a purchaser of really high end customs as I like to use my tools and frankly just can't afford it.