Do you hoard knives, and how to break out of this obsession?

At this point, you should probably pay for a table at a gun/knife show and sell 3-4 of each model at a price that gets them out of your possession ASAP. I get the idea of having a backup if you want to have one knife for collecting purposes and one as a user, or a user with a backup. I do this myself for a couple of models that I use routinely, knowing that they'll be discontinued eventually and loss or breakage is a realistic possibility. But you have to understand that there are probably tens or hundreds of thousands of these assembly line knives out there available, and sooner or later, retailers will unload them at deep discounts because there's simply no collector demand and plenty of "better" models out there for people in the market for beater knives.
 
jbmonkey said:
realize you will die one day and your family will find brand new boxes filled with cheap user knives. they will see no value in them.

worse case your wife's new husband, after you die, will inherit lots of new value user knives. you gave up lots of fun and savings, comfort, etc for him to have boxes of new knives you never used. someone very smart made that point about safe queens, on here.

if one breaks, so be it. there are other models out there and other brands. life is too short to make sure you have enough of everything just in case. accept that and you'll be much happier and have a much better life. it does sound like you might need help.......if you can't stop on your own, seek help.
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Great post
 
I feel that for me, re-selling knives is something best done as rarely as possible. The only knives I would consider selling are duplicates so I also feel that buying duplicates is a poor choice for me.

Marring a new knife will always be difficult for me, however, I find it helps when I rationalize all the ways that a scarred knife is an honorable knife.

Someday, I will leave this life and I think passing on a collection of NIB knives with no sentimental value could be perceived as a waste of resources that could have been better used to serve my life and my family. I'd rather leave a collection of scratched, chipped, stained and stubby blades
that chronicle my experiences, my love and service to my family. Pretty tools are acceptable and justifiable purchases for a distinguished and honorable gentleman, pretty toys are not.


If you have a large collection, and you fear that many of your knives have lost monetary value. Why not give them immeasurable value by giving some of them to beloved family members, cherished friends and valued colleagues.
 
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If you like them buy them. Buy and enjoy what you like but maybe think twice about the bulk purchases.
 
jc57 said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsive_buying_disorder

If it's consuming 1/3 of your pay, then you should dial it back a bit.

If you really want to "break out of the obsession" then you need to stop buying knives. Don't just change brands and continue doing the same thing. If it's something you spend a lot of time on, then you will need something else to consume that time so you don't drift back into the same habits. Find some other hobby or interest that doesn't require repetitive buying of more "stuff" to keep up the interest.

For most knife companies, you are their dream customer. Case's business model is built on customers like you.
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Best advice here. Otherwise, you'll go on until you hit a crisis point, and are forced to stop and to sell off your inventory. Given what many here think of Chinese-made knives, you can magnify that many times among the larger population, which means you probably won't be able to get rid of them short of throwing them out.

Etna said:
What would be the best way for breaking out of this obsession? Will switching over to brands with a more stable and predictable product lifecycle like Taylor and CRKT help?
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This is moving toward more expensive knives, and in the case of CRKT, those of lesser quality. Further, CRKT tends to license innovative designs that don't catch on and are quickly discontinued. However, there is some collector value in such cases--despite the sub-par steels, lousy heat treat, and overall lack of QC--there that you won't see with Taylor and certainly won't see with Enlan or Sanrenmu.
 
I Hoard my knives (by hoard I mean rarely do I sell or trade them unless I bought that knife specifically for that, like buying two of one limited edition knife so that it can increase in value and become a trade worthy item for knives I want)

But I rarely buy POS or super cheap knives unless they have a lot of unique features or innovation that is functional, or novelty knives (not novelty like a dog shaped knife, novelty like a knife with a unique or innovative opening or locking mechanism)

I don't think I have a problem but that is for me. How many knives do you own and how long have you been collecting OP?
 
If no use of knife there no point of owning it, just my thought. I wear all my knifes with no matter on price tag, and from my perspective all comes down to what class can you fallow in cash.

Here is some recent short story btw. my buddy & me:

He bought from me near 900$ mid tech, super excited first time spend that amount of money on knife. Few days passed and I call him to check impressions and then he starts how he adore it but he scare to wear it, what if knife drops or make a dent on scale or worse scratch a blade... etc. most important question is how that will affect on resell value...... I told him that he is a idiot paying 900$ for that amount of stress, should be opposite right?! That purchase should fulfill you, to connect with something that suites you to start building story with it by using it when you need it, to enjoy in it. There is a cheaper ways to cut paper... if you don't use it, you don't need it - simple as that.



Point is somewhere here: buy what you can afford to use & enjoy in it and limit yourself on what you need in some real life / don't be a victim of some artificial hypes pushed by marketing divisions.

I didn't pay to protect & serve my knife, it's opposite / maybe that line will brake some hoarders :)))) word collector is these days refine substitute for word dealer - rest are just users

Hope I didn't miss topic with these...
 
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951MAX said:
If no use of knife there no point of owning it. That purchase should fulfill you, to connect with something that suites you to start building story with it by using it when you need it, to enjoy in it. There is a cheaper ways to cut paper... if you don't use it, you don't need it - simple as that.
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Perfect sentiment. I will try to remember to reread it each time I begin to contemplate a new purchase.
 
A third of your salary is a bit much for junk knives.
1) Quit buying junk
2) Buy nice knives
3) Mostly buy knives that you'll use
4) Avoid buying knives you won't use
5) Sell knives you don't use
6) Don't buy into "limited" production gimmick unless it really tickles your fancy.

I have a bunch of junk knives from my early days stored in places for when they might be useful, selling some of the nicer stuff I don't use. Now I know what I like to use, so I focus on that stuff.
There is a Randall and a custom knife that I've been having my eye on for a while now that I plan on being "display" knives. However, Knowing that there is two grand worth of "art" keeps me from actually purchasing said blades.
 
Funny.

I am reminded of the estate sales from knife collectors on ebay. You just know there'll be some sweet deals on some really old, discontinued model that pretty much only you're familiar with and to which the admin wont have a clue to value.

Profit! For us, collectors from collections of knife enthusiasts! Woohoo.
 
Lay out your all knives in order of what you consider your favorites. Stick as many of these as you can fit into all of your pockets. Sell everything else. Only buy what you would be willing to make space for in your pockets.
 
Just think of all the microtechs and sebenzas you could have right now! [emoji1]


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
 
Set priorities. Exert self-control.

If you are engaging in a behavior that causes you problems and/or unhappiness, stop engaging in that behavior.

It sounds like you are a bit obsessive-compulsive (buying knives in bulk because you are afraid they will become discontinued, even though you recognize that doing so is a problem). This may be heresy to say on a knife forum, but perhaps you should stop buying knives all together until you get your obsessive behavior under control.

I don't think switching knife brands or buying more expensive knives is the answer. That would be like a drug addict switching from one drug to another. Your choice of knives is not your problem. Your obsessive-compulsive behavior is your problem.

I'll send you a bill for the psychiatric evaluation ;).
 
I to have a bit of an obsessive personality, I liked to have two of certain knives (especially Spydercos). I got to a point where I made a spreadsheet of all my knives and I started marking off the ones that I never used or didn't anymore like and sold them. I used the funds to by a couple of good knives (an Inkosi and an SMF) one of which I carry every day depending if I am in the office or on site/weekend. Now when I look at lesser knives I just think... 'is this going to replace either of my two knives'. The answer so far has been no to all, so mostly I have not purchased any more. I also find waiting a day or so before buying helps rationalize the purchase a bit and cut out those impulse buys.

matt

Edit - Also, in all seriousness, if you want to break out of the obsession is it probably best not to frequent the forums, read reviews etc. I know personally I get caught up in the hype sometimes and impulse purchase because everyone else is raving about something.
 
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As a pilot and 100 GT Master, I hold to the notion that two is one and one is none. In the air or out at sea, back-ups are comforting; generally unnecessary, but comforting nonetheless.

I have been guilty of buying back-ups of favorite knives; and, in the case of discontinued models ... back-ups for the back-ups.

That said, one has to know where to stop and nobody lives on this earth for ever. I've removed safe queens from the safe, admired and fondled them only to wipe with oil and return to the safe. I get some satisfaction out of that component of my knife hobby. But when one gets beyond the back-up to the back-up to the back-up ... I think that the "hobby" has morphed into something less healthy.

Keep in mind this post is being made by someone who spends a good amount of time on BF and has more knives than one could ever use.:rolleyes::foot:
 
Buy only knives you are going to use. That tends to throttle down the buying volume if you stick to it reasonably well.

A bit of perspective....One third of your net income is about what banks use to gauge whether you can afford a house (and of course the gross amount). Knives? I just hope this is a passing phase and you are beginning to get it out of your system. You really aren't likely to be gaining anything or much other than filling boxes with knives and you certainly can't use them all in any practical sense. Duplicates can be comforting (good word for it used above). But consistently buying multiple duplicates of everything is irresponsible especially if it is a pattern.

Have fun with the hobby, but don't be obsessive or compulsive about it. I might add that most of us often go a little overboard at times. Notice I said "at times". Enjoy.
 
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Learn how to throw knives. You will go through your cheap blades so fast you can either buy more or buy better. At least you will soon find out why they are cheap.

When I find a knife I really enjoy then I'll often buy a second. I have a son, and he is not having mine!
 
When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, ‘Oh yes – I already have everything that I really need.
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Dalai Lama


It's part of being a consumer in the 21st century. The exciting part is hunting down something new, buying it and watching the tracking number. I find that most of the things I used to buy would end up in a drawer, never to see the light of day again. The excitement never quite lasts, and I now understand that.

I might suggest putting your focus on something with a higher long-term benefit. For example, you would be the perfect coin/bullion 'collector.' You could continue your need to 'consume,' while simultaneously putting 'money in the bank.'

For example, the 'ATB' series from the US mint. They're giant-sized state quarters (5 troy oz).
Designs-for-2015-America-the-Beautiful-Quarters-and-ATB-Five-Ounce-Silver-Coins.jpg


Then many countries come out with new designs each year, such as the Australian Kookaburra coins.
BcXaYf6.png


There's all sorts of various ways you could position yourself so your 'habit' works for you. :thumbup:
 
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