Don't trade the slippies!

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

Slipjoint Addict
Joined
Feb 2, 2005
Messages
20,039
I was cleaning out my desk, and came across a printed list of all of my knives at one point. Looking through the list, some caught my eye, mainly those that have been long gone. Sold, traded or just given away. Yeah, I would like to have those back. One that stands out in particular is a Queen 1095 trapper, with bone scales. I had it sharpened by Scott Gossman, and traded it off. It wasn't getting any use. Not anything really spectacular, but I liked it. I was happy to hear from the recipient that it had cut up some bbq at a family gathering in Louisiana FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY :D. It got more use than I ever gave it.

In the zeal to try out new knives, I have let some go that, after considering, I truly liked. I have come to find out this has been done the most with slipjoints. I've probably traded off a good collection over the years. Anyway, lately, I've been hunting slipjoints in junk shops, flea markets, antique malls and gun shows. Been scooping up old, used warhorses. Cheap, reliable, old, well made. Already well used, discarded for whatever reason, they are now my wards. Still a lot of life left in them. Except for the Bose collaboration I am looking for currently, I am spending an average of about $25 bucks on slipjoints these days. Contrast that with the amount I spend on modern folders and custom fixed blades, and it is a great big chasm, like the Grand Canyon.

But, from this day forward, I am going to try my damndest to hold onto the slippies :thumbup:. It's a lot easier when you don't part with a lot of money for them ;). Oh, I'll still buy the modern stuff. It's just someone has to take care of these old dogs.
 
That's easy enough, I'm not a big trader. I do, however, like to introduce people to knives and gifting slipjoints is a good way to do so. I've never regretted giving away a knife.

- Christian
 
kamagong said:
I've never regretted giving away a knife.

- Christian
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Maybe I should rephrase my OP. The regret is for selling or trading. I have given away a few slippies, to either family, friends or on here and other forums. While in retrospect I would like to have doubles of the ones I gave away, I do not regret giving them away. I knew what I was doing at the time, and I am happy that the recipients got them.
 
I've only sold or traded off two of my slipjoints, and I regret the loss of both of them. One was a GEC barlow with super nice stag, and the other was a Case TB Arkansas Hunter. If memory serves, both knives went to the same gentleman just down the road. I especially miss the Arkansas Hunter, it was a really nice knife. I know that it has a good home now though.
 
Yeah, I had a Camillus trapper in 1095 and abalone celluloid that I traded away foolishly. Kinda wish I still had it. Had a little half congress to match but never warmed up to it like I did the trapper.

Frank
 
"I am spending an average of about $25 bucks on slipjoints these days."

Is that per day, week or month; or are you buying five a day at an avg. of $25 ea.?:o

Mike
 
malextwo said:
"I am spending an average of about $25 bucks on slipjoints these days."

Is that per day, week or month; or are you buying five a day at an avg. of $25 ea.?:o

Mike
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A couple every few months, all over the place. Buying stuff anywhere from 5 bucks to around 35-40 bucks. Mainly in the 25 bucks range. Yard sales, pawn shops, gun shows, antique malls, flea markets, farmers markets, junk shops etc. Seen some on clearance in hardware stores.
 
When I get a nice "old" knife I never seem to let it go. I use them to compare the new ones to.
Greg
 
I too have recently been picking old well used but quality slipjoints whenever I have the opportunity to do so. I enjoy cleaning them up and either adding them to my collection or gifting them. I feel as if I am in a way saving them from people who will mistreat them and not give them proper appreciation.
 
I much prefer some of the older knives. Without getting into specific makers, for he most part "the old gray mare just ain't what she used to be".

Besides, I feel like I have rescued and old friend when I find a good keeper. A crack in the scales? Badly sharpened for a few years (on a rock maybe?), a little soft on the walk and talk, not the best blade steel? No problem. I always think, "if that knife could talk, what would it say?" These knives have a history of use and sometimes outright work.

I rarely find anything though. The pawn shops are filled with junk, the flea markets the same, and if they do have any knives that would be worth buying they all seem to be Buck 110s. But they want more at the flea market than they do at Walmart for a new one.

But, I keep looking. :D

Robert
 
After collecting slippies for my entire life I found this forum and in no time found myself interested in folders (Spyderco, benchmade, etc..) I had quite a few slippies so I traded off maybe 7-8 for various folders. A couple of them are absolutely irreplaceable and I have regretted it dearly. One of them was immediately flipped on this forum for quite a profit so it sort of got my goat. To make myself feel better I picked up a couple nice Cases, Canal Street and Mooermaker knives. Nothing wrong with a good hard working folder, but the slippies just have that "thing". Whenever I feel the trading urge I open the safe grab one of the nicer slippies, fondle it for a bit and put it right back in with a content feeling. :)
 
silenthunterstudios said:
In the zeal to try out new knives, I have let some go that, after considering, I truly liked. .
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I'm in the same boat. I'll see a knife that I just HAVE to have, but don't have the cash for, so I start looking at what I can sell or trade off, only to regret doing so once the newness of the knife I just had to have wears off. I even bought myself a nice little dresser top display case for my knives thinking that by putting them on display, it would make me want to hang on to what I have more ...... didn't work. At one time that thing was almost full, now it's half empty. My other problem is that I enjoy trying to slowly trade up. Start out with something like a 40.00 Spyderco, and over the course of several trades, work my way up to a 100.00 plus knife. Of course, with the money I spend on shipping during these transactions, I could have just bought the better knife, but I still enjoy it.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
A couple every few months, all over the place. Buying stuff anywhere from 5 bucks to around 35-40 bucks. Mainly in the 25 bucks range. Yard sales, pawn shops, gun shows, antique malls, flea markets, farmers markets, junk shops etc. Seen some on clearance in hardware stores.
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I'm right there with ya SHS. Wish I had the coin to drop on some of the rare or custom stuff but to be honest, I really like the hunt more than the kill, so to speak. My last two were only $15 each. A Case and a Ka Bar.

I might splurge and actually buy a couple new knives from a dealer this year but I doubt I'll spend more that $40 or $50 each. Once in a while I'll low-ball bid on an item on the auction in hopes of getting lucky. Never seems to pan out.

I almost think that my hobby is pawn/flea market/yard sale shopping and knives are just a bonus :p.

As for trading them, I will on rare occasion to get something that better suits my taste. I've given away quite a few but I've also received quite a few from generous folks.

Chris
 
I have never traded or sold a slippie, not one. I have traded many tactical folders and fixed blades FOR slippies and never regretted it. Once a slipjoint lands at yobbos-manor it has found it's home. A few choice modern folders are permanent residents too but not all that many.
 
Rupestris said:
I almost think that my hobby is pawn/flea market/yard sale shopping and knives are just a bonus :p.

Chris
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I'm with ya there Chris. I have a lot of fun visiting different knife shops, gun shops and sporting goods stores. However, nothing is like the hunt at pawn shops, flea markets, farmers markets, etc.
 
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