Ever "downsize" on knives?

I've always been a sentimental sort of guy, so it's always been hard to give or sell anything away. As I use and carry my knives, it doesn't take long for each knife to take on a kind of personality to me, and I find that I always think of the memories associated with each knife. This makes it especially hard to get rid of anything. It's easier when I buy a knife, and lock it away for the purpose of trading, or selling. I've started to do this, when I find a knife at a great deal, that may or may not be a 'keeper' for me.

I do find that my wanted list is growing quite short, so it may be about time for me to start thinning the herd. I will try to convince myself that these knives can give someone else some fond memories, and they will be just as happy with their new owners.

It would be nice to have a bit of money in my knife fund for something up a couple levels from what I currently buy/own.
 
kershawguy13 said:
anyone else "downsized" with knives?
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I own zillions of knives - maybe 50 Spydercos, 25 Cold Steels, a bunch of Benchmades and everything else - and yeah I've considered downsizing. But I've never pulled the trigger. I could get a good deal of cash from selling everything, but then that cash would disappear and I would have neither my hoard nor the cash. So I keep them. And I do get a lot of fun from my stash. When I pick up a knife that I haven't carried in 2 years, its like its a new knife to me.

But I also envy somewhat you guys who have just a few knives. You are way more sane than a big-time hoarder, who is constantly chasing the buzz from a new knife and never quiet reaching the finish line.
 
Yeah, I'm more "transitioning" than downsizing, so my collection is staying about the 80 mark, but I'm slowly moving out the non-users for users, except for a few traditional patterns I like to look at and keep a variety of. Lately I'm finding items I want (usually higher end) and then sell off others I don't to pay for them, so the collection is slowly dwindling. I figure, the money's already spent, right? Let's put it toward something more practical.
 
This is what I've downsized to so far. I plan on upgrading a few.
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Nice bunch of blades you've got there. I notice you are a relatively new member.

Hit you hard and fast? Or have you always been into knives and just joined?

Curious.. is your handle (Gayle Bradley/940osborne) inspired?

Haha looks like I'm picking you apart but I just noticed those things and was curious.
 
Hi marcus,
Thanks, I've just about got it where I want it. Would like to upgrade a few. Still want to add a 4" folder although I'm not sure that I really need one for anything.

Been carrying some sort of folder over 40 years and finally joined BF after lurking for quite a long time. The SS Police (top right) is my first modern folder bought back in 2000 I believe.

Yes my handle is referring to the Gayle Bradley1 (best folder ever:D), BM 940 (second best folder ever:D), and the Spydie Rookie (my second modern folder purchased and most carried of any blade I've owned)
 
Downsizing..... oh yeah, I just ordered two more knives that I need like a hole in the head. I am really lusting for a Kimber 22 rifle but I just can't bring myself to spend the $1000 (more or less) just to own one when I have others just as accurate. So, where do you draw the line on knives? It comes down to want not need.
 
Hi rimfire,
It's hard to lay down a grand when my CZ 452 ($400) will do 1/2" groups at 50yds all day. Where do I draw the line on knives? $200 bucks or less, everything else is up in the air:D
 
My CZ 452 shoots real well also as does the Remington 547 and 541-S. There are others. :D The Kimber is an original Kimber of Oregon with beautiful wood (unfired). It's local. I could put it on layaway and pay a little over a couple months.....
 
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22-rimfire said:
My CZ 452 shoots real well also as does the Remington 547 and 541-C. There are others. :D The Kimber is an original Kimber of Oregon with beautiful wood (unfired). It's local. I could put it on layaway and pay a little over a couple months.....
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When you have a CZ, who needs a Kimber???
 
-Corey- said:
I'm working on it...got about 250 and trying to get down to a manageable 50. I've got a lot of weight to lose :D


Edit: Oh yea, pics or it didn't happen :)

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Cory,

Your collection is incredible! and the standard to which I aspire!
 
-Corey- said:
I'm working on it...got about 250 and trying to get down to a manageable 50. I've got a lot of weight to lose :D


Edit: Oh yea, pics or it didn't happen :)

SAM_1791.jpg


SAM_1083.jpg
Click to expand...

Holy benchmade collection 😳
But in response to the thread, i myself used to have around 150 knives, about 100 cheapos under the $75 range and the rest were all zt's, higher end spydercos, striders, etc and im now down to a reasonable 50 or so but with alot more of higher end knives, currently looking for some super steel striders to add to the collection
 
GB940Rookie said:
Hi marcus,
Thanks, I've just about got it where I want it. Would like to upgrade a few. Still want to add a 4" folder although I'm not sure that I really need one for anything.

Been carrying some sort of folder over 40 years and finally joined BF after lurking for quite a long time. The SS Police (top right) is my first modern folder bought back in 2000 I believe.

Yes my handle is referring to the Gayle Bradley1 (best folder ever:D), BM 940 (second best folder ever:D), and the Spydie Rookie (my second modern folder purchased and most carried of any blade I've owned)
Click to expand...

Thanks, yeah I was guessing you were a long time knife guy judging by your stash of blades.

Spyderco was also my fist run in with modern folders (caly 3). Enjoyed that knife so much it got me hooked.

I thought the police was a 4" folder?
 
jackknife said:
When you have a CZ, who needs a Kimber???
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You're right. I certainly don't need one. Tis the reason I haven't tossed my money down to this point. It is the same as your old Randall collection, and my knife accumulation; eventually you get rid of most of them or someone does it for you after you die. Most don't get used or in this case shot much or often. But I really like a good 22 rifle, especially a pretty one! Which is the point of this thread in general, downsizing which I have not done.
 
I've gone through my ups and downs. Currently I'm probably around 25 knives, I really need to let some go. It's not easy though! Choosing which to keep and which to sell is the hardest.
 
I've recently tapered back and sold most of my stuff off. I got into knives pretty hard this year purchasing between 30 and 40 consisting mainly of Benchmade and Spyderco. I've carried a knife for years but just got bit by the EDC bug in the last year, so knives and pocket lights stacked up quickly. Like any hobby, when you first get into it you really have no clue what you like and don't like. So I learned that I don't like big knives, and I really love titanium. So I sold just about everything off and kept about 10 knives and 15-20 lights. All higher end titanium knives and lights now with the exception of a Benchmade Mini Grip G10 cpm20 just because I always loved a mini grip with a g10 handle and the axis lock is fun to flick. I'm pretty happy with what I have at this point and have shifted most of the leftover cash into my reignitied watch collecting, which if you think knives can get expensive try watches, they really put a hurt on the bank accounts. Anyway it seems as though I go in cycles with my hobbies and they usually rotate every year or so between watches, knives, lights, guitars, cars, and golf. I'm on about a 4 or 5 year cycle for an old hobby to return and get exciting again so if I fade away from here you can rest assured I will be back in a few years.
 
I've "purged" my knife collection twice so far. Once when I was 16 years old and had around 200 knives, most of which my grandmother picked up for me at garage sales. Many were in poor shape or cheap, so I sold all but around 30 that I thought were worth keeping. Around age 28 I was back up to around 100 knives, so I again sold or gave away ones I thought were cheap or in which I no longer had any interest.

Well, now I'm almost 50 years old and I have somewhere between 1000 to 1100 knives........

I blame (ahem) this forum that I joined almost 10 years ago for much of this accumulation. I also started perusing Ebay around 2005, which led to a large number of purchases. Ebay allowed me to easily find and buy knives that I couldn't afford when I was younger and were no longer being made.

I don't have this mysterious compulsion that many seem to have to only keep knives I use. I accept that I am a collector, and I'm okay with it. I've probably only used around 30 non-kitchen knives in my life, and by "used," I mean carried more than a few times.

I like and buy all kinds of knives. I don't need to have a use for it. I enjoy handling them, even if it's only once every year or so. I don't need the money, so I keep them.

All that being said, I do have around 100 knives I'm ready to get rid of. Again, they are the ones I'm no longer interested in. I just don't have the desire right now to go to the effort to sell them. But once I do, I'll have paired my collection down to around an easily-manageable 1000 or so! lol
 
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Well I've managed to go four weeks without buying a new blade. I find I'm actually really enjoying some of the ones I 've bought, used a couple custom fixed blades that have been stuck in the drawer on a 2x4 chopathon.
 
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