Ever think about downsizing your collection?

I did just that last year. I had accumulated many knives over the years so I traded two for one or just sold them to thin out the ones I grew tired of. I was looking at my knife chest (mechanics stand-up toolbox) the other day and I thought to myself that I had fewer knives than I remembered. But I just found two gold class Case dealers within a 10min drive from me, I will have one or twenty more after tomorrow.

I would say I have about 30-40 good folders and about 20 fixed blades that make up my collection. Most are inexpensive users like SAK's and Mora's. I have alot of Case and USA Schrade's as well.
 
I do trade/sell tacticals...but as this is the traditional forum I wasn't going to mention those...lol. Only downsizing I seem to do is to gift them away.
 
I have not sold any that I collected so far. I have given away a couple. I am relatively new to collecting, so the fascination of all the different patterns and knife blade shapes are still exciting for me. I do agree that after awhile (my original plan) that I would use all I collect becomes almost impossible. I am past 20 knives now, but I do not want to down size my collection. I can leave them to my 4 boys when I am gone. It is a hobby, and for me it does not have to be rational. I think the joy of the hunting of certain styles/makers makes it all the more fun. The end product- the collection is secondary to collecting- if that makes any sense......
CJ
 
I dont ever really downsize my collection but I do cut back on knives. I primarly collect Schrade, camillus and there familys, So I never get rid of any of thoes unless I have some doubles or triples and thats usually to someone around here who needs one. But during trades I may pick up a tactical knife or something else I dont really collect or use But I like to have thoes around just for trading or when I need some cash in the for sale area or ebay. my 2 cents- Joel
 
I try to limit my accumulation to what I enjoy using and reasonably cycle through. I have just over a dozen: mostly Queen, S&M, Case, Northwoods and a few Doziers. I have 2 fixed blades I'm experimenting with: Hunter's Scalpel & Hartsook. If I like FB carry, I'll gift these 2 and have a custom made.


Do the same with firearms. Limit to a few nice examples of what I actively shoot. Too much accumulation and I find my possessions own me, rather than the other way around, through worry and maintenance and wiping down. I end up feeling burdened in life. YMMV.
 
Last edited:
RobbW said:
I try to limit my accumulation to what I enjoy using and reasonably cycle through. I have just over a dozen: mostly Queen, S&M, Case, Northwoods and a few Doziers. I have 2 fixed blades I'm experimenting with: Hunter's Scalpel & Hartsook. If I like FB carry, I'll gift these 2 and have a custom made.


Do the same with firearms. Limit to a few nice examples of what I actively shoot. Too much accumulation any I fine my possessions own me, through worry and maintenance and wiping down. I end up feeling burdened in life. YMMV.
Click to expand...

Well said robbw, especailly the part about your stuff owning you and feeling burdened by it. Same for me sometimes my hobbies make me miserable cause I feel so busy or burdened with them. then its time for me to take a step back.- Joel
 
Ever think about downsizing your collection?
Click to expand...

I seem to be doing that all the time. Then I always "reinvest" the proceeds in other knives I "like more" at the time. For me, it's the thrill of the chase all the way.

I have recently "discovered" Trapper style slipjoints. I have always owned and carried slipjoints, but I never "got" the 4" 2-blade Trapper styles, until now. I am now selling my pocket clipped, high-tech steel, titanium handled wonder knives so I can buy these relics of yesteryear. I have a Queen w/D2 blades and a Case Red Jigged Bone Wharncliffe on the way. I am sure I will love them when they arrive this week, and may even like them so much I will buy a few more, and even carry a few.

But then I will probably decide that I really only have to have one of them (or maybe none), sell the rest, and buy a few of those Railsplitters I catch myself staring at. So as the years have gone by I only really keep a handful of knives, and the only real safe ones I have had for several years.

I own many knives but when I think of "my knives" I really only think of:
The Old Timer my Grandad left me,
A Case Burnt Stag 2-blade Pocket Hunter I carry every day,
My first Spyderco I bought back in 1991 (that thing cost $100!),
And I'm pretty fond of this Black Quince Kopa I bought last year, but I'm not 100% sold on it yet.

Everything else can, and probably will be "downsized" (temporarily).
 
yobbos1 said:
Downsizing, no. I am however, getting rid of tacticals at a brisk pace and not looking back. It's amazing how many people will trade beautiful Case knives for black single blades with thumbstuds.:cool:
Click to expand...

I hear ya! I did this already. Down to 2 tacticals now. Have a bunch of classics now! :thumbup:
 
i have thinned it down a little bit, and ill probably sell some more...i have a display case and i was thinking that it'd be nice to just have a few really really nice users, instead of having a bunch i can't use, and knives with a little wear on them in a case gives them some character-i've been contemplating this for a while
 
Last edited:
yobbos1 said:
Downsizing, no. I am however, getting rid of tacticals at a brisk pace and not looking back. It's amazing how many people will trade beautiful Case knives for black single blades with thumbstuds.:cool:
Click to expand...

Capt. Carl said:
I hear ya! I did this already. Down to 2 tacticals now. Have a bunch of classics now! :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Well, I still have about a dozen or so tacticals, but I've sold or given away (sold, mostly) many more than that.
Have kept only the ones that I think are real standouts, and I never miss the ones that are gone.
(Glad to be able to say that, because at the outset I wasn't so sure.)

Recently I've been collecting mostly beautiful slipjoints from Queen, Schatt & Morgan, Canal Street, Case, and Great Eastern Cutlery.

They are somehow very special with a timeless quality to them.
 
Foilist said:
Between knife collecting and vasectomy there is a vas deferens.
Click to expand...

BWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAA! That might be the funniest one liner I have ever read on BF!!!:D:D:D:D:D:thumbup::thumbup:
 
My collection growth slowed when I started making them....THERE's and idea for ya.;)
 
I've culled the collection from time to time. Almost all of my one-handers have rotated out, I've kept some (5) for artistic appreciation. I've never sold any of them, most have been left either by trade or gift.
 
I'm in the process of purging now, and will be for a while; I'm also adding things I haven't tried yet. I guess I'm in the process of "re-directing" my collection. I'm keeping most of the slipjoints, but a lot of the larger tacticals & folders I don't carry are periodically going to other folks.

thx - cpr
 
KnifeHead said:
My collection growth slowed when I started making them....THERE's and idea for ya.;)
Click to expand...

That has always been a dream of mine.My first custom was from Jot Khalsa a few towns over and I would go over to his shop and help out on Saturdays.That man has a gift I can tell you that. I live on a postage stamp or I would have been making them years ago.Maybe when I retire,but the dream has faded a bit. If I did make them I probably would trend toward forging simple bowie types,or primitive,and Scagel looking folders.Stong influences with Scagel an I used to like the way Fain Edwards pounded out a piece of steel.

Thanks for all the replies, guys. Turned out to be an interesting thread.
I sold off several on the bay and ended up picking up more that I sold.Go figure.
My collection,(i have around 40 knives), sat under my dresser for several years, and I just used my Wave. When I found this forum my hobby was re-lit. I still think of downsizing, and just keep the chosen few. When I have the time I am on the lookout.
 
Last edited:
orca8589 said:
I'm in the process of purging now, and will be for a while; I'm also adding things I haven't tried yet. I guess I'm in the process of "re-directing" my collection. I'm keeping most of the slipjoints, but a lot of the larger tacticals & folders I don't carry are periodically going to other folks.

thx - cpr
Click to expand...

Sounds alot like what I do.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top