Hoarder, Hunter or Curator?

PointyThings said:
I'm in IT, but have been too lazy to build a database like you have. Congrats on having the self-discipline to do it.

Your family will appreciate your efforts -- as long as you let them know how to find and access that database ;)
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When you are a person of my age and have , out of the blue , lost your best friend , and realize what you have , you just need to get things done .

Harry
 
I'm an occasional hunter for fixed blades and really nothing in regards to slipjoints. I'm a user so I don't collect or hoard. I've kept most of my pocket knives (less than 10) from the 70s & 80s. They still work for me and I enjoy carrying and using them as opposed to sitting unused in a safe. My last slipjoint purchase was seven years ago just to see what were the differences between my 1970s & 80s Case pocket knives and a newer one. As far a fixed blades, I only have five of those...just hunters. So I guess I do enjoy finding/buying the occasional hunter for a reasonable price...but it's averaged out to about one per decade :-)

In the past, I've thought a few times about starting a collection, but in the end I can only use so many knives. None of my kids, in-laws, etc., have any interests in knives. So, when I eventually do pass on, my wife or son would just sell off any collection that I had for pennies on the dollar to some dealer/purveyor and they would be the one making the real money off any collection that I had. I'm guessing even the few I have now will most likely find their way to the dumpster. Though I did tell my wife to pass on my hunting knife, from Mr. Herron, to my son whether he wanted it or not : ) However, I do love looking at the knives and collections on this forum though...definitely some beautiful stuff!
 
mph57 said:
I'm an occasional hunter for fixed blades and really nothing in regards to slipjoints. I'm a user so I don't collect or hoard. I've kept most of my pocket knives (less than 10) from the 70s & 80s. They still work for me and I enjoy carrying and using them as opposed to sitting unused in a safe. My last slipjoint purchase was seven years ago just to see what were the differences between my 1970s & 80s Case pocket knives and a newer one. As far a fixed blades, I only have five of those...just hunters. So I guess I do enjoy finding/buying the occasional hunter for a reasonable price...but it's averaged out to about one per decade :)

In the past, I've thought a few times about starting a collection, but in the end I can only use so many knives. None of my kids, in-laws, etc., have any interests in knives. So, when I eventually do pass on, my wife or son would just sell off any collection that I had for pennies on the dollar to some dealer/purveyor and they would be the one making the real money off any collection that I had. I'm guessing even the few I have now will most likely find their way to the dumpster. Though I did tell my wife to pass on my hunting knife, from Mr. Herron, to my son whether he wanted it or not : ) However, I do love looking at the knives and collections on this forum though...definitely some beautiful stuff!
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I guess I left out possibly the most important category: Knife User. After all, until recent decades, knives were made to be used.
 
PointyThings said:
Also, probably a good idea to include guidance on the best ways to liquidate your collection -- or direct them to someone you trust to assist in the process. Too many ghouls out there willing to prey on a hapless survivor.
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Sad but very true...all of this applies to most anything of resale value really (firearms, tools, camera gear, other niche hobbies). I have had "make home inventory" on my to-do list for literally years. Hope I don't get hit by a bus before I get to around to it!
 
PointyThings said:
I guess I left out possibly the most important category: Knife User. After all, until recent decades, knives were made to be used.
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Speaking of user, finding a used knife for me is almost a relief. Perfect example is my gec redneck 71, I’ll never use it because I got it unused and they don’t make them anymore. I appreciate owning it and looking at it but I’m not going to use it. Why not? Something I roll around in my mind a lot. Maybe fear of lost value? I don’t buy to resell so who cares? Apparently I do...This is the crap I spend time thinking about.
 
BDubbs said:
Speaking of user, finding a used knife for me is almost a relief. Perfect example is my gec redneck 71, I’ll never use it because I got it unused and they don’t make them anymore. I appreciate owning it and looking at it but I’m not going to use it. Why not? Something I roll around in my mind a lot. Maybe fear of lost value? I don’t buy to resell so who cares? Apparently I do...This is the crap I spend time thinking about.
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Same, finding a used but not abused knife is a real relief for me too... I don't have to have any hesitation over breaking the seal then and the "lost value" that comes with it. It's crazy but also reality...how much does your brand new car depreciate the moment you drive off the lot??
 
I've been a down and dirty hoarder. No doubt where I sat in past years. But lately my income and earning potential has changed dramatically with an early retirement. I could live very well for a few years, but then be broke by mid retirement. Or live very frugally now, and into the future...and my savings should allow me to ride the distance. So my purchases, and the way I think about purchases has changed also. And will probably continue to change.

For instance, the only blade purchase I've made over the last year and a half that comes to mind, were two forum annuals, one for myself, and one for my son. And must say, am very happy with my only knife addition. It is extremely difficult to adjust to not just buying what I want. Not sure if I'll lean more toward the hunt, or specific curation. Most likely I'll still keep my hoarding mentality. Still buy on impulse, just with a tad more frugality.
 
A bit of all three. I have a LOT of knives, some of which are well thought out collections, some of which are one-offs that I just happen to like, some just tools and some just safe queens. A hoarder is probably what I'm the least of, since I will sell just about anything I have to get something I like better, and my tastes change often. "Knife Ho" is likely my most accurate description.
 
In all seriousness, I couldn't really describe how or why I collect. Thinking about a gun show I attended yesterday... I picked up a nice little Robeson stockman, a child of the 60s, I think. Unused, blades with a little storage damage, a beautiful little knife. Then on to a dealer I buy a lot of knives from. Six more knives from him ranging from a ten buck Boker Magnum Barlow to a magnificent Schatt and Morgan File and Wire... It's madness, really.

Everything is catalogued in two three ring binders, and it's pretty accurate. I'm not obsessive about record keeping, really, in general I'm not great with chores. I do hate buying duplicates, it just ties up money that could be spent on the next discovery.
 
I’m not sure where I fit, but in general I consider myself a terrible collector! I find myself constantly looking for what I think I might really want, but I’ve relatively recently come to the conclusion that I already have what works best for me, so although I keep buying knives here and there, I more often than not turn around and move them along. I don’t want to have anything sitting around that I won’t use, and I have enough knives that fit every need already. So already this year I’ve caught and released a couple of TC Barlows, a coco 15, and several 85 caplifters that were all probably nicer than most of what I have. All knives I really thought I had to have, but realized when I got them they weren’t any more special than what’s already in my small collection. I think I really just want a small collection of knives that I’ve put through the ringer for years, and which have all the scratches, dings, and patina to show for it.
 
dsutton24 said:
In all seriousness, I couldn't really describe how or why I collect. Thinking about a gun show I attended yesterday... I picked up a nice little Robeson stockman, a child of the 60s, I think. Unused, blades with a little storage damage, a beautiful little knife. Then on to a dealer I buy a lot of knives from. Six more knives from him ranging from a ten buck Boker Magnum Barlow to a magnificent Schatt and Morgan File and Wire... It's madness, really.

Everything is catalogued in two three ring binders, and it's pretty accurate. I'm not obsessive about record keeping, really, in general I'm not great with chores. I do hate buying duplicates, it just ties up money that could be spent on the next discovery.
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Funny, I want duplicates of a bunch of my knives like my BF 86 I guess so I can use one and have a brand new unused one in reserve. Reserve for what? No idea, but that’s how my mind works.
 
I just counted my knives last night. I have 18 slipjoint knives, one lockback, and two fixed blades. My wife the other day went to get something in the top drawer of my dresser where I keep them laid out and said “oh my God! You have sooooo many knives!” She was fine with it. Wanted one actually for her purse. But it got me thinking. I have never had so many. I have been into slippies since I joined the forum over ten years ago. Didn’t participate much on the porch for a long time...now with Covid I had more spare time at home and you can only garden so much so I got into it here - I blame you all. I never had more than four or five for the longest time. Always two fixed blades though...
I like my knives. I have maybe two or three I might send down the road. Who knows I am in no hurry...I guess I am a collector/hoarder/hunter now. I have a little section in my ‘drawer’ for the ones I just look at and have yet to use. :) However I really like reading about them here. Especially the history. Blows my mind when someone posts something about the history of a knife pattern that you can’t learn in a book, or from Wikiwhatever, but you can learn about it here. I think that’s why I look forward to the OKCA newsletter so much now too.
Anyhow now I’m rambling. Thanks bladeforums.
 
In my mid-twenties I started to hunt, buy, collect and/or re-sell modern Danish design furniture which stopped the moment I moved away from said country in my early thirties. Now, almost ten years later, it seems that trad. knives are slowly taking the empty slot from the furniture. I'm definitely a hunter with a pinch of curator and collector.
 
JohnDF said:
I try not to let my knife hoard get over 40 pieces.
If I get too many, I sell a bunch cheap or gift them away.
I only buy or trade for knives I will use and carry, users are favorites.
I only have one true safe queen (Hartshead Barlow).
I pretty much stick to Medium Jacks and Stockman knives.
I enjoy hunting for bargains... $75ish GEC and $35ish Case knives.
I've lost so much money pursuing this hobby, but feel it's well-spent.
Not sure where I fit in the Knife universe... :confused:
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But you fit into it somewhere my friend .

Harry
 
BDubbs said:
Funny, I want duplicates of a bunch of my knives like my BF 86 I guess so I can use one and have a brand new unused one in reserve. Reserve for what? No idea, but that’s how my mind works.
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Same mentality here. Think I got it from my dad, who did the same thing. Also, if I want a user, I try to buy a used model in good condition, like you and beezwax beezwax mention. So hard for me to de-mintify a new knife or pen.
 
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