How do you decide to use it or keep it mint?

I don't buy knives with the intent to collect them. If I had lots of money you bet I'd collect knives. I have knives I've purchased that I haven't used YET. My dad got me a knife for Christmas and its not something I see myself using, but it will be with me forever. I buy my dad knives all the time but for some reason if he knows how much they cost he doesn't want to use them and puts them away in the safe. I don't tell him how much I spent, but if he unwraps a BUSSE he knows it wasn't cheap. It's a shame because I don't buy him a knife that I wouldn't love to beat the crap out of. I let him use my busse knives when we are in the woods to try and tempt him... Maybe one day. At the end of the day he knows what he has can do whatever he needs it to in any situation he's put in so he's happy which makes me happy. Collector or not, if you get joy from the knife that's all that matters.
 
I safequeen all my fixed blades, and polish them on a semi-weekly basis.

However, once the first scuffs appear on the blade, they become my to-go knife and they I abuse the hell out of them. Due to the royal treatment they're given, however, this has only happened once when I had no idea what I was doing.
 
I buy some to collect and others to check out to see how they feel and are built. If I find one I really think will be a good user then I dont care about the collecting end of it Ill use it. Otherwise Ill keep them new and turn them on to someone else that wants them.
 
Every knife I buy is intended to be used.

The only time I won't use a knife is if I get it, play with it a bit, maybe carry it for a day or two, and decide it's not for me. Then, I'll try to keep in the best condition I can, so I can resell with minimal value lost.
 
Aside from the ones I have for sale, I only have 2 folders that I don't use, a circa mid-80's Buck 110 which was my stepdad's (don't really like it, but am just keeping it for personal reasons I guess), and a Kershaw Speedform (i have a couple of Speedform IIs that I do use). There are about 30 knives in my EDC selection, no kidding.
 
If I buy a knife specifically because I need one to use, I use it. And I buy a second to keep in new condition.

If I buy a knife to Accumulate or Collect, I don't use it.

:thumbup:
 
I hate to have knives that I dont use, but with limited edition/sprint runs that I really like, I tend to own at leat two or else It stay nib. Production knives that are always available, I have less reservations using.
 
Some of mine are bought to simply enjoy the look, feel and craftmanship of the knife. The few customs that I have now, I don't use. I think it has to do with the cost and the idea that they're exactly a particular type of knife that I wanted. My first custom knife was carried one day and then I was thinking..."what the hell are you doing what if you loose it or damage it using it."

On the flip side I have knife that I carry to work everyday, will untill it breaks and then I'll get another just like it. I also have knives that I carry when not working. They're thin single blade slipjoints or the "swiss army knife" evo picnic model. So, unless it's a new custom to me, It'll get use.

I don't think I'm a collector.
 
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I buy and keep knives, which I like. Some of them I use, but most of them I don't. Currently I have nine knives, which I use on various occasion. All all them are my favorite knives (I have doubles for most of them) and I am not sure, why would I need more users. My "safe queens" are in display cases and I am enjoying just looking at them, some times handling.
 
bld522 said:
The point I'm trying to make here, VL, is that knives like many other collectibles have both an intrinsic and extrinsic value. The prevailing view around here is that people who purchase knives for anything other than their extrinsic value (i.e., their ability to cut things) have no reason to live. And that's what I take objection to. If you buy knives because you want to use them, that's fine with me. But for someone to suggest that it's not OK for me to buy knives because I may not want to use them is intolerable.

Get it?
Click to expand...

Hey, I get it! I was just stating how I feel about knives. In no way do I feel my enjoyment is "better" than someone who just wants the enjoyment of ownership. Just different.:)


I liked your "coin collector" comment.:D
 
If i buy it i use it. Only exception is if i have two of the same thing. Which i only have one double and it wasn't really on purpose.
 
If I buy it, I intend to use it, or at least don't care about keeping it 'mint' like someone's friggin' stamp collection. Knives, to me, are meant to be used.
 
I use all of my knives. Life's too short to not enjoy everything you possibly can.
 
Often times it starts with a couple light uses, such as opening a package on the fly for someone without running for a different knife or scissors, or, in my case, cutting Christmas ribbon with my Hinderer XM24 that had support wiring inside it. Factory edge no longer.

My biggest hinderance is my hand sharpening skills aren't up to par to the expense of my knives.
 
I really like collecting knives, and I have way too many to ever be able to use them all.
I pick my users emotionally; if I feel want to carry it on me, I do, and then I inevitably end up using it.
 
powernoodle said:
When you die someday after a good, long life, and your wife remarries, do you want her new husband to inherit your nice, NIB Rift in pristine condition, or a Rift covered with apple pie crust, hog blood and brake dust? I say that you remind him of who was there first.

20120913_095659.jpg

950 Rift, bottom. Ready for apple pie.
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Sitting here,reading this out loud to the Missus. She says if I die, she'll never remarry again, start using my safe Queens, and join Blade Forums :p
 
I use all of my knives. Like it's my job.
I don't care who gets them after I go, hopefully they'll enjoy looking at my used knives and think "Wow she really loved these".
Ya know?
I'll call my small accumulation a collection. I get enjoyment out of just having them and looking at them, holding them. But I get a lot of enjoyment out of using them and seeing them work like they were made to do.
So it may not be a mint collection, but it's MY collection, and that's what matters.
I love them, I could honestly care less if the people that have them after me do.

I would use it, enjoy it, love it, and if you do end up selling it or trading it later, someone will have a well loved knife that they can enjoy after you have.

Just my .02.

=]
 
It's a tough decision for a lot of us, to use or not to use. I know a fe members chimed in about buying two of the same knife. I am in that camp. I love OWNING knives, using them or not. It's just a part of who I am.
 
I'm a user who collects knives. I like knives of all different types and designs. Every knife is different in how it feels and how it performs and like a gun that has to be fired to understand how well it shoots knives have to be used to really get a feel for them, so for me it's simple I use my knives to understand them which also leads to a deeper appreciation. You don't have to use a knife to appreciate it's beauty but you do have to use it to understand it.
 
I have a collection of knives that I plan on using in the future. However right now I'm keeping a dozen Benchmades in boxes in mint condition. Most are limited or first production runs.
One day I plan on using them one or two at a time.

I think it is weird I do this because it is a knife meant to be used. I never ever consider not using a flashlight I paid 500.00 for or a 3,000.00 firearm. I'll be using both ASAP and as often as possible.

So why do I like to keep some knives I own mint? I have no idea, although I do enjoy just pulling them out and fondling them. My brother-in-law enjoyed them when he saw the pelican case full of mint Benchmades over Christmas also. He commented on how he wished he could put all of his camera equipment into a pelican case and just pull them out to look at them whenever he wanted.

He uses his cameras as he his a professional photographer though.
 
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