How do you stop?

Daddyo16 said:
Sometimes it just takes getting to that point where you have everything you want, which is where I am now (after spending lots more than I ever meant to). Now I'm just going to enjoy what I have and possibly let a few of them go that never see pocket time.
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I know we're all in recovery here, but waddaya got?
 
Why would you want too? People will always find a way to improve on design and material.
Plus, it's always good to have a hobby.
 
For me it's in the seeking. I research my knives meticulously, struggling with need vs. desire, and many times order in a moment of weakness. Then I track it obsessively, as I must know where it is as it journeys towards its new home. Will it arrive early or late? What if I don't get it for the weekend?

Then it arrives and I begin the process of determining whether or not I should have bought it in the first place. Because honestly, if I never bought another knife I would still have more than I need.

I'm just starting to come out of the "must possess all knives that I see" stage into actually showing some restraint and making intelligent, need-based purchase decisions. I haven't progressed into customs yet either and can afford the knives I buy, so I'm not doing to much damage.

Well, off to find the next "hole" in my collection.
 
Narrow your focus to what you really like and use. Don't buy every latest and greatest thing unless it really fits your criteria. For me, that's knives around 3", thin, deep carry, OHO, etc.

There are fewer options when you narrow down what you really use. Of course, I have most production knives and a few customs that fit my criteria. :-)
 
I wish I knew. I've been going crazy for months now. Bought 5 in the last week, one came in today and now I just ordered another one. So I have two on the way.

And they're getting more expensive. Umnumzaans and the like, bought three in the last two weeks.

Never experienced anything like this before.
 
There are 2 ways, but neither one works all that well:
1. Find a hobby that you like even more. Maybe start collecting guns or expensive watches or motorcycles or sports cars or ...
2. Lose your income
 
I don't…..I am saving for a motorcycle, but for some reason I still keep buying, this motorcycle will never come.
 
First off I'll state that I'm not a collector. I carry and use my knives. If they end up not getting carried and used at least periodically, then they end up being sold or given away.

Personally I set myself a limit on pocket knives (or anything else I might become prone to excess with). This is based on what fits my budget and most importantly is just based on practicality - how many knives can you carry (OK I know everyone will have their own answer to this, from "one" to numerous, but most of us would probably say one or two, some may say three)? The knives I buy are based on my taste and preference according to type of use, etc. In my case I prefer the old fashioned traditional slip-joint pocket knives. I generally carry two - a small one and one of medium size. The total number of pocket knives I have is set at a personal limit of about a dozen (+/-). In my case (not being or desiring to be a collector) I just can't see much sense in having dozens or hundreds of knives. I carry and use them (some more frequently than others). They all get pocket time or I end up gifting them or selling them off as I personally just don't want or need 100 knives. To me a knife is a finely crafted tool that deserves to be carried, used and maintained like any other fine tool deserves. To me, sitting in a safe or drawer is just not the fate a fine knife deserves. Carry it! But if you have 100 knives for example, how much time can they really see use? Realistically it's very little if trying to juggle so many through a carry rotation. I keep it simple and keep it to a small number of very choice favorites. If I come across a knife I "just can't live without" then something gets sold or gifted generally.

Some day I may even drop that number to around 5'ish but for now I have around a dozen and enjoy them very much.
 
How do I stop buying knives? I just stop. I broke myself from compulsive shopping once, so for me it's not all that hard.

The first time you cold turkey yourself is the worst. After that it's not quite as bad.
 
I control myself by setting incredibly specific parameters for my purchases. This eliminates a huge percentage of possible purchases.
 
It's hard. Especially difficult being a paying member of the forum. Too many new offerings and steels and handles and grinds and Ermagherd the options!
 
TouchOfRed said:
And i dont know when, but this year maybe a Gurdak Custom going to arrive, not sure though, Greg dont even know himself. :)
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I just emailed Mr. Gurdak today! Thinking about getting a man o war. Do you know the type of blade steel he uses? I didn't ask in the email as it was about something else.
 
It's a struggle. I actually lost interest in knives slightly for a little saving me money. It didn't last though.
 
I don´t know if you´re serious or not, but this is what happened to me:

I started like everybody else, I bought a lot of affordable knives, and it was a joy to know and compare the different materials and characteristics while using each knife. Then I realized I had a bit too many, and started selling a few to fund new purchases. But almost without me noticing it, my purchases went up in price, well into the higher end offerings. So, the knives I sold never quite made up for what I was spending for the next ones. This went on for years. Of course I had fun and got a lot of utility out of my stuff, but every now and again a new knife caught my attention in a way I just had to try it. Perpetually under "the spell", like you said.

All of a sudden, at some point in my journey, I was lucky enough to bump into The Ones. Then it all made sense.

If you are a user like myself (and not a collector), I submit that, if you do it long enough and hard enough, you will eventually come across something that will fit your needs so perfectly, it will be like it was made for you. Perhaps I was lucky, but today I feel my quest for the grail(s) has come to an end. I still love to track the news in the cutlery market, and I still buy a few things here and there, but the thrill of the chase just ain´t there anymore. It was quite a ride and I have much to thank Bladeforums for it. If you just keep doing it, you may just get there. Good luck.
 
arizonaranchman said:
First off I'll state that I'm not a collector. I carry and use my knives. If they end up not getting carried and used at least periodically, then they end up being sold or given away.

Personally I set myself a limit on pocket knives (or anything else I might become prone to excess with). This is based on what fits my budget and most importantly is just based on practicality - how many knives can you carry (OK I know everyone will have their own answer to this, from "one" to numerous, but most of us would probably say one or two, some may say three)? The knives I buy are based on my taste and preference according to type of use, etc. In my case I prefer the old fashioned traditional slip-joint pocket knives. I generally carry two - a small one and one of medium size. The total number of pocket knives I have is set at a personal limit of about a dozen (+/-). In my case (not being or desiring to be a collector) I just can't see much sense in having dozens or hundreds of knives. I carry and use them (some more frequently than others). They all get pocket time or I end up gifting them or selling them off as I personally just don't want or need 100 knives. To me a knife is a finely crafted tool that deserves to be carried, used and maintained like any other fine tool deserves. To me, sitting in a safe or drawer is just not the fate a fine knife deserves. Carry it! But if you have 100 knives for example, how much time can they really see use? Realistically it's very little if trying to juggle so many through a carry rotation. I keep it simple and keep it to a small number of very choice favorites. If I come across a knife I "just can't live without" then something gets sold or gifted generally.

Some day I may even drop that number to around 5'ish but for now I have around a dozen and enjoy them very much.
Click to expand...

Took the words out of my mouth, I continue to surf the internet and there are knives that catches my eye from time to time. But I don't have a "grail" that I must have that will kick the "X" "Y" or "Z" knife that I already own.
 
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