How to explain to women & wives who ask us but don't understand,"Why all the knives?"

"None of your got dam business." (If you want to start a argument.)

But truthfully, all the above ^ responses work for me.
 
Explain this by holding one of your knives up between you. Slowly rotate the knife so that light reflects off it. Then smile and say "Because I like the way they glisten in the light." Then begin laughing in a deep baritone while still rotating the knife.
 
knifezoid said:
True, but then you get the good ol' "You PAID THAT MUCH FOR A KNIFE!"
LOL! You just can't win!
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We do not need to win. We do not challenge or criticize our non-knife toting neighbors, we politely allow them to live as they see fit. All we ask in return is that they show us similar courtesy. I own and carry knives so that I can fix things, make things, and solve problems for myself, and occasionally, for my unprepared neighbors. I refuse to defend myself for doing something constructive.

As for the OP’s girlfriend, I am reminded of Dr. Gregory House of the similarly named television show. When challenged about his behavior he simply replied, “This is the only “me” you get.” This truth should be expressed in kinder words when speaking to those we care about, but at the end of the day, it is the only honest answer.
 
The shoes argument is usually something most women can relate to. And knives can normally be resold if need be.

Most women's shoes hold no resale value once they've been worn.
 
It's going to be difficult if you're looking for a one-liner explanation. But I would start to explain how it's:
-Not really unlike any other collectible item, but on top of that it's functional and resellable
-Many knives appreciate. then proceed to take her to the Knife Art website and show her the knives that cost over $2k
-Explain that it's not for self defense or anything like that and how knife related crimes take place with $5 kitchen knives (knives that EVERYONE already owns). No one who's willing to spend $100+ on a pocket knife is going to use it in a crime.
-Show her this website and gun websites and explain how there are quite a few of us out there. It's just not as known as baseball card or stamp collecting, but it's way more fascinating than putting something in a binder and staring at it. Or at least explain that there are rather large groups of people who have a similar hobby. Most of the time people think it's strange because they don't know anyone else who does it. If you show here it's more common than she had thought, it becomes more acceptable.
 
Sorry guys, not to throw a wrench in the works, but I forgot to mention she is Canadian... So it's worse than we thought.
 
my main argument for knives is that they have a use. stamps just sit there and you look at them. knives you can use, appreciate, and when you eventually pass that collection on to say your kids. they will think "cool knives!" not "ughh, boring stamps". at least those are my 2 cents.
 
I'd love to answer that question, but first I'd need to understand why I really do collect knives. I'm a lot older than most of you guys, and in all those years I don't think I've ever figured out the real reason. I do know that it's something that came "built-in" - I've been a knife person since I was old enough to hold one.

I guess I'll never figure it out. In the meantime, "they're cool" works for me. :)
 
There is no correct answer, sorry. What you key in on is not the answer, but the question itself. This question is actually the first move to stopping your knife obssession/collecting. You must be wary, very wary, at this point grasshopper.
 
A quick retort "Would you rather I be like Tiger Woods and collect girlfriends?"
That should settle the problem one way or another.
 
Because I can, and because I currently live in a country that banned my passion for firearms (changing that by 2011 :D)...my wife doesn't try and understand, as long as she can buy herself something she wants it don't bother her.

Treg said:
Once I was mugged by a woman, so since then I got protection(s)...:)
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lol
 
at least they can be re sold if kept in good condition,& lots of times for more than originally paid;try selling used shoes,purses,& clothes after a year or two unless its at a yard sale.....
 
knifezoid said:
I get the same thing, but to be honest it's not just women/wives. I've
been asked the same thing by guys too.

The way I explain it is this (and you guys tell me if you agree): Knives are
not a socially acceptable hobby. People can only accept and compute in
their minds what is the norm. For the most part anyway.

So if you say you collect baseball cards, stamps, etc. they have no problem
with that cause it's known by the masses these are collectable items. Knives
however, have not (and will not) been put into a socially acceptable activity.

So that's why when you tell people you collect knives they immediately reject
the idea in its entirety. This is the same for many other things too, but since
I've rambled long enough I'll keep it at that.

P.S. I've tried the "they're tools" line. Doesn't work. I get laughed at in my face.
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Completely agree -- anything that deviates from the "social norm" is frowned upon, or at least marked. This makes it difficult to have an analogy on the lines of "purses, shoes, jackets, stamps, whatever". I generally simply say "its my hobby", and mostly things end.

While my wife could not figure out how would I put so many knives to work, she was completely satisfied when I said "hobby", and no longer frowns upon it. Guess I am lucky here. :-)

It is also better to let go of any "argument" over collecting knives, since I have seen it go nowhere -- mindless drones who strictly follow the order of the "socially-acceptable" *never* get it.

Cheers, and happy holidays!

-Amarendra
 
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