I Can't Collect Anymore

[Nimick]

Just a thought, if soo many people are going to be liquidating, it might be a better idea to just sit on what you have. Like the antique market. Right now you can't get diddily for antique fine china because everybody's selling since they're not entertaining.

 

[Billy516]

Been in the same boat since I first took a pay cut in 2009 and then lost my job in January of 2011. I'm working again but only making less than half. I'm down to buying one or two special knives per year. Any more than that and I sell off a few "collector" pieces to fund the new one. It's been quite fun to just carry those that are tried and true, like my Spyderco Militaries for instance, rather than buying anything that catches my eye and then have it sit in a drawer for months or years, getting no use. :thumbup:

 

[anthony cheeseboro]

Just a thought, if soo many people are going to be liquidating, it might be a better idea to just sit on what you have. Like the antique market. Right now you can't get diddily for antique fine china because everybody's selling since they're not entertaining.

You have a great point. The truth is that I have been treading water for a long time. Often buying, selling and sometimes repurchasing the same knives in a few months or maybe a year. The smartest thing I can do is sit tight and maybe purchase one or two more models I like when I can. The main thing is to just admit to myself that I and the whole economy is in a different place than when I first became a serious knifenut with an income in the early 1990s.

 

[longbow]

I'm of the same opinion. Just bought a couple of knives I have wanted and to me that will be it. An Emerson Specwar Neely/Emerson in ats34(original issue) fixed blade and DPX HEST gen II folder cause I have heard such good things about them. I'm kind of spoiled by Ron Flarhety knives actually and have two. I mean how much better can a folder get than these two I own from him? So I figure I am done. Matter of fact I have given a whole box of prod. folders to my two nephew's to split between them, Kershaws', Ontario's, BM's, CS's, etc.etc. that is how serious I am. keepem sharp and good luck.

 

[Ken44]

By the standards of non-knife people, I still have too many knives, but I just can't see collecting anymore. My kids are getting bigger, we need a larger house, and the economy in general just is not as friendly as it was in the 1990s when I first got into Spyderco, Benchmade and all the other cool knives. I'll always love sharp things, but I think it's time to walk away.

Pick out a few of your favorites, and get rid of the rest. Good luck.

. maybe all of the fools who voted for Obama won't be so dumb next time

Please don't call people names here in General. And also take that crap to the Political forum. It does not belong here, and your lucky you haven't been infracted for that comment.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I have really pulled back on my spending habits, but I am still overboard. I was very good this year until about July, when I went nuts. I have started to rein it in, and it's not just knives.

 

[jackknife]

threads like this make me wonder if knife collecting is going to be passe in another generation.

When I was a kid, nobody collected knives, yet every man had a pocket knife. Even with the post world war 2 boom, people like my parents and everybody I knew, were too busy raising a family, working a steady job to pay for the house in the newly created suburbs with the two cars in the paved drive way. Everyman I knew growing up had a two blade jack of some kind in his pocket, but nobody collected things. I think the knife thing didn't get really under way unitil the late 1970's and 80's. From the 1090s to now we had a highly artificial economy that now is imploding on itself, just like the artificial real estate market. House values are diving down to where they should be, and the new generation of young men are struggling to make a living. I wonder if in our kids time, people will go back to just being happy with "A" knife in thier pocket.

With things getting more expensive everyday, and the bulk of the American work force taking a job cut because of rising prices of goods, how will the manufacuturers of hundred dollar knives do? If a young man who just got married last year and his bride is pregger with they're first child, is he going to buy an expensive tactical for a hundred dollars, or a 30 dollar Buck or 20 dollar Victorinox?

The generation that came of age in the 1990's and early 2000's had the luck of being in a very rare flush economy that was a unusual blip on the radar. That time may not come again. I don't think I'd be buying stock in a knife company right now.

Carl.

 

[anthony cheeseboro]

threads like this make me wonder if knife collecting is going to be passe in another generation.

When I was a kid, nobody collected knives, yet every man had a pocket knife. Even with the post world war 2 boom, people like my parents and everybody I knew, were too busy raising a family, working a steady job to pay for the house in the newly created suburbs with the two cars in the paved drive way. Everyman I knew growing up had a two blade jack of some kind in his pocket, but nobody collected things. I think the knife thing didn't get really under way unitil the late 1970's and 80's. From the 1090s to now we had a highly artificial economy that now is imploding on itself, just like the artificial real estate market. House values are diving down to where they should be, and the new generation of young men are struggling to make a living. I wonder if in our kids time, people will go back to just being happy with "A" knife in thier pocket.

With things getting more expensive everyday, and the bulk of the American work force taking a job cut because of rising prices of goods, how will the manufacuturers of hundred dollar knives do? If a young man who just got married last year and his bride is pregger with they're first child, is he going to buy an expensive tactical for a hundred dollars, or a 30 dollar Buck or 20 dollar Victorinox?

The generation that came of age in the 1990's and early 2000's had the luck of being in a very rare flush economy that was a unusual blip on the radar. That time may not come again. I don't think I'd be buying stock in a knife company right now.

Carl.

Good observation.

 

[puukkoman]

I'm in the same boat.
I come here to window-shop and as a distraction, but my knife-buying budget is long gone. Don't remember the last time I bought a $150 folder, much less anything more expensive.
My wife and I, who are both college graduates, each work more than 40 hours per week, just to cover our expenses, and we're still living paycheck-to-paycheck. I have a good job and a marketable skill, but we're still one step above the poverty line. God forbid one of us should be struck by a serious illness; that would wipe us out... and we don't have anyone to fall back on.
With the tax cuts for the richest 1% still in place from the previous presidential administration, we who make up the middle class are being squeezed out. And Lord knows this current administration hasn't done anything to help either.

Yes, we've had to tighten our belts. We do without luxuries, we don't travel (and her parents live 1200 miles away). We both work hard, and are lucky to be employed, although that could change at any time. We are thankful to have each other, and grateful to be staying afloat while so many of our peers are losing their homes and barely surviving on temporary unemployment pay.

So, Anthony, you're not alone. Hang in there, buddy.

 

[jackknife]

By the standards of non-knife people, I still have too many knives, but I just can't see collecting anymore. My kids are getting bigger, we need a larger house, and the economy in general just is not as friendly as it was in the 1990s when I first got into Spyderco, Benchmade and all the other cool knives. I'll always love sharp things, but I think it's time to walk away.

Anthony, the more I looked at your post, the more I though about something. You say your kids are getting bigger. That means a lot of things. Being the father of three, and grandfather of three, I can tell you that time passes too damm fast. The time you spend with your children now, is going to be priceless memories later on. The heck with knives, sell off what you need to, and go buy a canoe, or take them camping. Spend time with them now, gettingthem on a right track, because that's the best investment you can make. Many years from now, will you enjoy looking back on the knife collection, or the time your kid reeled in his first fish from the family canoe out on the lake?

The time I spent with my dad is my own best memories, with the exceptions of the times spent with my own kids. I used to collect customs. I had many of the big names, but I ended up selling all of them off, and I've never looked back. They were just things. Inanimate things. The people in your life are waaaay more important than things.

I got put out of the army after only 10 years of my intended 20 year career. I appealed the medical discharge, but the army board said the ijuries I received made me unable to be viable, so medical discharge it was. Being married with one kid, and another on the way, I had to start all over again. It was hard. Through the 70's and 80's my only pocket knife was a Buck 301 stockman. Yet, that pocket knife did well in all I needed, and it is in the hand of my oldest son in a photo taken on the Potomac river when John reeled in his first fish. To me now, that photo and memory is worth way more than any knife. John is a grown man now, but every time he see's that photo on the shelf, he smiles. The knife makes no difference, but the memory of it being the perfect day out in the canoe, and catching his very first fish with his dad makes him smile.

Knives come and go, but your children are only your little ones for a little bit of time. How much knife do you need, really? Go walk away from knife collecting, and go spend the time and money on your family. Many years from now, you will be glad you did.

Carl.

 

[anthony cheeseboro]

Anthony, the more I looked at your post, the more I though about something. You say your kids are getting bigger. That means a lot of things. Being the father of three, and grandfather of three, I can tell you that time passes too damm fast. The time you spend with your children now, is going to be priceless memories later on. The heck with knives, sell off what you need to, and go buy a canoe, or take them camping. Spend time with them now, gettingthem on a right track, because that's the best investment you can make. Many years from now, will you enjoy looking back on the knife collection, or the time your kid reeled in his first fish from the family canoe out on the lake?

The time I spent with my dad is my own best memories, with the exceptions of the times spent with my own kids. I used to collect customs. I had many of the big names, but I ended up selling all of them off, and I've never looked back. They were just things. Inanimate things. The people in your life are waaaay more important than things.

I got put out of the army after only 10 years of my intended 20 year career. I appealed the medical discharge, but the army board said the ijuries I received made me unable to be viable, so medical discharge it was. Being married with one kid, and another on the way, I had to start all over again. It was hard. Through the 70's and 80's my only pocket knife was a Buck 301 stockman. Yet, that pocket knife did well in all I needed, and it is in the hand of my oldest son in a photo taken on the Potomac river when John reeled in his first fish. To me now, that photo and memory is worth way more than any knife. John is a grown man now, but every time he see's that photo on the shelf, he smiles. The knife makes no difference, but the memory of it being the perfect day out in the canoe, and catching his very first fish with his dad makes him smile.

Knives come and go, but your children are only your little ones for a little bit of time. How much knife do you need, really? Go walk away from knife collecting, and go spend the time and money on your family. Many years from now, you will be glad you did.

Carl.

That is so true. My kids are 9 and 5, and both have birthday within 5 weeks. It was just yesterday they were babies, and Lord knows I love them more than any knife!

 

[A.P.F.]

Anthony, the more I looked at your post, the more I though about something. You say your kids are getting bigger. That means a lot of things. Being the father of three, and grandfather of three, I can tell you that time passes too damm fast. The time you spend with your children now, is going to be priceless memories later on. The heck with knives, sell off what you need to, and go buy a canoe, or take them camping. Spend time with them now, gettingthem on a right track, because that's the best investment you can make. Many years from now, will you enjoy looking back on the knife collection, or the time your kid reeled in his first fish from the family canoe out on the lake?

The time I spent with my dad is my own best memories, with the exceptions of the times spent with my own kids. I used to collect customs. I had many of the big names, but I ended up selling all of them off, and I've never looked back. They were just things. Inanimate things. The people in your life are waaaay more important than things.

I got put out of the army after only 10 years of my intended 20 year career. I appealed the medical discharge, but the army board said the ijuries I received made me unable to be viable, so medical discharge it was. Being married with one kid, and another on the way, I had to start all over again. It was hard. Through the 70's and 80's my only pocket knife was a Buck 301 stockman. Yet, that pocket knife did well in all I needed, and it is in the hand of my oldest son in a photo taken on the Potomac river when John reeled in his first fish. To me now, that photo and memory is worth way more than any knife. John is a grown man now, but every time he see's that photo on the shelf, he smiles. The knife makes no difference, but the memory of it being the perfect day out in the canoe, and catching his very first fish with his dad makes him smile.

Knives come and go, but your children are only your little ones for a little bit of time. How much knife do you need, really? Go walk away from knife collecting, and go spend the time and money on your family. Many years from now, you will be glad you did.

Carl.

Carl, you make it sound like an 'either/or' proposition. Knives and guns can and have played a major role in a young person's rite of passage. Simply because a person has a stamp, coin or knife collection, does not limit them to collecting activity alone. All things in moderation, including the sacrifices one makes for children. As a Grandfather of four, it is nice to have something tangible to leave the kids.

 

[timberweasel]

That is so true. My kids are 9 and 5, and both have birthday within 5 weeks. It was just yesterday they were babies, and Lord knows I love them more than any knife!

The good news is that you have your priorities straight, brother! Kudos to you! Lord knows how uncommon 'common sense' is these days...

Before you know it, your kids will be all grown up and out of the nest. Then you'll be back... oh yes, you will be back...

 

[crom]

I'm at the cusp of making a decision of liquidating my small, humble collection. I only buy a new knife every once in a great while and it's usually under $50. I keep a couple of trade worthy pieces for something that might catch my eye but the reality of the new economy has me rethinking how I spend on everything. I believe collecting anything can become an unhealthy obsession no matter the item and I never really had the collector gene in me anyhow.

 

[quattromori]

I do understand you very well, altho my personal experience is pretty different.
I have started collecting several items since I was a child (stamps, coins, etc.). With time, I found out that, sooner or later, I would give up. My point is I'm not good at collecting, or not rich enough, I can't tell. I feel like it's a road that takes me nowhere. Maybe, with a super high budget, and a definite goal, I could be a knife collector, but that's not going to happen. In fact, I never got to own 10 knives, and I'm lowering down the number.
I enjoy looking at other people's collection (for example, some forumites here own a fortune in knives - not just in money, but in artwork). It's just not for me.
From a rational point of view, I love knives, but I'd rather keep my load lighter and spend my savings on trips or other things (as I recently wrote on another thread, the only thing I really collect are visa stamps on my passport).
From an instinctive point of view, it just doesn't matter if collecting knives is a good or affordable or wise thing to do, or not. I know I'm no good as a collector. I just like to carry a knife, choose it among a few trusted ones, and I'm more than fine. Meanwhile, I like to delight my eyes here on BF, just like I love watching vintage cars, but with no frustration at all. Just enjoying it.
Fausto

 

[Mitchell Knives]

I don't collect anymore either; mostly because I simply lost interest when I started making my own knives.

The knives I'm interested in now are simple users or higher end customs from makers I respect.

 

[Flexxx]

Just buy one new knife per year.....

One Busse that is

 

[Ankerson]

I don't collect anymore either; mostly because I simply lost interest when I started making my own knives.

The knives I'm interested in now are simple users or higher end customs from makers I respect.

I have been sticking to mostly customs these days also.

 

[not2sharp]

....The generation that came of age in the 1990's and early 2000's had the luck of being in a very rare flush economy that was a unusual blip on the radar. That time may not come again. I don't think I'd be buying stock in a knife company right now.

Carl.

The fact that I have been able to acquire many knives dating from the 19th, 18th century and before, is a good indication that someone has been collecting knives for a long time, and that they have done so despite of many economic downturns and depressions. Collectors are a given; what they collect and how much they are able to pay for their collectables may vary, but I do not see knife collecting going away anytime soon. As things become less stable there will be a desire to return to basics and knives are about as basic as one can go.

n2s

 

[Dagon]

I feel the same as Anthony. It has been a while since I last added a knife to my (too big already) collection. Obscure or exotic regional traditional patterns still interest me, it's the black G10 knives I am so tired of.
I am also strongly considering reducing my collection, from around 200 to, say, 30 or so (still largely enough).
This reduction plan is not triggered by financial needs, rather simply to have less "stuff" around.