I Can't Collect Anymore

Ive bought about 3000 dollars of knives (mostly fixed blades - my busses/kin make up for 1500 dollars) and I dont regret these purchases at all. It's what I really love to do and once my job scheduling is more stable, I WILL go out into the wild and beat the crap out of those knives. But I have been really holding back on buying knives now since I pretty much have all of my grails and any extra knife would be superfluous in a sense. I try to hold a compromise between my wants and practicality.
 
Great thread, I find it filled with my customers, many of whome have not bought for several years. You are all younger than I and I have some advice. ALWAYS put your family first, then your country (NOT the government) then your Church, when you have done the abest you can for those important parts of your life you can consider yourself. Goldie and I understand why we have not heard from you and look forward to better times when we will see you again.
 
I might add that I still have a budget for myself and I use it. I just excercise better judgement with regard to why I'm buying.

I'm on board with Ankerson And Jill Jackson and their mindset. Each of whom I respect as members and remote friends (I hope :) )

I have knives on order and I just received a couple I've been waiting for for a long time, yesterday. (Thanks Tom Berry!)

The key for me right now though, is to buy what I intend to carry or use and if I happen to acquire a knife or gun or whatever, that I won't use, I sell it with no regrets.

I'm proud to say I don't own one knife right now that I haven't carried except for the two I just got yesterday . . .

This holds true in many of my pursuits right now. I even sold off a few guitars and vintage tube amps (Talk about a high budget collection at one time!) amd some fine watches.

This is just a trend of mine now. Partly to do with the economy for practical reasons and a lot to do with a new mindset, also for practical reasons.
 
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"Collecting" is the main problem. When I was young, I had no money - collecting was seriously limited. My sons are grown and long gone (38 & 41) - as is my first wife. 'Stuff' became more important - not the house, I've lived here forever - my car is over 7 yr old - it's predecessor was 14.5 yr old! My second wife, 12+ yr and going strong, is a 'collector' of sorts, too. The problem is space... fortunately, even hundreds of knives won't require much of a footprint. The other 'collections' require far more space.

Of course, with the advancing years comes some sense of our mortality. Self reflection often becomes quite critical of recent large expenditures, whether we received 'pleasure' in the buy or not. "I could have bought new tires!", "I could have put that money on the house loan...", "We could have spent a few days on the Gulf Coast for that!" all occur to you as you open that box with the new Sebenza in it. Your car will still need tires next month, pay something on the house, get out previous beach trip pix - recall the jellyfish, tar balls, over-priced seafood, etc, and enjoy that new knife!

I feel that the 'size' of what you collect is important. My 'other' collections take up a lot more space - and generally, are worth from a small to a very small fraction of their original cost. Then there are those boxes! Yeah, knives are generally worth a large part of their cost - and take up little space. Generally worse than a current mutual fund as an investment, they do give you something of value when you are in dire need. Just don't dispose of your knife collection too hastily.

Stainz

PS Just to clear up something... I've been married to my second wife for 12.5 yr - she is younger than me - but she is not 12.5yr old!
 
Another reason why I have to really reign in my impulses is that for me, I can always think of another knife it would be nice to have. It is just fooling myself to say that "buying this knife is a good way to finish the collection." For someone like me, it is never over, I just have to stop it or least severely restrict my exposure to cool stuff.
 
Reeek said:
I might add that I still have a budget for myself and I use it. I just excercise better judgement with regard to why I'm buying it.

I'm on board with Ankerson And Jill Jackson and their mindset. Each of whom I respect as members an remote friends (I hope :) )

I have knives on order and I just received a couple I've been waiting for for a long time, yesterday. (Thanks Tom Berry!)

The key for me right now though, is to buy what I intend to carry or use and if I happen to acquire a knife or gun or whatever, that I won't use, I sell it with no regrets.

This holds true in many of my pursuits right now. I even sold off a few guitars and vintage tube amps (Talk about a high budget collection at one time!) amd some fine watches.

This is just a trend of mine now. Partly to do with the economy for practical reasons and a lot to do with a new mindset, also for practical reasons.
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It's about moderation really, living modestly.

The point that I was trying to get across when the OP quoted what he did was they aren't telling us to completely STOP getting things we need or want. ;)

What that really means is that material objects are what they are, just things, no more than that.

But, they also tell us to pay ourselves and to do something for ourselves also.

So that would be 10% for ourselves, 10% for the Church and the other 80% would be for other responsibilities such as family, bills ect.

So it's everything in moderation, we can still have our things that we want as long as it's in our 10% of what we pay ourselves, and we can save up to get the things we want.

That isn't and doesn't mean cutting ourselves completely off giving away 100% of what we make to someone else, that's not living, that's just existing and barely at that.

Priorities are what they are, so are responsibilities, we all have them, but if we cut ourselves out of the equation completely then we are just existing and working for everyone else other than ourselves.

Nothing good ever comes out of that situation for the one who has been cut out.

A bigger house is a material object also, so that's why I pointed out what I did before about more going on that was posted here, a lot more going on....
 
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I have something else to add in addition to my previous post. Buying knives is not a really a "lose" situation. Unlike cars, or computers, iPods, where they are always being replaced, knives are here to stay. Your kabar you bought for $50 or your busse you bought for $500 will pretty much remain that price in case you want to sell them again. That's the beauty of knife collecting - the fact that your goods never lose value!
 
I just bought a subaru legacy so I wont be buying any knives in the near future ,probably not till next spring .I had to get one of those cf militarys :).I've slowed down alot even before that, once I got through all the lock types and super steels I kind of just stopped ......untill the new flavor of the month steel goes up on preorder that is and im still waiting on my tilt but afte that:D
 
Ankerson said:
A bigger house is a material object also, so that's why I pointed out what I did before about more going on that was posted here, a lot more going on....
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All material possessions are not equal. A bigger house will be a nicer home for my family, and it will allow all of us to live more comfortably, and enjoy life more. My knives are simply fun for me, and frankly, that fun is diminished if I feel that resources used on knives could have made the whole family more happy. As I have said before, I have changed over time, and the sort of purchases that made me happy ten or twelve years ago seem empty to me now. I will always love knife collecting, but for now, I don't have the passion for it I had a decade ago.
 
anthony cheeseboro said:
All material possessions are not equal. A bigger house will be a nicer home for my family, and it will allow all of us to live more comfortably, and enjoy life more. My knives are simply fun for me, and frankly, that fun is diminished if I feel that resources used on knives could have made the whole family more happy. As I have said before, I have changed over time, and the sort of purchases that made me happy ten or twelve years ago seem empty to me now. I will always love knife collecting, but for now, I don't have the passion for it I had a decade ago.
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Material objects can't make people happy, they are either happy or they are not.

That's not just about knives either, that covers a lot of things.

Wants and needs........

Buying anything really, the newness wears off after a short period of time, then it's just there after that, it could be a House, car, knife, anything.....
 
As money began to tighten, I thought I would slow my buying to zero.
With paying cash at the Gas Pump and seeing 50 to 80 bucks going in the tank with no trouble at all. I've found my knife interests going back to the good old days. Buying less at a time, longer time between buys and a renewed interest in blades I can use in everyday life under 60 dollars.

Bought a Buck Paklite over the weekend for an EDC for under 18 dollars and the enjoyment of carrying and using that knife will last longer than that 4 gallons of gasoline I bought the same weekend.

With seeing money flying out the window in services, TV, Phone, ISP, etc. the value is gone from month to month, where the knife or knives I've bought over the years still hold value years later.

The way I look at it, if the bottom does fall out, trading for goods is as old as man, even if the trade is a bag of grain, chickens for a folding tool.

There's Gold in them Mountains of Fixed and Folders, I tell ya. :D
 
Ankerson said:
Buying anything really, the newness wears off after a short period of time, then it's just there after that, it could be a House, car, knife, anything.....
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I beg to differ. :)

A House is a House till someone makes it a Home.
Had Grandparents who made a Home from a House and lived there 72 years of their 77 years of marriage. They're long gone and so is the House, But the Home will burn in my Memory as long as I live.

They survived World Wars and the great depression in their home living off their home grown gardens and livestock they raised and butchered at the home.
All their Children Born and raised in that House.
They worked at making that House and land their Home and was valued to them all of their days.

Somethings in life that people buy & use, are not so easily bought used and thrown away like a paper towel. Jus Sayin.
 
555 said:
I beg to differ. :)

A House is a House till someone makes it a Home.
Had Grandparents who made a Home from a House and lived there 72 years of their 77 years of marriage. They're long gone and so is the House, But the Home will burn in my Memory as long as I live.

They survived World Wars and the great depression in their home living off their home grown gardens and livestock they raised and butchered at the home.
All their Children Born and raised in that House.
They worked at making that House and land their Home and was valued to them all of their days.

Somethings in life that people buy & use, are not so easily bought used and thrown away like a paper towel. Jus Sayin.
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The point I was trying to make was people are either happy or they aren't and material objects can't make people happy. ;)

Things go much deeper than just material objects.....

If someone isn't happy then there isn't really anything that one can buy or do to make them happy, at least not for very long anyway.......
 
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Unfortunately, the average American Family is not making it these days. So our choices are down to buying a new knife, or eating, clothing and keeping a roof overhead. We each have to do what we have to do to survive. But, don't give in to fear and despair; Hold your ground as best you are able and lets work together to make things better.

(deleted)

n2s
 
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I had written a long and elaborate post 3 different times that I thought would convey a message directed at the overall theme of this topic. I read through what I had written each time and there was something missing. I will simply say this on the topic.

It's all about persective. If you choose to look for things that may or may not be there, you will always find them. If you can view collecting through a grim filter, you will surely highlight every bad thing and every negative or not so good reason to have this hobby. I agree with the gist of Ankerson's replies - moderation is the key. This reminds me having to pay pennance for liking whatever you like, in this case knives.

Guilt trips whether self inflicted or the result of someone else's doing rarely end well for either person. Attempting to find justification to not enjoy a simple hobby where none exist is pure madness. Sure a bigger house is always nicer, so is a faster car, better clothes, being younger, better looking, stronger, etc. Whether you collect knives, guns, spoons, stamps, whatever the case might be. Perspective is key and enjoy your knives. ;)
 
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Ankerson said:
The point I was trying to make was people are either happy or they aren't and material objects can't make people happy. ;)

Things go much deeper than just material objects.....

If someone isn't happy then there isn't really anything that one can buy or do to make them happy, at least not for very long anyway.......
Click to expand...

I see what you mean and agree.

Brace yourself, I feel a W&C post is about to be Posted. :eek: :D

If someone isn't happy then there isn't really anything that one can buy or do to make them happy, at least not for very long anyway.......
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You mean like Anti-depressants? :D

My Pharmaceutical company gave me a promotional Hobo knife and all it was, was plastic Bic Pen replacement caps. :D

bic-promotional-pen.jpg
 
555 said:
I see what you mean and agree.

Brace yourself, I feel a W&C post is about to be Posted. :eek: :D



You mean like Anti-depressants? :D

My Pharmaceutical company gave me a promotional Hobo knife and all it was, was plastic Bic Pen replacement caps. :D

bic-promotional-pen.jpg
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I wasn't going to go that deep into it here in general. ROFL :D

A miserable person is just a miserable people and it wouldn't matter if they live in a 10' x 10' room and are broke or a 10,000 square ft mansion and are rich.
 
Ankerson said:
Material objects can't make people happy, they are either happy or they are not.

That's not just about knives either, that covers a lot of things.

Wants and needs........

Buying anything really, the newness wears off after a short period of time, then it's just there after that, it could be a House, car, knife, anything.....
Click to expand...

Obviously simply owning more or bigger things will not make anyone happy. For what it is worth, I am already quite happy with my life right this minute. My health is OK, I do a decent job of living by my values, and I am fortunate to have the career I always wanted. Saving money and changing my habits will enhance what I already enjoy, and will certainly allow me to live better in the future. At best a new knife or a knife collection gives me a bit of pleasure, but putting more effort into making life better for my family makes happy in a much deeper and meaningful way than a knife or any other personal possession can ever match.
 
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