I really don't understand selling knives...

Armithius said:
If a knife is sitting around just collecting dust, may as well send it to someone who'll make use of it and make some money off it in the process. I'm limited to buying most knives off the internet, because there's no place around here that sells anything worth having, and on occasion I'll get a knife, carry it for a little while, and just decide that it doesn't suit me.
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This^^^
 
It's impossible for me to handle the knife before I buy it because I can only get them online so if it arrives and I don't like it, I'll first try to like it and if it doesn't work out, up on the exchange or eBay it goes.
 
I'll carry a knife for a day without using it much just to get a feel for it. If I don't vibe with it, either send it back or let it sit a while in hopes that I'll grow to love it. If I never do, that means it isn't going to be used and needs a better home.

Why do I buy knives I possibly won't like? Because I'm in a smallish town and don't have the option to handle many of them beforehand. The best option is to send them back to the seller, but that's kind of a PITA for them, so most people do try to give their knives a chance. After a while, they realize it is pointless having said knives.

Personally, if I don't like something as much as I do my PM2, I immediately know it is a no go. I don't care about waiting for knives to "break in", like some of these midtechs. I have a Manix 2 XL blacked out that I love the handle and blade on, but don't really care for the lock. I may keep, I may sell, in hopes of using the cash to try something else out without eating into my budget.

Hope this came across as more than tired rambling.
 
I've learned you need to get rid of stuff eventually or be considered a hoarder. I myself don't sell knives or guns, usually. I give them to friends and family though. I have many other hobbies, and those I do happen to sell stuff. It's to ensure I will not be a hoarder and have a ton of stuff when I am 80 and have barely used most of it.
 
I have a wife that doesn't want "junk" all over her house. Trading/selling things I don't use or like keeps her happy, and lets me get a variety of experience with things. I don't really collect knives, but guns. There are plenty of firearms that I've had, and I knew I didn't and never would like them. Why keep them? So they can sit in my safe just in case I might not hate it in 30 years? No thanks.
 
I never sell stuff either.
The key to this is to properly reseach what is out there and combining that knowledge with my needs.
As to testing stuff before-hand, that is simply not doable for me in most cases.
There is a big ol' ocean between me and most sellers..

Whatever product doesn't tickle my fancy after having bought it, there is always a colleague or friend to give it to:)

Most importantly though, I live by the motto " Cheap tools is misplaced economy" so most stuff I buy, is quality stuff, no need for getting rid of it.
 
If I have knives Im not using , or got / made but dont like , Ill mostly put stupidly sharp edges on them and give them away .
 
People who sell hobby items generally understand their own tastes well enough to know which qualities in those items they find attractive, and which qualities they find not to their tastes. Tastes generally do not simply randomly change with the passage of time and experience, they often rather become more nuanced. If a person understands one's own tastes well enough to understand exactly which attributes in the item are out of synch with the traits wanted, it's unlikely the choice to sell will later be regretted (and if it is, it's pretty much the person's own fault).
 
As far as modern folders go, my ratio of keeper knives seems to be about 15:1 as in I will go through 15 before I get one that satisfies that itch. Only a couple have been what I call a "dud", but it takes a really good knife for me to not only want to own it but carry & use it regardless of price.
 
I really don't understand why you ask such a question. Just do what you want to do and ignore what others do. Nobody is right or wrong here so don't feel guilty because you don't ever sell anything. I'd like to see a pic of what I assume is an awesome collection of knives and guns.
 
For me - I really like trying out new knives. But unfortunately I live nowhere near any decent knife retailers. So I never get the chance to handle ones I want to check out in person. So I do a lot of buying, selling, and trading on here so I can try some new ones and keep those I like.

I agree -never sell anything you like. But Ihave no problems selling something that isn't for me.
 
heavyfoldersarebest said:
It's impossible for me to handle the knife before I buy it because I can only get them online so if it arrives and I don't like it, I'll first try to like it and if it doesn't work out, up on the exchange or eBay it goes.
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^^^ +1
 
jc57 said:
So, EldoEsq, what is your reasoning behind never selling anything?
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My reasoning is the same as what everyone is posting. My tastes change. But through the years , my tastes almost always come back around, and now that Spyderco/Benchmade that I sold is now discontinued and much more $$$. I have a buddy at my job who is always trading things...his tastes shift, and he is pining for what he traded 3 months later.

I am a collector, but with regards to some of my hobbies, I use the items I collect(firearms and knives). I have duty knives, EDC knives, etc., like most on here. I use them all on different occasions, and they are bought for a specific purpose. Sometimes some knives are in more favor than others, and they will get more pocket time. That doesn't mean I sell off my older stuff because this one weighs .1 oz less...or this clip is shaped kinda funny...or the people on the Internet say this one is better and my old one is junk.

I understand all of what you guys are saying. I am just saying that I have regretted getting rid of things in the past, so I try not to get rid of things.

I can't believe that I am the only person on the Forum that feels this way...but oh well...
 
because I like to own things I will use and that I enjoy. No enjoyment = costing me more than it's worth. That's when I sell it if it's worth the trouble, or throw it in the trash if it's not. (this goes for anything that is : 1. Legal to sell, 2. Legal to trash, & 3. Not "doing it" for me.

There are things that just "have to work" like cars. I have no special attachment to cars outside of the fact that if I need to go off-road I understand I'll be taking a 4x4....

Mind you, this does not apply to things with sentimental value or things that will appreciate in value (I'm not going to buy a limited copy investment knife, and then use it....destroying my investment).
 
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I'm just not wired to keep stuff I'm not using and my interests are much more broad than just knives. A good $400 CRK/Strider/whatever not being used is $400 more I need to come up with for a new Werner kayak paddle, or towards a mountain bike trip, or whatever else I have interests in.
 
EldoEsq said:
If your kids need food, I get it (notice I said your kids)...

I see people on here all the time selling thing BNIB because "it's awesome, but not for me."

I have been involved with multiple hobbies for more than 30 years...the one thing I have learned is NEVER SELL ANYTHING!!!! I am not the only person who has regretted selling anything...

Look, I get that people want the newest and best...I see people trying to fund new purchases by selling old ones. I don't get it. I am not wealthy where money means nothing, but I have learned to NEVER SELL ANYTHING!!!

My tastes always change...sometimes I am looking for something really light, sometimes I want something overbuilt. I have a firearms safe that holds 30 rifles and 25 pistols...I see people complaining that they don't have room for KNIVES!!! "Collection is too big...need some space as this Kershaw Skyline is making me bust at the seams."

Like I said, I am not wealthy...when I want a knife, gun, ammo, or whatever, I save for it if it is not in my immediate budget.

Just askin...why does everybody sell knives?
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Hello EldoEsq,
You ask the most fundamental of questions, "Why?" or "What is it for?"

Your question might actually be about why some of us feel so much deep regret at letting go of certain things.

It may also be about why we give some things certain kinds of meaning in our mind, why we over-value possessions in some cases, often feeling a deep sense of loss and more when we let them go in some way.

This is an important inquiry for you at this momemt, and I am glad that you are asking it EldoEsq and that so many are giving you such helpful responses.


We are all the same inside. Everyone experiences regrets in some way. It is possible that the regrets you experience about letting go of things represent something much more important to you, but which you have been reluctant to look at, yet want to right now. If we keep looking we do find our answers.
 
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