I'm thinking about selling off most of my collection

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"Accumulating or a collecting" is a very important statement. When I read this I realized I have been accumulating mostly. I am in the process of thinning down my collection. I have been bitten more than once by something I have seen or read about on the forum or a magazine, and 5 minutes later trying to purchase it. I have kept knives because I thought "one of these days it will be worth alot more than I paid for it", only to come to the conclusion that it was never carried or used. Some of my blades I truly cherish and use often. Others set quietly in their boxes waiting for a turn to be carried. Knives are tools. They need to be used. My promise to myself is to get rid of the ones I don't use, and use the ones I keep.
 
JTR357 said:
Most of my knives don't get used.They sit in a case or roll,all the time.

These are the only ones that make it into the rotation(aside from the occasional slip-joint or SAK that's usually always there anyway).

Sebenza (large classic w/blackwood inlays & TK regrind)

Hinderer XM-18 (3.5" flipper w/3 scales)

Umnumzaan(customized by bigmark408)

BM635 mini-skirmish(blade altered by TK & handle slabs sanded by myself)

Kershaw RAM (w/G&G grip-clip & rescaled by Phillip Dobson)

Darrel Ralph Trigger Maze

Spyderco Sage II

Spyderco Stretch II (ZDP/CF)

Benchmade Gold Class M4/CF Griptilian

^These will NEVER be sold^(except for maybe the RAM & the Stretch)

Everything else(about 50 more) is just paperweights.They almost NEVER get used.

I have a Yuna being made,& I'm on the list for the new HEST folder,but that's about it.I'd like to get a G&G custom RAM,but don't think that'll ever happen,since they're pushing $1K.Even if I did save up enough for it,I could never carry & use a thousand dollar knife.
I'd like to get another custom DDR,but Darrel's current wait time is a little over a year.I honestly don't know where I'll be or what I'll be doing a year from now,so I'll pass on that.
Maybe in the future I'll get a small damascus Sebenza or Mnandi(or similar 'gent' knife),but that's about the extent of my folder interests for the near & far future.
The fixed blade situation is even worse.Unless I'm camping or hunting(extremely rare lately,the past few years,been so busy with work),I won't ever EDC a fixed blade,with the only exception being an IZULA.I've used some of my FB's in the kitchen,which was pretty cool.
I'd like to get a few Busses & other FB's from a few makers here,but I think I'm finally getting 'burnt out' on this whole knife collecting thing.
I'll probably be done within a year or so.:yawn::(

Anyone else in this boat?
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knives are a freakin' expensive 'hobby'. personally i love knives but i think they should be used, not collected. on the other hand i guess theyre a form of art, but still, their intended purpose was to be utilized as a tool, not sit in a case for eternity.
 
Collecting... accumulating... hoarding... who cares! They are your knives. If buying them - displaying them - just having them - is enjoyable, why must you use them? Who wrote the rules?

If their purchase didn't keep food off of the table - medical care avoided due to cost - other bills ignored - their really is no one to answer for but yourself. One thing is certain... you'll never be able to replace them for what you have in them now, much less what you'll get for them. You can't fault the room they take up... unless you are really eat up with fantasy swords, or something else huge.

I try to use everything - but I won't be broken hearted if I miss one now and then. I keep mine in recycled branded display cases from collectible stores now long gone. Actually, they were my wife's 'Harmony Kingdom' (UK) display cases - which she outgrew - so I 'lucked' into them. Very few folks ever come into my room - it's a locked display for me. I didn't need the ZT-0301 I recently bought - but what a knife! I carried it yesterday... never used it.

Don't get me wrong - sometimes calamity strikes - you can liquidate a collection of knives for cash. It's not an 'investment' - you'll lose a lot - but it has a more readily convertible value than my models - or lighthouse collection. Sometimes, interests change... take my lighthouse collection... someone... please? Interests change... just be sure before you divest yourself of your goodies.

One problem we all have is our mortality. Think about what you want to become of your goodies when you are gone. A great way to 'thin your herd' is by gifting to friends and relatives. The return for such can be impressive. Just consider carefully before 'thinning the herd' of your real goodies. Now, if you just have to gift that spare Sebbie or Randal, my address is....

Stainz
 
I've got my folders down to a hardcore of about 12..... :p

But the true core are two great customs. Truly great. I could not be happier with them.

And one auto..... I like autos.
 

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Buffalohump said:
I've got my folders down to a hardcore of about 12..... :p

But the core are two great customs. Truly great. I could not be happier with them.

And one auto..... I like autos.
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When did you pick up that Demko custom? When did you place your order? It's really nice. :thumbup:

I'm trying to get a handle on the progress and lag times on his orders. I placed mine on July 3rd and want that baby. I wrote to Andrew Frinday eve. but no answer yet.
 
mk.ultra said:
knives are a freakin' expensive 'hobby'. personally i love knives but i think they should be used, not collected. on the other hand i guess theyre a form of art, but still, their intended purpose was to be utilized as a tool, not sit in a case for eternity.
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Cars, boats, motorcycles, firearms, autoracing, etc. those are expensive hobbies. Depending on the knives, you can spend anywhere from a whopping $3 all the way to over $1000 on a specific blade. It all depends on what a person likes. I understand your logic, "knives are meant to be used"; however that does not encompass the entire scope. Do you own more than 1 pair of shoes? If so, then why? they are meant to be used, not to be stashed away in your closet. Why bother owning nice clothes as opposed to work clothes? What about "Collector Club" knives? I'm not sure why it bothers you so much what other people do with their knives. :confused:
 
It is always a constant cycle for me to own and upgrade whenever budget permits, but keeping in mind as much as possible, that it gets rotated as an edc whenever i can. If not, then it falls to a category for a sale or trade. Then again, it's all good!:)
 
Do you ever feel like you need to join AA I mean KA.My knife buying is out of control.I am already looking for my next knife for the display case.I wonder how many will I buy this year.
 
JTR357 said:
Anyone else in this boat?
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I have really thought about doing the same, but am not quite there yet. There is something to be said for having a small arsenal of knives you really enjoy, as opposed to a giant pile that you never look at.

I don't think I will every really reach the point of actually pulling the trigger and selling a bunch. What I might do is just separate out a pile of "keepers", and put the rest away and pretend for a year that I don't own them. See how that goes.

If I turn them into cash, the cash will just get frittered away and I will have neither a pile of cash nor the knives. Just my thought process. I'm also a little fearful of selling off a bunch, and then regretting it. From time to time, I see a thread come up that makes me want to dig out an old-style Manix or Buck 110 or whatever, and when I pull it out of the arsenal after not having touched it for 2 years, its like having a new knife.
 
If I turn them into cash, the cash will just get frittered away and I will have neither a pile of cash nor the knives. Just my thought process. I'm also a little fearful of selling off a bunch, and then regretting it. From time to time, I see a thread come up that makes me want to dig out an old-style Manix or Buck 110 or whatever, and when I pull it out of the arsenal after not having touched it for 2 years, its like having a new knife.
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Good point powernoodle. Money seems to leave the hand quickly. Knives if stored properly, hold most of their value and they don't b*tch or eat much. :)
 
A lot of people I've chatted with start out buying all kinds of knives, after a year or so it tapers off to the brands/models/styles they really want & enjoy owning.

They end up going from owning lots of production models to incorporating CRK/Strider/Hinderer knives. Then even move into the higher dollar customs Darrel Ralph, Brian Tighe, William Henry, Busse (kin) etc. I guess it takes a while for us to find what we like and fine particularly "awesome". Good thing we have lots to choose from.
 
RevDevil said:
Cars, boats, motorcycles, firearms, autoracing, etc. those are expensive hobbies. Depending on the knives, you can spend anywhere from a whopping $3 all the way to over $1000 on a specific blade. It all depends on what a person likes. I understand your logic, "knives are meant to be used"; however that does not encompass the entire scope. Do you own more than 1 pair of shoes? If so, then why? they are meant to be used, not to be stashed away in your closet. Why bother owning nice clothes as opposed to work clothes? What about "Collector Club" knives? I'm not sure why it bothers you so much what other people do with their knives. :confused:
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I own a couple pairs of shoes, but I wear them all, none sit in a case for me to fondle and display. I have 2 pairs of street shoes, a pair of hiking shoes, and a pair of shoes I work out in. All have a purpose and all are utilized for that purpose. Theres nothing wrong with having lots of knives if you like the variety, as long as you're using them all regularly. This is just my personal opinion, I just think some people get ridiculous and obsessive with material possessions, not just knives. I realized this about myself last summer and I've been cutting back on purchases and selling off things I don't need/use. It just feels good man. I always think about the people who don't even have basic needs like food and water and we're just hoarding things we don't even need. I'm joining the Peace Corps after college, can't wait.
 
mk.ultra said:
I own a couple pairs of shoes, but I wear them all, none sit in a case for me to fondle and display. I have 2 pairs of street shoes, a pair of hiking shoes, and a pair of shoes I work out in. All have a purpose and all are utilized for that purpose. Theres nothing wrong with having lots of knives if you like the variety, as long as you're using them all regularly. This is just my personal opinion, I just think some people get ridiculous and obsessive with material possessions, not just knives. I realized this about myself last summer and I've been cutting back on purchases and selling off things I don't need/use. It just feels good man. I always think about the people who don't even have basic needs like food and water and we're just hoarding things we don't even need. I'm joining the Peace Corps after college, can't wait.
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Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean that's it's wrong.
Your opinion is just that, an opinion.
 
I went thru the same mental exercise recently. I took about 75 folders and started separating them into "keepers" and "sell these" piles. After I finished, there was only one in the "sell these" pile. Then it dawned on me. Like guns, once acquired, never sell. So the one went back in the cabinet with the rest of them. I imagine I'll repeat this exercise in futility again in about 6 months. It will be time to check and oil my carbon blades again.

One good thing that came out of it was my old Groove is now seeing some pocket time. Fantastic frame lock flipper! :thumbup:

Too many knives, not enough pockets. :D
 
Sell them off... Let some one who's actually going to use them have their way. It makes me sad to see caged up Spydies, balisongs, and other knives.
 
mk.ultra said:
I own a couple pairs of shoes, but I wear them all, none sit in a case for me to fondle and display. I have 2 pairs of street shoes, a pair of hiking shoes, and a pair of shoes I work out in. All have a purpose and all are utilized for that purpose. Theres nothing wrong with having lots of knives if you like the variety, as long as you're using them all regularly. This is just my personal opinion, I just think some people get ridiculous and obsessive with material possessions, not just knives. I realized this about myself last summer and I've been cutting back on purchases and selling off things I don't need/use. It just feels good man. I always think about the people who don't even have basic needs like food and water and we're just hoarding things we don't even need. I'm joining the Peace Corps after college, can't wait.
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I hear ya mk, but the subjcect of that last bit has been open to philosophical debate for the last few milenia. Think of it as a spectrum, you start with no knives, as time goes by you figure out what you like and how to obtain them. All of a sudden you are moving on the spectrum. Different tools for different needs.

I'm sure you will find lots of challenging adventures in the Peace Corps. My current boss spend about 15 years+ working in Central America building houses, wells, ministering to the indigenous people. Coincidentally, he makes over $250k a year now, not a bad run I'd say. :thumbup:
 
I sold about $2000 worth of my collection and honestly I have no regrets...I thinned my firearms down the same way...kept the "gotta haves" and got rid of what I wasn't using often.

I think I'm going to do another round of blades too...I still have about 30 that I'm not sure I care to keep. I think I'm going down to 3-4 fixed blades, and probably 30 assorted collectible and EDC folders.

I can say that after I've owned a couple hundred different blades, I'm alot pickier lately and starting to spend more than I normally do on new purchases. I'm starting to think a couple of nice pieces a year might be my new matra...I have been eying a DDR Maxx 5.5...
 
I'm almost certain I'm at this point. While I will most likely never attain the numbers some of you fellas have in your collection, I feel that my 40+ stash is still way too much. A dozen sounds like a nice round number, might try for that. Thanks for making the thread JTR, bit of a kick up the arse for me.
 
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