Interesting Quandary Regarding Knives and Knife Collecting

MostMenAreRuthless · Dec 15, 2011

Stubai said:
Interesting question! I invite you (on some rainy day) to review my previous posts on addiction. From there you can make your own decision whether you are addicted or not. The exercise should be an amusing, if not informative journey.

Stubai: invitation accepted. Can you post a link to the thread?

Zidane · Dec 15, 2011

MikeH said:
I was given a small fixed-blade knife for my fourth birthday. That would have been 1950. It was pot-metal with a fake plastic stag handle and a compass inset, made in Japan when that was a synonym for junk. But it had a sharp point and somewhat of an edge. I still have it. Whenever I could scrape together a few dollars, it usually went for a cheap hardware store bowie which I usually destroyed throwing at the Mulberry trees in our yard. I killed a lot of cheap knives and two large Mulberries. My dad, who understood kids, would make me steel spearheads at the shop of the coton mill where he worked.

I can't remember ever not having a knife in my pocket. If a high school teacher asked if you had a knife, it meant that they had left theirs at home and needed to cut something. They handed it back to you when they were finished. In the rural school I attended, a boy who didn't carry a knife was considered a little "odd".

When my daughter suffered permanent brain injury in a hit and run, and I had to care for her constantly for several years, my beloved outdoor activities were out of the question. Fortunately I had by then acquired a couple of Busses, and discovered Bladeforums and the Busse subforum. These great people, and the collection of Busses I began acquiring, sustained me through several trying years. My wife recognized this for the outlet it provided to me and was very supportive of it.

I now am closing in on 100 Busses and a dozen or so other premium knives, and have zero regret about the money and time put into them. About ten are designated users and the rest purely collectors. Some people collcet Busses for profit. If the bottom of the Bussse secondary market fell completely out tomorrow, I would still have some fantastic knives and would not be upset.

All of this is to say that I have a deep emotional tie to knives. They have been a lifelong fascination for me, and not one negative thing has come out of it that I know of. To me, it is not an affliction of concern, but a source of pleasure.

Great post.

As for me, I've always been into knives and I have a small collection...~50 or so knives. My Grandfather, who passed away almost 20 years ago, gave me my first knife. After he passed away, my Grandmother left me his small collection and I've built it up from there. Always carry one on me unless I'm flying.

Flash Owl · Dec 15, 2011

you are not alone. people need hobbies to stay sane. many women like shopping, and many men like big boy toys.
as for me, ive always had a fasination with knives, before i was even 10 years old, i was buying knives without my parents knowing about it.
ill admit, a knife is not one of my most used tools, but i love having 1 on me. i really dont need it too cause i only started carrying a knife this year.

theres a certain beauty of one of man's most primal tool thats finely crafted.

zippofan · Dec 15, 2011

Same kind of thing with watch collectors, or pen collectors etc. I have over 500 Zippo lighters, I only need one, I have more watches than I would like to count, but I really only need one.

We collect because we can, it's fun, keeps us spending money on relatively harmless things (rather than boozing to excess etc.) and in the case of guys, showing off collections to each other is, well, a guy kinda thing.

Leek_Freak · Dec 15, 2011

MostMenAreRuthless said:
Stubai: invitation accepted. Can you post a link to the thread?

Here is what I found:

Stubai said:
There is some level of truth here...this bizarre addiction is a mess and a half and then some. Just hit the exit button or you are doomed to spending all your hard earned smackers plus max out your plastic in the process. You have been warned!

Stubai said:
One fellow read my posts on addiction and he was nearly brought to tears. He had no money left in the bank, two maxed out credit cards and a wife on the run. This stuff (blade stuff) is worse than whiskey and MUCH more costly. He got started years ago...now he's in a pickle.

zippofan · Dec 16, 2011

I've been reading through the above linked threads and was struck by how similar threads appear on watch forums. Guys can't stop buying watches, buy a watch while they're waiting for another one to arrive (or more than one), and go through periodic sell-offs to buy others.

I especially had to chuckle at the 'you know you're addicted' thread as I've seen almost the exact threads, just applied to watches. I understand the same thing happens on pen forums.

I've admitted to myself and others I'm addicted to collecting things, and I just substitute one for the other. I've always liked knives, and periodically would buy a couple while actively collecting other 'man gadgets'. Case knives while collecting Zippos, went on a run of SAK's when I first joined Scouts as a leader, back to Case when I wanted a classic camping style knife, and now going back and forth between modern style folders and traditional folders. I even bought a Scandinavian fixed blade knife, which I never thought I would, because I just couldn't resist the imprint of a Scout on the sheath!

MostMenAreRuthless · Dec 20, 2011

Just thought I would add the following items I have purchased since my last post on this thread that I have absolutely no need for and quite honestly, not much use for! I just had to have them to have them: SAK Cadet in Silver Alox, Case Tiny Trapper in Blue Bone (came dull as a butter knife with a folded edge), Leatherman PS4 in black (this one I will actually use often!), and finally a OPMT made in S30V from TTPocketTools--this is one SWEET unit. If you have never heard of him you need to Google him and check out his stuff. He makes OPMT Knives as well.

slayergut · Dec 21, 2011

You have a Sebenza and a Mnandi as an 'avergage knife guy'...Im jealous!!
I'm just a student, so i do use my knives most of the time

I only use my knives when i go spend time outdoors, which is only once a month or so.
Knife collecting is about enjoyment more than practicality to me, thats not to say i don't like practical knives though. You're not alone!

MostMenAreRuthless · Dec 29, 2011

I had an epiphany of sorts today. I realized one of the reasons WHY I collect knives. Besides the obvious use and utility among the other many, many good reasons posted in this thread--I realized that it is a TIME factor for me. I enjoy golfing--however, it takes a lot of time away from family and home, has a lot of initial cost as well as a lot of ongoing expenses. I enjoy shooting sports--again, it takes a lot of time away from home and family, has a high initial cost and continuing high expenses. With knives I can collect them, enjoy them, use them, etc. all without taking much time away from home and family. Granted, some of my knives have a HIGH initial cost (say hello to my Sebenzas and Mnandi!), but as far as time-cost and ongoing-cost they require very little. Anyway, just a little internal insight. . . My friend John Denver said "his sight has turned inside himself to try and understand the serenity of a clear blue mountain lake." I see nothing wrong with a little self-reflection. Thoughts?

CalBearTactical · Dec 29, 2011

Even if you don't have much use for a knife its good to always carry one in case a pitbull attacks, you will at least need a good knife to slice the pitbulls throat while he has his jaws locked on you......I've heard a story of a sheeple that got attacked by a mountain lion and he said that he should of at least had a knife.

Larry from Bend · Dec 29, 2011

I've always liked knives. I still have a cigar box full of Imperials and such from the 50s. I enjoy "rescuing" old kitchen knives at Good Will and re-doing them for friends and relatives. People often ask me to sharpen their knives. None of my knives are very expensive. I carry a D2 Griptilian and a Victoronix Executive every day. I use one of my carry knives maybe every other day. This includes when people ask to borrow one. Interestingly, my father, who was a dry-land grain farmer, never carried a knife in his life. He never owned, to my knowledge, any pocket knife. Not sure where I got the gun/knife/hunting/camping/fishing craving --- I did have an Uncle who enjoyed these things. I always enjoy reading all of your posts on this site.

sharpenit · Dec 29, 2011

MostMenAreRuthless said:
I had an epiphany of sorts today. I realized one of the reasons WHY I collect knives. Besides the obvious use and utility among the other many, many good reasons posted in this thread--I realized that it is a TIME factor for me. I enjoy golfing--however, it takes a lot of time away from family and home, has a lot of initial cost as well as a lot of ongoing expenses. I enjoy shooting sports--again, it takes a lot of time away from home and family, has a high initial cost and continuing high expenses. With knives I can collect them, enjoy them, use them, etc. all without taking much time away from home and family. Granted, some of my knives have a HIGH initial cost (say hello to my Sebenzas and Mnandi!), but as far as time-cost and ongoing-cost they require very little. Anyway, just a little internal insight. . . My friend John Denver said "his sight has turned inside himself to try and understand the serenity of a clear blue mountain lake." I see nothing wrong with a little self-reflection. Thoughts?

Excellent observation.