Photos Is less better ?

[ShaiHulud]

I'm not attempting to derail the thread but can I ask for details on that knife? It's beautiful!

What uses do you have for your modern cavalry swords?
Mom, @TheZieg is using his swords again. Can I go over to his house?

Can you imagine open carry of swords again, someone pulls up in a Saturn and has a katana in the passenger seat which he has to pull out after him.
Fufufufu.. hae!

 

[sgt1372]

Side question : what is your motivation in your knife collecting hobby ?

Got into collecting knives about 6 yrs ago when I got tired of buying/selling guns because of the PITA that had become.

Acquired most of my collection (of over 400 knives) when there was a greater variety of knives available for sale & prices were a lot cheaper.

There are only a few rare, high ticket items left on my buy list. So, I may soon need to find a new focus in knife collecting or find something entirely different to spend my time, attention & $ on but that doesn't mean that I'm going to sell off any knives from my collection . . .

because I spent a lot of time building the collection, because there are only 25-50 less expensive knives that I'd want to cull from the collection & because I don't need the $ or space that would result from that effort.

 

[Arjay84]

I sold a lot of knives last year for the same reason TS did. But in the meantime I added just as much again.
My girlfriend calls it my knives-obsession.

Still my motto is “Only buy knives you are really gonna carry”..

 

[The Zieg]

What uses do you have for your modern cavalry swords?
Mom, @TheZieg is using his swords again. Can I go over to his house?

I train horses and riders for 17th and 18th century cavalry reenacting. I try to work with original swords whenever possible. If an original isn't suitable for cutting from the saddle, it can at least help inform us about which reproduction most closely approaches it in balance, weight, and dimensions.

Lately, I'm being pulled by a new crop of students who are reenacting the late medieval/early modern era. Original swords of these periods are difficult and expensive to come by, so reproductions are all we can work with. Medieval repros are notoriously bad (looking at you, Cold Steel!), so until the market works that out, I am staying away from them.

 

[Therom]

I sold a lot of knives last year for the same reason TS did. But in the meantime I added just as much again.
My girlfriend calls it my knives-obsession.

Still my motto is “Only buy knives you are really gonna carry”..

I have been in this loop for years

 

[DangerZone98]

I sold a lot of knives last year for the same reason TS did. But in the meantime I added just as much again.
My girlfriend calls it my knives-obsession.

Still my motto is “Only buy knives you are really gonna carry”..

Only buy watches you’re seriously gonna wear.

 

[DangerZone98]

Side question : what is your motivation in your knife collecting hobby ?

I think it was Sal Glesser who said God didn’t give us claws so we had to build our own.

There’s really no deep, philosophical motivation or reason for me. It’s really all about enjoying one of mankind’s oldest tools and pocket knives are pretty useful. Cutting stuff open? No problem. Slicing cake? Done. Makes you a bit more of a handyman while others are struggling ripping off tape and clawing at cardboard lol.

From a self defense standpoint (I won’t digress too much), I’m of the opinion that knives aren’t the best defensive options but it beats empty handed, IMO. If I can discourage the fight or fend off the bad guy, that’s good enough for me. Even better to avoid trouble altogether.

 

[Quiet]

This is a philosophical question I wrestle with on occasion. How much is enough, how much is too much? I'm sure I'm probably an example of both of those, as I own hundreds of knives, more than I'll ever need. However, I don't let my hobby control me, my retirement accounts are doing fine, my house and car are both nearly paid off, and I don't ever let a hobby get in the way of allowing my wife and I to eat hot food every night. So, while I DO think that there'll be a time where I say enough is enough, I'm not there in my life as yet. One day, I'm sure I will be. I have cut back on spending so much on higher end knives, and in the past year I've gone back to buying inexpensive knives and have enjoyed the hobby all over again from that perspective. In the past six months, I've purchased knives from brands (and countries) I never would have before, and have owned knives I wasn't really interested in previously. This thing is supposed to be about fun, and being something you enjoy. If your hobby starts to control you, or you feel your accumulation is suffocating you, then it's time to cut back and pare down. We've all been there in life. It's just about knowing, when that moment arrives, being able to recognize it and act accordingly.

 

[AntDog]

I’m down to pretty much keepers and very few as trading fodder. Those very few keep rotating out until a new keeper is found, then my trading fodder shrinks….

The one thing all of my keepers have in common is that they all get carried, used, loved, maintained. Every single knife I plan on keeping is something I enjoy using.

I’ve been that way since I first got into this. If something doesn’t get used it gets sold or traded off. I do have one “safe queen” and my son asked me just today if I’d ever use it. I told him “yes, but not today. I’m enjoying just looking at it new with no scuffs on it”.

We both laughed and then I had to admit I’m one of “those guys” but on a much smaller scale. He kept yelling “but, but, USE YOUR SHIT!!!” And I kept laughing. It came up because that one particular knife would’ve been perfect for what I wanted to carry today but I went with something else instead.

All told, I still have a lot of knives. But I’m at the point where damn near all I have I’m keeping. It’s a beautiful thing. I keep rotating out that small pile of trading fodder and having fun with it while using the rest of my stuff that I’m very content with.

Long story short - I don’t feel less is necessarily better, but I do think it’s a lot easier on the mind. Less to keep track of. As long as you’re happy with your stuff, that’s all that matters.

 

[Leo Greer]

I'm not attempting to derail the thread but can I ask for details on that knife? It's beautiful!

That is the MachineWise Sonora integral. 3.5 ounces, 3.35” MagnaCut blade @ 63 HRC, and it’s really nicely textured and contoured.

The action is weird though, since it runs on a steel washer system like a balisong (which MachineWise is known for). It’s incredibly smooth, but I’ve had some troubles tuning the pivot to eliminate all blade play.

And it’s a little pricey, being a premium-finish USA-made integral. They are actually available though on the MachineWise website, but only the S35VN versions at the moment.

 

[DavidABQ]

Compared to others here I have a small collection, approximately 30-40 knives. The comment about people’s tastes changing s very true for me. I have gravitated to smaller knives than in the past for me and I have discovered the “good enough” philosophy. I don’t need the latest super steel or the strongest locking system. It doesn’t have to flip open at the speed of light and I don’t need a folder that I can stab into a tree and stand on it. I have a found several “good enough” knives. They are nice looking with good blade steels and locks. I doubt ey much that I will be buying more knives in the future. Actually, I need to get rid of most of them.

I am at the point where I just want a few “good” knives and I am happy.

 

[not2sharp]

Collectors collect, it is what they do. They are the driving force that has always been behind the origins of museums, libraries and even the scientific process. The need to explore locations, relics and events, and to catalog and develop a perspective understanding is a basic human trait. It is more developed in some than in others, but if you have that gene you will collect; and if it is not knives, then it will be guns, watches, hand tools, books, cars, pound puppies or something else.

There are way many more collectors on this site than are willing to admit it.
A pure user wouldn’t care enough about the subject to join a forum and participate in the ongoing discussion. They would just buy a readily available tool, use it and replace it when needed….without investing any further thought on the thing. It doesn’t matter whether you collect a couple of examples or a million of them; the drive shouldn’t be confused with our ability to indulge. It is not the quantity or monetary investment that counts, it is your desire to invest the mental energy to better understand a subject item over a continuous span of time. Be proud that you differ from the vast masses that view all things as just a disposable means to an end.

N2s

 

[mitchnola]

I started off buying knives almost 10 years ago. Would only a buy a few a year. They all were immediately users. I was never really a collector of things. Then I found this forum and that changed quickly.

Within a year of joining bf I doubled the amount of knives. Then I discovered Les George. I spent a lot of time searching and buying up every LG I could find and accumulated quite the collection including my first ever safe queens of a few rare ones that I would maybe carry but never really use.

Not long ago I had an epiphany and feeling that I had gotten a little carried away. I was up to 20-30 LG’s alone. Literally over night I decided to get rid of the safe queens and the ones I rarely carry and only keep what I now call forever knives. The ones I truly love and will carry and use.

Pictured are all the ones I decided to sell and did so within a few days of making that decision. I actually thoroughly enjoyed sending those rare ones off to serious collectors that I knew would truly enjoy and appreciate them. A few of them were very rare and will probably never have another opportunity to own again. I was concerned a day would come that I regretted letting them go but that hasn’t happened yet. I actually find myself very happy with what I have left and greatly enjoy carrying and using all of them.

Nothing wrong with collecting/accumulating, just realized it wasn’t for me. But I still have 30+ knives so I guess I’m still a collector to some extent.

All the ones I sold off plus a few others. .

 

[norcalAF]

I started off buying knives almost 10 years ago. Would only a buy a few a year. They all were immediately users. I was never really a collector of things. Then I found this forum and that changed quickly.

Within a year of joining bf I doubled the amount of knives. Then I discovered Les George. I spent a lot of time searching and buying up every LG I could find and accumulated quite the collection including my first ever safe queens of a few rare ones that I would maybe carry but never really use.

Not long ago I had an epiphany and feeling that I had gotten a little carried away. I was up to 20-30 LG’s alone. Literally over night I decided to get rid of the safe queens and the ones I rarely carry and only keep what I now call forever knives. The ones I truly love and will carry and use.

Pictured are all the ones I decided to sell and did so within a few days of making that decision. I actually thoroughly enjoyed sending those rare ones off to serious collectors that I knew would truly enjoy and appreciate them. A few of them were very rare and will probably never have another opportunity to own again. I was concerned a day would come that I regretted letting them go but that hasn’t happened yet. I actually find myself very happy with what I have left and greatly enjoy carrying and using all of them.

Nothing wrong with collecting/accumulating, just realized it wasn’t for me. But I still have 30+ knives so I guess I’m still a collector to some extent.

All the ones I sold off plus a few others. .

View attachment 2639228

A couple of those landed on my doorstep! Thanks again for the opportunity buddy!

 

[AusLoX]

If less was better I don’t know how long I could look at the same threads of the same 2 knives. I’m glad there are people with big collections that are willing to share with us.

 

[norcalAF]

If less was better I don’t know how long I could look at the same threads of the same 2 knives. I’m glad there are people with big collections that are willing to share with us.

I'm grateful for DocJekl as well

 

[Ikhnaton]

I train horses and riders for 17th and 18th century cavalry reenacting. I try to work with original swords whenever possible. If an original isn't suitable for cutting from the saddle, it can at least help inform us about which reproduction most closely approaches it in balance, weight, and dimensions.

Lately, I'm being pulled by a new crop of students who are reenacting the late medieval/early modern era. Original swords of these periods are difficult and expensive to come by, so reproductions are all we can work with. Medieval repros are notoriously bad (looking at you, Cold Steel!), so until the market works that out, I am staying away from them.

I was about to ask but was beat to it (damn! ^^), that's so cool though! Is there somewhere on this forum where one could gawk at these swords?

 

[The Zieg]

I was about to ask but was beat to it (damn! ^^), that's so cool though! Is there somewhere on this forum where one could gawk at these swords?

OK . . .

Here is the umbrella stand downstairs. An original Prussian 1811 pattern, a repro Brit 1788 light cav, a French 1970s practice foil, a repro Spanish 1728 cav, a 1930s Japanese naval kai gunto (in striped bag at rear), and two hickory singlesticks.

There are a couple of Tapio Wirkkala  puukot photobombing from the box on the right.

I'll break them out for pics sometime. Needless to say, the kai gunto does not get any workout time. It's an heirloom.

 

[SharpBits]

OK . . .

Here is the umbrella stand downstairs. An original Prussian 1811 pattern, a repro Brit 1788 light cav, a French 1970s practice foil, a repro Spanish 1728 cav, a 1930s Japanese naval kai gunto (in striped bag at rear), and two hickory singlesticks.

There are a couple of Tapio Wirkkala  puukot photobombing from the box on the right.

I'll break them out for pics sometime. Needless to say, the kai gunto does not get any workout time. It's an heirloom.

I wish you were my neighbor.

 

[DangerZone98]

Collectors collect, it is what they do. They are the driving force that has always been behind the origins of museums, libraries and even the scientific process. The need to explore locations, relics and events, and to catalog and develop a perspective understanding is a basic human trait. It is more developed in some than in others, but if you have that gene you will collect; and if it is not knives, then it will be guns, watches, hand tools, books, cars, pound puppies or something else.

There are way many more collectors on this site than are willing to admit it.
A pure user wouldn’t care enough about the subject to join a forum and participate in the ongoing discussion. They would just buy a readily available tool, use it and replace it when needed….without investing any further thought on the thing. It doesn’t matter whether you collect a couple of examples or a million of them; the drive shouldn’t be confused with our ability to indulge. It is not the quantity or monetary investment that counts, it is your desire to invest the mental energy to better understand a subject item over a continuous span of time. Be proud that you differ from the vast masses that view all things as just a disposable means to an end.

N2s

Betcha even cavemen hid their awesome rock knife collections from the wife!

“What’s this? You just got a Sedimentary-benza from Rock HQ yesterday!”

“They had it on sale! 15 stones off.”