Kn ife collectors vs kn ife owners

[VorpelSword]

I own a number of knives. Most were gifts from uninformed well meaning family. Most live in a cigar box in my closet. There is no rhyme or reason to the assemblage other than as gifts randomly selected for me by others. I cherish them for that.

However they do not form a collection.

How many on these forums have an actual collection? Anyone have a sequential group of club knives? Anyone ever bought the same model with variations in handle material or blade steel?


In the pre-Pandemic past, I was involved with a group of camera collectors, vintage, antique and odd-ball. Some were cameras users who liked vintage gear and processes,. I include myself in that group. Others were dyed in the wool collectors always looking for that one elusive piece they would never let go of. I have seen a lens cap that was considered to be more valuable than either the camera or rarity due top its rarety. Often, these folks would not even consider putting fresh film in one of their cameras to actually make a photograph.

Any true knife collectors here?

 

[SharpBits]

I call myself an accidental collector, which really means accumulator. I did not start out to have more than a handful knives, but here we are.

 

[EatingSarma]

I use everything I have. Even if I don't need it (meaning that I have alternatives) - I'll use it from time to time to see it's performance.

IMO - you can't trully appreciate something without actually using it.

 

[sgt1372]

How many on these forums have an actual collection?

Don't know how many but there are MANY people who have "an actual [knife] collection" here & I am one of them.

Anyone have a sequential group of club knives?

Don't know exactly what you mean by "club knives"' but I know there are members here that have collected knives that BF has sold over the years & there are members of the Spyderco collector's club here who buy every knife that they are required to buy as members of that club but I am NOT one of them.

Anyone ever bought the same model with variations in handle material or blade steel?

Yes, there are many people here who have collections of model variations of a specific line of knives & I am one of them.

Any true knife collectors here?

Yes, I'm one of them.

 

[ferider]

I'm a user who (customizes and) collects

Etc.

The two things are not exclusive, IMO.

 

[Mick Boardman]

Just for the record…. A collection is


A systematically assembled aggregation of discrete entities-be they tangible objects, abstract concepts, or data points-curated according to thematic, categorical, aesthetic, or utilitarian criteria, often with the intent of preservation, study, exhibition, or strategic utilization; it presupposes a unifying rationale or taxonomy that imbues the assemblage with coherence beyond mere accumulation.

 

[sgt1372]

I use everything I have. Even if I don't need it (meaning that I have alternatives) - I'll use it from time to time to see it's performance.

IMO - you can't trully appreciate something without actually using it.

I have a collection knives that I both "use" & "never use."

There would be far fewer knife makers & knives to choose from if people only "used" the knives they purchased.

 

[VorpelSword]

I am developing an interest in acquiring WW-II era pocket folders , the so-called Demo or Engineers knives. My immediate interest is in USMC issued lives, but envision expanding to layer include knives issued to the Army and Navy. Currently, my most notable is one issued to The Tenth Mountain Division's ski troops. It is much like the Current Boy Scout pocket folder, having the usual four tools plus aPhlipps head bit.

I am attracted by their link with my father's war and by the association with our son's service in the Marines.

 

[Philthy3]

No Crucarta?

(Or is that the left 3rd row?)

 

[ferider]

No Crucarta?

(Or is that the left 3rd row?)

I have several Cruwear copies but never liked Micarta on my folders ... hard to keep clean, but that’s just me.

 

[Alberta Ed]

I've got a few dozen knives that I accumulated over several decades, FBs and folders, no two alike. Some I keep for sentimental reasons, others I bought because of the steel, innovative lock, or just because I liked it. No particular rhyme or reason.

 

[oldmanwilly]

The closest thing I have to a collection is this:



They're all users: some I've gotten to keep in a glove box or toolbox to have on hand for specific uses and others to try out a steel. I don't feel compelled to get every variation of any particular model or brand, I just buy whatever catches my eye and looks fun/good to use. That mindset doesn't seem to help me save much money though.

 

[Mick Boardman]

I'm a user who (customizes and) collects

Etc.

The two things are not exclusive, IMO.

The closest thing I have to a collection is this:

View attachment 2926426

They're all users: some I've gotten to keep in a glove box or toolbox to have on hand for specific uses and others to try out a steel. I don't feel compelled to get every variation of any particular model or brand, I just buy whatever catches my eye and looks fun/good to use. That mindset doesn't seem to help me save much money though.

Well that’s definitely a collection.

 

[1911bphil]

I have an accumulation that has no rhyme or reason other than I like it.

 

[sharp_edge]

I'm a user who (customizes and) collects

Etc.

The two things are not exclusive, IMO.

Seeing your collection of RHK folders, I should no longer feel guilty of having too many (only seven).

 

[DustinK]

Everyone on this forum with multiple knives has a knife collection

 

[madcap_magician]

I have small collections by maker: Vehement Knives, Tom Krein, and Carothers Performance Knives; as well as a small pile of user knives; and also a third category of knives like SharpBits referred to, the magpie accumulation of sharp things without much rhyme or reason other than I liked it when I saw it.

 

[ec9]

There was a time I collected. Now I’m just a user and always keep it under the number of days in a week. Too many other hobbies.

 

[RickHuf]

I am an accumulator of sharp objects that I find appealing. A User. If they are not to be used I'd eventually have to let them go. Only so much money to go around. No rhyme or reason other than "hey that looks useful" or "that looks cool"

I've seen this conversation about antique watches too, on other forums. Some pretentious d-bags feel like a collection has to be a bunch of solid gold expensive things, or highly rare things. Honestly these guys never valued the most important thing which was research. This is a whole other argument though sorry.

Hey, whatever floats your canoe. It is a hobby after all, and personal enjoyment is the goal.

 

[scorpnsnake]

I'm a user who (customizes and) collects

Etc.

The two things are not exclusive, IMO.

I just can't stop looking at these. It's like waving a chocolate and bacon donut in a fat kids face.