Recommendation? Knife addiction.

Kmikaz3

Kmikaz3

Gold Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2019
Messages
1,663
Hello,

I love knives! Is there a good recommendation on slowing down on purchase? Like some sort of miraculous cure or am i doomed for from the get go? Fit and finish from a reputed knife and the way i take care for them are like porn or even more addicting. I believed, i suffer from knife addiction because of the following symptoms:

1. I buy product from "dealers".

2. I thought, i'm in control and can stop at any time....really!

3. I can’t understand how everyone isn’t into it.

4. I, sometimes, tell myself: ‘this is the last time, i swear’.

5. When i hear something new is coming out, i want to try it as soon as possible.

6. When confronted by my family and close one, i deny there’s a problem because they don't understand!

7. When fear of missing out sets in. When a dealer a model in limited stock, sprint run, exclusivity or flash batch.

8. When dealers are out of what i want, withdrawal symptoms occur. These may include irritability, panic, craving, or restlessness. This is probably caused by point 7

Please send HELP and has anyone experienced something similar?
 
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I have mentioned this before, you know you have it bad when: you are playing with your collection, and you say that the ones you are fondling are your favorites.....then your daughter reminds you that ALL OF THEM are your favorites!!!! Also, you buy extras of the same model just to keep one pristine, one becomes a safe queen, never to be used, only admired. Resistance is futile.
 
cbach8tw said:
I have mentioned this before, you know you have it bad when: you are playing with your collection, and you say that the ones you are fondling are your favorites.....then your daughter reminds you that ALL OF THEM are your favorites!!!! Also, you buy extras of the same model just to keep one pristine, one becomes a safe queen, never to be used, only admired. Resistance is futile.
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I see... no light at the end of the tunnel... :(
 
What you describe looks like a real addiction. One that start to have consequences on your live and relative
Go see a doctor


On a less serious note, you may start to try to found your next purchases by selling some of your collection.... at least you will limit the cost of your addiction, this can be a good start
 
There are options but you have to be disciplined to stick to them, one method I have yet to implement but think is a good one, sell or trade two for every new one you acquire. That way it forces you to really think hard if you want to get rid of some of your so-called favorite ones for a new one that is bright and shiny, or you may realize that you already have one, two or three already that meet the criteria you are using to justify buying the new one. Example, words like "EDC, utility, camp backpacking, neck knife, etc," always seem to catch my attention and get me thinking I could really use that one. Then I realize I have bought others for the very same reasons, and have not used them, that I have fallen victim to marketing ploys.
 
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There is a serious thread (on another forum) about one guys fight with knife addiction. As far as I have seen he is still fighting and loosing his battle.
To me the biggest flag would be if it causes financial disruption or hardship and marital problems. If that is the case get professional help, If it doesn't-deal with it as best you can. Many here have some form of the problem and can be obsessive about their hobby.
Mine doesn't bother me in the least. I can control it just enough.
 
Kmikaz3 said:
....7. When dealers are out of what i want, withdrawal symptoms occur. These may include irritability, panic, craving, or restlessness.
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I consider pretty much every one of your items as being normal when you like a hobby a lot and willing to spend money to further the hobby. Item #7 troubles me a little, but I suspect you are exaggerating.

I like knives too. But I have reduced the number of knives I have purchased yearly in the last two years relative to the previous 5 years. My suggestions are; (1) Buy only knives you actually believe you will use. (2) Set a budget for yourself and stick to it. If you like, set a higher budget initially but lower than your current expenditures. I suspect you understand where that point might me. As time moves forward, reduce the budget. The equivalent might be reducing drinking or smoking but not quitting.

For me, I buy most of my knives at brick & mortar stores. Avoid the stores and the temptation. I do this with KSF and the big knife store in Sevierville TN. Restricting purchases to stores and not online except in very limited circumstances has helped me cut down. I would also suggest you do not attend BLADE this year. When I go, my bank account shrinks by at least $1000 in one day for stuff I really don't need anyway (just want). Wouldn't surprise me if it is canceled for this year due to Covid-19. A small knife show in my area was canceled due to the virus concerns. If this virus ramps up like I think it will, I doubt I will attend Blade even if the show is held.

If you enjoy the hobby, you will spend money fairly regularly to further than hobby. It is the nature of hobbies. I experienced this with hunting, hiking, fishing, and firearms in general. It is a matter of a bit of self control.
 
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If you believe you might be suffering an addiction that could impact negatively on your life or the lives of those around you then you need to get professional help, I am not joking.

People can have unhealthy addictions to all sorts of strange things.
 
Pick a number of knives you feel is reasonable to own then stick to it. If you want a new knife, you gotta sell or trade one of your old ones. Might also help to have a storage system that is limited in capacity (and resolve not to exceed it.)

Good luck, OP!
 
4. I, sometimes, tell myself: ‘this is the last time, i swear’.

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Always remember: Knife addiction is a virtue and much more healthier than any other addiction: alcohol addiction, tobacco addiction, gambling or heroin... Try any other addiction - you lose your health, your sanity, your life, your money, your family, your reputation..... + sing a sad country song and die depressed...

Knife "addiction": = Joy + Love + You will always be able to recover $$$ spent in knives. Try that with tobacco or alcohol or opioids...

99% of knives are cheap. Try buying your wife the cheapest $2,500 Prada or $5,000 YSL purse or $10,000 Dior... No that's a f**king addiction my friend! :-)
 
Houlahound said:
If you believe you might be suffering an addiction that could impact negatively on your life or the lives of those around you then you need to get professional help, I am not joking.

People can have unhealthy addictions to all sorts of strange things.
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While most topics on knife addiction here are in jest, shopping addiction is definitely real and sinks some people. Fortunately knives can be sold if you find yourself too deep.
 
This forum enables you, not that it's necessarily a bad thing.
I don't know if it'll work for you but a lot of people find that taking a break from this place and focusing on what they have instead of admiring others knives and adding them to the list really helps them slow it down.

I'm okay right now so I don't need to but I know It will work for me when I decide I'm no longer okay.
Before joining this place I didn't buy knives nearly as often.
 
Get addicted to using or abusing knives like I did.
Get to know knives you have.

I used 2 of my 3 knives for variety of purposes they aren't even made/designed for, and they handled them well... and my third knife will have to go through some abuse too.

Recon Tanto isn't designed to be a lunch knife but it handled it well when I had no real alternatives, it's also not prybar or scraper, but it did that too. I use it even as garden bush trimming tool... and so on.
Drop Forged Hunter isn't designed to be used on a smartphone, trim plastic, be used as a hammer to break or bend some junk so it fits the container (I used bottom of the handle as a pommel) or cut car tires... and so on

Both of these were used for things they weren't designed for, and handled them well. It also made me get to know what I have. It's actually quite fun. I actually did most of these activities with both, to see how each performs at what and compare them.

What's the joy of the knife if you're not using it? If I paid them I want to see what they can do and have fun.
This is also a reason why I own 0 folders... I would ruin them very fast...
 
Smiling said:
Get addicted to using or abusing knives like I did.
Get to know knives you have.

I used 2 of my 3 knives for variety of purposes they aren't even made/designed for, and they handled them well... and my third knife will have to go through some abuse too.

Recon Tanto isn't designed to be a lunch knife but it handled it well when I had no real alternatives, it's also not prybar or scraper, but it did that too. I use it even as garden bush trimming tool... and so on.
Drop Forged Hunter isn't designed to be used on a smartphone, trim plastic, be used as a hammer to break or bend some junk so it fits the container (I used bottom of the handle as a pommel) or cut car tires... and so on

Both of these were used for things they weren't designed for, and handled them well. It also made me get to know what I have. It's actually quite fun. I actually did most of these activities with both, to see how each performs at what and compare them.

What's the joy of the knife if you're not using it? If I paid them I want to see what they can do and have fun.
This is also a reason why I own 0 folders... I would ruin them very fast...
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Good advice, I think you may quench the thirst to buy new knives by using what you have now. It will satisfy that desire by re-discovering some of the reasons why you bought some others before. And you gain experience using them, sharpening them, tinkering with them, etc...so that you open up more opportunities to enjoy the hobby.
 
OP - don't feel too bad. As long as financially you can afford it, I say go for it. At least your money is not completely gone. I mean, if you sell you knives, you shall be able to recoup 60% or something like that of what you paid. If you go to a fancy restaurant in town for a $200 meal, the $200 is gone forever.

Think about other goods in life, like clothes, shoes, purses, rings, etc. They mostly do not retain their values as well as knives.

This is how I make myself feel less guilty when buying knives.;)
 
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