- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
- Messages
- 1,144
Hi all,
I've been in a dilemma for this past year and I was wondering if anyone else went through it and/or if they have some feedback.
My daughter was born almost 6 months ago. In no time she will begin walking and talking and she'll become interested in touching everything around the house. I collect both modern knives/daggers and functional medieval reproductions. Most of my collection consists of edged tools that would be used or would have been used in combat (even though I have never had the opportunity to learn how to use them properly).
I know I have to make some common sense changes, such as not leaving knives lying around everywhere like I've done in the past. But, I'm at a point where I feel I have to make a decision either to continue to increase my collection as usual(i.e. keep getting combat weapons) or where I could re-focus my interest and get unsharpened swords intended for HEMA and knives with more uses other than stabbing and with a less tactical look.
I was thinking of just putting most of my stuff in shadow boxes and hang them from the wall while leaving only a few accessible to me in a safe, out if reach location. But, that will mean my daughter will be exposed to them every day and one day my daughter will ask me "oh daddy, what's that thing and what is it used for? Why do we have it?". Ultimately, the bottom line is they are tools of war and combat meant to cause harm. That applies to most of the stuff that I have and I don't want my daughter to get the wrong idea or to think that it is ok to harm others. I like the stuff I have, not because I would want to harm anyone, but because it takes me back to medieval times and/or because it evokes sentiments of courage and bravery. Although, after studying history and warfare I know swords and the like have caused a lot of suffering and pain and they weren't necessarily used by honorable and brave people.
The other choice is to get a safe or something and put everything there and limit her exposure to it. This only applies of course to the daggers, swords and tacticool stuff I have. For the rest of my collection, I would be teaching her the value of the knife as a tool and how it has made our lives easier and better while also promoting safety and respect for the fact that they can be dangerous if used irresponsibly. Not sure if that will be the right approach.
Did anyone else find themselves in a similar situation? What would be your recommendation?
I've been in a dilemma for this past year and I was wondering if anyone else went through it and/or if they have some feedback.
My daughter was born almost 6 months ago. In no time she will begin walking and talking and she'll become interested in touching everything around the house. I collect both modern knives/daggers and functional medieval reproductions. Most of my collection consists of edged tools that would be used or would have been used in combat (even though I have never had the opportunity to learn how to use them properly).
I know I have to make some common sense changes, such as not leaving knives lying around everywhere like I've done in the past. But, I'm at a point where I feel I have to make a decision either to continue to increase my collection as usual(i.e. keep getting combat weapons) or where I could re-focus my interest and get unsharpened swords intended for HEMA and knives with more uses other than stabbing and with a less tactical look.
I was thinking of just putting most of my stuff in shadow boxes and hang them from the wall while leaving only a few accessible to me in a safe, out if reach location. But, that will mean my daughter will be exposed to them every day and one day my daughter will ask me "oh daddy, what's that thing and what is it used for? Why do we have it?". Ultimately, the bottom line is they are tools of war and combat meant to cause harm. That applies to most of the stuff that I have and I don't want my daughter to get the wrong idea or to think that it is ok to harm others. I like the stuff I have, not because I would want to harm anyone, but because it takes me back to medieval times and/or because it evokes sentiments of courage and bravery. Although, after studying history and warfare I know swords and the like have caused a lot of suffering and pain and they weren't necessarily used by honorable and brave people.
The other choice is to get a safe or something and put everything there and limit her exposure to it. This only applies of course to the daggers, swords and tacticool stuff I have. For the rest of my collection, I would be teaching her the value of the knife as a tool and how it has made our lives easier and better while also promoting safety and respect for the fact that they can be dangerous if used irresponsibly. Not sure if that will be the right approach.
Did anyone else find themselves in a similar situation? What would be your recommendation?
