knives I love but don't use

I'm guilty of safe queening anything worth more than a few bucks or that I think is pretty. I believe this is because I almost never have to cut stuff. It's like, why gouge the steel for a one time job? I have scores of users for that. It's a personal problem.
 
The most expensive knives I have are Spydercos, and I am working my way up to carrying them, but I have many others that I've carried everyday for years (Kershaws,SAK) that I use and like carrying. I hate to mess up a pricy(for me) blade, but I also don't like the idea of safe queens. That said, I don't think I could edc a knife costing more than 200, unless I had a massive pile of money to go with it! But man those Hinderers and CRKs sho look sweet!
 
My 2c - for the most part I carry all of my collection; however there are a couple of knives i enjoy owning but don't like to carry. I have a CRK that I enjoy having, but the CRK thumbstuds just piss me off so I rarely carry it. I have thought about selling it...but I like owning it..? Strange, I know. Like most of ya'll, knives should be used; but I am as guilty as the rest...and have some that are just eye candy.
 
pinnah said:
I learned this when I skied for a living (another lifetime ago).

All skis are rock skis.

All bikes are riders.

All knives are users.

This works for me. Collecting is another thing.
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Interesting. I'd love to hear a little background on this please.
 
BruceMack said:
I have a quirk of not using something I love but fear to damage.
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Sounds like an illness. Would you consider not making love to the wife you love out of fear of damaging her? I hope not.

I can see having safe queens if they are bought for artistic appreciation or investment, but the knives you list were designed for use.

All my knives are users, but there are different types of uses I'll subject them to. for example, two of my more expensive knives -- a Massdrop Gent and a Bestech Engine -- will not be carried into the woods or during any heavy duty household projects. Both could function in such roles, but I do not want to risk marring them, as their primary role is gentlemanly folder. However, they get carried for typical EDC duties. My most expensive blade -- a Bark River Mini Fox River -- was specifically obtained for use in the woods, while being compact enough to pocket carry for EDC.

If you are buying noninvestment-grade knives and not using them in any way, I think an intervention is needed. For example, confine yourself to buying only knives you will use, have your loved ones and friends force you to carry all your knives and give each one at least light use, or take your collection of non-users and turn them into a folk art display in a shadowbox frame.
 
I have knives that I don’t carry anymore because of sentimental value. Other than that, all of mine are fair game depending on my mood that day. I actually like to see a little wear on a knife after years of use.
 
I bought a "custom" MBB M-4 a number of years ago. I had no intention of using it. Maybe 2 yrs later, I bought their (then) regular version. I've never used that one, either. I love them for what they are, and what they could be... but for any legitimate knife task that I might use them, I have other knives that would perform better; so why bother getting them dirty? Should the day arise that I need the capabilities of the MBB M-4, I'll have it at the ready.
(Admittedly, I've recently been of the mind to take the one out & shake some of the new off of it. Pretty sure it's going to happen)

Let's not even talk about that thing with the RMDs - it's been a struggle not to buy one in green canvas... and the only reason I've been able to beat the desire for the maroon canvas RMD is that the maroon canvas SOS I received wasn't very attractive.
 
May be its just me but I would prefer to call it a "private collection" than a "safe queen".
 
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I’m currently reading The Great Collections by David Darom. The knives in the book seem to mostly be “Art Knives”. Gemstones and gold adorning these knives is not uncommon. I’ve seen the knives and weapons in museums.

I’ve seen the offerings in the tactilol thread and seen knives in my work that don’t appear to be functional for anything.

The point, if I have one, is that some knives aren’t made to be used and some knives are purchased and the owner plans to never use them.
 
I consider myself a user/collector. And something that’s helped me actually carry and use more of my knives is buying duplicates. That way it forces me to use one and I’m not paranoid about it getting damaged or lost.
 
Pteronarcyd said:
Sounds like an illness. Would you consider not making love to the wife you love out of fear of damaging her? I hope not.

I can see having safe queens if they are bought for artistic appreciation or investment, but the knives you list were designed for use.

All my knives are users, but there are different types of uses I'll subject them to. for example, two of my more expensive knives -- a Massdrop Gent and a Bestech Engine -- will not be carried into the woods or during any heavy duty household projects. Both could function in such roles, but I do not want to risk marring them, as their primary role is gentlemanly folder. However, they get carried for typical EDC duties. My most expensive blade -- a Bark River Mini Fox River -- was specifically obtained for use in the woods, while being compact enough to pocket carry for EDC.

If you are buying noninvestment-grade knives and not using them in any way, I think an intervention is needed. For example, confine yourself to buying only knives you will use, have your loved ones and friends force you to carry all your knives and give each one at least light use, or take your collection of non-users and turn them into a folk art display in a shadowbox frame.
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I'm on the mend. I got my Ritter/Hogue folder two weeks ago, reprofiled it, and have been carrying it daily. Everything I own and like will make the rotation.
 
When I buy a knife if I dont really love it it goes into the shelf of just to be played with. Price doesnt really come into it I usually end up liking the spendy ones and they go into the carry shelf. I have only a couple that go to work with me as the grit and stuff gunks up bearing knives fast so usually have a 940 for work.
 
BruceMack said:
I have a quirk of not using something I love but fear to damage.
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This applies to almost every knife in my 300+ knife collection.

Over 1/2 of these knives cost somewhere between $100-400 placing the total value of the collection at somewhere between $20-30k. I've never bothered to actually add it all up. I will carry some of these knives (even the most expensive) but not use any of them to cut anything for fear of damaging them.

I've got more than enough "other" knives that cost far less that I can use instead.
 
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pinnah said:
All knives are users
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On that point we agree, I use all my knives

marcinek said:
They are called "safe queens." We have this discussion often. Some people have all "users." Some people have some "safe queens."

Different strokes for different folks. Nothing wrong with either way.
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I have a Medium Stockman and I only use 2 of the 3 blades on it, what would you call that?
 
Melodrama-1024x512.jpg
Regret is a feeling of sorrow of intense heartbreaking... :cool:
But even so, I've been selling my lovely unused humble collection knives because they needs to find a new home.
 
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Knives can be all things. I have users, safe queens and investment knives.

My "safe queens" are usually my five blade slip joints by Gene Shadley. I absolutely love the knives...they are more like a well made watches than tools. That being said, I use them every Christmas for opening gifts. So I enjoy using them occasionally but would not carry a five blade stockman for personal use. Gene told me to go ahead and use them because that's what they're for...and he guarantees them for life...but they are just too bulky for my pocket.

I also have investment knives. Some from Francesco Pachi, Jess Horn, others. I am slowly selling them off to help pay for my children's tuition. Some have tripled or quadrupled in value.

For example, I still have my RJ Martin Devastators that I paid $525 each for. Direct from RJ's table at the NY Custom knife show.

My users are typically Sebenza/Nadeau/Thorburn and now an Arius

So knives can be all things. Keep an open mind.
 
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I flip my flippers... I open and close my regular opening knives... I actuate my autos... I polish and arrange them all.... That is about as 'user' as most of my collector knives get... I carry/use roughly a dozen knives... Primarily my Millie and SAK... Go ahead and call me a weirdo... I'm a happy weirdo...
 
Most of mine fall into this category. Only one I use without thought is my PM2. This used to bother me a lot and I’d feel guilty or dumb tying ip so much money in stuff that does nothing. For the most part I don’t buy knives because I have need of a cutting tool. Just don’t have a lifestyle where I really need that. I buy them simply to enjoy because I am facinated by design, aesthetics, engineering acumen and ingenuity, and overall quality. Mine are simply objects I enjoy owning and I have come to accept, nay, embrace my sickness.

Plus, I get no enjoyment from ‘tools’. I have a cordless drill because I would much prefer to let it do the cranking of that deck screw rather than my hand and wrist, but I don’t enjoy the drill. I’d just as soon never have to use it.
 
I have a Hackmann / Wirkkala puukko I won't use as it's a somewhat rare version (I have another which is a user). A Gerber Mark I, a Mark II, and a presentation Mark II, none of which I have use for as I'm not taking out sentries or battling Harkkonens and Sardaukar. There is a Dawson bowie in my collection I don't use as it's too much of a recurve and I don't like the way the upper quillon gets in the way for bush and camp chores. Then there's the Dawson Sheffield bowie which I love, but I just can't find a use for. But I've carried it nonetheless.

So for me, it's usually a practical thing. (N.B. The Wirkkala puuko is the only non-user I myself bought. The others I inherited from my brother, who was a collector of tactical stuff.) The knives I love are the ones I use, then.

Zieg
 
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mt666tm said:
My version, I dont really use a knife if I dont have that same knife as a backup. Having two extra or more is even better. They can vary slightly (scales, blade finish, etc) but they have to be the same overall knife.

Like I'd need two or three PM2's in order to really use one.
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This is really screwed up.

And this is what I do! If I get a knife that I really like, I wait until I get a sale price from one of our vendor supporters, and then I get a back up that I keep unused in storage. (I don t have a knife safe.) That weird mentality has resulted in my having a lot of knives, many of which are nib except for some minimal fidgeting and a few paper slices. Eventually I ll come to my senses and have my first knife sale. Eventually.
 
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