Lost the Love for Knives

H

Hercules

Joined
Oct 9, 2004
Messages
30
I've been a knife fanatic for years. Recently though I've lost my enthusiasm for knives. Why? I wish I knew. I had a bad experience with a custom dealer this spring and recently have been disappointed with another dealer not returning messages concerning a knife I ordered. For every outstanding maker like Ed Fowler, Bob Lay, and Jay Hendrickson I've had the pleasure of talking to there are have been others who have disappointed me with their interpersonal skills. I've allowed my ABS and Randall Knife Society memberships to lapse and am not renewing my Blade magazine subscription. Has anyone else experienced this and have any advice for me? Time is running short, I'm close to selling some very special knives I own.
 
This saddens me greatly!! Don't let a few bad apples ruin something that REALLY means something to you! Don't do anything about selling your special knives! Wait out and process through your feelings first, AND give it some time. Other wise, I think you might really regret the decision that you would make.
 
One good thing about this market and community is that it is constantly re-newing itself. Maybe you have some bad experiences but keep in mind that new good people is always coming up and joining the ranks of the old good people you already know. If you are disapointed maybe a good thing is to stick to the guys you really like to be with and talk to. And bad aples can be everywhere! You'll find them in your local church community, your local elderly activities center, in the pub you like to hang out, you name it. If you give up one of your passions now for these reasons which affects every community, soon you will be dropping other areas of interest, because the problem is lack of faith in the humans around them. Just my 2 cents.
 
perhaps a somewhat different angle. Maybe it's time to look at another hobby - ideally something related. that may invigorate your knife collecting.

I'll always like knives and swords, especially since I like camping, trekking and tramping about in the bush. If you're not already using your knives in your everyday life, maybe you should?

And it's always ok to take a break, once in awhile. I've had crappy experiences on deals, dealers, trades and orders too....it hurts my wallet a lot, but all in all...I've enjoyed doing the knife thing more than the bad incidences.
 
Don't let one or two bad experiences end it for you. They're a whole lot of good people in the custom knife community. They're are however more dealers now than ever and unfortunately some are in it just for the money.

Take a break, then head for a really big knife show :D
 
sunfishman said:
Take a break, then head for a really big knife show :D
Click to expand...
Yes, it just sounds like you're burnt out. Take a break. Maybe go camping, hunting or hiking to get outdoors to use some of those knives for the jobs that they were meant to do. No one gets involved with any hobby and sticks with it 100% of the time.
 
I have had my interest in knives wane a couple of times in the forty plus years that I have been an enthusiast. For me, it was just that other things came along that pulled me in other direction, but I always found my way back. Though not all my experiences have been 100% satisfactoy, I have never had something bad enough happen that it took away my enthusiasm for knives.
 
I got a little soured for a day or two a couple of years ago with a maker who agreed to make me a mate for a folder I bought from them at a show...when i later called to confirm the order I got a totally different glimpse of their personality, which I later learned was more typical for them. The last I heard this individual has quit making knives.

I know another very talented young maker very well whose first love is actually guns, so he has taken a break from making knives...perhaps even a permanent one. Even though I was disappointed to learn that several of my ordered knives were not coming...I respected his decision because he quit before he got bitter.

Bottom line is knife makers are real people with varying moods and personalities, but the majority of them are fantastic to deal with in my experience.
 
Break time, don't look at them, don't look at new ones, don't think about them. Use as needed only. I too went through a phase. Something will click when it is time.
 
I've met more good people in the Knifemaking Bidness than in the Ministry.

Take a break.

You might be obsessing a bit on some of the swine and ignoring the gems.

I do not have the best people skills in the world BUT my #1 concern is to make my customer happy. Even if I end up losing money.

A lot of custom makers feel this way.
Don't let the turkeys cloud you view of the eagles, plase!

And I like the idea of going out and USING some of your prizes. There is nothing so liberating as trimming shrubbery with a 1500-dollar sword!

Daniel
 
Hercules,
Something I've been thinking about, knowing you've come close to dropping your interest because of some bad experiences.. especially with the one maker that we had a lot of conversation about, I wonder if it would have done any good to expose him on a public forum like this. Sometimes it might stir a person to action knowing there is a community of people who are giving him a reputation for what he is doing, or not doing.

At the same time, I would myself have a hard time stirring up things publicly when you try to work something out privately.. especially when you're money is in the other persons hands. I can only sympathize with you having these experiences. I can vouch for your integrity through the situations, you absolutely should not feel any shame or guilt. I've always trusted you as a friend ever since we first started emailing over a year ago. Only do what you need to do. If it's taking a break, backing off for a while. I don't know if you've lost your interest more than just had some experiences that makes it seem like things aren't worth the trouble. Most likely you still like the knives, just are feeling frustrated. Forget the guys that are terrible. If you want to tell everybody who it is, I'll support you. There should be some accountability, if they don't have it with their customers, they don't deserve the respect you/ I give them.
David
 
My problem was never with the people I was making deals with, but was instead an issue of interest, time, and money.

In 1992 the combination of not being able to get the kind of interesting and high quality knives I wanted in Australia, and life putting other demands on cash and time, snuffed out my knife nut flame. Accept for the occasional moment of interest I paid no attention to knives as a fun hobby for over a decade.

It took until early 2004 for my knife nut flame to be rekindled, and it came back of its own accord.

I kept the knives I knew I couldn’t/wouldn’t be able to replace, and marked a maintenance day on the calendar every six months. Sometimes the maintenance day was a chore, but at other times it reminded me that one day I would once more start enjoying using, owning, and buying knives.

If knives are supposed to be fun then don’t force yourself to keep doing something that isn’t fun.

Be careful of what you sell, because once you get passed the things that are currently annoying you you’ll be very glad that you hung on to the knives that are a part of who you are.
 
Hercules said:
I've been a knife fanatic for years. Recently though I've lost my enthusiasm for knives. Why? I wish I knew. I had a bad experience with a custom dealer this spring and recently have been disappointed with another dealer not returning messages concerning a knife I ordered. For every outstanding maker like Ed Fowler, Bob Lay, and Jay Hendrickson I've had the pleasure of talking to there are have been others who have disappointed me with their interpersonal skills. I've allowed my ABS and Randall Knife Society memberships to lapse and am not renewing my Blade magazine subscription. Has anyone else experienced this and have any advice for me? Time is running short, I'm close to selling some very special knives I own.
Click to expand...

Without being too morbid, where are they going to go down the line when you are no longer there to enjoy them? Unless you plan on saving them as heirlooms, you are likely better off selling them at some point.

I lost interest in knives in 1980 due to other distractions and sold some very nice Rick Genovese and Randall knives off entirely. Then, in 1999, the Internet brought me back into the knife world. I switched from fixed blades to folders and have loved most every minute of the experience. Perhaps a longer lapse of time will recharge you, or perhaps you should just sell them off and start over again when (and if) you are ready.
 
Everybody gets burned out at some point..I try more and more to purchace directly from the makers either at shows or from orders..not that i dont purchase from purveyors its largely they who helped build my collection.but rather for fear of buring out.For me the more I aquired the more I needed to aquire..on to the next piece without enjoying the knives I had just purchased..this leads to selling quick to fund another must have and on and on..Sooo I hold back think hard try and pick and purchase in person..my new mantra though I do ignore it from time to time is only buy what I can carry...Works for me....Chill out look over your collection perhaps thin the herd then hit up a killer knife show when you are good and ready to have some Fun
Good luck!
 
It happens,,interests come and go. Its easy to get fed up nowadays,,customer service generally sux. Like you said,,there are a few folks who still care but it seems like there are fewer and fewer.
If you decide to sell your knives gimme a yell.

Phillip :)
 
Just recently started stepping into the custom world but not to the level of many on this site. I've been a hardcore GroundHog hunter for years until the last 2. Best advice my Gunsmith gave me: "I've lost interest in groundhog hunting in the past. I sold all my guns and then ended up building again when my interest return. My advice, if you lose interest don't sell your guns. If you liked it once you will get interested again and the costs will be no where near the price you paid originally"

Thought the advice sound! So its the same I would pass on to you. If collecting custom knives has been your thing but the interest is no longer there, take a break but don't sell what you have. Your interest will likely renew and the regret for selling will always be with you. It was also cost you much more to start over.
 
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