My Growing Collection of Franklin Mint Knives

[Coonskinner]

I have recently acquired three Franklin Mint Knives. Believe it or not, these knives are special to me.

Not because of their quality or the execution of their design, either.

Actually, they have all been gifts from a very well meaning person who knows I collect knives and who wants to do something nice for me.

A lady who has had a hard life and a very checkered past started attending the church I pastor a couple of years ago, and things are starting to really look up for her. She is grateful for what she perceives as "help" that she has received from me, and this is her way of trying to reciprocate.

I have tried to tell her that she doesn't need to get me any gifts--it isn't necessary. But it obviously makes her feel good, so I don't want to squelch her joy in giving. She is not a wealthy person, and I don't want her to spend her money on me, but she persists in buying me about one of these per month.

Do you think I was wrong to casually let it slip that I really like Old Timers?

Afetr all, they are cheaper to buy than Franklin Mint knives...

 

[TheBadGuy]

You’re in the worst predicament ever. I too, have had similar problems with family buying me stuff. They mean well and spend what little money they have one something they think you will like and yet it’s not something you would buy for yourself or REALLY like. It sucks b/c I wouldn't have the heart to tell them. Just keep accepting them with enthusiasm and then once the madness stops, sell them all on Ebay and buy you a nice custom and consider it from her.

 

[Gypsy9590]

Are you looking to add to your collection? I have an older FM-knife, silver with turquoise "thunderbird" on the handle, in the protective storage case, if you're interested. Email me privately if you want to work something out...

 

[Gypsy9590]

Badguy,

the other side of the coin is to have your family and friends know how particular you are about the knives you collect and therefore NOT buy you any for fear of getting you something you don't want....

The only person that will buy me knives is my girlfriend and thats ONLY after she checks with me to see if it might be one I like.

 

[Coonskinner]

Gypsy,

I appreciate the kond offer, but my collection is growing nicely.

 

[Crayola]

Coon,

I think that is is fine for you to accept the FM products, but don't consider them knives. They are symbolic of thanks from a person you helped. If she is buying you these at a rate of one per month, I start to wonder if this is her way of "staing in the good", you know? The analogy is loose here, but it may be like how recovering alcoholics take things one day at a time, attnd regular meetings and announce how long they've been alcohol free. Perhaps the woman involved keeps herself on track by purchasing the FM stuff. So look at them that way, but don't look at them as knives.

One day at a pot luck or something she may see you pull out your Old Timer, and she may ask you if you ever use the FM "knives". That is when you can be honest, and tell her that the steel and construction of them make them collectables, not meant for actual use. Tell her that they remind you of her and of helping people in general, and that is a great thing.

Genrally speaking, I'll tell people that their knives and such are junk (FM ones too), even if I'll be "hurting their feelings". In the end they learn what good knives are and stop wasting their moneu. But I'd be more delicate in this case in point this out. It is one thing if a sister wants to buy you a knife 'cause you like them, and ends up buying you a FM or a United Cutlery piece. You tell them thatthey are awesome for thinking of you, and then teach 'em about knives. All will be better then! But if someone is buying you knife-like objects for more psychological and spiritual reasosn, then you ought to be more careful in edge-u-cating them.

 

[Coonskinner]

Cray,

As kindly a sI know how to put it, this good lady isn't the...sharpest knife in the drawer. I don't mean to sound critical of her or condescending toward her; as a person and a member of our congregation, I value and respect her.

I think at this point if I were to come out and tell her my opinion of her choice in "collectible cutlery," she wouldn't really understand, and would feel rejected by me. I mean, after all, she is getting the ones that commemorate various Colt handguns, and she knows I like guns too, so she is killing two birds with one stone.

When you serve as someone's spiritual mentor, you have to be pretty careful with their feelings.

The comment about Old Timers probably went right over her head. I only mentioned them because they are both more inexpensive than the FM pieces, and they are something I wouls use. Since it seems to be important to her to get me a knife now and then, I thought the hint was worth a try.

 

[Gollnick]

We've all had it happen. Someone says, "I know you like knives, so I got this for you," and hands you this piece of crap, charming China cheapie, imitation SAK on a blister card and everything which they probably grabbed in the checkout isle at K-Mart. It's a sincere gift and it's really the thought that counts.

It's one thing when you know that the knife-like-object in question only cost the giver a few bucks. But these Franklin Mint Knife-Like-Objects are expensive. It's tragic to think that this poor woman is spending her money on such junk.

Two things are true:

First, this is probably symptomatic of a bigger Franklin Mint problem. I'll bet if you go to her house, she's got sets of dolls which come with certificates of authenticity (since counterfeiting is so much trouble with these things (of course, the counterfeiters would never think of faking the certificates, no,)), imitation jewled Easter eggs generously hand-layered in genuine 24K gold-colored paint, and little figurines on handsome, picture-of-woodgrain finish display stands all over the house. Just as a drug addict needs help, Franklin Mint customers also need our intervention. The knives are a cry for help.

Second, you need to handle the knife issue through a mutal friend. The friend needs to say to her, "I was over visiting with Rev. Coonskinner the other day. He showed me those nice knives you've been giving him. They are very nice and he likes them very much. He was very proud of them. But, you know, what he really collects is this other type of knives. They're called, 'Old Timers' and you can but them from this catalog here among other places." She'd probably be happy to receive that information confidentially like that.

 

[Will'em]

Originally posted by Gollnick
We've all had it happen. Someone says, "I know you like knives, so I got this for you," and hands you this piece of crap, charming China cheapie, imitation SAK on a blister card and everything which they probably grabbed in the checkout isle at K-Mart. It's a sincere gift and it's really the thought that counts.

It's one thing when you know that the knife-like-object in question only cost the giver a few bucks. But these Franklin Mint Knife-Like-Objects are expensive. It's tragic to think that this poor woman is spending her money on such junk.

Two things are true:

First, this is probably symptomatic of a bigger Franklin Mint problem. I'll bet if you go to her house, she's got sets of dolls which come with certificates of authenticity (since counterfeiting is so much trouble with these things (of course, the counterfeiters would never think of faking the certificates, no,)), imitation jewled Easter eggs generously hand-layered in genuine 24K gold-colored paint, and little figurines on handsome, picture-of-woodgrain finish display stands all over the house. Just as a drug addict needs help, Franklin Mint customers also need our intervention. The knives are a cry for help.

Second, you need to handle the knife issue through a mutal friend. The friend needs to say to her, "I was over visiting with Rev. Coonskinner the other day. He showed me those nice knives you've been giving him. They are very nice and he likes them very much. He was very proud of them. But, you know, what he really collects is this other type of knives. They're called, 'Old Timers' and you can but them from this catalog here among other places." She'd probably be happy to receive that information confidentially like that.

Diabolical

 

[cockroachfarm]

Originally posted by Coonskinner
I have recently acquired three Franklin Mint Knives. Believe it or not, these knives are special to me.

Believe it? Of course! (Any parent who has ever been given a priceless picture frame surrounded by glued-on macaroni painted silver will agree.)

You are a rich man indeed to be the recipient of such feelings. Try Gollnick's suggestion - it makes perfect sense.

 

[Crayola]

Damn that Gollnick, he's so smart I bet he has figured out how to get Cold Fusion to work too! Good idea man.

 

[Velitrius]

(Any parent who has ever been given a priceless picture frame surrounded by glued-on macaroni painted silver will agree.)

Man, you tug at heartstrings there, my boy. You speak rightly.

I've got a couple Franklin Mint offerings myself. We draw names for Xmas gift giving, and I have an inlaw who knows I'm into knives. She's drawn my name twice, and I have two FM pieces to show for it. The difference here is, she has the money to pay for them. If she didn't, I would let her in on the fact that I would enjoy a bag of her Chex party mix far more than I would another knife. In fact, when she draws my name, she calls my wife and asks what I'd like. I will clue my wife not to just tell her "a knife" next time, but to specifically avoid FM stuff because they are not knives. Just the party mix, please.

Gollnick is right, that stuff is expensive. If somebody really didn't have the money and insisted on getting me a piece with any frequency, I'd have to call a halt to it. I'd try hard as hell to be as delicate as I could about it, but call a halt I would. Chuck is also correct about the other lines of stuff FM puts out. Buy one plate off of them and they are bombarding your mailbox with glossy propaganda. This is not good mail to have in a compulsive buyer's mailbox.

At any rate, you tried what you could. You attempted to tell her that she didn't need to get you gifts, and that's a good thing. Letting it "slip" that you are into less expensive stuff? Fine too, I suppose, even if you were more direct. Lets her off monetarily, and you get something you'd treasure even more than you do now. Win/win if you ask me.

 

[TorzJohnson]

I just looked over the FM site, and I believe the word "tasteful" is an accurate description for their simple, well-executed designs.

 

[Megalobyte]

Last year, my fiance's girlfriend, who knew i liked knives, bought me a truly horrendous knife for my birthday, like your worst nightmare out of the Frost Cutlery catalogue, and with a replica of a buffalo-head nickle glued on its handle no less. Well, needless to say, i was speechless.

But, i of course understand that it is entirely the thought behind a gift that matters, and it really was/is a thoughtful gift, so, i still have it, but keep it far from my customs for fear of contamination. I could just see it, i go to grab my Pease carved pearl lockback, and it's mysteriously sprouted a multi-colored, dyed wood handle while i wasn't watching! Uh-oh, there goes my Dake! My Corbit now has a buffalo nickle on it, and the Box Elder wood inlay on my Sebenza has turned to turquoise. Oh no!!!

This year, im going to tell her im now into Striders...