Not A Safe Queen ... Not Yet A User

[KBA]

I have attempted to only buy knives that I will actually use. However, there are several out there that I would love to have and would probably never actually get to use. As a teacher my job doesn't really provide the opportunity to use a knife, ie laws, principals, public concerns etc. Also, as dad of 2 young girls I am finding I would rather be with them instead of out in the woods hunting and such, at least while they are young.

However, here is one of those fixed blade beauties that has just captivated my attention. It may be one of the more attractive production fixed blades I have seen in a while. What do you all think of this 10.5" beauty?


Info on it:http://www.knivesshipfree.com/bark-...fe-hidden-tang-leather-sambar-stag-leather-2/



My real question is, what knives do you have that are not safe queens, that were bought in the hope to use, but you never really get a chance to use them?

Oh, the knife pictured above is not the variant I am considering. So, feel free to buy and let me know what you think.

If this needs to be moved, or has been brought up before, ...sorry.

 

[jc57]

... It may be one of the more attractive production fixed blades I have seen in a while. What do you all think of this 10.5" beauty?...
My real question is, what knives do you have that are not safe queens, that were bought in the hope to use, but you never really get a chance to use them?
...

I am in a similar situation, in that my job and recreational pursuits really don't require or even provide many opportunities to use a pocket knife. In fact, it's rather silly for me to have developed an interest in knives as a hobby at all. I don't even have some fond childhood memories I am trying to relive because my Dad never really carried or used pocket knives that I can recall.

So to answer your questions:

"What do you all think of this 10.5" beauty?"

Doesn't do anything for me, though it does look like a nicely designed knife. I'm not into fixed blade hunting knives, never having been a hunter.

"what knives do you have that are not safe queens, that were bought in the hope to use, but you never really get a chance to use them?"

Most of my knives were bought with the expectation of using them, but I bought too many too quickly during my accumulation fever phase of collecting, so that has left me with more than I have any reasonable need for.

It would be hard to list all of the ones that are sitting waiting their turn to be used. I've got a dozen GEC knives but only three of them get any real pocket time. I have multiples of some patterns (different handle materials or steels) but in general only end up carrying one of them.

I haven't done a real count recently but I know I have over 100 pocket knives. There are probably only 20 or so that are in my carry rotation, and I could easily live with half that many in normal use.

So, recognizing that at some point in the future I will probably divest myself of some of the excess number, I tend not to carry a new-in-box/tube knife since to do so would hurt the future selling price. I look at is as delayed cumulative buyer's remorse.

 

[Ryouchijtx]

But of course I have a pretty concise collection of about..20 knives give or take one. My actual rotation only consists of 7 knives since I don't have the time or want to rotate all of them 'just yet' So they remain 'eventual potential users' since I do find myself collecting. Why rotate around all my new knives when I still haven't gotten a feel for several of them.
I try to think of my collection as 'if they don't get used, if I don't bond with them or I don't see myself using them soon, away they go to fund others". In and out~

edit:: Saw JC57 posted before me. I agree with his 3 points

Most of my knives were bought with the expectation of using them, but I bought too many too quickly during my accumulation fever phase of collecting, so that has left me with more than I have any reasonable need for.

It would be hard to list all of the ones that are sitting waiting their turn to be used. I've got a dozen GEC knives but only three of them get any real pocket time. I have multiples of some patterns (different handle materials or steels) but in general only end up carrying one of them.

So, recognizing that at some point in the future I will probably divest myself of some of the excess number, I tend not to carry a new-in-box/tube knife since to do so would hurt the future selling price. I look at is as delayed cumulative buyer's remorse.

What do you all think of this 10.5" beauty?

For me, I love the look of it but couldn't see much practicality in it other than a display piece. Beautiful profile but I'm not a fan of guards or pommels for a blade that size especially for hunting where I'd want different grips and something to grip when other fluids come into play.

 

[KBA]

John, Tim - Thanks for the replies. I myself have more than I need and I realize this. I suppose the term "knife nut" could be applied. John, I myself am a first generation knife carrier/user in my family as well. The above knife is really just an example of how the "nut" is added to the hobby, at least in my case. I personally love the look of it. For me it is the classic Marble styling with a hybrid function.

That "one day, I'll need or get to use it" mentality is always a temptation. Then again, they are tools. I have a chainsaw, even though I have only needed it maybe a handful of times.

As far as reselling them, I have really tried to only buy those that I know I'll keep. I suppose this comes from having collecting so many SFOs in the past and then needing to sell them. I even quickly use them to take away the resell "value."

I suppose I am still green enough in the hobby to want to try and own a variety. I know what I like, what I "need," and am now wanting to try new styles for the fun of it, even if it not practical.

 

[black mamba]

Brett, I'm the same way with fixed blades. I do hunt, so they get used, but not as much as I would like. Here is one I bought since last deer season with the intent of using it this fall, but in the meantime I bought a couple of customs that I will use first, so this one is sort of obsolete. It's beautiful, and very similar to the one you posted, but may not get used for a while now, if ever.

This one is 9.25" instead of the 10.5" yours is, and because of that extra length, I think the choil cutout in front of the guard is important for choking up during detail work. The bullnose design is excellent for unzipping a belly without cutting anything unintended, and the half-guard is my preference as well, so you don't slide up onto the blade. The dropped edge on mine serves the same purpose, but the half-guard on the Special Hunting Knife goes well with the choil, creating a very secure choke-up grip. I like it.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

I can't say I have, if I have it, it gets used, even the nicest knife will eventually lure me and convince me it needs to be used.

 

[KBA]

Jeff - I agree with points you made and believe your knife is more practical. I really like the length as well. I wish the knife I posted was the same length. Beautiful knife buddy :thumbup:

T. - See that's just it. If I bought the knife posted above, I would end up using it on odd chores, not what it was designed for. I would want to use it, look for ways, and hope to find a way, but more than likely it would sit on a shelf.

 

[knarfeng]

I used to hunt and backpack. Due to some aging issues, I can't do that anymore. I fell in love with a fixed blade design, but have no place to use it. The knife was born to be a "user", but all I do is take it out and fondle it once in a while.

 

[blademan 13]

Brett, believe it or not I was looking at the same model today and contemplating the same question. I really like the style of it but would most likely really have to look for ways to use it. While they may call it a "Special Hunting" knife, it is definitely far larger than anything I would ever use for Whitetails, or anyone I know. Still, they sure are fun to have around on occasion just to admire

 

[Old Engineer]

Brett : That IMO is a beautiful knife and I would sure like to have it for no other reason than I like it. I have no need for it , nor do I need another knife of any type or design , but I am expecting to get 3 more 77's shortly and probably 3 or 4 more before the year is out. To keep myself from ordering that particular knife , I try to put an approx. price limit on a knife and stay true to my goals of A. Buy Barlows old or new B. Buy Northfields C. Rescue Old Named knives at a low price. I much prefer to carry my 73 Stag and 83 Stag and a Barlow when possible . I keep a cheap gifted knife handy for dirty jobs in the gardens. I feel that I need to carry a knife all of the time and I use one sometime every day. I also know that almost certainly any new knife that I buy will be a Safe Queen. But I am not a young man anymore , our family is raised , we lived modestly , and I feel that I am now able to buy something that I like now. Not every one is in that position yet.

Harry

 

[arizonaranchman]

^^^ that's a beauty Frank... A stubby version of the classic KaBar? I don't recall seeing that one - I like it!

 

[knarfeng]

^^^ that's a beauty Frank... A stubby version of the classic KaBar? I don't recall seeing that one - I like it!

A remake of a different knife altogether, the "USN Mark I Fighting / Utility Knife" in 1095 CroVan
The Kraton handled version is more common. The design dates from WWII.

 

[22-rimfire]

Beautiful Bark River design KBA. There are so many that they produce that I see and say "I want it." Then the but comes later..... money, not likely to use it, too pretty to use, don't need it and so forth. Been through all of those considerations or thoughts. But, I am not going to use a knife just for the sake of using it. I have to want to use it.

My most recent fixed blade purchase was a Blackjack (BJ) 124 (4.3" blade) and like a smaller brother to the one that caught your eye. Really like the BJ 125 (5" blade) and the old BJ Trail Guide. Have the 1-7 too. I use the 125 and will use the 124. But I just don't have a lot of need for a fixed blade. That essentially puts me in your shoes. I understand. Just remember to enjoy the hobby where ever it leads.

 

[SAK Guy]

I can't get going on this one either......I just look at it, cut some paper, wipe it down.

Blackjack's Warner-Moran Bowie.

It's just so freakin' gorgeous!!!!

Even bought a nice "field sheath".....it hasn't even been in the "yard" yet.

 

[Henry Beige]

There's nothing on my shelf that I would call a safe queen. Most of my knives are pretty unremarkable, even if they were interesting to me when I bought them. I have a couple of Benchmades that cost more than a hundred bucks, but other than that, everything on my shelf cost less than $50, and most of those were under $20. Everything has been used at least a couple of times, but there are a lot of knives that mostly just sit, big fixed blades, and a few modern folders that I just don't like very much. I do not hunt, so the only use the big knives will get is in the yard or camping.

I usually carry a modern folder and a traditional folder, of which I have maybe 12 or 15, including SAKs and Opinels. or sometimes I will carry an Opinel or sodbuster along with a smaller multi-blade. My Moras get frequent use. Maybe a couple dozen knives get used at least every couple of months, some quite a bit more than that. More than half of them just sit and sit, waiting for a motorcycle trip or the increasingly rare family camping excursion, but nothing is exempt.

 

[Catherine_Montana]

Beautiful knives! I LIKE the knives posted here. Thank you.

My latest knife, the Ka-Bar #1211 FB knife, will not be a 'big user' for me since I mainly bought it for my night stand knife. I switched my knife there. It will not be a safe queen knife - all locked up.

I do not own any safe queen knives, jewelry, firearms or in any other thing. I am Not knocking people who do own safe queens when I say this.

I do not hunt. I only use fixed blade knives now.

My Buck Ranger Skinner #113 knife gets used and carried on a daily basis.

My other Buck FB traditional knives get used around the house and when camping.

My Buck #119 Special will be with me in the woods/wilderness on a leather belt most likely on Sunday or Monday or on both days.

I do not own many knives. See my profile.

The Grohmann #1 and Cold Steel Canadian belt knives that my husband gave me are used in the kitchen more now. I consider them 'house knives'. What he and I did not use on a regular basis were gifted and sold. We gifted more than we sold.

Cate

 

[fatcorgi]

my only collector knives that I will never use are some old early 20th century knives from Sheffield etc. and some SAKs that would get a good collector's price, everything else I use gently, with a few beaters for hard work. Sometimes I get a nice knife that I think it is a pity to use, but then I think of the alternative - where it is one day being sold off in an estate sale, and I think I might as well use it and appreciate it.
I have no use for a fixed blade, that hasn't stopped me from looking at them, especially some of those like the OP's where there is some reference to the old Bowie style.

 

[KBA]

I suppose there is an attempt to have a little foresight as well. God willing Im alive in 10, 20, 25 years I know I will look back on a few and just say, "Why didn't I grab that one while I could have." That is of course stating that I will still be interested in knives at that time, but man, I hate looking back and saying that even after 2 years of the hobby.

 

[jc57]

I suppose there is an attempt to have a little foresight as well. God willing Im alive in 10, 20, 25 years I know I will look back on a few and just say, "Why didn't I grab that one while I could have." That is of course stating that I will still be interested in knives at that time, but man, I hate looking back and saying that even after 2 years of the hobby.

Well, the other side of the coin is when you get older and start looking at everything you have accumulated over the years and ask yourself "why did I spend my life accumulating so much STUFF" that you eventually have to get rid of, either by selling it, giving it away, or your heirs have to decide to divvy it up or sell it in the estate sale.

Fast forward 25 years. You bought it today, and you still have it 25 years later. Why is your 25-year-older self happy to have it? Because it is now more valuable and can be sold for a profit? Because he's finally ready to use it?

 

[22-rimfire]

I can't get going on this one either......I just look at it, cut some paper, wipe it down.

Blackjack's Warner-Moran Bowie.

It's just so freakin' gorgeous!!!!

I don't think I'd use that one either. It really is beautiful!

The get older part has me thinking about both my firearms and better knives. Everything really does pile up and certainly my wife has no idea of value or even how to sell for that matter.