Obsessing over knives, carry remorse

chevyrulez1

chevyrulez1

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2007
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I have been having an issue lately, my collection has grown to moderately ridiculous levels. I have lots of knives that I love, many for different reasons, and lately am struggling to try to pick one to carry. After I pick one, drop it in my pocket or clip it on, and walk away to carry on with my day I almost immediately start feeling regret over my choice and wondering if I shouldn’t have gotten something else. I know this is ridiculous and so I will just pick one and tell myself I am going to stick with it for a few days, and by the time I get home from work I end up changing it out for something else. I almost wish I could have my entire collection with me so I could use whatever I fancy at that moment for whatever purpose. I’m sure I am not the only one who has experienced this. I absolutely love the idea of having an edc user knife that goes with you every day, but at the same time I am horrified at the thought of only being able to have one because part of the fun for me is experimenting with different things. Anyone else suffer from “carry decision remorse syndrome”?
 
Ron Sabbagh said:
Don’t worry - there is a cure. Just 20 more years of buying & selling for a huge loss - and you will wind up like most of us “old folks” - with a handful of favorites. Probably some flavor of CRK, SAK and a small fixed blade.
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I probably won’t experience this because I have bad sellers remorse also. I experienced this before with guns, sell one to raise funds to buy another and then end up regretting it and going back later to replace what I sold. I vowed I wouldn’t sell any more guns because I always regret it, and it appears my philosophy has carried over to my knives as well. I do give some to my sons from time to time, but other than that I plan on keeping them. I probably SHOULD cull the herd but I know I will be sitting there six months later going “man I wish I hadn’t gotten rid of ....”
 
Maybe try putting your least favorite ones away somewhere out of sight. This way you don't have as many to choose from and if you don't think about them maybe then you could get rid of those.

I never had a huge collection but I had more than I could reasonably carry and I would stress about not using them enough. So I sold a bunch that didn't get used. I replaced some busy most I sold in glad I did.
 
Wow, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one! I've been stressing lately because I've stopped carrying a big folder at work (now that I'm an "office professional":rolleyes:) and keeping my multitool in my bag! I haven't bought many new knives lately as I'm trying to focus on my current rotation and will probably be gifting a few to friends in the coming weeks, which I'm sure I will instantly regret!
 
Ron Sabbagh said:
Don’t worry - there is a cure. Just 20 more years of buying & selling for a huge loss - and you will wind up like most of us “old folks” - with a handful of favorites. Probably some flavor of CRK, SAK and a small fixed blade.
Click to expand...
Funny you say that. It’s exactly where I am on EDC knife choices (small CRK Sebenza, SAK Compact, SAK Classic Alox, and Fiddleback Forge Esquire).

I haven’t gotten around to selling off my other stuff, but I’m sure there will be some loss. I’ll consider that the cost of exploration to find what works for me.

For me, it never got totally out if hand. I maybe have a dozen to sell or give away.
 
This was my exact same problem. I sold most of my knives and only own 6 fixed blades and 9 folders. I now use all of them for different tasks and applications. I have learned that when I get that "I need this knife" feeling I sit tight and wait for it to pass. I was probably interested in 5 knives this year so far and only bought one. For the rest I don't have a "want" anymore. I now only buy what I know I am definitely going to EDC on a regular basis. I appreciate sentiment over niceness that comes with actually really using and enjoying a specific knife. I don't own a single knife that I think I will sell in the future.
 
Huh - interesting.

Glad to say I don’t have this issue, especially for folders, but in part that’s because I don’t have as many folders as fixed blades.

What’s interesting to me is that I actually enjoy it when I get to play this game with my fixed blades: “Which of you wants to go for a hike?!?!” (Which is actually a mean question because they ALL want to go.) ;)

I’m just glad I have more than a couple to choose from.
 
91bravo said:
Welcome to the sickness my friend. There are many here who share the same dilemma as you. Which knife today? Which light? Which pistol? What vehicle to drive today?
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Not a dilemma, a conundrum ... just saying :p

chevyrulez1 said:
I have been having an issue lately, my collection has grown to moderately ridiculous levels. I have lots of knives that I love, many for different reasons, and lately am struggling to try to pick one to carry. After I pick one, drop it in my pocket or clip it on, and walk away to carry on with my day I almost immediately start feeling regret over my choice and wondering if I shouldn’t have gotten something else. I know this is ridiculous and so I will just pick one and tell myself I am going to stick with it for a few days, and by the time I get home from work I end up changing it out for something else. I almost wish I could have my entire collection with me so I could use whatever I fancy at that moment for whatever purpose. I’m sure I am not the only one who has experienced this. I absolutely love the idea of having an edc user knife that goes with you every day, but at the same time I am horrified at the thought of only being able to have one because part of the fun for me is experimenting with different things. Anyone else suffer from “carry decision remorse syndrome”?
Click to expand...

The obvious solution is to buy another knife that you'll prefer :)

Welcome to the club.
 
I do not have this stress, even with a sizable collection. There are maybe 30% that are carried frequently and the others I just liked to own and look at. My issue is do I sell those knives I like but rarely carry or just keep them in storage
 
Great responses thus far to what actually at first believed was 1st world, 3rd world problems easy answer. That is of course to say first be grateful life is so good your only stresses are "which knife to choose in the morning". Being the majority of the world population is at poverty level and they are stressing "will I get 3 meals today?" and "will there be enough water" or "will some disease take me out like it did a few of my neighbors?".

However, after pondering this further, I do realize it is an issue we are blessed with once we have acquired a good amount of knives we actually love. I don't suffer from this issue much anymore but did at some point. Having around 14 prized folders at the time I'd take a knife for say, an outing on the lake, that was very capable and yet at times thought about all the good ones I left behind. Very crazy and actually was so much of an issue that decided to trim the collection to only about 7-8. Sold that knife off even though still love it and would buy again if the opportunity arose (now discontinued) however had to make the tough decisions and comparing which knives I liked more or would use more. Usage and also rarity took preference. Now most all my knives are either limited editions, hard-to-come-bys (rare pieces) or ones I know I have or will use.

Anyone who wants to thin the herd so to speak can do a few simple tricks. One is to put away those knives in a drawer or somewhere out of sight for a minimum of a month with longer duration even better, say 3-5 months. Then when that time comes and you take the knife(s) out again, note 2 things. Note how much you missed the knife (how often did you think of it when you couldn't see, hold, or use it?) and how strong was your reaction when you finally unveiled it after the given time? Strangely, I've had reactions of "oh I'd never sell this knife". Then months to a year later, off it went as part of a future trimming session. Another trick you can use is the look-back-after-year trick. Use this reflection to take an honest look back over the year how much you used the knives and if this is important to you. For example I had one gorgeous, very rare early edition of Chris Reeve knife. I spent years hunting the knife down until finally got lucky. I swore I'd never part with it. Then a year or two later someone made me an offer on it couldn't refuse. Just months before though I examined this knife and found that as stunning as it was, as great and capable as it was, I only carried or used it a handful or 2 handfuls over the past year. I would almost always grab other similiar knives that were just as capable. Thus off it went.

If you are a pure collector and not a user, then good luck trimming the collection as have no advice there. 🤭 In the end be grateful if our only anxiety is over which knife (or car, or whatever) to choose for the day. :thumbsup:
 
Gilbert G said:
Anyone who wants to thin the herd so to speak can do a few simple tricks.
Click to expand...
The simplest trick is to just use the knives. If it doesn't perform well enough for your usual cutting tasks, then don't carry it when you perform those tasks.

I only have 2 kinds of pocket knives. A daily EDC that I cut anything and everything with. A dressier, lighter and usually thinner knife for when I carry in suit pants, etc. All of the knives in those categories get used and chosen with about 2 seconds of deliberation. They're just tools at the end of the day.
 
I never carry just one knife. Carry a few so you have options. I personally love the combo of PM2 + Matriarch 2 + SAK + Microtech UTX-70. Sometimes I STILL feel gypped as I don't get to carry a true "second pocketknife", it's either a fifth-pocket knife, a mutlitool, or an emergency knife like the Ma2, so how can I justify two REGULAR pocketknvies if I want a mutlitool and an emergency knife?!
What if I could carry a fixed blade? Well, that would solve a lot of my problems, but my point is... I feel you man, it's a wild knife life, but you gotta carry what you like!
 
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