Production vs. custom, using vs. collecting dilemmas

[Mongo]

Greetings all, I was pondering my weekend (and the previous weekend) just prior to going to sleep last night. The last two weekends I have been fortunate enough to attend both the first Chicago custom show and the AECA show in Oak Lawn. I looked at a mind-numbingly large number of knives that I want. It got me to thinking about a bunch of things: production vs. custom knives, users vs. safe queens, keeping vs. selling what I got, whether to make any more purchases, ( ) and lastly... categories of knives and what I have of them.
1. Production vs. Custom: I have some of both, and I very much like what I have of both. I think there are some very fine production knives out there that rival customs. My example here from my collection would be my DDR design Camillus Maxx 5.5 and Dominator. Pretty close to the customs from what I've seen and handled. I also have the first two Camillus OVB bowies. Now, I have never handled a real Fisk... but these are two darn fine knives. I also have some great customs... my two from Terry Primos are top-notch knives. My Craig Camerers are fantastic. A somewhat recent discovery of Bark River knives shows me what a custom/production combo looks like. These are some super knives.
2. Users vs. Safe-queens: Most of my knives are users. I have a lot of philosophical problem with buying a knife only to drag it out of the safe once in awhile and drool over it and knifesturbate with it a little, then put it back. I have only a couple of safe-queens; the two OVB bowies and a couple of production stag handled doctor w/ spatula slipjoints. I had a super nice Ray Cover stag handled slipjoint, but ended up selling it to buy Hank, my Australian Shepherd pup. (jury is still out on that "trade" though! ) That knife was so freaking beautiful, that I knew I would never use it. I still wish I had it sometimes, especially when Hank pissed on my leg when the Bears scored a touchdown yesterday! I carry and use all my other knives, even the sweet Primos ones.
3. Keeping vs. Selling what I got: To date, I have only sold one knife... the Cover. I am pretty happy with what I got, even though I have multiple examples of most "categories". I guess the only reason I can see for selling is to raise funds to buy something new/different. I do find it hard to part with what I have though.
4. To buy, or not to buy... that is the question: In these last two shows I attended, I only bought one knife... a Dozier model-6. Why? Because I've wanted one ever since I discovered Dozier knives. I passed up multiple chances to add some really nice knives to my collection. Some of the reasons were monetary in nature, but I have lately found myself questioning the "whys" of whether or not I should buy something. Do I really need another (insert category here) knife? Will I use it in preference of the others? What do I have to sell in order to get this one? Etc., the questions just pile up.
5. Categories of knives:
a) Camp knives: BK&T BK-5
b) large bowies: Camillus OVB x 2, BK-9
c) small/personal bowies and tacticals: Lamey urban bowie, Primos el Camino, Dozier model-6, Dozier Arkansas toothpick, Camerer EDC
d) small fixed utility and hunters: Dozier straight personal, Dozier slim outdoorsman, Camerer bird & trout x2, Primos platypus, BRKT mini-canadian, Mosher utility, Camerer utility/hunter, puuko from ragweed forge, some production crap from when I didn't know better.
e) Khukris: a 22" and 12" sirupatis from Himalayan Imports
f) folders: Camillus Maxx 5.5, Camillus Dominator, Buck 110 in S30V, some cold steel crap, Spyderco Mas Ayoob
g) slipjoints: Queen D2 stockman x3, Camillus carbon series stockman, stag handled Dr. w/ spatula x2, Camillus whittler.

I don't have any balisongs or fancy "gentleman's" folders.

As you can see, I have a modestly small collection (compared to some here) and like what I have and use most of what I have. I am having trouble justifying any new purchases. I feel no need other than pure want to add anything more. About the only exception I can think of is if I can find a nice piece of red spalted box elder burl and have a knife made... likely to be a safe queen too!
Have any of you all had these doubts about this whole knife collecting? Have you lost your desire to buy knives? Can you sell off a previous favorite to buy a new one? Should I just stop being philosophical about this whole knife thing?

 

[PWork]

I know what you mean.
I have recently sold off most of what I had, even my beloved Sebenzas. I just wasn't using (or carrying) them anymore. I have bought only three knives this year. The Spyderco SS Kiwi and Lone Wolf Lovless City knife have both been sold. The other is a pistachio handled laguiole. This one is a keeper, even though it will see very little pocket time.

The knives that actually see the most use are:
Victorinox Settler...My EDC, I even bought a second one for a spare.
Victorinox Hiker...My woods walking companion
Victorinox Compact...My travel knife
Shrade Sharpfinger....My hunting partner
Chris Reeve Mnandi...My "off hours", dress knife
Norlund Voyageur belt axe...My chopper

There are others that see occasional use and some that are just plain beaters that will be tossed when they break.
As far as buying more? I have more knives than I "need". Any further purchases will most likely be upper end production gents knives, maybe a "custom" if any ever really speak to me....Awww who am I kidding, if it's cool, I'll probably buy it and kick myself later.

Yes Mongo, I understand the conflict going on in your mind.....

Paul

 

[cpirtle]

If you try to be philisophical about knife using you will go insane. To peek into the mind of a lunatic read the post I made in THIS thread.


I keep what I'll use and try to be indifferent about the price I paid for it. If a knife sits in my collection for a couple of months and I don't seem to throw it in my pocket occasionally for any reason it's gone - life's too short

I'm to the point where I know what I want, and have what I want, so it's really hard pulling the trigger to get rid of something to fund another purchase. So I usually just buy a knife outright or pass on it, which can be tough to do.

There's always knives out there that I lust over but I have a minimum set of criteria they must meet in order to be considered for purchased.

- Will it cut efficiently
- Is it a lock type I like (if it has one)
- Will it ride easily loose in my pocket (if it's a slip joint) or can it be carried comfortably.
- Will I be afraid to use it

This systems has made life much easier, since I'm a picky bastard very few knives make the cut. (pun intended) Come up with your own list of "standards" and see if it narrows down the list of knives you want, it sure keeps my options limited and that's the way I like it!

 

[DaveH]

Actually I think it's good that you think about these issues. For a long time I was very conflicted about what to use/collect/keep. But after pondering questions like the ones you pose, I've reached some conclusions that ultimately has helped me focus on what I want and as a result, I've been more satisfied and happy in my collecting.

 

[Megalobyte]

I look at it this way. Some people buy and think of knives as tools only, and as such, are interested in how the knife functions, and they have a hard time justifying buying any knife to collect, and not use, and I totally understand this. However, to others, knives are also an art form. Customs especially, there are countless customs bought and sold every day that were never meant to be used and are the artistic expression of the maker, who is legitimately considered an artist, he works with steel and natural materials, not a canvas, but his work is still very much art. I know this seems like an odd thing, but to me, it's not.

Now, here is where the line gets blurred, for me at least. I see "art" in some non-art knives. A graceful, supremely functional tactical or utility knife may still appeal to me as a form of art, even though the knife was intended to be used, and is very capable of performing. Striders, TnT's, Carsons, a $2,000 Fisk bowie, and many others come to mind. I see art in them, and am attracted to knives that mate a great design, with first rate workmanship and materials.

And so, having grappled with this issue for some time, I rarely use my expensive customs, even the ones that could be used very effectively, and prefer to use cheaper production knives that I feel are extremely well made and up to the task.

I know that many people feel that any knife should be used, and a knife unused, is a waste of a knife. To them I say, just because you could wallpaper your bathroom with original oil paintings from the old masters, and choose instead to appreciate them on a different level, doesn't mean they are being wasted.