Rare CRK - to carry or not to carry.

[_user_removed]

Simple question – would you carry a rare knife? There are quite a few that are pictured here, and most seem to reside comfortably in a safe. For those that have a more rare mnandi or sebenza, why do you or don’t you carry it?

If you're interested in reading the drawn out conundrum that led to the question, it is this. I was in search for an attractive, relatively affordable, and sturdy EDC to replace a missing Al Mar. Just one. I’ve got several collections of ‘stuff’ and my budget and wife’s level of patience won’t allow for another one.

Research pointed overwhelmingly to the mnandi and it wasn't too long after that perhaps the perfect balance of function and beauty for an EDC was on its way - the lignum mnandi. Unfortunately I stuck around here and was seduced by the variety offered by Chris Reeve with the stunning burl woods and multi-colored mammoths. So the lignum was off to a new home and the Honduran rosewood was in my pocket. I should have left the fora then. The rosewood is a stunner and is everything I'd been looking for, but the combination of photos on the mnandi thread and tempting offerings on the exchange forum proved to be too much

A camel thorn with a stunning pivot now rests next to the Honduran rosewood and another is in the mail now…a very special and I think very rare one: a numbered BG-42. So what does somebody who is still set on avoiding yet another collection of ‘things’ do? Do you go for the properties of a knife such as lignum, the attractiveness as is seen in the rosewood, or the cool history of the BG-42? Could you bring yourself to carry it and use it as it was intended?

 

[Big_E]

I will carry and use EVERY knife I own.....no matter what the rarity or value. The second I think it's too rare or valuable to carry and use.....it's outta here.

Don't get me started on my thoughts about the over value of some of the steals used or scales on some of the Mnandi's I see. Dear Lord!!... so many "bump and dumps" I lost count. I wouldn't pay $300 for the River of Fire piece, yet I know it's sells for $750-$1000. Amazing!

 

[NYCMD]

Great question,

No doubt in my mind that the right thing to do is use them.
I, like you, came to BF about 7 days ago. I start look at Mnandi's, follow the massive thread and fall hard.
My desire for one EDC has now multiplied to 3 Mnandi's and I'm probably going to buy a couple more.
I think they are all rare and special, but I'm going to carry them all.
If one starts spending more time in the safe it's going to go on the Exchange.
Best

Cheers
J

 

[Lone_Wolfe]

I've got a rare Seb that I like to carry. The only concessions I give it are that I carry it in a pouch, and I don't use it for heavy cutting.

 

[lemmuhj]

I will carry and use EVERY knife I own.....no matter what the rarity or value. The second I think it's too rare or valuable to carry and use.....it's outta here.

Don't get me started on my thoughts about the over value of some of the steals used or scales on some of the Mnandi's I see. Dear Lord!!... so many "bump and dumps" I lost count. I wouldn't pay $300 for the River of Fire piece, yet I know it's sells for $750-$1000. Amazing!

Lol!!

 

[Fooj]

The term "rare" carries different meanings for different people. For my comments to follow, I'll assume rare to imply having a significant component of collector value (for instance, a H Sebenza having a $3410 street value may have a $3000 collector component and $410 of product component), or otherwise possesses significant value to the owner above and beyond what can be easily re-acquired. Given that definition of rare, I don't carry rare knives. The EDCs in my rotation function as well or better than any rare knife, and if I lose them, the tears are kept to a minimum and I simply buy a replacement.

Now, if I don't use rare knives, does it make sense for me to own them? That is a question which has a personal answer based on whether I derive pleasure from collecting or choose knives as an investment. To those that know me, the answer is obvious.

 

[Maprik]

Use them and you will enjoy them even more. And like a fine watch send it in once in a while for maintenance.

 

[Ernie1980]

I will carry and use EVERY knife I own.....no matter what the rarity or value. The second I think it's too rare or valuable to carry and use.....it's outta here.

Don't get me started on my thoughts about the over value of some of the steals used or scales on some of the Mnandi's I see. Dear Lord!!... so many "bump and dumps" I lost count. I wouldn't pay $300 for the River of Fire piece, yet I know it's sells for $750-$1000. Amazing!

Well said! One of my edc CRK knives is a 2006 annual. Why have it sitting in a safe?? I get comments about it all the time!

 

[_user_removed]

Now, if I don't use rare knives, does it make sense for me to own them?

That is really the crux of my question. For whatever reason the BG42 has captivated me since finding learning of the mnandi. Yet now that it's on its way, I'm not sure if it would be one that I could carry and I don't really know why. I guess it's like getting the first scratch on a vintage Ferrari...I wouldn't hesitate to use a used one, but to put the first scratch on it myself is a different story...

 

[Lone_Wolfe]

That is really the crux of my question. For whatever reason the BG42 has captivated me since finding learning of the mnandi. Yet now that it's on its way, I'm not sure if it would be one that I could carry and I don't really know why. I guess it's like getting the first scratch on a vintage Ferrari...I wouldn't hesitate to use a used one, but to put the first scratch on it myself is a different story...

Now you know why I prefer to buy users over NIB knives.

 

[The Logical One]

The funny thing about blade forums.... is that when a question like this is asked everybody will say "USE IT, scratches and wear gives it character!". But when you put a knife up for sale on the exchange with scratches and wear, nobody wants it because it's been "used". The question you have to ask yourself is, are you ever planning on selling it? Keep in mind that a knife that has extensive wear from years of good old honest use is very nice, but a knife with one or two scratches here and there looks like absolute crap IMO. With the way I carry and use some of my nicer folders the chances of it getting that super worn in look is next to none, while it's very likely to get a small scratch here and there. I have several knives that I will never carry and never use, I have a few that I will carry but never use hard, and I have two > $200 knives that I'll use to cut anything and everything with. If it's a super rare knife in immaculate condition, personally I would keep it that way.

 

[Sonnydaze]

After you see these things sitting in a dark safe, locked up from the world, for a while..you begin to ask..Why?
I don't buy any knife I'm not willing to carry. I was once upon a time, but no more.
Sonny

 

[_user_removed]

Now you know why I prefer to buy users over NIB knives.

I suppose so...never really thought about it.

Thanks to all who responded. Sometimes it's easy to forget that at the end of the day, these are tools.

 

[RiverRat84]

The question you have to ask yourself is, are you ever planning on selling it?

The above is a very good question to ask yourself before a purchase/trade.

I went through a heavy period of buying/selling/trading and after hundreds down the toilet and getting no slack back I've decided to keep what I have. Using my knives ( all of two CRK's now) insures, in a way, that I won't sell them. I end up missing the ones I let go of anyway so it saves a headache and heartbreak situation.

 

[Evany]

Since I'm left handed, pretty much any CRK I come across is relatively rare. I say use 'em, or put 'em aside for some time in the future when you decide you want a "new " knife.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

You may not use it, but at least carry and fondle it.

 

[lisantica]

I have a couple in each category:

Category 1 Carry and use. These get daily use such as my EDC Mnandi and my desktop small Sebenza
Category 2 Carry only on special occasion, so these get minimal use
Category 3 Admire only (these are ones that I love, but don't have historical/collector value)
Category 4 Collector value - do not use.

 

[ddml]

I use everything I've got. There are knives out there that I know I would not carry because they are too nice and would therefore be hesitant to use; I don't buy those. Luckily I am not a wealthy man so that helps with any temptation!

 

[lemmuhj]

I have a couple in each category:

Category 1 Carry and use. These get daily use such as my EDC Mnandi and my desktop small Sebenza
Category 2 Carry only on special occasion, so these get minimal use
Category 3 Admire only (these are ones that I love, but don't have historical/collector value)
Category 4 Collector value - do not use.

This is a good explanation Lisa:thumbup:

 

[Lone_Wolfe]

I have a couple in each category:

Category 1 Carry and use. These get daily use such as my EDC Mnandi and my desktop small Sebenza
Category 2 Carry only on special occasion, so these get minimal use
Category 3 Admire only (these are ones that I love, but don't have historical/collector value)
Category 4 Collector value - do not use.

That makes sense to me, except that I combine 3 and 4. I do have another category, although it's not one that I use strictly. Trade Fodder. Knives in that category have been offered up for trade and may or may not have offers on them. Once I've taken the pics that represent them to the tradee, I won't so much as cut paper or drop them in my pocket. I want them to be as close to the pics as humanly possible when they arrive in thier new home.