Rare CRK - to carry or not to carry.

I have only one category...carry and use. Like Ms. Lone Wolfe, I've found that I'm much happier with the ones that have a mar here and there. I've had the fancy ones, and seldom kept them in house for more than several wks. I've had as many as eight or so at one time, but now I'm down to a very few and I'm content. And none of them are fancy. I love the looks of a nice Mammoth or whatever, but plain Jane titanium slabs seem to suit me pretty well.
It has also occurred to me that as a collector, I'm a total loss. If I don't lose at least $100 on a trade, I'm just not trying very hard.
 
I have one of the sebenzas with the NY skyline with the WTC towers on the side. I don't carry that one, I bought it for other reasons and it sits in a curio case.

But any other folder I own I carry. I have a handmade emerson karambit, numbered and made by ernest himself. I carried that knife daily until I found something I wanted to carry more...
 
Having lost friends the day the Towers fell I completely understand why that one stays in a case.
Cheers

J



nyresq said:
I have one of the sebenzas with the NY skyline with the WTC towers on the side. I don't carry that one, I bought it for other reasons and it sits in a curio case.

But any other folder I own I carry. I have a handmade emerson karambit, numbered and made by ernest himself. I carried that knife daily until I found something I wanted to carry more...
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To carry, #1, #2, #5:

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Also to carry:

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Not to carry:

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I always find people's viewpoints on carrying/using rare collectable knives very interesting. A gun collector wouldn't go to an auction to buy a rare collectable firearm because he needed a new firearm for target practice. But for some reason, some knife collectors seem to think that makes sense to do with knives. I find that really puzzling.
 
FoldersForever said:
I always find people's viewpoints on carrying/using rare collectable knives very interesting. A gun collector wouldn't go to an auction to buy a rare collectable firearm because he needed a new firearm for target practice. But for some reason, some knife collectors seem to think that makes sense to do with knives. I find that really puzzling.
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I'm not sure this analogy applies. I don't use my knives for stabbing practice. I do, however, enjoy the feeling of carrying a fine knife that is beautiful and can perform any task I ask of it, although I will usually limit it to light cutting tasks.
 
FoldersForever said:
I always find people's viewpoints on carrying/using rare collectable knives very interesting. A gun collector wouldn't go to an auction to buy a rare collectable firearm because he needed a new firearm for target practice. But for some reason, some knife collectors seem to think that makes sense to do with knives. I find that really puzzling.
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I use to think it's disgusting that somebody would buy a nice gun and never fire a single round through it because it would devalue the gun. The only reason why I got into guns was because of my job; prior to that I had little to no interest in them. So to me, a gun is a tool/equipment.

I think for a lot of people here they grew up using knives as tools, so they think of knives as.... tools. Now that I have knives that I consider my collector pieces, I can better relate to gun collectors.

You also have to think about it in terms of rarity of the item. It wouldn't make much sense for a person to baby a manix 2 that they can buy anywhere, anytime. Just like nobody would keep a glock in pristine condition and see it as a collector item. There are knives that IMO deserve to be kept pristine and there are ones that should be used.
 
The question if to use a specific knife or not can only be answered by you.
As you asked for opinion, ...
Some time ago, I learned, that using each knife and then adding to the pile makes me an accumulator.
Nothing wrong with that, except I developed to a collector - I'm not so sure if that step was wise ;)

I started to get more information, know-how and buy knives with the intention not to use them.
So for me to own and admire it is a kind of "use".

My collection consists of what can be called "users" and "non-users".
However I have found that i get very much of carrying and using a nice knife like a Mnandi with mammoth scales.

So good luck with your decision.
red mag
 
Thank you to all who took the time to respond and helped to make this a great discussion. It is interesting to read the different view points and the rationale behind them. There is of course the consistent theme amongst all replies, which is the only real answer I could expect - that this is truly one's own decision.

As for the comparison to a rare or collectable firearm, I must agree with HumbleRodent in that it's not a fair comparison. Sure there different degrees to which a firearm can be put through its paces, but not to the same extent as a knife. On the extreme end both could be used for field/survival use, however, I can't think of what would be the firearm's comparable activity to a knife being carried in the pocket and opening a letter or two.

I'd compared it to driving a vintage Ferarri above and think that is much more applicable. While it would likely never be taken to the track or hot-rodded through the streets, it could still be enjoyed if given the respect it deserves. It would, I suppose, ultimately come down to the owner's ability to replace whatever the rare item is. For instance, I would never drive around a Bugatti Veyron, but have seen people park them on the side of the road with no thought or worry of the crowds that inevitably surround them. I've also seen a youtube video showing an owner (allegedly) carelessly talking on his phone as he drives it off the road and into a lake. Neither owner would have too much trouble getting a replacement.

Back to knives, I've now got a phenomenal numbered BG42 mnandi sitting comfortably in my drawer at home. I went back and forth with the decision to carry/not to carry several times before receiving the knife, and then went through the process again after opening the box and handling it. I was surprised to find how different it felt than my other two. It seems to have a bit more weight in the pivot making it feel more sturdy. Also, the dark scales and smaller CR insription on the pivot gives it a very understated and attractive look. It would be a great EDC, but one I would always be slightly timid with and that's not what I'm looking for right now. I'll hang on to it for a little longer in case I change my mind once again, but being in the camp with many here who do not really want a knife that won't be used, it will likely find a new home sometime in the future.
 
To use or just collect rare knives is really up to the individual.

I used to have a modest Benchmade collecting with several sprint run and prototype marked knives. I enjoyed having them but they just sat in a drawer.

I had an epiphany one day; sold my knives and bought a gun safe. I have several user knives that don't get much pocket time since getting my small sebenza but they have all seen use.

To me it makes no sense to have fancy/rare knives just sitting around. I know individuals who love to pull out and handle their collector pieces without ever using them.

Whatever makes a person happy.
 
It's obvious we have to two camps here, the collectors and the users. If your a collector, your basically purchasing items (old historical and rare objects) for their historical value and to preserve them for future generations to admire. If your a person who's more practical and is looking for something to use then collecting makes no sense to you. I say use whatever you feel comfortable using whether it's rare or not and sell the ones you don't fell comfortable using to us collectors:D
 
My favorite Sebenzas are discontinued and therefore considered collectable and therefore fetch a premium. Well, I use em! The blade profile and shape of the scales make the Regular Sebenza a pure joy to use(ok, any make and model is a pure joy)so I don't feel right letting them sit unused.

Perhaps I'm a user/collector hybrid?
 
dinokay said:
It's obvious we have to two camps here, the collectors and the users. If your a collector, your basically purchasing items (old historical and rare objects) for their historical value and to preserve them for future generations to admire. If your a person who's more practical and is looking for something to use then collecting makes no sense to you. I say use whatever you feel comfortable using whether it's rare or not and sell the ones you don't fell comfortable using to us collectors:D
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I cover both bases. I have some that I use, and some of them are fairly collectible. Or they would be, if they weren't covered in scratches. I also have some that roost on my safe, and only come out to be admired.
 
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