Safe Queen.....Why?

This is a tough one. I agree with the guys that say, "A knife is to be used. Enjoy it." After all, that's half the fun of owning a knife. That's what it's all about-slicing stuff! But then, I got a Sebenza 21 for Christmas, 2009. I have wanted that knife forever and finally got it. Well heck, now I can't bring myself to use it! It's too perfect-what with it's sweet, shiny, convex grind, the "Freedom" graphic US flag, and the way it sounds when it locks open. It's tough for me to use a piece of art to cut something! That all being said-I do plan on using someday when I can screw up the courage (or drink a couple shots first!). Enjoy the knife, if and when you can.
 
Another way to look at it is how many knives do you actually need to use? If I only had what I need to use I'd have very few. Nothing wrong with collecting them new in the box, if that's what you like. Nothing wrong with using all you have if that's what you like. You pay the money do with them as you please.
 
Bob W said:
Can it be easily replaced if lost?
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No offence meant, but I know many people who will not carry a knife that they can not easily replace. I wonder why? It's like saying I can't drive a one off chopped and channeled 32 ford.

Who cares? Why not enjoy knives you like, if they do get lost thats the risk you take. Just like when you go to work, sure a 18 wheeler may run into you head on, or a building could fall down on top of you or a bridge fall while your one it.. ect..

Why is it important to some people to only carry knives that can be easily replaced?
 
So-Lo said:
No offence meant, but I know many people who will not carry a knife that they can not easily replace. I wonder why? It's like saying I can't drive a one off chopped and channeled 32 ford.

Who cares? Why not enjoy knives you like, if they do get lost thats the risk you take. Just like when you go to work, sure a 18 wheeler may run into you head on, or a building could fall down on top of you or a bridge fall while your one it.. ect..

Why is it important to some people to only carry knives that can be easily replaced?
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Sometimes it's not about replacing it. Even if you can't replace it, the knife may hold more value in the owners view if it were in near perfect shape. Therefore, using it might take that away. Now, I love knives with character, but they don't all have to.

You could use a ferrari in a WRC rally race....

But would you?
 
The Volpe is one of the Spydies that didn't increase in value after discontinuation. No one knows what will happen in the future, but my guess is that holding on to it looking for gain is a losing game. I'd use it and be happy.

My only safe queens are those that I'm not sure about yet and don't want to mess up before finding new homes for them. Sometimes I end up holding for a while and make money, sometimes not. I think mutual funds are a better investment.
 
theres just no way i can rotate through every knife i own so i dont even attempt it. i never got why guys rotate anyways, my last 4 carry pieces have seen an average of 4.525 years of pocket time each.
 
I've got about 60 or so knives, most have never been used and about half of them are still in boxes, mostly my SAKs. Quite a few of the SAKs are models I wouldn't normally carry but bought just for the fun of collecting (different color Alox scales, etc) and also because I'm happy with the two SAKs I do EDC - my keychain carry Midnite MiniChamp and my Huntsman. I got most of the others at clearance prices so figured what the heck.
Then there are other knives that I don't really have a need for but got them with the mindset that it's better to have them and not need them than the other way around. These would include my fixed blades like my RATs. I live in a big metropolitan city, in the centre of "Yuppieville" and rarely get a chance to head out into the great outdoors. I'm moving back to the burbs next month and will hopefully have more time to go hiking, etc so hopefully they'll get carried more. I do look forward to using them more (can't wait really!)
I've got a few select knives that I EDC because they fit my needs perfectly, like my BM Mini Grip, Spydie Delica4, G10 Dragonfly, H1 Ladybug, G10 Caly3. They're not the only knives that have some aspect to them that I like so I'm not going to NOT buy others because I can't see myself using them. I buy them because I do like something about them and want to own them, whether they get used or not. Sometimes I'll take a non-user out and EDC it for a day for the heck of it, but it usually doesn't get used because I'll have another regular user on me.
To each his own is the way I see it. I like the Ferarri at a WRC event analogy. Why use my most expensive knife to do some mundane task when one of my cheaper folder will do the job just as well or probably better.
 
powernoodle said:
I don't really see the purpose of buying a knife and not using it, but to each his own. I never sell a knife unless I just plain don't like it, and thats pretty rare. Since I don't sell my knives, I don't care if they diminish in value over time. I expect them to. JMO.

An unused knife is a sad knife.
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pretty much my take...

having said that, i do have one safe queen (that wasn't suppose to be) that i'm probably going to sell because it sits there not doing anything...i don't liking doing the safe queen thing...
 
Not all knives are simple utilitarian tools. Some are art objects, heirlooms or irreplaceable historical keepsakes.

I have several cases full of more or less "mint" antique slipjoints that I'd never dream of using. They represent a bygone era of knife craftsmanship that will never be duplicated, and I feel a strong caretaker obligation to preserve their original crocus and glaze finishes for future generations. Anything less would be disrespectful, selfish and needlessly wasteful of a rare, valuable and finite link with cutlery history.

I have plenty of users in all shapes and sizes; certainly more than I need. I see nothing wrong with maintaining a rare, costly or fragile knife in pristine condition to enjoy purely for its aesthetic beauty.
 
Rick said:
Not all knives are simple utilitarian tools. Some are art objects, heirlooms or irreplaceable historical keepsakes.
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You have a good point there - I have some tools that belonged to my great-grandfather that I feel the same way about. I'd never use them under any circumstances - their value is in their history, not in their performance.

It would never have occurred to me to treat a modern or unused product that way, though. To me, the only reason those tools are heirlooms and not outdated, mass-produced junk is because they were used all those years ago. My great-grandfather solved problems and completed jobs with those very tools - that's what makes them precious to me. For example, the Sherman tank that used to sit outside the war museum here in Ottawa wouldn't be nearly as bada$$ if it hadn't seen action in France :D.

I guess one way or another, beauty is in the eye of the beholder :thumbup:
 
ibanezplayer470 said:
a knife is a tool, man. no sense in having it if you arent going to use it.
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That's right it's a tool and you don't need but so many. After more than a few users it's overkill in my eyes. Others think they all should be used. Just a matter of preference, no right or wrong.
 
knarfeng said:
I only buy knives that I intend to carry and use. YMMV
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Same here. Only problem is that I've bought several with intentions to use them, but they never get into my rotations and I end up selling them in new condition. Happens all the time.
 
I buy knives so often and my taste changes so that I never seem to wear out a knife.

Somtimes knives stay in my edc rotation for a year, sometimes for weeks.

Plus - the makers are constantly enticing us to buy with new designs and materials.

So - to conclude - I think its my buying habits and personality that force me to have safe queens.

I've never bought one with the intention of having it sit in its box as an investment.

It's just too hard to let it sit there!!!:D
 
Most knives I buy because I wanted to try and carry them. After a few weeks, some of them return to their boxes in the safe and I go back to my choices of the best users. If they are good EDC knives, they go into the rotation. I still keep the other knives and so far, I've gifted a few but I haven't sold any.

There are knives that I own but won't be carried, either due to the uniqueness and I'm afraid I won't be able to replace them or I love how they look but there's something about them that doesn't make for good EDC choices.

I don't see a problem with keeping a few safe queens.
 
I carry the majority of my knives, but I do have a few "safe queens" because they act as assets and an investment for later. If I ever run into some trouble and need money I KNOW I can sell a rare spydie that is highly desirable. In that case you have to think why you bought/have the knife. To use or as something to appreciate and save your ass when your in trouble lol

Heck you may buy a "safe queen" desired knife at a good price and know that value will build. Once you sell it for more than you bought it you have money for more knives!

Im not anti-safe queen.
 
I have four knives that stay in my safe and never get carried because they are personal keepsakes that are precious to me. None of them could even remotely be called safe queens. The value of those knives isn't in their resale value, but in their connection to people I loved who have passed on.

All the rest are tools. Some of those tools I'm quite fond of and I would hate to see them be broken or lost---but they're still just tools.

Use it man! It won't be worth a damn to you once you're dead!
 
For me the equation is pretty simple, I dont really own any rare knives that should be kept pristine to increase value. Although, I have some spydies that
I have just not gotten around to carrying yet. My RATs are always used as they should be.
 
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