Safe Queens

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rdnzl said:
How many people are like me? I have a lot of knives that I never actually use to cut anything besides maybe paper. I have the probably misguided viewpoint that one day my "safe queens" might be worth something.

I tend to have multiple versions of the same knife. I designate one or two of each model as my "users" and the rest reside in my safe, and are brought out for show and tell or fondling.

I beat the hell out of my users. But sometimes I wonder if I am treating most of my knife collection like a STAMP COLLECTION.

I know, I'm probably preaching to the choir......
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For me, it's largely just a hobby . It's supposed to be FUN... or at least a diversion from life's stress and woe .

So , I just do what feels right to me , so far as buying and using my knives .

Theoretically , I did resolve to only buy what I can and will use ...uh...maybe someday . :rolleyes:

Heck , I'm only in my mid-70's . What , me worry ?

If I most enjoy keeping a lot of my knives in near mint condition , just to fondle and admire . then that is my best use for them !

If I want to beat the crap of some others , just to see what they'll be able to handle , then that's my way of enjoying them .

And anything between the two extremes , is just fine also . ;)
 
Perhaps some great grandchild of mine will pawn off my collection in a hundred years, and if so I hope it proves to be monetarily valuable. But I’m not going to buy and keep knives just for that purpose. Every knife I buy, whether it’s an $8 Mora or my new Dave Beck custom, sees extensive use. And if I don’t think I’d use a specific knife, I don’t buy it. So I’ve ended up strictly with users. Some very expensive, but still in regular use.
 
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I have several "safe Queens" mainly because I do not sell any, so if I buy a knife that looked interesting and decide that I do not want or like to use it it just stays new in a box. I also buy a few each year, intentionally for collection purposes, that will not get used.
 
I’m a big fan of safe queens. I like the notion of something I like and covet being kept safe and pristine. What I’ll usually do is come across a knife that I love and obsess over. And if funds allow , I’ll buy a duplicate. One to use and one kept safe and sound in the knife drawer. Then if I happen to lose interest in having two of the same knife , I’ll sell one. It’s a vicious cycle. But I enjoy it.
 
I only buy knives that I am not afraid to use. And I buy them with a use in mind. But, I have a lot that have never been used. Mainly, this is due to buying duplicates of stuff that I really like. But, also, I put them in places for use in emergency or in case I lose one while away from home.
 
Surname said pretty much what I would have said. All of my knives get "used", even if only for the occasional junk-mail dispatching or persuading a reluctant bag of chips to yield it's delicious, salty contents. There are a few that don't leave the house, and a very smaller few that really get used for anything serious.
 
I have a few safe queens that are just too nice for me to bring myself to use and risk getting mucked up. They’re not even ‘expensive’ knives - one was $300, one was $200 (with a custom sheath), and one was just $75. The cheaper two are special editions, the other one is just really nice. All three I plan on gifting to someone before I go tits-up, so I have a good reason to want to keep them pristine. Actually most of the collection will probably end up getting gifted at that point, but these few I want to keep as like-new as possible more than the others.

Then there are the few ‘unique’ pieces - the CRKT Snap-lock, Hawk Mantis Gearhead, and most recently Reate EXO-M - that are great fidgeters, but not blades I’d plan to use, but would in a pinch, just because they’re more novelties than tools. Though I’m sure they’re all up to the task if I needed to.

Of the rest, it’s not intentional that several don’t get used much, despite my very good and sincerest made-up reasons for getting them in the first place. I just have a few faves that I really like to use and carry the most, when I carry and use; the rest get used if they happen to be where I need them when I need them.
 
I have plenty of safe queens. But, I don’t do it for the reason that “they might be worth more in the future”, I keep them new because I know that even if I had the money to replace some (which I don’t), some would be nearly impossible to find.
So, they are my “someday users” along with a couple that I’ll admit are too beautiful to ever use.
And of course I have my drawer full of beat up users, most duplicates (0909, 0566s, etc) …
*just to clarify, this collection wasn’t built overnight, I’ve been doing this for about 6+ years… and someday, I would like to set up a small display case for my favorites, so they can at least be kept safe AND be enjoyed more…but that’s a whole different project for another day
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Wolverine666 Wolverine666 . said it best, I do the same thing with duplicates, if I can tho, I will buy the 2nd one in a different color or blade shape or steel….etc yeah it’s an expensive hobby for sure, but I can think of plenty of worse ways to spend money
 
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None of my "safe queens" are actually in the safe. Some are displayed in a case and others are in storage cabinets. Most of them are one off customs that would be impossible to replace.

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Glenn Goodlett said:
None of my "safe queens" are actually in the safe. Some are displayed in a case and others are in storage cabinets. Most of them are one off customs that would be impossible to replace.

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The one with the gold (brass?) bolsters is damn sexy, What is it? (Or who made it?)
 
I think that I have a problem,
https://imgur.com/a/8NFDDft
these are the ones that I purchased when they came out thinking that I could get one of each style from each company, benchmade, Spyderco, master of defense, customs. This lasted for around a year before it became obvious that I misjudged what that would cost, so here they sit.
These are what I carry on a regular basis,
https://imgur.com/a/sOY8APE
Still visit the closet on a regular basis but they don’t get regular use🤫🙁
 
tony281sc2 said:
I have plenty of safe queens. But, I don’t do it for the reason that “they might be worth more in the future”, I keep them new because I know that even if I had the money to replace some (which I don’t), some would be nearly impossible to find.
So, they are my “someday users” along with a couple that I’ll admit are too beautiful to ever use.
And of course I have my drawer full of beat up users, most duplicates (0909, 0566s, etc) …
just to clarify, this collection wasn’t built overnight, I’ve been doing this for about 6+ years… and someday, I would like to set up a small display case for my favorites, so they can at least be kept safe AND be enjoyed more…but that’s a whole different project for another day
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Wolverine666 Wolverine666 . said it best, I do the same thing with duplicates, if I can tho, I will buy the 2nd one in a different color or blade shape or steel….etc yeah it’s an expensive hobby for sure, but I can think of plenty of worse ways to spend money
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Has anyone ever told you that your knife safe looks suspiciously like a mini fridge lol?
 
I don't collect and buy to use all my knives but 2 aren't really used not due to price etc... but I simply have better knives for what I need. I don't regret purchasing them though as both are nice knives - Boker Arbolito el gigante and a Ka Bar Ek Bowie.

I do get the collector perspective though and I've said it before but if I was in the US I'd most definitely be buying knives that I wouldn't really need or use🤓
 
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