Second thoughts about my knife collection

farmboy said:
I will go along with that general thought, but in a different way.

I carried an Old Timer Stockman for longer than I can remember, at least until I discovered this site in 1999.

As a kid, my jeans always had a hole or a wear mark where that knife sat in my front pocket. Growing up on a midwest farm, I needed a knife, but I only needed one simple knife. I kept it oiled and sharp, and it was all I had.

I could go back to having only that Old Timer in a heartbeat. I'd probably be better off, really. I'd have more money, more time, and more drawer space.
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You probably would fill the void with another hobby. So you might not actually have more money or time, maybe drawer space. ;)
 
Best regards to JR88FAN who just acquired a very excellent Tom Krein SHARD model. Beautiful folder; great workmanship by Krein.:thumbup:

This idea I find interesting, but each to his own...
"I could never bring myself to EDC a Sebenza for fear of losing the thing."

If you could own a Porsche...DRIVE a Porsche... It's no good sitting in the garage, although it's safe there.

I have carried Sebbies and Umnumzaans for most of the last five yrs and never worried about losing one. This year, I've carried a Southard AVO which is more expensive than the CRK's.
Life is short; carry what you enjoy, what fits your hand-size, fills your cutting needs, and have pride in. If it has a decent pocket-clip and you're not doing somersaults, you should be fine.
Just my opinion, and everybody has his own viewpoint. I've never lost a knife with a clip; just one loose traditional in my pocket long ago.

I have bought/sold/traded a lot over the last few yrs, but I don't "collect" or keep much any more...just a few select "gems" that I'm fond of...PM2's, Sage 2, Techno, Slysz Bowie, Caly 3.5, a couple CRK's...stuff like that. Can't make myself sell 'em.

I do enjoy gifting to relatives, deployed military and younger "needy" LEO's. SAKs, BM 710's and 940's, ZT's, PM2's, Millies...make nice useful gifts for soldiers and cops if you have spare folders just sitting around getting dusty. Makes ya feel good too, and realize how lucky we are that we're not crawling around with sand fleas and ISIS.
 
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r redden said:
I don't drink, 60 yrs old and married to the same woman for 33 years so I guess the booze and women are out. LOL Money not really a problem but definitely not rich just wanted to see if others ever felt they had become obsessed and just couldn't help themselves. I guess I have just found I love knives.
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I'd suggest that you've earned the right to choose your hobby without guilt. Myself I shy from collecting for now because I'm temporarily out of work. As soon as I get back my health I'm going to get into something, maybe knives myself,I don't know.
Don't get too uptight about your hobby, but if you find yourself to broke to take wifey out to a movie or something you might have to adjust your financial situation. As with everything a little temperence keeps things fun and when you do get a knife you want you'll appreciate it more.
 
collim1 said:
I have fought the urge for many years. I am a "collector" by nature. Vintage fishing lures and outboard motors, guns, and knives.

With knives I keep it practical. If I don't have a true need for it I don't buy it. If it's something that I just can't shake out of my head I ask for it for Christmas.

Of course I am human and do fudge the rules occasionally.
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Words of wisdom here. ;)

I share similar concerns as the OP. I keep a inventory just to keep me focused and I am presently at 27 Fixed and 33 folders. Realistically, that's way too many. I think I could cull it down to a third of that and not feel under-resourced. Plan to do that when I get back Stateside Q1 next year...

All JMHO. :)

Ben
 
r redden said:
I just got through putting about 30 of my knives in a display case and at least twice that many in roll bags. I then started thinking why do I have so many and have so much money tied up in them. I really only have 6 knives that I carry. A PM2, Griptillian, Blur, Case Trapper, Marbels Stockman and a Camilius Stockman. The rest I just look at occasionally and open once in a while yet I can't bring myself to sell any of them and continue to add more. I had 62 junk knives and gave most of them away a few months ago and started collecting much better knives and now I am almost embarrassed by the amount of money I have spent on new ones since. Does anyone else ever wonder what in the world they are doing with so many knives yet still buy them.
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Yes, I have come to the same realizations. I have more than I will ever need or even want in my remaining lifetime. I also tend to have a core pool of users that is about 6 knives, with another 6 or so in the extended rotation group. Beyond that dozen or so, the rest are just taking up shelf space.

I have stopped adding, and really don't have any desire to add more. What I haven't done yet is to start selling them.
 
I do and I don't. I just ordered the new blur in blue after selling my Elmax one months ago. I had gotten rid of my most recent overbuilt folders though and have come to realize that if a folder is too big for me to carry there's no use for me to have them as I wont use them. The blur is a perfect stout folder that is easy to edc though. Had to get another one. I'll always have a up and a delica with some traditionals to round out every day carry.
 
Well, for most of us knife collecting is cheaper than a bass boat, or a race car or hot rod, or another woman, or ... so what's the problem?
 
I had at one point 400 and counting Traditional knives. All from very good companies, and acquired them all in the same as yourself. Although it is a hobby many who have the means will spend a good bit to buy some really fine knives to gaze at from time to time. Myself included, Since I already have more than what I need for a traditional collection I let the rest of them go at well below what was paid. Not very smart on my end but, smart enough to gather some of my funds back. Since then my focus has gravitated to fixed blades which I use most everyone I own which makes me feel better. However, perhaps I would be a better looker than a buyer because I see the pattern starting all over again.

All in all be thankful you recognize your pattern, one can take a deep breath, step back and really think if its the right thing for you. In many cases not practical monetarily, but for a hobby that might keep one out of other mischief perhaps Okay?

TD
 
I highly recommend a rotating collection, buying and selling, it is a great way to get a feel of all the different varieties without ever really building up a mass of them. If you find you use one that you've acquired more than the others keep that one and throw the others up for sale/trade and pick up something else. I love paypal balances for this stuff as it lets me keep the same balance of hobby money. Right now I'm trying out various traditional French designs, in a few months that'll get boring, I'll sell them off to fund the GEC #47 thats been haunting my dreams, and so it goes. The hard part is when you convince yourself you're all set with knives, and use the knife money for something else that you don't want to trade on. So just don't stop.
 
Bludgeon said:
Stop collecting knives you will lose money on and collect ammo. Price will continue to increase, your government will make sure of it.:D
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prolly pretty close to the truth.
i don't know i, i don't have any ammo, no need, superior kung fu skills.
nothing wrong with collecting knives. they are handmade works of art. just think about what it takes to make one! they are all unique and part of the American grain.
me and another fellow collector about
my age laugh when we think of the nice auction our widows will have when we pass on.lmao
buzz
 
bdmicarta said:
Well, for most of us knife collecting is cheaper than a bass boat, or a race car or hot rod, or another woman, or ... so what's the problem?
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true , true, very true. skidoos,motorcycles,travel trailers,lake lots,cigs booze and cigars
 
r redden said:
I don't drink, 60 yrs old and married to the same woman for 33 years so I guess the booze and women are out. LOL Money not really a problem but definitely not rich just wanted to see if others ever felt they had become obsessed and just couldn't help themselves. I guess I have just found I love knives.
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you and i are about the same age. i've been with the "boss" for about 35 yrs. i can't remember how long, don't tell her.
i like to consider my collection as a selection.
buzz
 
Long term storage helps for me. You don't actually have to part with the knives, but psychologically it feels like your dropping the weight. Then when you feel like getting a new knife, just open up the storage box and it's like Christmas morning :)
 
bdmicarta said:
Well, for most of us knife collecting is cheaper than a bass boat, or a race car or hot rod, or another woman, or ... so what's the problem?
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I am into boats and planes; figured that in an austerity move that I would quit them and take up cocaine and strippers - I could save a fortune!

Saw a T-shirt once at Bike Week that said: I spent most of my money on whiskey and women - the rest I just wasted.

We all have out vices and many of them are not terribly injurious to one's health or lifespan. Some are more expensive than others and some are much more temporal than others. Some of us have too many knives - more than we could reasonably use and some of us take pleasure in owning a Rolex or three in the face of logic questioning what it does better than a Times or a G-Shock.

I do not advocate materialism but do admit to obtaining pleasure - repeatable pleasure from many of the things I am blessed to possess for my short time ont his earth, knives ranking high on that list. Enjoy, judiciously; but enjoy.
 
It's a sickness.
Do it if you can afford to and have fun. Life is short.
rolf
 
I think we all have second thoughts about our knives at some point. Could be time for you to make a change.

Almost a year ago, I decided to change the way I collect knives. I used just buy whatever I wanted. Today, I have a purpose or function driven collection and I enjoy knife collecting more than ever.

Here is how it works (for me). Each new knife purchase gets broken down into one of four groups. Dress, light duty, medium duty, and heavy use/ fixed blade. I also break things down by blade style. So, in theory, I should have only four knives of a blade style in my collection. Four tanto, four clip points, etc. At least that is how it is supposed to work. I don't worry about if the knife is traditional, tactical or even the type of lockup used because that is considered at the time of purchase along with how the knife is to be used. I am only limited by budget, blade style and my self imposed restriction of four use groups. Another rule that I go by is that gifted knives do not have to fill any voids in my collection. They can, but it is not required. Using this system I have a modest sized collection that brings me much satisfaction. The funny thing is that I still as yet have to complete one set of four knives. I am still looking for a medium duty drop point and I am not sure if I will ever own four tanto knives.

So what happens when I find something that falls outside of those four use groups you ask? I guess that I could start another group. Formal dress, casual dress and the like. But I don't. I try to make things fit within those four groups. I go without or something gets bumped and goes away. At times, however, I do allow myself the enjoyment of purchasing "back ups" just in case. Also, limited run and investment knives are not out of the question.

I also understand that not all pegs fit in all holes and that sometimes you have to think outside the box. I still buy special knives for special needs. After all, what is a 1st aid kit without a rescue knife? Or a car without some sort of SAK in the glove box?
 
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