Should I use this knife?

[unwisefool]

I would carry it sparingly, but not use it.

What's the point of that? Then you are putting pocket wear on something you don't plan on using?

 

[mbkryan]

Thanks folks for all the input so far. It has been cool and helpful to hear all the different perspectives. I also love the variety of suggestions (especially the sarcastic ones). I am leaning towards using it or selling it. I'm not going to keep it locked away until I die. I won't enjoy that.

 

[SW-EDC]

Carry it and use it if you need it. Not hard use stuff though but just use it

 

[AF]

Do whatever will maximize your pleasure. Carry and light use. Carry and heavy use. Display in a case. Keep in a drawer and fondle. Keep in a safe coated with oil.
I don't think non-use equals deprivation. It depends on what makes you tick.

 

[buffalo01]

I felt this way about my zt 0804cf, not nearly as rare or expensive as your example but the same situation. I carry it when I go out to eat or something, wont hurt it to cut a little string or open a package etc. But I for sure dont carry it when Im working out in the garage, grinding on knives, and prying and cutting on abrasive things. Thats when I carry my manix or griptilian. I usually carry a small slipjoint too for really fine cutting tasks as well as a large leatherman in case I have to cut something really nasty.

 

[Kreyzhorse]

Use it. Don't beat the thing, but why not get some enjoyment out of it?

 

[Lapedog]

As I realize that there are more years behind me than in front of me, I have had many recent eye openers to change my point of view on how I see my toys and collectibles.

When selling nearly all of my father's possessions, the only thing he didn't want sold was his knives. He had precious few. The only knives of real value he had he kept in the original box properly oiled and in the closet. He never used them. He never used them. He never used them.

I bought them for him to use and enjoy, but for his generation spending $100 on a folding knife was so extravagant that he couldn't put it into perspective. I WANTED him to use them, as I thought he would get a charge out of using a really nice, well made knife with great steel. He was so afraid he would damage them that he wouldn't use them at all but preferred his old CASE and Schrade knives. So they sat for as much as 25 - 30 years in his closet, unused, and in his last years simply forgotten. What a waste.

So what is the upshot? I tried to sell the PUMA branded knives, and without a collector to buy them it was awful. Truthfully when calculating it out, none of the knives kept up with inflation! Need proof? Check out the inflation calculator:

https://www.saving.org/inflation/inflation.php?amount=100&year=1980

So the knife I bought him almost 40 years ago was not up to inflation with a value of $325 or so, but only appraised at the local gun/knife store at $150 (top end), ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS NEW IN THE BOX AND UNSHARPENED. If I put it on consignment with them, they would take 30% of the sale price, and that would still be the best bet as I don't think I could find a PUMA collector on my own. So along with his other lesser value knives sitting in the box I have his PUMA Game Warden.

Why so low on the collector/value scale? Talking with the knife appraiser at the gun store he pointed out everything wrong with the knife. Today's guys want/demand the latest and greatest steels. M90, S90V, etc., etc. are what folks want if they buy a $300 plus knife. In today's steel tastes, we have the flavor of the month(s) and then it is old hat, probably not as good as originally thought, and a new steel appears that is the latest and greatest. This PUMA probably had 440C or some really hard AUS6 that was being used for stainless at that time. Next, the style of the knife isn't popular. It looks like a BUCK 110 as did a million other knives at the time. So, unless you are a hard core collector, what was the absolute $hit then, is just an old knife with a sub par steel and old fashioned design by today's standards.

So much for collectibilty. And all those years he could have used it, it simply sat giving joy to no one.

After that, even my nicest knives are out on the job with me. I have a bunch of heavy duty work knives, but a couple that I didn't want scratched before like my Spyderco Valloton. Surprising how well these wll made knives hold up. They aren't fragile, and it makes me smile to use them. So for me, the box goes in the closet and the knife goes in the pocket. With little family left, I also live in fear that when MY possessions are being cleared out that someone will dump out all my knives into a big boxes and separate them by size only. Then put a sign on each box: Small knives, $10 and up. Large knives $25 and up.

You wanted that knife for reason, and no doubt if you had found it many years ago you would have used it. Use it now and make up for all the years you missed!

Robert

Don’t worry bro, you can put me in your will and I will love your knives for you once you go to the big cutlery shop in the sky.

 

[Ajack60]

It would be a shame to never know the pleasure a long awaited knife that's finally in your possession will be. Some people post pics of their favorite knife they've used for years and is still going strong. You can be that person !!!!
If you sell it or treat it like something it's not, you'll never know how much life the knife has. A knife that has been used and loved, has personality and stories behind it that makes it unique.
If you're a one knife carry person, use the knife and make it yours. Don't deny yourself the opportunity to experience how long this knife will actually be functional.

 

[DocJD]

For some knife lovers / collectors , including somewhat myself, FONDLING is a major "use" . Just handling , flipping , and anything that is still white glove treatment (i.e. retains mint condition) . If that's what rings your chimes , then why not ? There is something satisfying about maintaining the perfection of brand new .

Personally , I must define clearly what my use will be for a given knife . If it's gonna be a working or martial practice knife , then I purposely grit my teeth and get that initial baptism of damage over with . Once the knife isn't pristine , I'm relieved to not worry over it .

 

[midnight flyer]

Don’t worry bro, you can put me in your will and I will love your knives for you once you go to the big cutlery shop in the sky.

You know... *sniff* *sniff*

It's been said many times about this group; you just can't beat the generosity of some of the folks around here.

LOL...

Robert

 

[BD_01]

I voted “keep it minty,” but this quote sums it up best:

I say use it or lightly carry it every once in a while.

 

[TheEdge01]

It really isn’t doing you any good sitting around looking pretty. If you are actually a collector, I can understand not using it, otherwise I say use the snot out of it. The only knife I own that I prefer not to use out of fear of losing or damaging it is one my dad gave me that belonged to my grandfather.

 

[GIRLYmann]

Maybe you hope to pass it on to your kids? Ask yourself which knife would mean more to you.
Even worse, maybe they will find the knife after you die and just pawn it for $30.

Jeez!!! Strange feeling that this horror prediction is what usually happens
To deceased knifenuts who don't keep proper records or paperwork of their prized inventory.
Just take a look at the periodic nonknife newbie request for information
Pertaining to edged valuables left behind by their late kin..

 

[emjay4248]

This Socom from 1998 is a knife I have wanted since 1998, and I just purchased it. This one is basically new and unused. It is fairly hard to find this knife in this configuration and in this condition. I feel sort of weird about using it because it is rare and collectible. I am thinking maybe I should get a 940 as a mid to large sized user and keep this one minty. I'd be interested to hear what y'all wold do.
View attachment 854385

I say keep it at home and flick it to your heart's content but don't mess it up. It seems to be that it is your grail knife. Or you could carry it and carry a 2nd knife that is more edc worthy.

 

[GIRLYmann]

This Socom from 1998 is a knife I have wanted since 1998, and I just purchased it. This one is basically new and unused. It is fairly hard to find this knife in this configuration and in this condition. I feel sort of weird about using it because it is rare and collectible...]

Sounds like You're about to ruin some micotech collector's chance of securing a grail knife
I would agree it is better to keep it minty and sell it high to recoup your current loss of any real knife usin' time...

 

[Gramps]

The older I get the more I feel like a "care-taker" of those things I collected but never used....things that someone else will enjoy in the future. We ALL amass stuff we don't use, including me; and to what end? Lately, I think about the days long ago when all I had to choose from in my collection was a Ranger slipjoint, an Endura Clipit, a Buck 110, and a Schrade Sharp Finger...which all cut things up very nicely, thank you.

In other words, no time like the present to enjoy what you have. Tomorrow will be be one day less than today to enjoy our lives.

 

[G. Scott H.]

I'd use it, personally. The only knife I wouldn't use would be something of extreme sentimental value that I wanted to keep in good shape and not chance losing or something that was exceptionally old and/or rare (like one of only 5 known to exist in the world or something). Other than that, everything else is going into my pocket or on my belt and will come out when something needs to be cut.

 

[midnight flyer]

The older I get the more I feel like a "care-taker" of those things I collected but never used....things that someone else will enjoy in the future. We ALL amass stuff we don't use, including me; and to what end? Lately, I think about the days long ago when all I had to choose from in my collection was a Ranger slipjoint, an Endura Clipit, a Buck 110, and a Schrade Sharp Finger...which all cut things up very nicely, thank you.

In other words, no time like the present to enjoy what you have. Tomorrow will be be one day less than today to enjoy our lives.

We take it for granted that what is valuable to us isn't worth much to a lot of folks. I have helped more than one of the folks in my circle "move out" and "clean up" a house and wood shop after a passing. I am a professional contractor and woodworker/trimmer/cabinet maker by trade. I have and use professional grade tools. It is mighty hard to stand there with someone's widow and tell them you don't have any use for the spouse's favorite tools...

"I think he would have wanted you to have this, Robert. It was his favorite".

"No, no. I couldn't. That should go to his son. You should keep it in the family".

"Robert, (fill in family member name) never cared about any of this. He doesn't like tools and this was something that he was never interested in. It was just my husband's hobby and sometime passion. He did love making sawdust. Are you sure you don't want this?"

If I say no, it gets packed up and sits in a garage/shop until the remaining spouse passes. When she passes, the kids are busy, busy busy... no time for any of that old stuff Mom and Dad collected. So in come the collection buyers and estate sellers and make ridiculously low offers. The kids that never had an interest take the money and move on. i see it all the time. I talk to guys that I work with on occasion and they make as many estate sales as they can and they often pick up nice tools (and other goodies) sold by the remaining spouse or a disinterested family member.

Think about it. When you see or hear of anyone that picks up a huge value at an estate sale, how did it happen? When you go to a second hand shop and find hand forged German chisels that cost more than a fully custom folder for $25, how did that come about ? And yes, there is the pawn shop. Ouch. Pennies on the dollar.

You really can't blame the guy that doesn't appreciate or have the same passions that you do. Your son or daughter may not like your favorite woodworking tools. I have helped sell two gun collections because the kids (adults) didn't want guns in their own house. I got OK money for the family, but certainly not the value that would have been there to a collector. But who has time to track down the "right buyer"?

So I understand how the collections of just about anything wind up going somewhere cheap to someone that is probably going to turn around and sell it when they can for a profit. I just don't want my little stash of knives to be done that way, so they go to work. I like to think in my own convoluted way that I am actually making the designers and makers of the knife proud by putting it to use.

And to me, saying that you are going to use a knife "just a little" is like saying that you are only going to put it in, "just a little". Either you are going to use it or not. Nothing wrong with collecting by any means but you can't have it both ways.

Robert

 

[Meerkat4848]

My son's Randall model 25 should be arriving next month. Took six years. Up to him what he does with it. I just hope he doesn't lose it!

 

[Curl of the Burl]

And to me, saying that you are going to use a knife "just a little" is like saying that you are only going to put it in, "just a little". Either you are going to use it or not. Nothing wrong with collecting by any means but you can't have it both ways.

Robert

I agree with everything you said except the above. If someone buys a vintage Corvette they can drive it around town, carefull daily driving or take it to the track to race hard. I believe there’s a difference in uses. I agree with you that it should be used and not just stored away.