Skipping Over Limited Edition, Collectibles, etc.

Eli Chaps

Eli Chaps

Joined
Apr 20, 2018
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So we have the thread going about our collecting styles and it got me to thinking about a quirk I have of bypassing "rare" or limited edition stuff.

I like users and my knives get scratched up and dinged or what have you and that's the way I like it. So I always feel like I should just leave those harder to grab models for those who will appreciate them for that reason and keep them nice. I know we're not talking highly valuable artifacts here, I just know I'd feel guilty if I banged up some 1 of 300 of something.

I have these thoughts of ten years from now posting a picture of some limited edition knife with the markings all worn off and blade and bolsters scratched and dinged and someone's chin hitting their keyboard because they'd been looking for that exact knife to fill out their collection for years and here I'm showing one all beat up. :mad::oops:

Anyone else do that?
 
We all have our subjective ideals of knives, and other things. Often my favorite knife of the moment, is a nicely designed one, with the added beauty of well earned patina!!
Abuse, no; patina yes!!
The term "limited edition" has two diverse meanings. When I commission a knife, I make as many as I can afford, hoping a lot of people will love it! But I never intentionally "limit" them!!
Intentionally limited versions of pocket knives, or anything else, smacks of profiteering, and manipulation of the market. "OOH! If you don't get one you are a loser!!" "If you pay lots of money, you are cool!!" Sigh . . . . .
 
Eli Chaps said:
So we have the thread going about our collecting styles and it got me to thinking about a quirk I have of bypassing "rare" or limited edition stuff.

I like users and my knives get scratched up and dinged or what have you and that's the way I like it. So I always feel like I should just leave those harder to grab models for those who will appreciate them for that reason and keep them nice. I know we're not talking highly valuable artifacts here, I just know I'd feel guilty if I banged up some 1 of 300 of something.

I have these thoughts of ten years from now posting a picture of some limited edition knife with the markings all worn off and blade and bolsters scratched and dinged and someone's chin hitting their keyboard because they'd been looking for that exact knife to fill out their collection for years and here I'm showing one all beat up. :mad::oops:

Anyone else do that?
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Nope. No one person has a greater right to those "limited edition collectibles" than any other. If you want a knife, have at it.

This early TC barlow was put to work soon after I received it. I'm sure there are those who wished I had kept it untouched and in the tube, but it's my knife, not theirs. They can enjoy their knives the way they want, I'll do the same.

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It's a pleasure uglying up a beautiful knife through use.
 
I often keep my knives pristine new because I'm blessed enough to have several hundred traditionals. As I'm now in retirement, with money a lot scarcer than it used to be, I may need to sell off some of my knives, and new ones bring more money than used ones. But occasionally I use a rare one anyway, just because! This #53 Cuban in pond bone is extremely rare, they only made 13 all together. I happen to have 2 of the 13, so this one is my user. The other is still mint in tube.

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Eli Chaps said:
So we have the thread going about our collecting styles and it got me to thinking about a quirk I have of bypassing "rare" or limited edition stuff.

I like users and my knives get scratched up and dinged or what have you and that's the way I like it. So I always feel like I should just leave those harder to grab models for those who will appreciate them for that reason and keep them nice. I know we're not talking highly valuable artifacts here, I just know I'd feel guilty if I banged up some 1 of 300 of something.

I have these thoughts of ten years from now posting a picture of some limited edition knife with the markings all worn off and blade and bolsters scratched and dinged and someone's chin hitting their keyboard because they'd been looking for that exact knife to fill out their collection for years and here I'm showing one all beat up. :mad::oops:

Anyone else do that?
Click to expand...

I do the same thing. I'm not a collector and don't want to be, so if I buy a knife, it has to be a user. I've passed on a few pristine vintage knives and some very limited edition ones I liked, but couldn't see ruining their future collector value by making them EDC users. If it's "limited" to more than 50, then I don't have a problem making it a user, but 50 or fewer is my personal cut off.
 
If I love it I buy it and carry it often. No one else is gonna enjoy it for me example here’s the back spring of my Case Bose trapper. Recently got a TOPS Tex Creek 1 of 500 20th anniversary (not really traditional but an outdoor knife with a dangler close enough :rolleyes:) and carrying it as my main full tang fixed blade.

You can bet even if I had a Tony Bose custom I’d carry it and use a lot because it be the most enjoyable to use and have. Even tho 1 of those costs as much or more than every knife I own combined
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I don't live in a museum. Life is way too short and when I am gone, someone else can deal with my knife "mess". My thoughts anyway...

I got a Case "1 of 500". Whatever that means...I have yet to see a 2 of 500, 3 of 500, 4 of 500 and so on. Doesn't mean too much to me.
 
I've had this Bob Cargill Cripple Creek in my pocket for the last two days. I'm sure I'll switch to something different before too long but for now it's my EDC.

So far I've used the Sheepsfoot blade to open 3 boxes and the Clip blade to cut shrink wrap off of several pallets of product. Nothing drastic but I can't say it's in mint condition anymore.

Maybe my using it will make the other 49 more collectable.:D

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I'd have a really tough time bringing myself to use any knife made in a quantity of 10 or fewer. Mostly because I know I'd probably never find an exact replacement if I lost or broke it.
 
You find the most collectable items from the past are the things that were meant to be used. When they worn out discarded and a new one purchased. Many knives fall into this category, our grandfathers did not collect knives, they used them. The survivors have become collectable/valuable. Comic books, baseball cards, waffle irons....all fall into this category. Fast forward to today when everyone is collecting something with the future investment in mind nothing becomes rare unless it was made in small numbers and thus never "valuable".
I say all of that to say this, do what makes you happy. If you want to keep your knives shinny and new, do it. If you want to use them and make memories with them, do it. Some of you just like the chase to get a gem of a knife, that's cool too.
I am in the use and make memories camp. Maybe there will be a knife that one of my future grandchildren remembers being in my pocket or on my work bench and it then becomes priceless.
Just my thoughts.
 
I'm a collector at heart not just with knives but other items as well to my wife's chagrin. However, I'm generally willing to use any of the knives I've collected. I feel some I enjoy more keeping in a like new state (and just fondling periodically) while others I enjoy using for the purpose in which they were intended. If I lose interest in a knife, I will more often than not sell or trade it for someone else to enjoy.
 
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If the knife is newly manufactured, I have no problem with using something of limited production. The most harm I'll be doing is lessening it's resale value a bit, but I don't sell many of my knives, so it's not really an issue for me.

But I do have a problem with some older collectible knives. If I get my hands on a knife from the early 20th century, in spectacular condition, using it definitely gives me pause. These hard to find older knives have a history to them, that I could be destroying through use. So I've set aside just a handful of my collection, for the preservation of history. To be honest, I usually don't even try to buy the pristine ones. I prefer to find one with a few scars, that I won't have a problem with using.
 
Wise to buy somewhat worn knives, and other stuff, Buzz, especially to use. I agree with you.
But!!! I can't pass up the glory of a pristine example of the past, if the price is right!!:)
 
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