Sometimes, it's all in the Gettin'...

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Good thread, Gary! :thumbup:

I think that I have passed the 'thrill-of-the-hunt' phase in my collection. When I was new to the hobby, I certainly went overboard with the buying/accumulating frenzy. Then I stepped back and looked at my knife-hoard and realised that I had knives that didn't really interest me--almost seemed like someone else's collection, not mine. But I reckon it all helped me decide what I do like, what features I prefer, etc, so no regrets!

I've gifted away most of my 'learning-curve' pieces and now have a smaller but sleeker collection of knives I'm proud to own, carry and use (for the most part anyway.) Still learning, still growing... just taking my time to cultivate a more meaningful collection. :)

-Brett
 
Your thread really hits home for me Gary. I've been on a knife quest/binge for about two years now. I've given a bunch of them away, and sold a couple, but still have more than I could ever use. I can carry a different knife every day and not repeat for quite some time...and yet...what is this little gem I spy! It's fun to look at all of the different stuff out there and to be able to get a few here and there " in hand" to check them out. I probably should learn from you and others example and start passing more of them along once that " new" wears off;) that is actually a pretty wise strategy in my eyes...
 
Gary W. Graley said:
I don't know how many of you guys and gals may be plagued by a similar problem of mine, the Gettin' portion of knife buying ;) For many many years now, well my grandmother told tales of me sitting out on the curb in St Albans WV while only 4 or 5 and rubbing a small boyscout type knife against the curb, sharpening it, so it's something I've had probably since I was born.

Growing up, I don't recall having a lot of knives though, but teenage I'd manage to get one or two here and there, learned to throw, always a fun exercise. But now that I'm older, physically not mentally, I seem to WANT different knives all the time, but, once gotten, most seem to lose their luster for some reason. Now it's not buyers remorse, not really, as I find nothing "Wrong" with them but another knife comes into view and the jone'sin begins until I'm able to get said knife into my metal warehouse. Only to sell her within a very short time.

I may be one of the few on BladeForums with groupies lol as after I make mention of just getting a knife, I often get emails asking to be put in line ALREADY, preparing themselves to buy my knife as they know me so well. It would be funny if it wasn't so true!

So, as I'm hoping I'm not alone, and that you also browse the forsales threads, comb your favourite on line dealers to see what latest offerings they provide. If it's not one, it's another, if it's not ivory, hmm ivory ;) oops there I go again! I think you can see a pattern! I thought I'd see if anyone else has this affliction, which I've nicknamed The SteelVirus, it's quite contagious and I've sparked a few outbreaks all by my lonesome at work and with friends, it hasn't been deadly...yet... but there's still time! Right now, mainly due to funds, but even so I still scour the web looking for one to wink at me in that 'come hither' way and then I know I'm lost, at least until the package arrives, only to find a couple weeks later that it turns out I could actually live without having it in my life, who'd a thunk it! My collection, I'm much more a user than collector any day, is now narrowed down to a select few, but I find that lately I'm looking to fill the empty spaces with a variation of the ones I have; have the ivory handled, need a stag or jigged bone or snakewood or ebony etc covers, it's all good and I could rationalize it easily as a required difference. BUT I'm trying my best to stand firm and just hang onto the ones I have for now and to not cave in, at least until I see something truly nice that I obviously can't live without.

So for those of you that benefit from my adventures, you are of course most welcome and I hope you enjoy all the ones I've passed along already and I hope that the ones I now have, will stay put...it's a start?

Opps there's the door, must be another package arriving ;)
Share if it makes ya feel better!
G2
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I've bought at least one from you in the Exchange, Gary. I didn't know you had a waiting list though! ;)
 
"The SteelVirus" huh?
Yeah, I gots that. Got it bad.

I had way more knives than I have, and that includes customs.
Currently I am fighting the urge to sell/give away all but maybe 4 knives i currently own and start again.
 
Great thread G2!
It's a sickness, gang! Try to control it in anyway you can.
At the moment, my cure is a CRKT Orange M16.
rolf
 
thanks guys and pinnah I'll have to check into that song, sounds about right! I remember reading that Samuel Clemens was quoted as saying some things regarding that too.
My Opinel collection is about complete, been carrying that olivewood Slim #8 around, one of the guys from work was admiring that a lot today, loved the feel and flow of the handle, it's pretty keen ;)

And Gary, yes, a waiting list haha, not a lot but occasionally there are some that are waiting in the wings to swoop down and score! And I'll have to add, your photos of the Otha's serve as catatonic inducement in me every time I see them, had one of his friction folders, should have kept that! but would love one of his slip joints!

And appreciate that I'm not alone, sounds like a group hug is in order but with all the knives, probably not the safest thing to be doing :) Right now I'm fighting the Eureka urge, I should have spent more time with them at the GEC open house, I kick myself now for not, but got to meet some nice folks there too !

G2
 
Wicked double post...hasn't happened in a while, not to waste the post, here's one of my French Crew to add to the fray ;)

Le Compagnon by Le Chambriard in Le Thiers France

Compagnon.jpg


crop from that photo of the embossed logo on the blade, deeply done

Compagnon-closeup.jpg


very very sharp knife!
G2
 
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Gary, this is often the case for me. A new maker or maybe a new model from a production company will often get the blood flowing. I have always considered this part of the romance of being a knife aficionado. Much the same with firearms, watches and various other accouterments. Cannot own them all!
 
I was also afflicted by watches for a while, until I finally found THE one, Sinn 656, no looking back now, great watch, finally ! and Camera stuff is still a nagging problem, new models keep coming out, several guys on the forums have benefitted from my jumping to the next best thing ;) but that to has settled down to a small roar with my Canon SX40 for travel and my Canon 5D for the good stuff :)

Right now my fervor has relented slightly, several times almost pulled the trigger on a GEC Eureka smooth bone, that just seems right for that model but I'll wait and see, wait and see...
G2
 
Gary W. Graley said:
I may be one of the few on BladeForums with groupies lol as after I make mention of just getting a knife, I often get emails asking to be put in line ALREADY, preparing themselves to buy my knife as they know me so well. It would be funny if it wasn't so true!
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Well, I didn't know your habit at the time, I just thought...on a lark...to ask quickly before someone beat me to it. :p

There's only two left to go for me right now to have what I really think I want. One's a for sure, and the other's a 'double-check-it' before I order.
 
Hah, well sir, no worries, there are no dues or monthly meetings, nothing too extravagant to be one of the followers, ;) but...you might have to wear a shirt at Comic-Con though :)
G2
 
Variety is the Spice of life. That cliche statement haunts me. I like to have many different knives for many different occasions, when in reality, I'm not as active as that, and could live my life, with only my Opinel 06, but what fun would that be. I've got a decent source of income, but am young, and not just really well off, but have few living expenses. That leaves a bit of disposable income, for knives, guns, and watches. Watches are a terrible curse, not nearly as utilitarian, or useful, as a knife, I still spend too much on them. Knives though, can sorta earn their keep in some ways, but still it's just aesthetics in the end that drive my purchases.
 
I agree whetrock, variety is the spice of life, as I say I feel lucky to have finally settled on my watch, and getting close on my knife, but it is very elusive !!!
G2
 
Hmmm.......interesting. I've enjoyed reading everyone's stories.

I went crazy initially when I started wet shaving, buying several single edge, double edge, and straight razors. Then a bunch of restorable projects. Then I woke up and sold all the unfinished projects. Sold all the single edge and double edge stuff I didn't use, then all the straights I didn't use. I still have one to get rid of, but other than that I'm down to where I want to be. I have my first single edge, a fatboy DE I bought for 50 cents at a yard sale 200 feet from my front door, my grandfathers DE, and my first straight. I have and use one brush, and I have my soap down to about three or five, but I use Arko 98% of the time.

I did the same thing with knives. I bought several, but would only carry a few. So, I gave away and sold the ones I didn't use. Now I have only knives that mean something, i.e. first knives, gifted knives, knives I bought on a vacation with my wife, stuff like that. Now that I'm making knives, I am going to get rid of the last two knives that I've been holding onto that don't mean something. Look for these giveaways soon.

I love lusting after knives. I wanted a GEC pony jack so bad I could taste it. I can't afford something like that right now. I have lusted after a Schrade jack and stockman, and a Case Texas Jack most recently, but I am not going to buy one. Stan Buzek is sending me a pattern for the jack he posted a week or so ago, so soon I'll own a jack. :) I someday hope to make knives I would never be able to afford.

Soooo......long story short, I love knives. I love looking at them, I love thinking about buying them, but that's as far as it gets, thinking. I love slipping my handmade knife in my pocket more than if I bought one.
 
Straight razors, well I hope I don't run down that rabbit hole, have two, one with a busted wing since the day I bought it, a Boker has a bit of a grin to it's blade and a good friend sent me a gift of a Thiers-Issard 5/8 imitation tortoise which I really like. I've only been straight razor shaving a couple months or so but it's great not to have the handle flipping all over the place :) plus the new one seems to shave a lot better, still getting use to it...

And knives, I had wanted a TC Barlow since seeing them, mainly a clip point, but picked up the Spear point one and that's very cool, but on the forum I was able to get my request in for one of the clip point ones and hopefully will see that next week, and if I like her a great deal more, I'll probably put the spear point on deck to go, as I am not a collector, but I guess as this thread says, I'm a getter ;) and about now the only way to keep things going is to sell those I won't be carrying...sad but true :(

G2
 
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