Temporary Deprivation

GatorMedic

GatorMedic

Joined
Jan 12, 2014
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894
I'm curious whether anyone else on here has temporary deprived themselves of the their knife collection and voluntarily chose only one or a select few knives to use for a trial time period (and put the rest in an "off-limits" area temporarily)?

I have used this tactic in the past on my knives and other things as well to mentally reset and determine what is truly essential to me. This process helped me whittle down my knife collection over the course of a couple years with a temporary trial period every so often and then culling when I realized the joy of owning less and only keeping my absolute favorites that I use. This eventually led me to my current state of only owning one knife. However, what prompted my curiosity in whether other people have tried this as well is because I have begun a temporarily deprivation period on the two areas that I'm still excessive in. I've pretty much made the decision to reduce in one of those areas and the other area is looking like it might see some decluttering at the end as well but too early in the trial to decide just yet. These are the last two areas of my excessive overconsumption, and I am actually surprised at how much my view has changed on them during the just the last week or two since I started. If you have never done one, I'd encouraged anyone to give it a try whether with their knife collection or some other material item in which they have built up a collection. It's an interesting reset.
 
I go through periods where I only carry a knife for a month or so. A couple of times I have gone several months and been happy and then I just want a change for whatever reason. And then go on a spree. I am and have been envious of your one knife lifestyle and feel like I keep searching for mine.

I also use fountain pens and for a while I was getting new pens or inks to try quite often. One day I realized I had so much ink I wouldn't be able to use it and too many pens that if I rotated I couldn't use my favorites enough. So I got rid of all but 3 pens and I won't buy any more ink until I use up what I have.
 
Not exactly... I tend to end up in a binge and purge cycle of accumulating more knives than I can use and culling the excess when I realize I'd rather have space and money instead, and I usually keep backups of beloved patterns in case I lose or break something.

I did something sorta like this with a carbon steel Mora Companion several years ago and enjoyed it- I still carried a utility knife and a folder (can't legally carry a fixed blade here when out and about) but used the Mora for everything reasonable at work and home and kitchen for about six months. It was informative and fun- got a cool patina from fruit, messed around a little with microbevels and scandi edges, grew to appreciate the simple functional sheath. I try to carry a new user knife exclusively for a couple weeks to check it out, but mostly have carried a PM2 or Delica for the last 10 years or so.

Are you parting with some hats?
 
I don’t know about deprivation, but I have had a Busse Hogfather now for about 6 months……and I haven’t been able to use it!!! It’s just sitting in my box Begging for a trip to the woods!!
 
I only carry 1 out of the 316 knives currently in my collection at any one time and there are only 2 that I carry with any regularity -- a Spyderco Advocate and a Real Steel Megalodon -- and there are only 4 others that I carry from time to time. That's only about 5% of my collection that ever hits my pocket.

The rest of the knives sit in my safe or in a storage closet which I guess you could say are "off limits" but this is not due to any conscious attempt to "deprive" myself of their use and enjoyment.

They never hit my pocket because: 1) I bought most of them only to collect and not to carry, 2) some are illegal to carry (autos/balis) where I live, 3) some are too big to carry discretely (like large fixed blades and folders), 4) some are impractical to carry regularly as an EDC due their design specifications (like a karambit) or limitations (like a Spyderco Tighe Stick) or 5) because I think that they are too rare/valuable to carry.

Regarding the last point, some of my knives are currently valued at over $1k but my preference is NOT to carry any knife worth more than $200-300 simply because I would hate losing or damaging a knife any more expensive than that.

So, these are MY reasons for limiting the # of knives out of my collection that I carry.
 
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Most times, when I get out of my truck to enter a store, I only have 2 knives on me. I deprive myself of the knives in the truck (and the ones I left at home) for however long it takes me to squeeze all the avocados and do the rest of my shopping. Sometimes I’ll even eat some fried chicken and potato salad from the deli. So I’ll say going 45 minutes with only 2 knives is well within my comfort zone.

Does that count?

Parker
 
If it works for you, then awesome! Sounds like it’s not for me though. I usually just rotate my carry every now and then. Self-imposed restriction doesn’t look very fun.

In terms of carry, the smaller more socially acceptable knives (folders and compact fixed blades) usually see the outside city world more often. As much as I like spending time with my khukuris, ginunting, and one-handed axe, other folks would probably notice them.
 
catspa said:
Most times, when I get out of my truck to enter a store, I only have 2 knives on me. I deprive myself of the knives in the truck (and the ones I left at home) for however long it takes me to squeeze all the avocados and do the rest of my shopping. Sometimes I’ll even eat some fried chicken and potato salad from the deli. So I’ll say going 45 minutes with only 2 knives is well within my comfort zone.

Does that count?

Parker
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Nice. Two-knife EDC is the sweet spot for me. Usually an Izula plus one other Spyderco or Cold Steel.
 
I can respect the effort to slim down and streamline.

I would imagine that over time I may organically fall into that mindset.

Currently, I am still in the stage of buying a “backup“, and sometimes a third of the same model if I really like it.

It is still cheaper than most hobbies, and a couple of totes full of knives does not take up much room.
 
GatorMedic said:
I'm curious whether anyone else on here has temporary deprived themselves of the their knife collection and voluntarily chose only one or a select few knives to use for a trial time period (and put the rest in an "off-limits" area temporarily)?

I have used this tactic in the past on my knives and other things as well to mentally reset and determine what is truly essential to me. This process helped me whittle down my knife collection over the course of a couple years with a temporary trial period every so often and then culling when I realized the joy of owning less and only keeping my absolute favorites that I use. This eventually led me to my current state of only owning one knife. However, what prompted my curiosity in whether other people have tried this as well is because I have begun a temporarily deprivation period on the two areas that I'm still excessive in. I've pretty much made the decision to reduce in one of those areas and the other area is looking like it might see some decluttering at the end as well but too early in the trial to decide just yet. These are the last two areas of my excessive overconsumption, and I am actually surprised at how much my view has changed on them during the just the last week or two since I started. If you have never done one, I'd encouraged anyone to give it a try whether with their knife collection or some other material item in which they have built up a collection. It's an interesting reset.
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I'm going to try this
 
MolokaiRider said:
I can respect the effort to slim down and streamline.

I would imagine that over time I may organically fall into that mindset.

Currently, I am still in the stage of buying a “backup“, and sometimes a third of the same model if I really like it.

It is still cheaper than most hobbies, and a couple of totes full of knives does not take up much room.
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I m somewhere between these two mindsets. I don t have the same desire to add to my collection of knives. If I get an interest in changing my edc rotation, I ll look at my collection, some of which I haven t used in years but would be perfectly happy to carry today.
 
I have definitely stripped down my collection. I get the most enjoyment out of things that I've owned for a long time and used the most. It's a cliche to say that the used gear tells the best stories but it's true. I still occasionally buy something of course but I also sell or give some away. Still trying to find the perfect knife! :D
 
I guess I'm the opposite, I make a conscious decision to try and carry everything, even illegal ones-- wait, I didnt say that :)

Its gotta have a purpose though...I'm not gonna carry my Maxamet to go fishing, or my cold steel to the winery (no rules against it but...).

If i really dont like it, I'll give it away or sell it. I rarely have knives over 300 (other than balis and autos) so I dont feel "bad" about carrying them.

Interesting post.
 
JR42 said:
Are you parting with some hats?
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Lol you have a good memory. Yes, hats are one of the areas I’m doing for this temporary deprivation period. I have five in my closet that I can choose from now. I put all the others in a dresser drawer. I had just recently bought three more, and after receiving each one, I immediately wanted to go buy a backup of two of them. So after a couple weeks of putting it in my cart and then backing off and putting it in my cart again, I decided to apply the brakes and trial out the temporary deprivation period. It’s worked in every other area of my life, but the hats were exempted due to my strong affinity for them.

My hope is this period will help me mentally reset to find out what my true level of enough is. I don’t intend to deprive myself forever, but one can easily get sucked in the more, more, more spiral. I remember there was a time I was happy just having one and I wore that one all the time. I don’t intend to get back to that point because I have four favorite sports teams and I want a hat for each. But this exercise is to give me a different viewpoint to see if the 22 hats I have now plus all the backups are really added as much value to my life as I think they are. My “collection” is thoughtfully curated with different colors and logos of my four teams and a few non-sports hats, but I think there is a benefit to getting a new perspective on it through this tactic. So far, I’m pleasantly surprised at my reaction. If nothing else, I haven’t gone into withdrawal symptoms yet so that’s a good sign ;)

Smiling said:
I'm going to try this
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Update here with how it goes! I’d be interested to hear about your experience and thoughts afterwards.
 
GatorMedic said:
Update here with how it goes! I’d be interested to hear about your experience and thoughts afterwards.
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I definitely will!

Your thread together with E EatingSarma 's experience of using single knife for work and food during entire vacation, and plenty of other comments about using single blade for years have pushed me to do something radical, so here it goes.

I just can't decide which knife to pick though...
 
sgt1372 said:
I can only carry 1 out of the 314 knives currently in my collection at any one time and there are only 2 that I carry with any regularity -- a Spyderco Advocate and a Real Steel Megalodon -- and there are only 4 others that I carry from time to time. That's only about 5% of my collection that ever hits my pocket.

The rest of the knives sit in my safe or in a storage closet which I guess you could say are "off limits" but this is not due to any conscious attempt to "deprive" myself of their use and enjoyment.

They never hit my pocket because: 1) I bought most of them only to collect and not to carry, 2) some are illegal to carry (autos/balis) where I live and 3) some are too big to carry discretely (like large fixed blades and folders), 4) some are impractical to carry regularly as an EDC due their design specifications (like a karambit) or limitations (like a Spyderco Tighe Stick) or 5) because I think that they are too rare/valuable to carry.

Regarding the last point, some of my knives are currently valued at over $1k but my preference is NOT to carry any knife worth more than $200-300 simply because I would hate losing or damaging a knife any more expensive than that.

So, these are MY reasons for limiting the # of knives that I carry.
Click to expand...
That is very interesting that out of 300 plus knives the two that find your pocket are the Advocate and Megalodon. What makes them your favorites? I've owned both, and I liked the slim profile and especially the M4 in the Advocate, but neither really clicked with me, mostly because I'm just not big on metal handles and framelocks. They are both really great looking knives though, and very well made.
 
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