The curse/paradox of the collectable utilitarian knife.

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
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It's something I've been mulling over for a while - a great number of very well designed knives that have been discontinued are now either rarer than colorblind albino unicorns and/or are prohibitively expensive with collector pricing making them either too expensive for the typical user OR it represents a poor investment to actually use the knives.

Some examples of knives that I love, bought, and could never bring myself to use because of their scarce nature and value:
- Kershaw RAM
- Kershaw Tilt
- Benchmade Snody folders (really, any of them)
- Spyderco Rescue PE
- Strider 110V SMF
- Zero Tolerance 0777M390

I've managed to break myself out of that mindset a couple times and actually carry and use these, but still ended up selling:
- Carbon Fiber Inlaid Large Insingo Sebenza
- Benchmade 586-141 Gold Class (M390 / CF / C-Tek)
- Zero Tolerance 0560CBCF
- Zero Tolerance 0600
- Spyderco Rock Lobster

There are many more examples for both, but I'm just going to get depressed if I continue.

All of these knives were reasonably priced at one point (excluding the gold class benchmade), but their limited numbers or long-concluded production runs are making these incredible knives - many of which have no particularly good analogue - either impossible to find or arguably stupid to use.

While it's no surprise that something becomes more valuable as it becomes more scarce, it's ridiculously frustrating to see knives that are inherently utilitarian in design being snatched up and hoarded based solely off of their reputation for being good utilitarian knives.

That's like collecting ammo because it's great ammo and then putting it in a safe and never firing it. Collecting a tool? Ugh. Collect art/fantasy knives, leave the functional stuff for us...

This thread was spurred by a recent score - a 1660TCKT, a plain-edged random leek, which is incredibly rare compared to the partially-serrated variety that holds no interest to me. The instant I saw it for a reasonable price, I knew that if I didn't jump all over that, I'd never see it again until the person who bought it relisted it for a million billion dollars and then a collector would buy it and it would be gone forever.

I'm not saying I won't end up selling the knife - I have to handle it first and see if I like it, obviously, and I have no use for a knife I won't like - but it puts a lot of pressure on that decision. I could sell it for a 100% profit with ease, and the instant I use it it becomes "used" and loses loads of its value. It would be wise to sell it, but fun to keep it, but the fun would be constantly tinged by the knowledge that I'm forgoing real money for the sake of having that knife in my pocket instead of something that is currently in production.

Certainly, I would have kept and used my Kershaw Groove were it a regular production knife. The RAM? Loved it. The 110V SMF was a thing of beauty and mechanical perfection, and would have lasted me years. I miss my CF-inlaid Insingo like many people miss lost pets.

White people problems, I know, but, hey. I'm just seeing if anyone else is burdened by this. I know many of you can put an incredibly rare knife in your pocket and use it without a second thought, and I envy that mentality. Maybe it's just something that comes with having very little spending money? I'm honestly not sure if my mentality would be much different unless I had essentially limitless funds.
 
I think you just need to get over the dollar signs and start using them regardless of cost.

I shouldn't have spent $1,100+ on a Rockstead when I needed a new car ($1,100 is a good chunk of a down payment) but I still bought one and I still use it. In fact, that same Rockstead was strapped to my belt when I recently got a new car. I kept thinking to myself "offer the dealer your knife as a down payment" lol, but that knife brings me joy and I will never sell it. I wanted one, I bought one, I use one...

Just because we carry expensive knives, doesn't mean we have limitless income. We just have a higher spending potential on some items, and not on others. When I buy myself clothes, I have a hard time spending more than $28.99 on a pair of jeans, but knives...;)
 
I only seem to buy knives I'm gonna use, so I just kinda rule out any that are not usable for me. most of the collectible ones are out of my price range anyway, so I'm not too worried about it and just move on. I have yet to pay over $150 for a folding knife, or over $250 for a fixed blade, and the most expensive ones are the ones I use the most.

I do, however, agree with the sentiment that the resale market has deemed many good user knives 'collectable' and the prices have become ridiculously inflated, which spirals into having less and less people using the knife for its intended purpose because of the prohibitive price.
 
For me, it's not an issue of overall expense - I carry and use relatively expensive knives that are currently in production without concern. I just wait until I can find it at a good price that allows me to sell it without taking a loss if I immediately find it doesn't fit my kneeds, or I can carry and use it with the knowledge that I got a good deal and can just fully enjoy the knife. I've had a blast carrying my Combat Troodon for the last couple weeks, for example.

I really think it's the knowledge that it's that much more valuable as a collector's item... which, given that I do often sell them, also makes me complicit in the very problem I'm whining about. Oye.

I dunno, guys. I just want a TiLT, a Snody instigator, and a RAM CKT, and a lobotomy so I don't remember how valuable they are.
 
If using the expensive new unused knife would reduce its value too much then starting with a cheaper already used one seems a good option.
If available of course.
 
Hi. Interesting. I consider knives as tools and I buy and use them as tools. I don’t have any attraction for those “collectable” type of knives, the ones built with precious materials like ivory, gold or silver, Smilodon teeth, meteorite rocks or whatever exotic material :). Those which manifest in-built intended use is to be put on a pedestal or in a Bohemian crystal showcase. Nothing wrong with it, but it’s just not my stuff. I consider that more as jewelry in the shape of knives :). For me, knives can be expensive but they must to be useful and utilitarian. It’s the same for all my other tools, I think. Generators, pressure washers, compressors, drills, table-saws, barbeques, etc. I can buy super cheap Lidl discount stuff which might serve me for just one summer or buy high end tools which can last ten years. It’s a matter of choice, opportunities and possibilities. But I use my tools! I use them to their death to old age or fatal accident :D! Never thought to collect screwdrivers, even if they are MAC or Snap-on tools and even if I enjoy talking tools in some do-it-yourself forum :)! I have read this somewhere some times ago and I am rather aligned: “Owning a gun or a knife and not using it is akin not sleeping with your wife/girlfriend to keep her neat and tidy for the next bloke”. I also maintain the purchase of these types of goods/commodities is very rarely an “investment”. Of course, ancient artifacts, like XIII century crusaders swords or katanas may be a different ball game. Not for me either, unfortunately :).
 
I definitely would not carry or use a rare discontinued knife. I'd keep it pristine and perfect in the "safe". There are plenty of other great knives that I can carry that are still in production without having to use and bang up a rare gem.

That rare knife that is hard to find would be like a treasure to me in a way. And I like knowing that I have one brand new in mint condition. Then if at some point the value rose a great deal and I got a generous offer I may consider selling it. But it would have to be for quite a pretty penny. Otherwise I'm happy keeping the knife for myself. "Knowing" I have it tucked away safe and sound is worth a lot to me. I have found that (for me) peace of mind is priceless.
 
Every time a bike gets trailered to Sturgis... a Hells Angel cries.

If the knife had a voice, you would hear screams of "use me!" coming from your safe.
 
Benchmades are the worst for this recently, models that used to be pretty affordable are now way up there. Mini Ruckus for instance, I had one just before they were disco'd and I think I paid $140 for an open boxed new example. Then traded it on to fund I think an RC3 and zdp delica, but I got the itch to repurchase one but not at 3 times what I last paid. Then they bring out a new production run and leave off the canvas micarta handle which was one of the best parts. I'd be in the same spot as you if I got one though, looking at it but unwilling to take it out and use it even though its a design that just screams "Use Me".
 
Collectibles lose value as buyers lose interest. The rarer the collectible, the less people will want it as time goes by.

If you don't use a knife because of its resale value, you should sell it or trade it when the price reaches a point set by you or the price drops.

I use every knife and trade those I don't care as much for anymore. I traded a $550 used custom for $900 because the custom maker was hot, but the tactical knife was a poor user. Both of us thought we got the better deal :)
 
I completely agree op. The one that particularly bothers me is the Kershaw RAM! My favorite Kershaw ever. I still use mine, but only lightly now that they're discontinued.
 
Comeuppance said:
Some examples of knives that I love, bought, and could never bring myself to use because of their scarce nature and value:
Click to expand...

That's a pretty thought provoking post! Nice!

Seems that things that are popular do not become scarce. People like them, buy them, and the makers make more to sell.

Maybe you just have odd tastes! Nothing bad with that! Just call them "sophisticated." :D

Think of yourself as cursed by your extraordinarily refined taste in knives.
 
I only have one knife that I do not carry or use and it's a show piece Prinsloo folder. I use and I mean use every other knife I own for literally everything. Price is really not. Bother to me when it comes to justifying usage. Like others have said, it's like buying a new hellcat charger and letting it sit in the garage. Or only taking it to the gas station. I would be daily driving that mofo sideways everywhere I went.

Point being, I use 99% of all my blades regardless of price or rarity.
 
I totally hear where the Op is coming from. What a conundrum we find ourselves in.

I have a user Socom Delta and a Custom Marfione Socom Delta. I have a standard Strider SMF and now just recently got a Mick Strider Custom SMF. I also have a very rare Marfione Matrix San Mai Damascus. I have others too not worth mentioning..

If I know when I'm getting dressed that day if I'm going to do landscaping or working on or around the house.. Yep, I'm putting either the beater Socom or SMF in my pocket.

But for those other weekend days, when I'm going to a friend or family member's house, go out or just know I have nothing going on; I do indeed put in the one of my customs. I just have to. I have 2 scratches on my irreplaceable San Mai Damascus blade and have worn down the pocket clip a bit, but screw it. I'm wearing it. I did wince really hard during each scratch. But after pondering what you have written about and much mental debate; I agree with most of the others here, I wear it.

I just hedge my bet is all. Use the beater on hard use days and customs on the softer use days.
 
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These are my beaters, LOL... not that I don't baby my DDR.

 
Meh, I'm 45 and have way more knives than I need. They'll all outlast me no matter what i do with em.
 
Comeuppance said:
For me, it's not an issue of overall expense - I carry and use relatively expensive knives that are currently in production without concern. I just wait until I can find it at a good price that allows me to sell it without taking a loss if I immediately find it doesn't fit my kneeds, or I can carry and use it with the knowledge that I got a good deal and can just fully enjoy the knife. I've had a blast carrying my Combat Troodon for the last couple weeks, for example.

I really think it's the knowledge that it's that much more valuable as a collector's item... which, given that I do often sell them, also makes me complicit in the very problem I'm whining about. Oye.

I dunno, guys. I just want a TiLT, a Snody instigator, and a RAM CKT, and a lobotomy so I don't remember how valuable they are.
Click to expand...

I think your issue starts with your outlook....
You like to flip knives, but don't want to lose money in the process.

Makes sense, nobody does, however this is a difficult hobby to do that with.

You're looking for deals on knives that are popular and hope that you can flip them back on the market and lose zero.
That's not a great strategy as there are zero guarantee's on which way a knife's value is going....look at some of the prices on the exchange right now, not too many people are pulling even.

Maybe just buys knives you like, use them (or whatever you want to do with them) and enjoy the hobby.
Leave the 'will I get my money back' part of it out of the equation.....unless you have a crystal ball or a Sebenza.

In the long run, you will lose money, unless you wanna try to be a professional speculator/flipper, but I can see even those guys are losing money with the way the market is right now.
 
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