The End

ShaiHulud said:
With the last three knives in sight, I feel very at peace with myself, that I'm finally nearing the end of my knife selection, assortment, accumulation, collection, whatever word you prefer.
To those who don't know, I bought and sold off my knives in repeat more times than I care to remember, but I have found the knives I won't sell, but has also satisfy me in every way that I don't need to buy more

who else has, are, is, reaching this journey?
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I reached it a few years back. Gave away most my knives in a second (maybe third) downsizing. I'd been heading that way for a while, with the whole knife thing fading for me. Did the sam with my guns. My whole knife collection now consists of a number 8 Opinel, a number 5 Opinel, a Sardinian Resolza about he same size as the number 5 Opinel, three of the smaller SAK's, and a Christy knife. For fixed blade, my old Buck 102 woodsman does fish cleaning and bait duty. My daily carry is a small SAK, and maybe the Christy knife or number 5 Opinel. Thats it. No new knives now for a couple years, and no urge to buy any more. As a retired great grandfather in a suburban community that does a lot of fishing, thats all I need.

In my 60's I went very lean in all things, and took a look at what I was dong, where I was doing it, and freed myself up from a lot of possessions. I'd still get a new knife now and then but only if I got rid of one first. One in, and one out. Then I did my final massive downsizing and got rid of the last of the collection stuff. A small SAK in the pocket does 99% of what I need. As far as the collecting bug, it just sort of dried up. I care a lot more about the people in my life than inanimate things. The only thing that draws me back here is the people. I think its like an alcoholic who goes back to the bar and orders a club soda with a twist of lime, so he can just check in and see whats going on with the people he grew to know and like. But no more knives for me. Just don't need much knife for my life in modern suburbia, and at my age I know I will never be traveling in real wilderness again.

The real funny thing was, I stayed away from the forum for a whole month as an experiment. After a week or so, I was walking around with a SAK classic on my keyring and happy. The forums make you buy, I'm not sure of the psychology at work.

I'm done.
 
I wouldn't say I'm at the "the end" but I find myself more content with what I have. I'm keeping the same knife in my pocket for longer stretches and the desire/need for a new knife isn't as strong as it was many years ago when I started collecting.
 
jackknife said:
I reached it a few years back. Gave away most my knives in a second (maybe third) downsizing. I'd been heading that way for a while, with the whole knife thing fading for me. Did the sam with my guns. My whole knife collection now consists of a number 8 Opinel, a number 5 Opinel, a Sardinian Resolza about he same size as the number 5 Opinel, three of the smaller SAK's, and a Christy knife. For fixed blade, my old Buck 102 woodsman does fish cleaning and bait duty. My daily carry is a small SAK, and maybe the Christy knife or number 5 Opinel. Thats it. No new knives now for a couple years, and no urge to buy any more. As a retired great grandfather in a suburban community that does a lot of fishing, thats all I need.

In my 60's I went very lean in all things, and took a look at what I was dong, where I was doing it, and freed myself up from a lot of possessions. I'd still get a new knife now and then but only if I got rid of one first. One in, and one out. Then I did my final massive downsizing and got rid of the last of the collection stuff. A small SAK in the pocket does 99% of what I need. As far as the collecting bug, it just sort of dried up. I care a lot more about the people in my life than inanimate things. The only thing that draws me back here is the people. I think its like an alcoholic who goes back to the bar and orders a club soda with a twist of lime, so he can just check in and see whats going on with the people he grew to know and like. But no more knives for me. Just don't need much knife for my life in modern suburbia, and at my age I know I will never be traveling in real wilderness again.

The real funny thing was, I stayed away from the forum for a whole month as an experiment. After a week or so, I was walking around with a SAK classic on my keyring and happy. The forums make you buy, I'm not sure of the psychology at work.

I'm done.
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I don’t think that’s unusual.

I’m barely 50 and I’ve done it with all of my hobbies/interests. I have one nice 2 channel stereo that I’ve been happy with for several years w/o one single upgrade or addition. My watch “collection” now consists of the Rolex GMT Master II my wife bought me before we were married, and a g-shock for working around the house. The home gym hasn’t had a new addition in probably 5 years. I could go on.. 3 Porsches to 0.

As Bob Marley said, and I’m paraphrasing, “The day you stop racing is the day you win the race”.

Ceasing chasing the next shiny object is a necessary step to reaching true contentment, from where I stand.
 
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The last knife I bought was 5/20/2021 I’m not sure what I’d buy that would be better than that knife
 
That's my latest knife, the Bushete Proto from Good Knife &Co

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It is a knife with a real purpose, carrying and using it on a hike is an amazing experience, because it works just like it should.

I have quite a few knives accumulated over the years. I don't need to buy any more knives, there is so much redundancy already. However my approach has changed. I will search longer and look more for knives that fit my exact (imagined) need. As long as this refinement is going on, I definitely won't see an end.
 
As I just moved, I took stock of all my possessions. I am no where close to stopping the accumulation (I can't really call it a collection) but I can see the end coming at some point. My next move ((hopefully not any time soon) will be a significant downsize, and by then, I would like to have things prioritized a bit better. I don't have many sentimental knives. Even my first Buck Knife isn't a knife I would never part with.

The thrill of opening the mailbox and cutting open a new package still gives me some joy.
 
I do know that I have slowed down considerably when it comes to buying knives. I have pretty much figured out. What I like and don’t like in my EDC and I pretty much have what I Need. I still sometimes buy the occasionally knife because it catches my fancy but that is happening less and less now. I can understand the OP’s position.
 
There may come a time when I’ll stop purchasing knives for myself. I’m not really a collector but I love to use different kinds/shapes/sizes of knives and that’s what usually gets me to buy the next one.

I doubt I’ll ever get bored with knives however as they’ve always been my biggest passion (besides friends and family) by a large margin.

I sincerely HOPE I never get bored with them because I have no idea what might take their place..?
 
I'm sort of done.

Since I was a kid my ultimate "Grail" was a heavy-duty folding stiletto. Eventually that would include a heavy-duty stiletto switchblade. The Cold Steel Ti-Lite 6 provided me with my first Grail, but my search for my switchblade Grail would result only in disappointment. This would eventually lead me to produce/convert my own.

Now my searching is over. I have no more Grails. I have the knives that I have always dreamed of. There are no other knives that I yearn for. And I am quite content.

Achieving these lifelong dreams changed me so much that about a year ago I started selling some of the switchblades that I had previously made, ones that I considered prize possessions, and I haven't had a moments heartache or regret over those decisions. After I acquired my Grails, all other knives just seemed to diminish in importance and appeal to me.

I've compared it to dating a lot of different women, and then finally meeting the right woman, the one woman who causes you to lose interest in all other women.

The reason I say "I'm sort of done" is because I plan on making a few more for myself. I have ideas for variations in the design. So I will be accumulating a few more knives, but they will only be variations on the knives I already have.

As far as other knives, I don't see myself buying any more. I just don't get a thrill out of buying and acquiring new knives like I used to. I'm also a rather "frugal" person, and I can't justify spending the money to myself. I already have more "user" knives than I could ever need.

I did buy a new fixed-blade recently, but I only bought it to replace a knife that was stolen. I wouldn't have bought it otherwise.

My Ultimate Grails. Top two are autos, bottom is a manual (wrist-flick open). I am content :) .

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I am in the process
i will still keep the ones than I enjoy the most
After more than 20 years in knives I like the idea of just enjoying a few and not feeling the pressure of the « new one to get » :)
 
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