The inner struggles

Hickory n steel

Hickory n steel

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Feb 11, 2016
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Anyone have inner struggles regarding knives they often face ?

I often find myself on a subconscious search for my " perfect " knife even though I have other knives that I love and could never commit myself to carrying just one knife I still end up thinking to myself " if that had a CV blade and amber bone I could see it being my new favorite ".
I also have a favorite that I find myself wanting to carry more than I really can if I want to give enough attention to other knives I have or plan to buy.

I also have trouble getting rid of knives, theres always something I like about a knife that keeps me hanging on and it takes a long time to reason with myself and realize I'm just not using it enough and it's time to let go.
When I do decide I'm not using a knife enough I give it to someone who will.
 
Oh sure! I have temporary fads about what I like, and then move on and think "should I sell thus, it's so sweet but I don't use it." Sometimes I do, if I need $$ for something new, but sometimes I don't after anguishing about it.
 
variety is the spice of life, but collections weigh you down.

it’s nice to walk up to a drawer full of knives and pick the perfect one for that day, but part of me misses just having the one old faithful “best friend” knife.

my collection grew trying to find the perfect knife. When I already had it all along. I keep coming full circle to a Buck 110. It’s perfect for pretty much every task I need a knife for.
 
We have all been there......still there. Resistance is futile. Maybe you can reduce the size of the herd by realizing some of the purchases may have been impulse buys and the warm fuzzy feeling has worn off, or just plain do not use some. A goal, yet to be reached, is to sell or get rid of two for every new one you acquire. That way it forces you to examine what you really like about a knife before it exits, and if you have some that already meet your criteria before you buy another one with the same characteristics. Most of all, enjoy, use and appreciate what you already have. Others have said if they do not get used, they are released to find new homes.
 
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cbach8tw said:
We have all been there......still there. Resistance is futile. Maybe you can reduce the size of the herd by realizing some of the purchases may have been impulse buys and the warm fuzzy feeling has worn off, or just plain do not use some. A goal, yet to be reached, is to sell or get rid of two for every new one you acquire. That way it forces you to examine what you really like about a knife before it exits, and if you have some that already meet your criteria before you buy another one with the same characteristics. Most of all, enjoy, use and appreciate what you already have. Others have said if they do not get used, they are released to find new homes.
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Well said!!
My collection was easily 50+ knives then I matured a little and narrowed it down to half that. Then I became a snob and it’s half of that! :D
Seriously, we all go through the “honeymoon phase” with a new knife. Then realize maybe it wasn’t what you thought it was. And then reality hits and you think about the loss of value since you carried it!! I try to forget about all that. If I have a knife that I won’t carry I list it in the Exchange. And the Exchange is a whole separate addiction!!!
My wife asked me, “What are you going to cut with a $500 knife?”. The first thing that popped in my head was ‘Not a damn thing!’ - I knew I had a problem!
 
My inner struggle is trying to find some justification to buy another knife. Now - I don’t need a lot of justification to buy a knife, but I do like to have some small reason, and my collection is large enough to cover any reason I can think of.

So the struggle continues......
 
ah! the complications of having one to many :)
when you're down to one, you'll want more!
this is certainly a fight againsts your nature.
not eveyone can live a vow of poverty.
you must either be a saint or plainly insane
to give it all up.
but let's be reasonable; you can't
take all you own to the after life.
if you have enough of space to store
chances are you will end up having
a pile of stored stuff for your entire lifetime.
stick to a managable volume.
once that space runs out
something just has to go....
its out with the old in with the new!
 
GIRLYmann said:
ah! the complications of having one to many :)
when you're down to one, you'll want more!
this is certainly a fight againsts your nature.
not eveyone can live a vow of poverty.
you must either be a saint or plainly insane
to give it all up.
but let's be reasonable; you can't
take all you own to the after life.
if you have enough of space to store
chances are you will end up having
a pile of stored stuff for your entire lifetime.
stick to a managable volume.
once that space runs out
something just has to go....
its out with the old in with the new!
Click to expand...
That’s why we must have a worthy inheritor of our collection. Be it a son, daughter, wife, best friend, best colleague. Our knives will be around long after our bones return to dirt lol.
 
A knife collection and edc rotation is first world problem for sure. I'm just as guilty as anyone. Just bought a $500 double edge automatic. I've cut open about 3 packages in the last week and used the 400 series stainless blade on my Leatherman to mash through everything "too dirty" to use my Microtech on. Still, that Microtech is the first thing I shove in my pocket in the morning. It'll probably be my favorite for about 2 months, then I'll find a new fling that I will make an excuse to buy and carry.
 
I don't collect knives and am rarely on the hunt. That said, when I find a knife I like to carry (like the Victorinox Ambassador, I'll buy a few as back-ups. I liked the Mini-Grip so well, I bought two more one of which I bought from Cabelas as it was a special design for them with D2 steel. I also have 3 Buck 501's. I carried the first one for a little over 20 years but bought a second so I could retire the original. A few years later, I bought a third during a great sale. I bought a second Opinel #8 because I use them for picnics and wanted one in each car. My current EDC moved from the Mini-Grip to the new Bugout with the CF scales and I have an incoming Mini-Presidio II because that knife strikes me as similar to what would be a medium sized Griptilian. I suspect I'll carry the Bugout in town and the Mini-Presidio on day hikes (I carry a Fallkniven F1 in my day pack). But to be more on track with the OP, I rarely am on the hunt for the next best thing. I tend to stick with knives I like and hate spending much more than a C note for one. Customs or higher end knives like CRK's are nice to look at but I won't spend the money for them. With that said, I probably own 50+ folders and fixed blade knives not including kitchen knives.
 
At one point I looked at my collection of a dozen or 2 and told my self that is too much. Sold what I didn't like and/ or wasn't using. Left with handful of daily users and a few that mainly stay put away. These see the most pocket time; along with SAK.

8J3TzSt_d.jpg
 
I have a bk10 for playing in the woods and on hikes.. I just ordered a buck 110 because I "need one" thinking it's a little better slicer anyways and I'd take them both out with me... Now I'm looking at Kepharts... I don't need it.. but I do. I mean, I use the knives that I own, but I really don't need one. I'll have those 2 other blades with me.. but I need one.. I'm struggling right this second
 
eveled said:
but part of me misses just having the one old faithful “best friend” knife.
Click to expand...

I had just one pocket knife for about six years, a two-blade slip joint that really did everything I needed. That was many knives ago and I want another trusted companion like that. Right now my Copperlock is first in line for the job. Of course, I still have a Spyderco in the shed for gardening and a 110 in my truck for...something. I need a pocket clip knife for when I wear sweat pants and a multitool for when I don't take my truck and an SAK because you just need one and...
 
Based on the title thread, I thought maybe you ate my wife's "famous" meat loaf. :eek:

I'm currently in down size mode for my knives. Part is maybe my mid life crisis (pushing 50..) but mostly I think I've just learned what I like and don't like in a knife.

I wish I had the bank account to buy multiples and blade swap to make my ultimate knife, but alas, the Powerball numbers haven't been kind to me. I've been good about sticking to budgets my whole life.

What you are going thru is nothing new. Collections expand and contract. Tastes change and often cycle back. My only advice ... keep a budget and don't over extend yourself financially.

Don't worry about "keeping up with the Joneses". One thing I've learned on his forum is that everyone seems to make more $ then I do when I see collection pics. :D
That's ok, my sub $40 Rat 1 in D2 is not offended and neither am I.
 
With the exception of my machete and my ax, I could put all of my knives in just one shoe box.
So beyond the initial purchase, they don't take up much space, they're not eating anything, and they don't require a lot of money to keep and maintain, and they're so darn handy and useful.
 
eveled said:
part of me misses just having the one old faithful “best friend” knife.
Click to expand...
I remember how much easier it was when I just had one main knife and a little secondary that were in my pocket for years.
I'm not big on change in my life so there will always be part of me that finds comfort in sticking with one and forgetting about the others, I also like my knife rotation being the one place I do except change.
 
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