- Joined
- Mar 2, 2008
- Messages
- 1,692
As a teacher with addictive hobbyists syndrome the knife world can be cruel. Following in the steps of my grandfather my collection went from flashy modern and tactical stuff back in 2010 to traditional knives when I bought my first GEC. I had bought and carried Case and Buck but there was something about that Yellow Rose 54 Furtaker trapper that moved my needle. After receiving it I carried it for about a year.
I swapped it back to a little Buck two blade and was content until Mike Latham did the Conductor SFO, replacing the pen blade with a coping blade. I got two of those knives, both #06, one ebony and one stag. I put the ebony one up and carried the stag religiously for the next few years. Occasionally finding a 71 along the way, and one of the first TCs Charlie had done up, straight from Charlie too!!!
Then came, 2016 and the Texas Camp, $160 for the coolest traditional knife I’d ever seen. But, I was between jobs and definitely couldn’t swing it. The cash just wasn’t there. I figured I wouldn’t fret it, I’ll just trade into a user and be content. See, if I’m keeping it, it’s getting carried. No safe queens here, maybe ones that hang around for a bit until a trade comes along but nothing is safe from my pocket if it sticks around long term. Needless to say those Texas Camps became highly sought after unicorns, demanding top dollar.
So, I put it out of my head that I’d ever get one let alone a user. Well, I moved on. I’ve watched them pop up, sell, pop up, sell. Knowing I was good to be without I just snagged up what I liked, traded or sold what I didn’t.
This summer has been a whirlwind of emotion for me.
As a teacher, I have worked long hours for many years in districts that were behind the pay curve, had a minimum of 40 minute one way commutes, and after earning my degree in administration still not gotten the tap to move up. My knife hobby keeps me busy and gives me something to focus on that I enjoy but sometimes my mind wanders, I get in a funk, I come out of it and I’m good for a while.
This past year, after a subject area change I was able to land a job in the district in which I live. The pay is the best in the area, it’s actually very good, the community is amazing, and I love it. I coached our FRC (robotics) team to the world championship and have been praised, a lot, for what I’ve done this year.
I had the opportunity to apply and interview for one of 3 open administration positions this summer but due to the lack of teachers in my subject, Technology Education, and the time frame they needed to make decisions in I was not selected. Needless to say, it was a pretty depressing summer after a killer year. So I spent my time sulking, reading Louis L’Amour books, and buying/swapping knives.
I’ve amassed a killer slipjoint collection over the last 13 years. Nothing compared to some, but an envious collection to others. I’ve only regretted selling two, they may have been mentioned above. Over the last 3 years I’ve landed GECs on the drops but I’ve missed all the 86s
, and that Waynorth Ebony is amazing, great job Charlie. Some conclusions I’ve made are to not regret any of my knife decisions, old knives are worth a look and a carry, it never hurts to ask about a trade, and unless it’s a SAK or a TL29 I hate spear point folders.
Yes, I said it, long live the clip point!!!!! It leaves all them out there for y’all, cause I’m not going for them.
Now why the long post? I had a pretty good Sunday a couple weeks ago. I had inquired about a trade, made the deal, went on vacation, snagged a NIT Bradford Single Shot 23, 3 blade with end caps and opened a package that contained this unicorn.
A Minty Texas Camp!!!! Now, I traded a Randall for it, but remember the statement above? I have no regrets or safe queens.
So, what’s your unicorn? And don’t worry, it’ll eventually find you before you find it.
I swapped it back to a little Buck two blade and was content until Mike Latham did the Conductor SFO, replacing the pen blade with a coping blade. I got two of those knives, both #06, one ebony and one stag. I put the ebony one up and carried the stag religiously for the next few years. Occasionally finding a 71 along the way, and one of the first TCs Charlie had done up, straight from Charlie too!!!
Then came, 2016 and the Texas Camp, $160 for the coolest traditional knife I’d ever seen. But, I was between jobs and definitely couldn’t swing it. The cash just wasn’t there. I figured I wouldn’t fret it, I’ll just trade into a user and be content. See, if I’m keeping it, it’s getting carried. No safe queens here, maybe ones that hang around for a bit until a trade comes along but nothing is safe from my pocket if it sticks around long term. Needless to say those Texas Camps became highly sought after unicorns, demanding top dollar.
So, I put it out of my head that I’d ever get one let alone a user. Well, I moved on. I’ve watched them pop up, sell, pop up, sell. Knowing I was good to be without I just snagged up what I liked, traded or sold what I didn’t.
This summer has been a whirlwind of emotion for me.
As a teacher, I have worked long hours for many years in districts that were behind the pay curve, had a minimum of 40 minute one way commutes, and after earning my degree in administration still not gotten the tap to move up. My knife hobby keeps me busy and gives me something to focus on that I enjoy but sometimes my mind wanders, I get in a funk, I come out of it and I’m good for a while.
This past year, after a subject area change I was able to land a job in the district in which I live. The pay is the best in the area, it’s actually very good, the community is amazing, and I love it. I coached our FRC (robotics) team to the world championship and have been praised, a lot, for what I’ve done this year.
I had the opportunity to apply and interview for one of 3 open administration positions this summer but due to the lack of teachers in my subject, Technology Education, and the time frame they needed to make decisions in I was not selected. Needless to say, it was a pretty depressing summer after a killer year. So I spent my time sulking, reading Louis L’Amour books, and buying/swapping knives.
I’ve amassed a killer slipjoint collection over the last 13 years. Nothing compared to some, but an envious collection to others. I’ve only regretted selling two, they may have been mentioned above. Over the last 3 years I’ve landed GECs on the drops but I’ve missed all the 86s
, and that Waynorth Ebony is amazing, great job Charlie. Some conclusions I’ve made are to not regret any of my knife decisions, old knives are worth a look and a carry, it never hurts to ask about a trade, and unless it’s a SAK or a TL29 I hate spear point folders.Yes, I said it, long live the clip point!!!!! It leaves all them out there for y’all, cause I’m not going for them.
Now why the long post? I had a pretty good Sunday a couple weeks ago. I had inquired about a trade, made the deal, went on vacation, snagged a NIT Bradford Single Shot 23, 3 blade with end caps and opened a package that contained this unicorn.
A Minty Texas Camp!!!! Now, I traded a Randall for it, but remember the statement above? I have no regrets or safe queens.
So, what’s your unicorn? And don’t worry, it’ll eventually find you before you find it.
