To Carry or Not to Carry?

B

Bayou Man

Joined
Sep 16, 2006
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What does one do when you have some beautiful knives that you want to carry, but at the same time, know that once you do, all those scratches and dings are going to send the value to the pits, especially out-of-production knives? Help me out.
 
If you're like me, you can't bring yourself to sell valuable items ever because you're too sentimental about them, so if you don't use them AND you don't take advantage of their collector value, it's just silly.
 
That sounds about right. Let me know when you guys find the way out of this dilemma! :(
 
Just buy some leather pouches to keep your folders in when you carry them. I have one generic pouch that fits all of my EDC's: Klotzli, Brian Tighe, Small Sebenza, Paul Knife. I just put my EDC in the pouch and don't worry about it. :)
 
If you really love the design, those dings won't bother you over time. I have a couple knives that fit your description and the notion of such superb designs sitting untouched in a box saddens me a little. Use them and enjoy them! For the most part, many out of production designs are still attainable if you're willing ot pay the price, so don't lose faith yet.

There will be a time when you wish you'd have brought that beautiful, different, discontinued design instead of the easily obtained current production model you have on your person. I know I've done it a couple times.

I believe that an EDC knife should be your everyday companion, and its resale value shouldn't be much of a concern. If you have been able to determine your perfect EDC knife(many of us struggle to find this) then it will be no question to use such a beauty every day.
 
buy another one of each

then you can use one, and keep the other as a safe queen.
 
I've been debating about using some of the knives I've acquired because they are in:

1. Perfect factory condition
2. Kind of expensive ($300-$400)
3. Limited production or out of production

I thought to myself though, "What did I buy them for?" For one thing sheer enjoyment of owning a cool piece of steel. Another reason is to EDC and use when and if the job requires it. Reselling it would be the last reason I would purchase a cool knife for. Most of the time the one's I've acquired may not get the same price as I paid for them unless the buyer really wants to pay the price for whatever reason that is. But when it comes down to it, why the heck did I buy a knife if I am not going to use it! So I normally buy knives that I will be able to use everyday and I won't be too worried if it gets a scratch here or a ding there-well at least after the initial scratch or ding:D

BTW, the one knife that I will be carrying and using is one of the more pricey and beautiful knives I will have (just ordered it today) called the "Sebenza" which is the Zulu word for "work". I will indeed put it to good use and it definitely won't be a drawer queen.
 
Bayou Man said:
What does one do when you have some beautiful knives that you want to carry, but at the same time, know that once you do, all those scratches and dings are going to send the value to the pits, especially out-of-production knives? Help me out.
Click to expand...
I carry a different one. I have knives that I use, and I have other knives just to have them. If I've got something that I want to keep in like new condition, then I do, I have plenty of other knives that cut well.
 
My knives that have a sentimental value may never be carried again, depending.
The only value of a bought knife that concerns me is whether or not it's value to me is at least equal to it's price. Investment value has never been an issue.
I also get some joy out making each of these tools as functional as possible so all my knives have been sharpened. This of course ruins investment value immediately, but makes them more beautiful and valuable to me! And so I can carry them without guilt as well!
Greg
 
I carry all my knives that are legal here and there. Some of the 200ish plus models only see very light duty and certainly don't run as beaters, but they all pay their dues. Really, it's best to get that first scratch or ding out of the way so you can use it like it was meant.

Ultimately, there appear to be two solid solutions to our problem:

The expensive one: Buy two of your favorite knives, keep one in the drawer for prettiness and put the other one to work.

The cheap one: Buy only used knives that already have a minor scratch here or there. Then you're not afraid to really use it. This is my personal strategy with the stuff that gets beaten the hell out of.
 
I know it's probably not very smart but i pretty much won't have a knife if i can't carry it. to me a knife is a tool first and an object to be admired second. that being said a leather pocket pouch would be a good compromise.
later, ahgar
 
Bayou Man said:
What does one do when you have some beautiful knives that you want to carry, but at the same time, know that once you do, all those scratches and dings are going to send the value to the pits, especially out-of-production knives? Help me out.
Click to expand...

I have some OOP knives that are truly beautiful. I think great knives can be like any collectors items. Knives can be like ART! I display my knives of art proudly. Collectors of fine wine find it hard to drink their art, so nothing wrong with keeping some knives on display
 
nygiantsfan3342 said:
I have some OOP knives that are truly beautiful. I think great knives can be like any collectors items. Knives can be like ART! I display my knives of art proudly. Collectors of fine wine find it hard to drink their art, so nothing wrong with keeping some knives on display
Click to expand...

Yes, knives can also be art, but if you buy the good ones, they are "functional" art -- they work both as a tool and as art. IMO, knives that are only art are a waste.

Also, there is more to art than looks: who made it, what are the lines, what is it made out of, does everything come together beautifully, etc. If you want just art, go look at the Mona Lisa or Nightshift. But even if one of these masterpieces was scratched in some way, who among us would no longer think them beautiful merely because of a scratch???

Knives are tools and should be used as such. All of mine either get used or put on the block. For me, pretty alone isn't good enough.
 
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