to use or collect

K

killstrees

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Mar 17, 2010
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I just acquired a couple of ducks unlimited edition schrades, and thought I had better check with the experts to decide a tough question. Keep and collect or USE them.

Here is what I have:
1)a fixed blade 13 DU with leather sheath only. This one may have been carried.
2)a lockback folder 50DU. This one is in a nice wooden box with DU canada 1938-1988 on the cover.
and
3)a folder 94OT, Illinois Limited Edition on one blade and a wood duck on the other. In a nice wooden box.

the story goes, I was given these knives years ago by my grandfather, and they resided with my father for the past 20 years in safekeeping. now they are mine, and I am trying to decide whether or not to carry them about and clean ducks, geese, deer, dull and sharpen and enjoy them, or hold them for my girls to someday decide whether to use, look at or even sell.

I am a much better knife user than collector, but as far as I can tell these are in at least good condition, if not perfect. they are all at least 20 years old.

any thoughts?
 
1. They are family heritage knives
2. They are yours.
3. They lost some of their "collector interest" when they were used, however lightly.
4. They could be handed down to your children with pictures of your grandfather, their grandfather, and you.

I say use them with respect and care. Keep them clean and oiled, not stored in their sheaths. Enjoy using them and teaching your kids to use them and care for them. They have far more value as family heritage knives than they ever will as collectables, IMHO.

Michael
 
thank you for the nice reply. I am thinking along those lines for the 13DU since it was used and handled some, but undecided on the folders. I think that there is something added to the knives that I received from my grandfather that he actually carried and used making them ever more valuable as an heirloom in my mind. One of the other knives he gave me sometime back was a #1 gerber paul 2pw. it has been sharpened and resharpened, but locks up nice and tight and straight and looks perfect. I carry that one from time to time.

Strange, but I feel as bad thinking about using them as not using them.

-Andy
 
Andy, as you feel a closer connection to the knife your Grandfather actually used, don't you think your children/grandchildren will feel the same about one that you have used?
 
well... I certainly hope so, but you never know! hopefully they cherish my pocket knives and guns rather than my used cell phone collection!!! I guess the main thing I need to decide is whether an old knife with a DU stamp and some ducks on it changes things over an old plain version of the same knife. In my mind they are pretty much the same and other aspects are more important, and eventually I get to the point I want to take them all out and use them. but like I said, I feel a little crazy for that since they made it this far in relatively unused condition.
 
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