Off Topic Traditional Collection Quandary

pmew

pmew

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Oct 2, 2011
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Well now, here's the thing, what do I do with this?;

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For some years now I have been steadily amassing a decent collection of GEC 25s. My other collections have slowly faded; I sold off all but one of my farmers jacks, all but a handful of my congress' knives, sold most of all my other GEC's, Queen's, TEW's, Boker's and what not mainly to fund my obsession with the 'weird little stubby things'.

But here's the thing, I have two kids now and I can't help but feel a little guilty about having five grand just sitting on a shelf looking pretty. I enjoy the knives and collecting them has been great fun but that isn't the case at present. When I was able to hunt for them it made for a good pastime and was worthwhile, but at the moment the 25s have almost all been totally gobbled up and those that do appear have their prices shamelessly over-inflated to such an extent that I don't feel it's worth it. The other issue I have is the increasing number of collector pieces that I'm coming across which have either been modded to have an EO notch (bleurgh boo hiss!) or the blade reground with a gaudy emblem etched deeply in the middle of the blade (which totally baffles me as it's not as if their grinds were ever thick in the first place, the blade stock isn't any thicker than 2mm!). How can you do this to a unique piece!?

What this really boils down to is; what is the point in being a collector when there is nothing left to collect?

So tell me please guys and gals, what makes you stick at it?

Or alternatively what makes you fold? And how did you feel about it afterwards?
 
A timely post for me anyway pmew pmew . Like a lot of others I started out (for the second time) collecting traditional with a lot of enthusiasm. I have about 40 now, but very few of the same pattern and none of the same covers or blade shape.

I found that for me, having ramped up my collection to this level, I am now slowing down considerably. When I do look at something I often find myself thinking, "well I don't care for that" or "I already have something like that". For example, I have figured out after buying and selling a couple multi blade folders, that I really prefer single and two blade knives. I have also landed on a couple preferred cover choices. So I think this has been for me a function of learning what I like by acquiring a lot of traditional knives very quickly and then letting off the gas.

I don't feel like I have folded, but I do feel like I can contain myself and make rational judgements about more acquisitions or even what to sell. I am in a different place in life, so I have time and my kids are grown. I think that makes a big difference.
 
My dad bought a rusty 67 Chevelle when I was 6 years old for $300. We were far from rich but he poured his time into it. He spents nights out there cussing as he tried to get it cleaned up. When my mom went back to work full time he had extra money to play with and eventually had the car restored to original condition. He babied it and won show after show. I'll never forget the death threat he gave me when I was given permission to take it to prom. It was amazing and I wanted it.

Life happens and finances change. My sister needed money for a wedding and my dad sold the car without a second thought. I was so mad. I wanted that car. I asked him why. He said,

"A car is an object. My daughter is my blood. She needs to know I love her more than she needs me to hold onto an earthly treasure. She needs to see me sacrifice my wants for her needs so she will do the same one day."

It took me years to figure that out.

I cant tell you what to do with your collection. It is impressive, a once in a lifetime achievement, and there are several in that group I would love own and use to hand down myself.

If you're doing ok financially I don't see a problem in keeping them. If you want to invest the money in a college fund or retirement I say that would be wise. If you want to frame them and allow the lot to be a heirloom, it certainly is worthy.

I will say this. I started off seeking one direction in life and took another the second I had kids and do not regret it one bit. When I place my family first I am more proud of that than anything. When I don't, I feel the weight.
 
First of all it's a wonderful collection. I started buying GEC's about three years ago and have reached the point where there are very few I would jump at now.

The 25's are unique enough that I probably would buy them if they were available at a reasonable price. The upward spiral of most GEC's has given many of us pause to consider selling our collections. Every time I get to that point the thought that pops into my head is "not that one, maybe that one." If you make the decision to sell I think it's all or nothing.

Finances are a totally different consideration. A once in a lifetime trip with your children, an advance for their education fund or if you need the cash are all easy decisions to sell. I doubt you bought the 25's as an investment but they may have turned out that way. What would you do with the money?
 
At the end of the day, they are just objects. Very nice objects, ill admit. Although my collection and focus on knives is not as extensive as yours in number, I have been letting a lot go. I dont have kids but I do have other hobbies and bills. These other hobbies do get expensive and so Ive let some of my knives go and continue to let more of them go. Sometimes its better to have your money back when you need it. There are of course pieces that are sentimental and I would not let them go. In fact some of my knives will sit in their tubes or boxes. Yeah its money just sitting there, but that is ok, sometimes less is more.
 
I am not near the collector you are...but have bought certain things knowing I would enjoy them for awhile and then resell later to do something with the money. Like take a trip. Buy a new tv for the man cave etc. Think of them as a savings account you can enjoy....?
Nice collection btw.
 
A few thoughts; while I don't have extensive collections of much, I get where you're coming from.

First - if you need the money for family, then you can package up and sell your collection. However, I wouldn't feel inherently guilty about having the collection. It brought you plenty of joy and happiness, well worth the investment, and even as a family-first person you're allowed to have nice things for yourself. Enjoy the pieces in your collection guilt-free.

Second - There are people who collect to own and people who collect to buy. Put another way - some people enjoy having the collection to peruse, while others enjoy the thrill of the hunt. If you're a thrill of the hunt type, then having the collection isn't as important as finding the next piece for the collection, and maybe you do free up some of that investment to keep hunting. If you're a peruse the collection type, then that's one hell of a collection to peruse. Which are you?

Third - There is a point of diminishing returns on collecting when you've gotten nearly everything out there and are more selective about what you collect. I find that narrowing the field and being super specific still makes collecting fun, even if it means going long periods of time between acquisitions. You've got a specific collection there, so enjoy watching for that next gem to appear from the rough.

If nothing else, you could start collecting titanium flippers. There's plenty of those around. :D
 
I've let quite a few go recently for financial/family reasons, and it's been an interesting experience. I know that I will forever kick myself for letting my ebony Washington Jack go, but I've really been indifferent about the other knives.

Unfortunately, the majority of my collection is made up of knives that are proving tough to sell. Secondhand Case knives have not seen the market bear what the GEC market has. It's not even about selling at a loss; there's really just no desire.

Your collection of 25s would sell as quickly as you can post them, but do you want to sell them? I feel that if you've thought about the possibility, it's probably inevitable; especially if you feel guilty about having them. You have the pictures, you have the memories: is there something more that they could provide for you?
 
If the question was, "What do you do about collecting when there's nothing left to collect", I'd say "Collect something else". I just recently discovered that with framing squares it isn't just whether they have "all the tables". Different old brands had different tables: I bought one yesterday that had a table of miter cuts for various polygons($2). I'd never seen such a thing.

If the question was how to justify having money in knives when you have kids, I'd say no justification is necessary; you can sell them off if and as you need to. (Assuming the market will never soften. (And of course it never will.))

I'm not much of a collector, more of a hoarder. I bought way too many axes and hatchets for way too long, and now I have way too many axes and hatchets and no idea how to get rid of the excess. I've been the same with old knives. Recently I've gotten choosier and won't buy a knife because it looks like it used to be a good one. (Except for that worn out Camco shrinky-dink scout, but that was a sentimental impulse that cost me only a dollar.)

But I'm rambling. The question was, "What keeps you collecting and what makes you stop?"
Interest and the lack thereof.
Interest comes and goes, it shifts focus and shifts back. Having new kids is bound to take up a lot of your interest, I would think, though mercifully I am without experience of that.
 
While you ponder the larger question of your collection, it might be fun to try a few thought experiments. For instance, if you could only keep 3, what would they be? Maybe if you could only keep one of each style, what would those be? I tried that with my 25's and I think one ended up in your collection! I also gifted one to someone who seemed desperate for one I was looking to move out. I'd be interested to hear which ones you couldn't live without :)

~Jim
 
If you don't have to sell, don't sell unless you truly don't feel that spark anymore for them.

GEC will make more, and they likely won't be super hard to get - as it seems their regular runs are available awhile longer these days. I'd hate to have you regret not having this awesome collection to add to when new ones are released.

I have no idea how old your kids are (nor is it my business) but if you decide to sell, I'd recommend keeping one for each kid. I plan on giving each of my kids a knife from my collection to be their first good user. I'll let them learn with, and likely lose a cheaper one first of course :) Even if they don't care about knives like I do, they'll be a physical memento of things we did together.

It is a beautiful collection though, and I wish you the best with whatever you decide.

PS, I'm particularly fond of the Grape Jigged sheepsfoot - I have the same one - my only 25!
 
Paul, I'm in almost exactly the same position as you with my collection of #53 Cuban stockmen.

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I have 49 of the 52 GEC releases, plus a Painted Pony acrylic from SMKW (lower right corner) and a duplicate SS knife for carrying, for a total of 51. I still have hopes of finding the three I lack for the complete collection. It is however a tremendous long shot, as the three I lack were made in numbers of 2 only, 2 only and 6 only. I have about $6,000 tied up in them, and it might cost another grand to get the last three, even if they become available. But the way I look at it:
• I don't really need the money right now,
• they're nicely displayed in 2 wooden cases, so they're easy to show and keep track of,
• they're only going to be worth more money as time goes by, and
• I enjoy owning them!

I've decided to hang on to them for now, and might even build a display case specifically for them all, once I retire. As I'm sure you have, I've put a tremendous amount of time and effort into collecting them, and don't think I would sell them off piecemeal, even if I decide to sell. Enough of the releases were made in such small numbers that it would be impossible for someone else to have a complete collection, so if I ever get the last three, they need to stay together for posterity.
 
Sounds to me you've reached your goal in collecting. You got your enjoyment out of the hunt, you've enjoyed the "kill" but now it's over.

Knife collecting has highs and lows. Right now GEC is hot, but I don't think it'll get too much higher in price, but what do I know :) In 20 years, as fashion swings, your collection could drop significantly in price. That's what happened to the Cammillus-made Remingtons.

I'd suggest keeping back the 5 knives you like the best and sell off the rest.
 
black mamba black mamba
I know we've spoken of the last three you're searching for but it's nice to see the collection together. Thanks for posting the family photo.
 
If the hunt is really the thrill you enjoy you could always help others hunt.

The hunt and trophy acquisition can be one and the same, but they can also be separate. Some do not enjoy the hunt as much when the trophy is not to be bought.

The evolution of your hobby is determined by what you value. That is easily seen in Woodrow's thread.
 
Okay, I once thought I'd make bank on comic-book collecting.. so I'm going to be that guy warning the grass is NOT greener.

don't fall into thinking collections like this will always fetch an increased return on your investment. As somebody previously mentioned, there is little interest in case knives now; that could become of the 25 GEC pattern as well. And when a collection as large as the 25's shown (and also the 53 collection above) goes unattended, neglected, and forgotten, so too can go the value in the collection and the current owner misses the selling window entirely. I suppose it's the realist in me, but I would advise to sell now while other collector interest level is high and supply is low, especially the pieces in the collection that cost you the most. I would fear getting stuck with those ($200+) and then not being able to get half of it back. Chances are the collection will need to be pieced out, and some will remain unsold. Maybe your future collection could focus on knifes with matching handle materials of whatever. Framing the knives in a fancy display case is more lost money as it adds near zero value to the collection.

Everything I 'collect' now, comic books, knives, etc., I get them knowing the value will likely never be as high as first purchase. But I buy them not for collecting. I buy them to own and hold onto forever. Or know that I can sell it at a loss and still be happy with the time spent with it.
 
Let me compliment you on your mature outlook. Those of us with the collector gene need to acknowledge that the things we collect are just things, and their value lies in the pleasure they bring us. If they're not bringing pleasure, it's time to convert them into something that will--retirement savings, a kid's education fund, a vacation, or a different collection altogether.

Those who don' recognize this fact quickly become hoarders.

Good luck, whatever you decide.
 
huntnfishin said:
I am not near the collector you are...but have bought certain things knowing I would enjoy them for awhile and then resell later to do something with the money. Like take a trip. Buy a new tv for the man cave etc. Think of them as a savings account you can enjoy....?
Nice collection btw.
Click to expand...

I can really relate to these comments. Especially the part about the savings account I can enjoy. It's nice to have something that I can use to raise a few funds that doesn't require a box the size of a house to ship it.

I often lose money on knife sales but that's ok because if I sell a knife for $100 at 5:00, I'm $100 richer than I was at 4:59 regardless of how much I paid for the knife. And the minor monetary loss is just what it cost me to rent the knife for the time I owned it.

I don't think you'll have to worry about that with those 25's though should you decide to sell a few.

Very impressive collections being posted here.
 
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