Trying to Get Your Significant Other to Understand Your Knife Habit

Wowbagger said:
Rookie mistake.
One doesn't retrieve the package off the deck until said significant other is sound a sleep.
Or at least open the door before the FedEx person rings the New Knife Proximity Alarm . . . er . . . door bell.
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I've been trying to time it so my new knives come on days where I'm home before her, oh lord I'm terrible.
 
Great topic. I think there are a number of factors playing in. First of all, I think people have a predisposed idea of what purpose a knife is supposed to have as a tool and they don't realize the difference between good quality, bad quality and great quality. Second, they are not quite aware of that collecting knives is an established phenomenon and a hobby for a lot of people and the reason we find it interesting is to a big extent because of all the craftmanship that goes into it, which is also a reason for the vast differences in price. It's an interest and a hobby. I think there are several things you can do to make people understand more. You can compare it to a lot of things that people choose to put their money on. Clothes, shoes, tattoos (the best example IMO), jewellery, whatever. An even better thing, I think, is to explain a little bit about it all. You don't have to get her to become a knife enthusiast herself, but explain a little bit about all the different factors that play in and make her realize that knife collecting is a much bigger and more complex topic than she probably knew about. Also try to make her realize why you are so interested in it or at least make her realize that this in fact IS something that's very important to you, wether she understands it of not.
 
Dr Heelhook said:
Great topic. I think there are a number of factors playing in. First of all, I think people have a predisposed idea of what purpose a knife is supposed to have as a tool and they don't realize the difference between good quality, bad quality and great quality. Second, they are not quite aware of that collecting knives is an established phenomenon and a hobby for a lot of people and the reason we find it interesting is to a big extent because of all the craftmanship that goes into it, which is also a reason for the vast differences in price. It's an interest and a hobby. I think there are several things you can do to make people understand more. You can compare it to a lot of things that people choose to put their money on. Clothes, shoes, tattoos (the best example IMO), jewellery, whatever. An even better thing, I think, is to explain a little bit about it all. You don't have to get her to become a knife enthusiast herself, but explain a little bit about all the different factors that play in and make her realize that knife collecting is a much bigger and more complex topic than she probably knew about. Also try to make her realize why you are so interested in it or at least make her realize that this in fact IS something that's very important to you, wether she understands it of not.
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This is great, thanks so much, I really appreciate this and will try out some of this stuff when the topic comes up again!
 
Really depends on the wife. My wife drives a nicer car than I do, she picked our house, and she has jewelry. I don't have any expensive collections or hobbies other than knives. If I had to approach it practical financial perspective I could win that argument.

Fortunately for me she also likes knives. These are hers, with a Spydie Chef to be added soon. She's a first responder. Her duty Gorgon gets a fair amount of use.

tXOjf1yh.jpg
 
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I don't even try.

But I have bought her a knife the last two Valentine's Days. Pink Mini Commander and a Small Sebenza. With the amount of online shopping she does she appreciates a good cutting tool.
 
I prefer to keep my wife in the dark about my knives, hence why I have them shipped to my work, or to my brother.

Not that she bugs me about cost, she just thinks they're all the same, so me appearing to not buy myself anything new works in my favor when I really want/need something that she will notice.
 
I guess I'm lucky, when my wife saw how excited I get every time I get a knife she started asking which one I wanted next. If I don't buy it, it's usually my next birthday or Christmas present.
 
She should be able to understand that it is a hobby and an interest of yours and that the price you pay for your interest is worth the level of enjoyment and satisfaction derived from ownership. For her the interest may be jewelry, handbags/purses, fancy china, makeup, shoes, certain clothing, etc. Truth of the matter is that past a certain point in a human's life, once the basic survival and a base level of comfort is met, all else can be filed under investments for future gain or luxuries for immediate gratification.

tew3006 said:
I guess I'm lucky, when my wife saw how excited I get every time I get a knife she started asking which one I wanted next. If I don't buy it, it's usually my next birthday or Christmas present.
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That's sweet :)
 
tew3006 said:
I guess I'm lucky, when my wife saw how excited I get every time I get a knife she started asking which one I wanted next. If I don't buy it, it's usually my next birthday or Christmas present.
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I'm in the knife price zone now where I don't dare tell my wife what I want next or am hunting for - no way I want her thinking she is gonna be sweet and get it for me and finding out what it costs.
 
My wife has her horses... Them are damn expensive pets...

Her newest saddle cost over $5000.00 .

I don't get too much hassle... Especially now that I am selling most of mine
 
I am a knife enthusiast and I have trouble "justifying" a new knife if the cost is above $200 or there abouts. With my wife, there is no explaining to it. She doesn't understand and never will. I just try to temper my hobby expenditures and been doing more of those mental exercises in the last year or so. But if I decide on a knife, I don't ask permission or even her opinion. She just has to trust me.

If a knife is shipped to me, it helps to get the mail or I have it sent to my PO box. I simply don't want to discuss justifying anything as she will never understand.
 
Some of you guys are really trying for a divorce huh? Lol just be open with her. Show her that she can trust you. That you know what youre doing and you wont hurt your families finances. My wife gets a bit annoyed sometimes but she would get pissed if I was hiding stuff from her, as she should. Id be pissed if she was hiding expensive online shopping from me, whats the difference between her online shopping and yours???
 
When my wife at Target asked me today,when i had her on the phone checking the price of a Victoinox “How many of these red knives do you need”? I simply said one word.
Shoes ?
I do know I don’t want my wife to get into liking and collecting knives. Because? Every knife she would buy would be one less knife i could buy.
 
One of the tricks is to never go shopping with your spouse. If I go to Sam's Club and say spend $150 on general household stuff, but if she goes along, the tab will exceed $200. Let's try this or that..... Basically I try to stay on point. The same happens in Walmart, Target, or the clothing department store..... I am not perfect by any means, but I try to decide why I'm going and what I intend to get generally.

Knife stores are a bit different.... we will spend more on kitchen related stuff if we both go together even if we don't need it. I generally don't mind this. But together there will definitely not be any $200 ZTs.
 
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mqqn said:
I got my wife involved. She comes to Blade and we make a couples trip out of it. She now has her own collection of knives and just this past week she indicated she was going to need her own knife case to keep them in.

Now she shares the excitement when a new knife is due to be delivered, or seeing the new lineup of our favorite manufacturer, or when Jerry announces a Ganza - for instance.

Pick your wife up a cute little pink or pearl Victorinox for her purse. Find something to ask her for her knife when you have "forgotten" yours so you can use it and give it back.

That or set up a clandestine second identity so you can run your knife money through that. ;^)

best

mqqn
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Pick your wife up a cute little pink or pearl Victorinox for her purse. Find something to ask her for her knife when you have "forgotten" yours so you can use it and give it back. That Sir is Brilliant^:thumbsup:. I'm just happy that my wife pretends to accept my harmless hobby. Once in a while I have to remind her that it could be worse. Example: I could have gone out with my booze hound buddy's to a strip club but I chose to stay in and pack my money saving bag lunch instead. BTW They got put in PC after a fight broke out. Good luck Op and never give up trying
 
This is a great post. My girl is cool and understanding of the fact that i really enjoy knives, and doesn’t bust my chops about spending a decent chunk of change on a knife. However, she definitely doesn’t get it at all. I don’t think she ever will. But I’ll never understand her spending a decent chunk of change on a purse or makeup or things I’m not interested in. Tomatos tamatos!
 
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