User vs Collector ?

[Pointshoot777]

Hi everyone - I was in some of the other forums, and hit me that I'm a knife & tool User, not a Collector now. I went through my own collector phase and enjoyed it thoroughly, don't get me wrong. And more power to those who like collecting. Nothing wrong with that. But where the difference in outlook was obvious to me was in discussions of certain knife features. Guys mentioned how they didn't like the look of certain knife characteristics . Those characteristics were essential in the original designs; they made the knives more functional for their intended purpose. So, that's when I decided maybe it would be better for me to spend more of my time in this forum instead.

Are you more of a User than knife Collector now ? Maybe you like doing both ? Please tell us about it.
Thanks.

 

[22-rimfire]

Not sure how this topic fits into this forum, but I will post anyway. Knife accumulator here. I like to use them and I have no hesitation in using my knives. By the same token, I don't go out of my way to use a new knife just for the sake of "using". So, many sit unused which doesn't bother me in the least. Perhaps it will become like firearms for me down the road....

With firearms initially, every gun was purchased for a specific use and I used them. As time went on, I accumulated more firearms than I use. That was okay, because I like firearms just for the sake of themselves. The collector thing started with Colts as I had my shooters which for the most part were still in very good shape (NRA Excellent). Then Colt stopped making most of its double action revolvers and went into bankruptcy. They came out of the bankruptcy, but were a changed company focused on semi-auto pistols and AR's. So, I became a collector simply because most of the Colts I own are not being shot or were acquired specifically not to be shot (ever) by me. So, with Colt revolvers, I'm a collector.

If say a favorite company or knife producer went out of business, I might well become a collector of that brand of knives. Camilllus and Schrade, and most recently Canal Street Cutlery are examples of brands that went out of business, but I have little interest in collecting any of these brands. Great Eastern Cutlery comes to mind as a possible example of a collector brand and I like them. So, collecting is a personal decision based on my preferences.

Added: The cartoon post by 42 Blades reminds me of me with many hiking, camping, and outdoor products in general (but not axes). I have far more stuff than I am likely to use and I acquire new stuff just because I'm interested. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1472969-The-Axe-Fad-in-a-Nutshell!