Why Do People Think it is Stupid to Collect Knives?

It depends a lot on perspective. I don't watch TV and I don't own a television. I don't play video games (any more ;) ) and I don't feel the need to go out and buy gaming consoles or games. And so on.

I really like knives. Instead of spending my money on electronic gadgets, I'd much prefer to get knives.

Other people really like purses. They spend a lot of money on purses--next time you are in a store that sells Coach merchandise, you'll see that a lot of women are carrying around the monetary equivalent of a Sebenza. For them, buying a Sebenza instead of a Coach purse would be crazy.

Different perspectives.
 
"Why do people think its stupid to collect knives?"

Because its stupid to collect anything. Doesnt stop me, but theres no logic to it. Unless you collect food or money...
 
I'm still in High School and I just started collecting knives around October-November of last year. Only one of my friends likes my collection and all of my other friends don't seem to care too much. My parents on the other hand, don't understand why I have so many knives, even though my dad just purchased a custom bowie for $500 from a local knife maker.

So far I've collected $1,400 in knives over the past few months and over the past 5 years have gotten $4,000+ in guns that are put into my parents name until I get my own place and turn 21. Don't have a car yet, but I got some guns and knives... Knives don't go bad or get outdated like iPods and computers, every few years I'll get a new iPod or upgrade my computer. I like to spend my money on things that are practical and that I can have for a lifetime. I love my knives, and I know my addiction is just going to get worse.
 
People don't like different. I'm in my fifties. When I was in college my friends and I were into scotch, cigars,espresso(coffee) amongst other things. Had we pursued some of these things that our friends scoffed at we would have made a lot of money. Collect your knives guns whatever follow your passions responsibly and just be happy. You'll have more fun than your friends who follow the herd.
 
the probability of you cutting someone is multiplied. note: they rarely care about you cutting yourself.
 
Probably best not to engage too heavily on the subject of knife collecting with people who can't understand or relate to it. If you really feel compelled to explain yourself, do so genuinely and succinctly but don't expect to open any closed minds.
 
People always think things are stupid when they don't understand it. I think your "friends" just don't understand what it takes to make a knife and what a true art form it is. To them it's "just a knife". Try educating them about the different types of blades, the various handle materials, and how each custom made piece is a one-of-a-kind.

At the end of the day if it makes you happy then keep collecting kid. Just stay within your budget...collecting can get really expensive.

And pick up a good balisong!!! I'm trying to convert everybody into a balisong collector:-)
 
I've found that everyone has their thing. When your friends tell you about things they'd have spent the money on, well that's their taste. You like knives. Most of my friends other than the ones I've met off this forum don't collect knives. Most of them carry now but they don't have more than a couple. But one friend has 6 computers, another has 5 motorcycles, and so on. It doesn't matter what you spend your money on as long as you like what you're getting and it doesn't put you in a financial bind.
 
People I know like to spend hundreds of dollars buying snacks and going to the movies every year, and when all is said and done they have nothing to show for it (you can only use this if you avoid buying snacks and going to movies).
Most people also spend a lot on expensive jeans and things like that, which perform no better than the cheaper items and wear out just as quickly. A good knife will last a lifetime, and if you want to sell it off later you can recoup much of the value.

Last but not least: "variety is the spice of life" or "because I can"
 
We are a little on the fringe. The good news is the very vast majority of people in this hobby are more responsible and capable of coming to the aid of others in emergencies than the average.
 
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I did this with guns and knives as a (more so guns, but still spent hundreds on knives).

I bought my first gun with my own money at age 12. It was a lot of lawn mowing and table busing to buy guns back then.

My dad gave me a Ruger 10-22 and Marlin 30-30 as my "gun starter kit". After that, I bought my own .30 carbine pistol, .30 carbine M1 carbine, Ruger Mark 1 .22, before I could drive.

I did not spend money on "toys" as a kid much. Guns and knives have always been it for me (aside from sports equipment like hockey skates, in line skates, snow board gear etc).

I never spent money on stereos, music, or "cool" clothing as a kid. I pinched my pennies worked two or more jobs all through junior high and high school.


If you are still in High school, just make sure you are a good ambassador of knives. Make sure you are not taking them where they are not allowed, or using them in a manner that will reflect poorly on you or knife collecting in general.

I, luckily, was raised in a time where carrying knives to school was common, and I always carried a knife.

Once, in 5th grade, I had a heavy machete that one of the teachers found out I had brought on a weekend camp out (a school camp).

Instead of taking it away, she was excited I brought it, and asked to borrow it for a while. I figured this was her "nice" way of taking it away from me. She actually handed it back after disappearing with it for a few hours. It was dirty, and I asked her what she had used if for. She showed me a pile of edible plants she had harvested (including cat tails, and some sort of tuber/root) for a survival demo.

She handed me the machete back for the remaining 2 days of the camp. She never once told me to hide it, or keep it out of sight.

I am only mid thirties, but that was a different time, in a smaller town.

I did a demonstration in JR High where they let me bring several firearms to school, and check them in, for a demonstration.

Just a different world. Now, at those same schools, any knife is a weapon and will get you immediately suspended, and possibly permanently expelled. (one of the things that has changed since then, is our small town was one of the first towns in the country with a bad school shooting. Several killed by a trench coat wearing kid years before Colombine).


My point is, Don't loose your knives by taking them to school!



My other point. I still have all those guns, and most of those knives. All are still working (except a few knives I abused, broke, gave away, lost, or sold (or had stolen).

The guns are all worth more today, then when I bought them (some by several times their price).

The one custom I bought back then is worth at least 3x what I paid for it (but I will never sell it, because it was made by my uncle, and he died quite a few years ago!).
 
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taylrbrwr said:
But what is a very good reason that I could say why I like knives so much?
Click to expand...

Welcome to bladeforums.

Here's the best reason.

"Because."

For Scagel's sake you don't have to defend everything you do to everybody.

A life lesson from a old guy. Anything you do...somebody's not gonna like it.

If everybody likes chocolate do you go fretting for reasons why you like vanilla? I certainly hope not. I mean, I know "high school peer pressure" and everything, but, dang, dude.

Enjoy the stuff you like.
 
Why not? Knives are classic pieces, and they can be handed down. Because you'll never hear "this was your grandfather's iPad"
 
I like them for their precision, the engineering marvels of the various lockups, the steel chemistry which ends up with super-steel blades that were not around five years ago. I like their "art" and some of the folders are quite beautiful, whereas others are dramatic or intimidating.
Sonny
 
But what is a very good reason that I could say why I like knives so much?

Craftsmanship...how the knife is built, integration of metal and other materials to make a basic, utilitarian device a work of art.
Purpose built...blade shape, etc.
Artistic style...choice of scale, grip materials, matching...
History...a knife or knife type device was one of the first tools made my man...Knives have played an important role in history...the Bowie, machetes, etc.
 
For starters, just say whatever comes to mind. If you feel the need to explain, then do us all proud and go into a nice long explaination of how all the different steels perform or how the different designs vary and what models you wanna get next. Go on a true nerd-rant about knives. Either they'll respect your interest, or if they don't, then they never deserved the title you gave them: friends.

I just graduated in '04 and in my senior year I did a report on bushido. As part of my report I showed up that day with a Cold Steel Warrior series O-Katana. Carried it around all day, while wearing an Outback brand oilskin trench. For class I field stripped and reasembled the sword as part of the speach. My friends thought it was hilarious because of how "inappropriate" it was. That's also what made it great.

Most of my friends have little to no interest in my hobbies/collections: knives, guns, books, stereo systems etc... But they do act with respect and I do they same for them. That's part of being a real friend.
 
Knives and guns are hard tangible assets than never decline to a zero value. Shop well today and you will have beautiful, functional, well engineered, pieces of art that will provide years of enjoyment.

AND, as others have said... Be your own guy. Do what makes you happy, while contributing to our society. I know for a fact that some of your fellow students piss away their money on the most worthless, self destructive things you could imagine.
 
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