Why do you collect?

Honestly, I didn’t consider myself a collector until I started buying Great Eastern Cutlery knives. And even with those I don’t collect them in the true sense of the word. I’m definitely more of an accumulator and I guess I have a collection now from all my years of buying knives.

I’m not into fancy jewelry and watches even though I have a few, and now that I think of it those have all been gifts I’ve received.

I enjoy the knives for the variety and different craftsmanship and designs. I truly enjoy my knives and I enjoy the ones I’ve carried and used on trips and special occasions more. I enjoy making memories with them and seeing the character on them through time.

I also really like the idea of heirloom quality knives. Something I can pass down to my kids and grandchildren one day that they can hold in their hand and appreciate and use as I did and think of me and all the years I carried and used them as well with them at my side.

The deeper I got into researching and purchasing the more involved I got with the community. Joining Bladeforums, going to knife shows, making friends online and in-person has turned this hobby of mine into something that’s gratifying for the soul. I wouldn’t have it any other way now.
 
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jerok8 said:
What conclusion have you come to on who makes the best screwdrivers?
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There is no such thing. 😛 it depends on what I'm using them for.

Admittedly my favorites are my Bacho-branded screwdrivers made by Irazola. Just those ones though, nothing else in the Bahco line (I'm not sure the ones sold under the Irazola name are still available, but I think there are some models now sold as "Williams" too (all part of Snap-on group)). The ones I like are recognizable by the "ball" shape part way down the handle. They've got very sharp tips, seem very durable and have the best handle shape going:

Irazola-Tekno+-Screwdrivers.jpg


BUT! In my mobile kit I carry a couple of Felo SMART screwdriver kits. Felo has my second-favorite handle shape and these kits save me from having to carry around a whole bunch of screwdrivers - but also from resorting to insert bits that inherently have access issues. Plus the quick-conversion to a T-handle is just freaking awesome:

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Wera offers great quality for the price and their laser-tipped screwdrivers can be very useful in certain situations. I've got some Urrea screwdrivers for HD automotive use that are absolute tanks. I use Vessel screwdrivers on my motorcycles (and the double-ended driver for electrical work).

Screwdrivers are just like knives, there are a myriad of choices and what's "best" depends on your preferences and your intended application.
 
I accumulate knives for many reasons:
1. I appreciate the wide variety of types and levels of quality available
2. Knives are cheaper (usually) than guns
3. Knives are more useful on a daily basis than guns
4. I have outgrown Matchbox cars
5. Knives are easier than guns to sneak in the house past my wife
6. I am always amazed at my ability to rationalize buying stuff I really don't need.
 
sgt1372 said:
I start collecting a thing because I like & become interested in "it" from a particular perspective and continue collecting "it" as long as I remain interested in 'it" & until I've got all of "it" that I need/want & I'm no longer interested in collecting "it" anymore.

I'm at the "I've got all of it that need/want" stage with knives.

Now I need to begin a "sell what I don't really want/need" stage for my knife collection to reduce it to a smaller & more meaningful size. The collection currently stands at about 360 knives across many brands, types & categories and my target will be to reduce the collection to around 200.

So, I'm not collecting any more knives at this time
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If you pass away, I'll have that last sentence engraved on your tombstone. :cool:
 
Every so often my wife says “I think you need another knife”, so my collection just keeps growing!

Honestly I can’t say much that hasn’t already been shared so I’ll keep it short and sweet: it gives me joy.
 
I have a collection by default. I am not a collector of anything, but I sure seem to have a lot of stuff. Knives included, but still nowhere near what I see here.

Having been taught from kindergarten age that knives are tools, I never looked at them as anything other than having a good starting knife, or are really nice knife. I prize a knife on its work capability proven to me over a period of years, or the best would be a nice knife gifted to me on a special occasion.

So my "collection" is completely varied. I have my first and only Boy Scout knife from 1961. It was my only knife for about 6-8 years and it shows! I have the first hunting knife I ever bought with my lawn mowing money and I was always happy with CASE folders of all sorts until the late seventies. So I have a few of those, too.

As I got older I began to inherit knives, and was gifted knives as Dads went to their Glory. I would get knives nobody knew what to do with anywhere from advertising knives to knives beat to hell and back.

When my Dad passed, I got his meager collection of knives he bought when serving overseas, collected himself, and sadly knives that I had gifted him that were "too nice to use". BNIB, sadly.

It takes a lot to get me to buy a knife now as I have about 80-90 folders of all shapes and sizes. All the way from several "peanuts" to an SR 1 and a FourMax.

It has been much easier for me lately though to keep my credit cards in the pocket. It seems that knives these days are either very inexpensive or are scary expensive. The last thing I need to do yes break a scary expensive knife out on a job site. So I buy about one knife a year and just window shop the rest of the time.
 
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