why do you collect?

Because I'm a junkie. At this point, I could probably be considered more of a "hoarder" than a collector. Machetes, slipjoints, fixed blades, neckers- I want 'em all. I have almost no opportunity to use most of my knives (although I do whenever I can), but I just want more, and more, and more. I'm always looking for my next "fix".

But when the zombies come, I will be the one who is laughing. :thumbup:
 
It's like tools, you can never have too many. I was always the kid with a knife and if I had a dollar for every time I was asked to borrow one I could buy a few more! The best trade I ever got was when I was 13. I had a $3 slingshot that this kid coveted so he traded me his Mom's 1940s Girl Scout knife for it. Still have the knife and it's mint! Another friend knew I liked knives so one day he gave me a tin can full of his Grandmother's "trinket" knives from the 20's and 30's. These little knives are priceless. For me it runs in the family. Grand dad always had a whittler out either sharpening it or slicing an apple.
 
I think that most people need a "hobby" or something you do just for fun, and it all comes down to finding something that appeals to you on a personal level. Now, there are destructive hobbies, hobbies that keep you out of the house, hobbies that can be vastly expensive, addictive hobbies, and then there are mild hobbies. I choose this one because A) I just like knives, B) it doesn't require spending a big blocks of time away from the family to enjoy, C) it can be enjoyed for as little or a much money as you have the means for, D) the creativity, craftsmanship, and artistry involved, E) knives are useful on a daily basis, and F) knives are cool.:D

Personally, I focus on medium folding knives because I enjoy seeking out interesting ones and carring them around on a daily basis.
 
I have an appreciation for the little things that make the sum greater than the individual parts. It is a love of mechanical things and technological advances and design/engineering and craftsmanship. When you can have something that just oozes that it is at the top of the game in all those areas it is really something enjoyable. That is the real "collectible" aspect to me. Apart from that "work of art" aspect there then is also the utilitarian use aspect. I like something that is useful and functional, and the more useful and functional the better. Most modern knife makers have not been content to leave the craft in some static state and say good enough. They continue to innovate and use new materials and create new designs that take the craft to a new level in some way or another (stronger, faster, lighter, etc..). At the same time I have an appreciation of knives that are more traditional as well that are not trying to advance the materials and designs so much as the human craftsmanship involved.
 
Thanks everyone for the insightful answers. i am to feeling the knife sickness creeping up. the logical thing for me to do is to buy only what i need, but the other half is like "wow i want that!!" every time i see an interesting new knife. i guess knives/coins/etc are like women....once you had one, you want them all.
 
With me, I appreciate the work and talent that goes into various knives. I love using different kinds of knives for different things. Eventually I plan to sell off the majority of my collection and only keep the favorites so I feel I am going through a discovery period right now.
 
Great thread with some great responses. I don't really know why I collect (accumulate). I probably have 50 or 60 knives and a wish list of probably at least a hundred. None of them are worth a lot. And there is probably no "need" for almost anyone to have more than 2 knives. As others have said, I think of knives as functional art.

This article has some interesting things to say about collecting; http://www.coinlink.com/Articles/tips-for-new-collectors/why-do-we-collect-things/, including these reasons, which ring true for me in some ways:
1. Knowledge and learning
2. Relaxation and stress reduction
3. Personal pleasure (including appreciation of beauty, and pride of ownership)
4. Social interaction with fellow collectors and others (i.e. the sharing of pleasure and knowledge)
5. Competitive challenge
6. Recognition by fellow collectors and perhaps even non-collectors
7. Altruism (since many great collections are ultimately donated to museums and learning institutions)
8. The desire to control, possess and bring order to a small (or even a massive) part of the world
9. Nostalgia and/or a connection to history
10. Accumulation and diversification of wealth (which can ultimately provide a measure of security and freedom)
Click to expand...
 
Because I'm addicted, Because I like knives and tools, Because it's a good hobby, Because I appreciate nice things, Because of the insight for the art, Because...
 
I never really considered myself a collector, more of a user with a lot of options.
 
Knives were a fun part of my youth, so having a knife on me reminds me of the freedom you have as a child--no real responsibility. Life is good, but using a knife reminds me of the good ol days for me. I don't have all that many knives, (maybe 10 or so good ones and a few other crappers) but I like to trade and sell and buy new knives. I enjoy testing new blades and replacing the old ones when I find a superior blade. Slowly I have got rid of many and only use 3 main folders. I also have 3 or 4 fixed blades as I am still working out which ones suit my needs best.

Overall, I get a lot of joy out of my knives so I find it worth spending my money on:)
 
1) This is the most honest reply I can give. I like knives for the same reason that I like breasts. The never ending variety with each. Change one small thing and it makes it new; there is a never ending variety from new makers all of the time; there are always new innovations in technology that aims to improve them. Sure sometimes you have to take the good with the bad, but it always seems that the good WAY overrules the bad.

2) As a beginning maker I like to have a tactical feel for different features when I am designing a knife. I'll take out 20 or so knives with the features that I am looking for and play with them while working on the drawing/model. Here are the knives I made for my groomsmen, all were the same overall length and I tried to give each a different flavor.
IMG_1685.jpg


3) Always carried a knife with me since I earned my first one, even as a honors student geek in school. Always used them and carried a variety.

4) My family raised me to be a hoarder.



Bastid said:
When I started it was for the knives I enjoy.
As the years passed, I stay in the "hobby" for the people and life-long friends that have been made.

Let's face it, few of us needs more than 2 or three knives to use.
Click to expand...

I've been away from the locals for 2 years now and I really miss it- even though it was only a couple of times a year. Thank goodness for Bladeforums.
 
Jos said:
Why? I don't know. Because I can? Why do you need a reason anyway?

Kind regards,

Jos
Click to expand...

It looked like a harmless question. Perhaps it was out of curiousity.

MikeH said:
Because I want to and I have the means to do so. "Need"
means different things to different people.

By the way, what is with the current obsession in our society with "need"?

No one "needs" an SUV, no one "needs" more than one gun, no one "needs" more than one watch, and on and on and on. We have become a nation of busy-bodies. Why is it anyone's business whether you "need" something or not?
It is just a part of the growing collectivist mind-set.
Click to expand...

Curious how nobody said "need" in the OP. Rant much? :rolleyes:

PS...plenty of people have a need for SUV's (like kids) or multiple guns.

To the OP: I used to collect because I just felt like it. I passed it off as a hobby that was actually useful. After all, I can use my knives much more than stamps or action figures or some other nonsense. I stopped collecting and started downsizing when I found the couple of knives I will actually use and decided it was stupid to have all the rest just sitting around.
 
MikeH said:
Because I want to and I have the means to do so. "Need"
means different things to different people.

By the way, what is with the current obsession in our society with "need"?

No one "needs" an SUV, no one "needs" more than one gun, no one "needs" more than one watch, and on and on and on. We have become a nation of busy-bodies. Why is it anyone's business whether you "need" something or not?
It is just a part of the growing collectivist mind-set.
Click to expand...

Well said!

I collect, gather, accumulate or whatever term you wish to use, for the joy and satisfaction that knives bring me. I confess a sense of security with the possession of one of man's oldest tools. I also practice a sort of anthropomorphism with my knives, as they take on a 'personality' through use. Knives are a major part of my life and will remain so as long as I am still breathing.
 
I don't collect.
I am not addicted.
One lousy little sliplock knife a day is not going to hurt anyone.
I can control myself at Blade.
I have given up Busse's.
e-bay.......never heard of it.
Relax dear Sebenza is Zulu for "cheap free knife" The guy at work GAVE it to me........
The Visa bill? Of course I paid it the check is in the mail.
Bladeforums.....what a bunch of addicts how dare you compare me to those knife junky's

I CAN STOP ANYTIME I LIKE.........:eek::D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top