Your least favorite keeper.

Stropping Young Lad

Stropping Young Lad

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Am I the only one that has a traditional knife that I'll never part with, but is toward the bottom of my favorites list?

Mine is probably pretty unexpected. I have a budding, very small but hopeful collection of GEC knives. They are the first traditional knives that really caught my interest besides an old Buck slippy I had as a teenager. I obtained a beautiful #77 Washington Jack Clip Point in Gabon Ebony from a forum member here. My wife recently bought me a #57 Whittler Clip Point in Ancient Kauri Wood for our anniversary, and I have another #57 Whittler with a Wharncliff main and red stag covers in the mail off of the exchange.

But my first GEC was a #77 Barlow from last summer's run, with a spear main and a sheep's foot secondary in Ivory Bone. I knew from my limited research that GEC's Barlows (the TC was the first GEC to catch my interest) were hard to come by, and I just happened upon them on the dealer's page when they were in stock, so I jumped in.

Don't get me wrong, it's a gorgeous knife! The design is classic, everything is well executed, great fit and finish, etc. But when I put it next to my Washinton Jack and Whittler, it just doesn't have the same spark as the others. I'll never get rid of it- it was my first GEC after all, and my wife tossed the tube (with the button inside) thinking it was trash so even if I sold it, I'd have to ask less for it on the exchange. Plus, I liked it enough a year ago to hold onto it, and it made a big enough impression on me that I wanted to collect GECs after I bought it, it's just been bested by some other knives that I've acquired since.

So, what's your least favorite keeper, and why are you keeping it? Was it a landmark like mine? A gift? Feel free to include pictures!
 
IMHO The value of a knife (or absolutely anything else) is not what papers say, but what you are ready to pay for it in order to keep it! I rarely sell knives. I prefer to keep them - or give them.
 
I can't really answer this question. I've sold one and given away a few, but generally I still have most of the knives I bought. Which is unfortunately a much larger number than it should be. I am just putting off the eventual purge until I have time to deal with it (or need money badly).

So I have scores of "least favorite keepers" which really aren't keepers per se but are just in the to-be-sold category.
 
Wilt, sorry brother but I dont have a least favorite keeper. They all spark in their own way.

I have learned a "spark" can be rekindled in time, especially when you stop looking at new ones for a bit ;)
 
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I've got a Manix 2 that was given to me as a gift. I don't carry it all too often simply because of the pocket real-estate it takes up. Great knife, just doesn't see time like some of my other favorites.
 
I have a small but growing collection of GEC. My least favorite is my first purchase, a stag handled #65. Beautifully executed, but too big, too stiff, and possessed of the half stops I dislike. I never
sell anything but this one gets very little pocket time.
 
KBA said:
Wilt, sorry brother but I dont have a least favorite keeper. They all spark in their own way.

I have learned a "spark" can be rekindled in time, especially when you stop looking at new ones for a bit ;)
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I totally get that it's a strange topic. And a knife that's not carried isn't necessarily a knife that's not liked.

I don't tend to hang onto things that leave me flat. Knives, guns, etc, if I don't like it after a couple months of ownership, I find someone that would enjoy it more. That's probably a reason my collections don't grow too large, ha.

I just found myself in this odd place where I wouldn't put a knife I have on my "all-star" team, but I would never get rid of it either, and I was wondering who else lands in a similar position, and who else doesn't, which is what you provided me. ;)
 
Buck 112 . It's the knife I carried in the Navy and has certain about of sentimental value. I'll leave it to the kids to throw out.
 
For me the least favorite keeper is the one not being used because it is too "nice". My Freemont Jack with Giraffe bone handles feels great in the hand and is beautiful beyond my expectations, but is probably my least favorite keeper because it doesn't get used. If I ever do start using it instead of just looking at it then it may move up the ladder of my favorites.
 
mike Berkovitch said:
I sell my least favorite knives so I can by a favorite knife. Why keeping them?

Mike
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Sentimental value, meaning... For example, I'd rather have a a couple different GECs instead of a Barlow, but that Barlow will always be my first, so it'd feel wrong to sell it.

Make new friends, but keep the old?
 
Several of my now deceased father-in-laws knives. Good man, very much missed, never got to meet his only grandchild. He had more than a couple great knives-but he also had some real stinkers-China made plastic serrated garbage. Never get rid of them though, 'cause they were his. I do kinda keep them out of sight though.😳
Thanks, Neal
 
My pop and I collected Frosts (we didn't have much in a monetary sense) when I was a young'n. While some of the patterns and cover materials seemed awesome to me back then, they don't hold much aesthetic appeal for me nowadays. They remain keepers because I cherished every moment of going to the flea markets and trade lots with my dad and working on our collection.

Except that Candy Stripe Razor Trapper; it's still a looker.
 
Wilted Kilt said:
Sentimental value, meaning... For example, I'd rather have a a couple different GECs instead of a Barlow, but that Barlow will always be my first, so it'd feel wrong to sell it.

Make new friends, but keep the old?
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I get you.

But then it will be my favorite and not least...

Mike
 
It might have to be this 15 razor that i modified. It came from the bay with scratches on the blade which made it easier for me to modify. but i wish i was more careful. In my eagerness, i forgot to protect the blade from more scratches by taping it and covering what i didnt want scratched. Further attempts to polish only gave it more scratches. i only have access to jewelers dremels/hand tools so modifications isnt the easiest nor is polishing. but boy ive carried this knife more often then a lot of the others in the edc box
 
I have a M tech stiletto type knife the covers are a black plastic with a picture of the confederate flag on it. The liner lock is almost totally non-functional and so cheaply made you bend it around to work with your finger nail. It is also spring assisted with a 4 inch blade. One of the gaudiest knives I have ever saw with a new in the box value of about $10. You may wonder why I have such a knife and consider it a keeper. My granddaughter bought it for me as a Christmas present a few years ago and through her little eyes she just knew that her Papaw who has lots of knives would find this one to be one of the coolest knives he had ever saw.
 
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