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I Wonder

I wonder what kind of person can pay over a $1000.00 dollars for a pocket knife. I also wonder if they carry it or just put it in a safe never to see the light of day again,

Personally the most I have ever invested in a knife is around 300.00. I have it on display and look at it like it is a piece of art. The wife says it's just a knife but to me it's art.

I have a stag swayback jack in the shop having it embellished. I'll carry it on very special occasions. Ones where there is very little chance that I'll have to use it. I'll know it's there though.

I would love to own a Tony Bose custom. I even thought about selling off part of my collection to buy one. Deep down in my heart I know it will never happen. I love my collection. Every knife I own is special to me for one reason or another.

I wonder what it would be like just to hold a knife like that in my hand. I wonder if it would be enough. A friend of mine told me to just start saving. It sounded like a good idea until I had to pass up some really good deals on some very good looking knives. I finally gave in and admitted to myself that unless someone passes on and there wife thinks like mine does and sells off there collection at a flea market or a garage sale. There is very little chance that I'll ever own a top of the line custom knife.

I have to wonder though.

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Comment by Sue OldsWidow on May 15, 2013 at 17:55: Well, if you feel like you have to have the very best available specimen of a knife..mint , near mint, cleaned to mint...They do command top dollar. If you don't plan on using them as investment you just collect what you like the best. My Hubby has to have the previous noted ones. I have a more liberal aspect to collecting.

I collect what I like in patterns and what I feel will clean up a little and not rust away!!!!!!!...lol

Of course he definitely "Rolls his eyes" at some of my purchases, but tough, that's my choice he has his.

It is all in the quest for the best....

Comment by Howard P Reynolds on May 12, 2013 at 18:49: This is a great group, indeed! You can't always tell the tone from reading the text, but I got the benefit of the doubt about $1K being too much to spend on a shelf knife, being a lighthearted attempt to explain how difficult it is for a country boy to part with a grand for a knife. I was nearly traumatized when I first saw the price of a Dietmar Kressler fixed blade ($3,500+), but I can't afford an Aston Martin either so I'll just have continue wondering.

Comment by Chuck Parham on May 12, 2013 at 4:46: Lee I couldn't agree more. It's not just a buch of stuffy yes or no answers. You can feel the passion that people have for collecting knives and sharing their love for it. The most amazing part is that people here can apprciate another persons opinion and not berate them for it. They can draw from it, debate it, or contribute to it, but nobody ever gets upset over it. BRAVO iKC!!

Comment by Lee Smith on May 11, 2013 at 20:42: I think it's pretty cool just to here the different views on this post.

Comment by Howard P Reynolds on May 11, 2013 at 11:10: Lee,

I'm thinkin that a lot of us began life as country folk, and thrift ain't easy to overcome. Lots of us didn't spend $1,000. for our first car, so trying to swallow as you hand over 1K for a knife, pocket or otherwise, is near impossible. I haven't been able to justify it either. Like you, I have bought some $300.+ knives, and had to also get over the temptation not to use em. It gets easier to use high dollar knives after that first one, but making the first leap is tough. I use all my high dollar knives now, but you have to shift your reasoning from, its a waste of money, to its a waste to spend so much on something and not use it. Still, I haven't found a new knife for which I would pay $1K. If you have one in mind, I'll take a look, but I think I outsmarted myself when I convinced myself to use that first high dollar knife. $1K is too much to spend on a shelf knife, and as far as I know, there ain't no exotic steel out there that costs a thousand dollars a foot.

Comment by Jan Carter on May 6, 2013 at 5:23: JJ,

I love seeing those moments, a youngster that gets excited when he finds that knife!

Chuck,

you really took us through that find with you! Thank you. That look on a collectors face when he finds the exact knife he did not know he was looking for LOL! $1.00 extremely well spent!

Comment by Chuck Parham on May 5, 2013 at 10:36: Thanks Lee. I could have used some help to get through things faster! I enjoy writing to have the experience shared in detail and as realistic as I can make it. I used to write a lot.

Comment by Lee Smith on May 5, 2013 at 10:16: Chuck the way you write makes me feel like I'm right there helping you hunt.

Comment by Chuck Parham on May 5, 2013 at 6:11: That's why we do what we do! We go to little yard sales and estate sales looking for that once in a lifetime find. It's like diamond mining. Tons and tons of earth are removed to find one tiny diamond. Millions of tons are removed to find that one special diamond that has everyone gasping.

It's the thrill of the hunt that makes the chase bearable. One estate sale I went to yesterday was awesome. The heirs said they didn't know if there were any knives other than the typical kitchen knives but I had the run of the house to look and see. Nothing wqas organized and I was told to just go through the untouched drawers, closets, bins, and boxes. YEEE HAAWW! What would I find? There were tons of kitchen knives and sets of them. There just had to be pocket knives, somewhere. Every drawer I opened was crammed full of junk. This is where those great finds hide! Letter openers, scissors, old style Gillette razor blades. Where the heck are the knives!!?? Drawer after drawer. Box after box. There was a lady even picking up matresses to see what may be hiding under them. (I peeked too) I was digging through a dresser drawer that was full of eclectic odds and ends when suddenly, I spied a red pocket knife! A second look had my mind telling myb heart to not get excited as it was probably a cheap knockoff. I picked it up. I blew off the lint and turned it over. There it was. The silver cross and shield of Victorinox! Still not completely sure I started opening blades. THERE!! I found the blade with the confirming tang stamp indicating it was indeed a Victorinox SAK. It was in mint condition. not a scratch on it. Blades that reflected like mirrors. No rust, nicks, blemishes, or faults at all.

I spent hours going through everything but the little SAK was all there was. I paid $1 for the little knife but as I walked to my car, I felt as if I had found the Holy Grail. I got so much excitment from the hunt as anyone could expect. I felt my time was well spent and that I came out victorious. I did some quick preliminary research and the SAK appears to be a mini-champ of some sort but I'm not sure. I am sure however, that there will be someone here who will be able to help me identify my first ever Victorinox.