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Pages from a knife collector's journal- It is time to re-define my collection

JOURNAL ENTRY DATED January 15th, 2011

I've entered a new phase in my knife collecting hobby and it is one I've never gone through before. I relate it to entering later mid-life and dealing with things that come along as a result.

Here's the deal- I've decided to sell some of my knives really for the first time and find it's about the same uncomfortable feeling I experienced each time I saw my oldest two kids graduate from high school and then heading off to college. A little part of me is leaving with them. A feeling I've never experienced before.

And while I've spent over a decade diligently and passionately chasing my true love- one specific knife pattern, along the way I've grabbed any knife that caught my eye (High-end Striders, old H. Boker and VF plier knives, grand ol' wrench knives from Cattaraugus, cool Mantis knives, a few high-art customs, as well as impulsively grabbed a dozen or so old folding hunters at an auction one night thinking I wanted to start a folding hunter collection too). LOL :)

The easy ones to earmark are these knives falling outside the real scope of my toenail collection. But at the same time, I've come to realize now - in hindsight, that-

I made a newbie collector mistake when I started my toenail collection. I naively thought I would be able collect (identify, locate and acquire) one of each and every variety of toenail still in existence...every single different variation- brand, handle material, shield, pull(s), color, stamp, etc., etc. (it's actually funny to me now, even though I did make one heck of a dent in it).

While this may not sound like much of an issue- it has resulted in me adding between 200 and 300 old toenails... and I still can't see the bottom.

I can't identify the ones that are still out there and on top of that, many I do "find" aren't for sale (...and I know all about the joy of the hunt, as I've preached it many times, but this frustrates me).

I've also found myself needing to acquire entire collections just to get the few I wanted- this not only requires substantial investment it leaves me with many duplicates I then have to spend time and energy to sell. To me collecting is about buying... not becoming a dealer.

My initial goal was too grandiose- way too broad, so I've decided to narrow my focus now to a more manageable one.

And so Journal, aside from me acknowledging several newbie missteps here, I am committing to re-define my collection goals and this decision represents a new phase in my collecting life... it kinda feels like having kids and not really thinking about the fact that one day, I'm going to need to let them go.

END OF JOURNAL ENTRY: DATED JANUARY 15TH, 2011

Oh yeah, and before anyone thinks I'm selling off my entire collection, they need to think again. I'm still in the hunt; in fact, just last nite I tried to buy one of my all time favorites- another C. Platts JUMBO Swellcenter :)

Tags: collection, collector, decision, direction, focus, life

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In Memoriam Comment by Scott King on January 19, 2011 at 21:49: @Derek- thanks my friend. Still got that Catt display gathering dust for you, but it'll be there 5 years from now too. Haven't even thought of thinning it out :)

In Memoriam Comment by Scott King on January 19, 2011 at 21:46: @Frank- being selective is also a sign of self discipline....not a bad thing.

Comment by Derek Smith on January 19, 2011 at 21:09: "...one heck of a dent...."?

That was the understatement of the year!

Thanks for sharing your journal entry, I always enjoy what you have to say about

collecting.

Comment by Frank Stennett on January 19, 2011 at 20:41: Two years into retirement I realized I had to redefine my collecting. The realization was there was going to have to be less collecting. What I did was get more choosey. Maybe more selective would be a better word.

In Memoriam Comment by Scott King on January 19, 2011 at 18:32: I have good intentions though, Jan :)
Thanks for the encouragement.
The good news is it takes as much time to sell as it does to buy- and I ain't got enough of it :)

Comment by Jan Carter on January 19, 2011 at 18:08: Scott,

Never give up (LOL)...You may yet be able to able own, identify, ect all toenails. I have to admit though, that is one of the largest collecting goals I have ever heard. We narrowed ours down to just one brand, well maybe two..possibly three..Aw heck, I have heard someone say I never met a knife I didn't like. Guess I fall into that catagory. PS, I cant seem to sell either, just dont like the feeling of letting one go

In Memoriam Comment by Scott King on January 19, 2011 at 17:53: Carl- yeah, like trying to catch all the rain drops :)

Comment by Carl Newton on January 18, 2011 at 22:39: Hi Scott, I'm in that same predicamint.I've decided to buy the ones I like and can afford and see how it goes from their. I'm always looking though. Its hard to part with something that you've chased after so long and finely have, I certainly know that feeling.

In Memoriam Comment by Scott King on January 18, 2011 at 16:00: @David, LOL! I'm keeping them too! :)

Comment by David L. Anthony on January 18, 2011 at 10:14: I guess I will never own a Platts Jumbo then, I have looked for ever and can't even find one that I have to turn down cuase I can't afford it.!!!!!! WHINE WHINE WHINE, yup that's me!!!!! Scott has em all!!!!!!!