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The online community of knife collectors, A Knife Family Forged in Steel

Users and Lookers

Many of us are users/collectors. But how do we decide what knives to use and what to just look at? A discussion on this topic may help many of us. Points to ponder would be:

l. Am I happy to have some knives I use and some I just look at (collect)?

2. They say life is to short to carry a bad/cheap knife?

3. So, I have some knives worth $100 or more - could I carry them and enjoy them, use them, without hurting there value.

4. What about old knives? ie. Cattaraugus, Robesons, etc. Would I hurt their value by carrying them?

5. How about a numbered collection - like Remington year knives? What if I want to carry some of those, do I hurt the value of the set?

6. Should I worry about value at all? or should I just enjoy the knife whatever the value, by carrying it as often as I like?

7. What about knives I want to pass down to kids or grandkids? Would they rather have a knife that has not been used, and has a better value? or would they rather have a knife that Grandpa actually carried and used?

8. There are many other points to consider - what can you think of? What are your ideas, thoughts, discussions on this topic?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Graeme on January 17, 2014 at 18:37

My rule is basically that if I really like a knife, and can afford/there is one available to buy a second, I will use it. No matter what it is.

Sometimes, especially if its a custom, I just use it. I will never afford 2 of every custom, and so I might as well enjoy it. A well built knife, well taken care of won't loose too much value even lightly used.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by John McCain on January 17, 2014 at 22:07

I refuse to use a poorly built knife as an EDC. I carry either Case or Spyrderco as a rule. However, the majority of my knives are limited production, prototypes, or vintage. IMHO it would be senseless to risk damaging a high value knife when one of equal quality will suffice. My hope is that they will pry my collection from my cold dead hands, but who truly knows what the future holds. If I am ever forced to sell part or all of my collection to make ends meet, prisitine condition means top return. Just my two cents.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by John McCain on January 17, 2014 at 22:22

Not to bring rain on this discussion, but I just lost my career of 21 years. Although I would rather shoot myself in the leg than sell them, my "safe queens" are a source of thousands of dollars of income if times ever got that desperate. It makes no sense to EDC them. unless you are so flush with money you have no immediate or future worry about possible sources of income when hi quality EDCs are available.Top value for "safe queens" equals pristine condition !!.

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Permalink Reply by Ricky L McConnell on February 17, 2014 at 21:05

Ken,

I feel your pain. I constantly fret over whether to carry my knives or not. I think, will I ever sell them ? Are they insurance against lost income ? I have a small collection , so the money would not be that much. I think unless it is really rare, carry them some and enjoy them.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on February 18, 2014 at 8:28

Ricky, great comment and I sure agree with you. It can be a difficult decision, but enjoy them anyway you can.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on February 18, 2014 at 8:57

I usually never use my vintage knives. They have done their time and are now in retirement. When I order a knife, most of the time I have already decided whether or not it will be a user or not. I have changed my mind a few times, one way or the other. I never use a cheap or should I say a poorly made knife as a EDC. Life is too short to use some junk to cut with. When a knife enters my collection it usually stays there. No using, trading or selling. I have plenty of knives to use as users, so my collection is safe. The better condition your collection is the more it will retain it's value.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on February 18, 2014 at 9:00

Ivars, I love Moose pattern knives. What model # is it and what kind of handle does it have?

Ivars said:

I have changed my EDC's and before that I had a hard question EDC or just eye candy? I got new GEC Moose. Yes guys I got GEC and its good its from the good old ones made in 2011 so no issues no inperfections and plays no nothing except perfection and love! OMG me & my big mouth! :D Any way I was in front of big decision while knife was running to me! So the question was: EDC or not EDC! The answhere and decision unfortunately or thanks god was made by postman who some kind of way damaged whoole box and a tube in it + a little of snow - water and original tube destroed! Thanks god to GEC's wax paper and overoiling - nothing happend with knife! Any way I got the knife and befor that I was planing to put my new GEC into my display by putting original tube and knife on top of it! Now tube destroed all what left is a cap with pattern number and a handle scale material wich is unreadable because of water! So my plans was killed and I decided that this moose will nicely fit into my small jeans pockets double sheath and that way will make great pare of great GEC, so now its my EDC! Now it already got some scratches, bolsters already got some darker spots from my hands. Spearpoint blade get honed because it was just a little less sharp than I love so now its my 100% EDC + trapper was a little too big and some people eyes where cracked ice when I took it out of pocket to do some job, but this little guy works great! Even my boss told that he would like to have something close to this! :D
Yes its sad that knife start to loose the beauty of mint condition, but if you clean it every day after hard day full of work, if you tight up blades if they get blade play, if you sharpen it gently and don't use rough stones than your EDC will be minty long time, than you will have less problems by making decision EDC it not! Of course I still think that better to edc easy get knives and keep mint those who are rare and hard to find!For those who have more funds they can by two knives and edc one, but second keep mint in collection, but for guy like me who don't have much free funds to buy two knives and spend 100$ for each its just no way! Thats why I personaly have this hard questoin EDC or not?!

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Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on February 18, 2014 at 10:44

Ivars, those are sure some good looking EDC's - thanks for posting those pics. Awesome Knives.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on February 18, 2014 at 13:50

Thanks for the pictures, they are great GEC knives. You have chosen some great patterns also.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on February 18, 2014 at 14:34

I hate that Ivars, when you bid and win on a knife they should send it to you. If they won't send out of USA they should say so up front. We have a lot of great knife collectors in other countries.

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Permalink Reply by Graeme on February 18, 2014 at 15:43

It is so frustrating when that happens. As a Canadian I get that quite a bit too...US only sales, or super high shipping rates. I both collect and use and so have quite a number of knives and sometimes it has been a real struggle to find places to ship here...luckily I have found a few dealers that will ship here for very reasonable rates, or even free!

Ivars said:

I just won another two early GEC's but looks like will not get them because seller don't respond, so I guess he don't want ship out of USA! How I'm sick of that! But will see hope everything will be okay!