Thread: Knife Collectors...Just Curious

I have owned a very few knives in my life -- diver's kive, hunting knives, etc. When I was younger, I participated in those sports and actually used the knives. Since I don't hunt at all or dive very much any more, I no longer have the knives. I do however shave with a straight and I enjoy collecting what I shave with. My question to those who collect knives is, "Do you actually use them and if so for what purpose?"

I had a few Randall Made fighting knives that I collected because they were beautiful and you never know when you'll need to cut someone's throat. Had them for years and the occasion never came up so I sold them to buy more razors. I still have an old pre '64 Puma White Hunter that I keep as a survival knife. I hope I'll never need it but if I ever do it is a good utility knife.

I have a small collection of Case Tested and XX pocket knives and of the ones that are already sharpened I rotate what I carry in my pocket and use them to cut a peach, a tomato or an apple when I eat those. The mint ones will never get used as those old things are hard to come by in that condition.

Originally Posted by leadduck

I have owned a very few knives in my life -- diver's kive, hunting knives, etc. When I was younger, I participated in those sports and actually used the knives. Since I don't hunt at all or dive very much any more, I no longer have the knives. I do however shave with a straight and I enjoy collecting what I shave with. My question to those who collect knives is, "Do you actually use them and if so for what purpose?"

Collect? Well, I have a collection, much like I have a collection of straight razors. I use all of my razors (save those that are not yet shave ready).
I do have TWO knives (out of 30 or so) that I do not use. One is a special edition commemorating a group I belong to, the other is a custom knife that I won, that I don't have a real use for, and I will not use it just to say I have.
All of the others have been and will be used. Production knives from 1-350 dollars, and customs that go considerably higher than that. Most of them are "dormant" as my current rotation is six knives. A William Henry Folder in suit pants, or an Atwood Fixer in the back pocket, a Spyderco Delcia when camping/hiking, a Chris Reeves small Sebenza out on the town, An Elishewitz midtech lightweight out on the town when I want a bigger knife, and a Hinderer XM-18 3.5" flipper if I am in jeans or other very casual wear...especially if I'm outside.
A few years ago, I got out of the REAL custo/art knives collecting world, andd sold some knives that had never cut anything, and never would, in my collection. They were art. Funtional, sure, should one choose to, but most of them were not really meant to be used. I stopped seeing the fun in having them. If I can't see me drawing the knife out to cut something, have it on my hip camping, or even just slice open a letter, I don't see much use in having them.

270mm Mizuno Tanrenjo Akitada Hontanren Gyuto
210mm Tojiro DP Giuto
270mm Tojiro DP Sujihiki
180 Hon Kasumi Deba
Misono Molybdenum Chinese cleaver
120mm Mac petty knife
120mm Shun paring knife
Mac bread knife

all in regular use.

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

If I can't see me drawing the knife out to cut something, have it on my hip camping, or even just slice open a letter, I don't see much use in having them.

This is a conundrum with me and has been for years. I started collecting old Case knives in mint condition in the seventies. I sharpened, carried and used a few that were high dollar knives from the twenties and thirties which drastically reduced their value. Learned my lesson and I started buying used knives if I was going to carry and use them.

So I have a dozen or so that are old and mint or nearly. I may not look at them for six months and when I do I just wipe them down and admire them and then put them away. I am also a guy who believes that if you're not using them why have them but somehow I can't bring myself to get shed of those. Sort of like collecting stamps, coins or butterflies I guess.

I have about 15-20 old knives, but i'm not a collector. Most of them are old Finnish or Swedish working knives, like Marttiini, Mora, Kauhava knife cutlery, Iisakki Järvenpää etc etc. They have no monetary value, and i've just seen no reason to put them away. I use them, mostly for carving or whatever. When i was kid, most men, and some women carried a knife, but not anymore. That's why they are so common here. Have my old diving knife also and bayonets for Tikkakoski M/27 rifle and Kalashnikov, taking dust somewhere in my locker.
Here's few of my knives. I use the one on the top to chop firewood. The little on the right is my wifes.

I wouldn't say I'm a collector. I don't have that many knives, but I've sold loads over time, ones that I don't use and knew I never would. I do use them all. I carry a knife every day, they are easily the most useful tool going.

I do have a small collection of knives. They all get rotated, carried and used. Even if there's a knife that I want to keep in good state I'll use it as say, a letter/box opener instead of on things that could damage it.

As for what I use my knives on?

Cutting things like: Tomaties, Oranges, Apples, other fruit, chicken, steak, cardboard, paper, sticks, threads hanging off clothing etc etc etc.

Love knives. I get to carry one, play with it when absendminded and cut stuff and think of ways to use it's best features in the knives I make myself.

That said, large knives don't see a lot of use for me. The big giant bowies and yes even the Randalls would be a waste of money for me because I'd never use them.

Different strokes for different folks though.

Edit: I just realised that this thread needs pictures!! So here are some of the knives I own or have made.

We've had an unusual amount of snow here, I was out in my car and got stuck in a car park that has quite a steep hill to exit it. I didn't have a shovel. I did have a knife. Got a small sappling, cut all the branches off, made one end into a chizel point and lifted up two tracks in the ice.

With out that knife, I would have needed a lot more help than I did. I think every one should carry a knife for utility and keep it sharp. Doesn't have to be anything fancy, I think people would be amazed how often they use them. Even if it is just for cutting fruit, or steak in a restaurant or something.

I have two; I only carry one at a time, and I choose based mostly on what I'm wearing and where I'm going. I use them to cut whatever may be cutting, which is usually paper, cardboard, tape, threads off clothes and for basic grooming (cleaning fingernails mostly). I don't use my knives for food related things because, well, they're not clean enough, and I've seen knives ruined from not getting cleaned after use on food.