SAFE QUEENS !!!

[vivi]

No safe queens here and never had any.

This is just me and I 100% respect different approaches and ways of enjoying Spydercos, but if I don't really carry and use and thus experience one, I just don't and can't keep it.
True also or even especially for more rare sprint runs and the like.

One thing that contributes to that:
To me every Spyderco just gets more beautiful with all kinds of signs of use - gives the knife "personality" and "a life".

To be completely honest and precise:
For quite some time I had a second VG10 Stretch 1 sitting in its box: Not as a true "safe queen", but as a backup should I loose my first one since the model is discontinued.
But these days not even that, "just" my first one in VG10 and one in HAP40 left, both get carried and used.

This is my general approach too....but one thing I've learned over the years if if you really like a product, but multiples if you can afford to.

I have back-ups of Pacific Salt 1's, C95's, Police 3's and Aqua Salts, plus the same for favorite models from other brands. That way if I break, lose or damage my users, I have another copy of them ready to go.

Heck, someone even asked me about some shorts in the off topic section, and when I found them a link even those had been discontinued. I bought multiple of those too.

You helped turn me on to Salomon shoes. When they discontinued the speed cross 5, I bought 5 pairs at discount. They fit me a little better than the 6 and I got them for about half the price the new version sells for.

Time and time again this mentality has come in handy.

I'm sitting on a stack of South African Cold Steel machetes I paid $15-22 for a pop, while I see those same machetes selling for $80-100 since people have realized the new chinese versions aren't as good.

Companies constantly discontinue excellent products because they seem to be afraid that without a revolving door of NEW NEW NEW customers will lose interest. Sometimes they get it right the first time and should keep selling that version.

So while I buy every knife I own with the intention of using it, and have used 95% of my collection, I do have some sitting pristine in boxes because companies love to discontinue their best models.

[Mushroom]

I definitely have some I'd consider safe queens, and for all kinds of reasons. Rarity, collectibility, sentimental value, monetary value, etc...

Such as my collection of Sal Glesser and Eric Glesser engraved knives.
• Stretch 2 XL Cruwear/Grey G10
• Military 2 S30V Camo G10
• Para 3 Spy27
• Shaman LW

Understandable!

Thanks! Even though the engravings are permanent, I just can't bring myself to use them.

I have non-engraved variations of each model to carry and use, so that helps make me feel better about keeping this specific handful pristine.

WOW!!!

Thanks! Each knife is 1 of 5. I know a couple other guys with more than one of these specific engraved knives but I don't know if anyone else has all four.

That's awsome Nick!! Great memento!

Thanks, Paul! They're definitely cherished pieces in my collection.

Those are awesome, hopefully you will be in time to get another one this year.

Thanks, William! I will definitely be there but that's by choice, so I try not to set any expectations. I'm just grateful they let us get there when we do.

[Evil D]

My only safe queens are a few that I've bought 2 each of in case I ever need/want a future replacement and I have some old Micarta models that I really don't carry and use like my others because they're not easy to replace.

[Naperville]

I rarely buy knives that do not have a self defense application and I do carry them or throw them in the car in case I need them.

I am glad that they all look like safe queens.

Well, not all of them look like safe queens, some manufacturers knives do not even hold up to just being taken in and out of a pair of jeans. My Spyderco knives all look as good as new. I no longer carry DLC coated knives. DLC coated grips and blades do not fare as well.

[vivi]

Here's most my safe queens:



Three unused spydies. A pair of original run Aqua Salts and a Street Beat LW.

Everything else has been used to some degree, including the back-up Police 3 and my slew of back-up Pacific Salt 1's. Most of the latter were used ones in good condition I got from ACK or Ebay.

I also have this white box Police 2 in G10. I've carried it a few times:



As I'm not wild about tip down or serrated edges, it spends most its days in the safe. I tend to reach for gen 3 or gen 4 PE more often.

[Brock O Lee]

I have a few duplicate "pre-need replacements" in storage. The rest are all fair game for using.

These three blacked-out PM2's


A PM2 S90V CF sprint


K390: The Delica, Endela and Endura wharnies at the top.


15V: Military x2 and Manix LW


Other spares:
Military 1 S30V DLC, PM2 S90V DLC OD Green G10 (from DLT), Watu, Pits, Native 5 Cruwear (smooth G10 from KC), K04 SE kitchen knife.

Too many spares, now that I think about it...

[Larry_Mott]

Ok, cringe time coming up.
I have 200 + Spydercos and perhaps 25-30 more different brand knives. My EDC rotation is somewhere between 5 and 10 knives. I do tend to carry the same knife for months to years. My 1994 Delica was in active duty for 10 years until it got misplaced and (most likely) stolen. :)
I just can't see myself use and devalue my crown jewels.. The knives pictured below are some examples of my next to irreplaceable knives from a time where Spyderco really shone (IMO)
That said i do respect any opinion on how and why knives should actually be used.

[Brock O Lee]

Wow!

[Paul Ardbeg]

Ok, cringe time coming up.
I have 200 + Spydercos and and perhaps 25 more different brand knives. My EDC rotation is somewhere between 5 and 10 knives. I do tend to carry the same knife for months to years. My 1994 Delica was in active duty for 10 years until it got misplaced and (most likely) stolen. :)
I just can't see myself use and devalue my crown jewels.. The knives pictured below are next to irreplaceable and from a time where Spyderco really shone (IMO)
That said i do respect any opinion on how and why knives should actually be used.

Those Kopa's are beautiful knives

[Manixguy@1994]

Ok, cringe time coming up.
I have 200 + Spydercos and and perhaps 25 more different brand knives. My EDC rotation is somewhere between 5 and 10 knives. I do tend to carry the same knife for months to years. My 1994 Delica was in active duty for 10 years until it got misplaced and (most likely) stolen. :)
I just can't see myself use and devalue my crown jewels.. The knives pictured below are next to irreplaceable and from a time where Spyderco really shone (IMO)
That said i do respect any opinion on how and why knives should actually be used.

Beautiful Larry ! MG2

[Evil D]

Now that I think about it I do have a few that I did buy without any intentions of using them, the Crucible Para 2 and a M4/Jade tanto Para 2. I got two of the tantos because another forum member wanted one and couldn't be there for the drop so I just got two for good measure, now I have one that'll probably get traded off eventually. The Crucible I got just because it's awesome.

[Capt'n Boatsalot]

Wow, some incredible knives in these photos!

No safe queens for me. But too many to rotate regularly, and so there are many that don't get used/carried frequently. But all have been used and will continue to be used when carried.

I see them all as tools to be used when the need arises. I have sold off ones that I wouldn't carry for any reason (typically because I didn't like a knife for some reason... Not usually due to rarity).

[Larry_Mott]

Is this the ultimate safe queen? A 26 year old knife still in its blister pack

[HOT CARGO]

Ok, cringe time coming up.
I have 200 + Spydercos and perhaps 25-30 more different brand knives. My EDC rotation is somewhere between 5 and 10 knives. I do tend to carry the same knife for months to years. My 1994 Delica was in active duty for 10 years until it got misplaced and (most likely) stolen. :)
I just can't see myself use and devalue my crown jewels.. The knives pictured below are some examples of my next to irreplaceable knives from a time where Spyderco really shone (IMO)
That said i do respect any opinion on how and why knives should actually be used.

Now that's Treasure for sure.

[RadioactiveSpyder]

Similar to Larry, I have several hundred Spydercos and they certainly aren’t all going to see regular carry (like the old Japanese treasures he showed). I do have something like 50-60 knives I do rotate through, all get used and none are babied, including many that some would cringe to see in heavy use like my Nirvana. I also get a kick knowing that some of my custom mods and Frankenspydies are likely unique configurations (or only have a handful of siblings across the world), many of those customs though are simply too nice to ever be considered users. Cheers, Radioactive

[Mrj]

This is one that hasn’t ever left the plastic. I feel it’s special and very collectible.

This was one of the first Cutlery Shoppe custom exclusives. It’s the PM2 Wharnie exclusive with limited edition scales from Lynch. I believe only 49 were offered.

[VandymanG]

I don’t have Safe Queens. I have heavy, medium and lite duty knives. Lite duty can also be a gentleman’s knife. But I pretty much cycle through all my knives at some point.

[Wartstein]

No safe queens here and never had any.

This is just me and I 100% respect different approaches and ways of enjoying Spydercos, but if I don't really carry and use and thus experience one, I just don't and can't keep it.
True also or even especially for more rare sprint runs and the like.

One thing that contributes to that:
To me every Spyderco just gets more beautiful with all kinds of signs of use - gives the knife "personality" and "a life".

To be completely honest and precise:
For quite some time I had a second VG10 Stretch 1 sitting in its box: Not as a true "safe queen", but as a backup should I loose my first one since the model is discontinued.
But these days not even that, "just" my first one in VG10 and one in HAP40 left, both get carried and used.

This is my general approach too....but one thing I've learned over the years if if you really like a product, but multiples if you can afford to.

I have back-ups of Pacific Salt 1's, C95's, Police 3's and Aqua Salts, plus the same for favorite models from other brands. That way if I break, lose or damage my users, I have another copy of them ready to go.

Heck, someone even asked me about some shorts in the off topic section, and when I found them a link even those had been discontinued. I bought multiple of those too.

You helped turn me on to Salomon shoes. When they discontinued the speed cross 5, I bought 5 pairs at discount. They fit me a little better than the 6 and I got them for about half the price the new version sells for.

Time and time again this mentality has come in handy.

I'm sitting on a stack of South African Cold Steel machetes I paid $15-22 for a pop, while I see those same machetes selling for $80-100 since people have realized the new chinese versions aren't as good.

Companies constantly discontinue excellent products because they seem to be afraid that without a revolving door of NEW NEW NEW customers will lose interest. Sometimes they get it right the first time and should keep selling that version.

So while I buy every knife I own with the intention of using it, and have used 95% of my collection, I do have some sitting pristine in boxes because companies love to discontinue their best models.

Funny you´d mention Salomon Speedcross shoes and "5" vs "6"...the "5" was so good for me and fit my feet better than the previous iterations as well as initially also the "6".
And so I actually did exactly like you and hoarded some pairs of Speedcross 5!
But at the same time I started wearing "minimal/barefoot shoes" more and more - most times, but not always with a superthin sole, but always with no drop from heel to toe, no arch support and a wide toebox.
This kind of toebox actually made my toes spread much wider apart over time (as it naturally should be) - and as a result the Speedcross 5 now is to narrow for my forefoot, while the "6" just soso fits (I still wear Speedcross on some occasions, cause they have some attributes I could not find so far in any "barefoot/minimal shoe". Generally though those kind of shoes really did only good things for me, especially reduced problems in the lower back by a lot)
And so I had to get rid of all my nib Speedcross 5....

Now of course this example does not really or fully transfer to knives.. the hand of a grown adult usually won´t change in a way that a handle that did fit suddenly does not anymore (perhaps though things like injuries might change how a knife feels in hand or how a locktype works for a particular person).

As said, when it comes to the Stretch 1 which not only works better for me than the "2" (which is also great, don´t get me wrong) but still is one of my favorite folders of all brands and all times, I bought backups too... at one point I actually had five pieces (one of those a comboedge, and one with a heavily sharpened-away blade).

I must admit I am also thinking about getting a backup for the Chap SE should this one ever get discontinued, and there also is a voice in me that tells me the same about the thin line Endura or K390 SE Endela/Endura before it will be (soon!) too late for good.

Generally though I found it to be "liberating" not to have knives at home that don´t get used and just trust that I either will not loose the users I have and love, or that something at least as good will come in the future.
So, concerning the Stretch 1, I am now down to one VG10 and one HAP40 user.

Anyway and in any case:
- I could potentially only have "Safequeens" as backups for models I love and use in case I loose one of those.
- But never as a "dedicated safe queen", so as a model that I don´t intend to use at all but just keep as a "collectors piece". Just not for me.

[vivi]

No safe queens here and never had any.

This is just me and I 100% respect different approaches and ways of enjoying Spydercos, but if I don't really carry and use and thus experience one, I just don't and can't keep it.
True also or even especially for more rare sprint runs and the like.

One thing that contributes to that:
To me every Spyderco just gets more beautiful with all kinds of signs of use - gives the knife "personality" and "a life".

To be completely honest and precise:
For quite some time I had a second VG10 Stretch 1 sitting in its box: Not as a true "safe queen", but as a backup should I loose my first one since the model is discontinued.
But these days not even that, "just" my first one in VG10 and one in HAP40 left, both get carried and used.

This is my general approach too....but one thing I've learned over the years if if you really like a product, but multiples if you can afford to.

I have back-ups of Pacific Salt 1's, C95's, Police 3's and Aqua Salts, plus the same for favorite models from other brands. That way if I break, lose or damage my users, I have another copy of them ready to go.

Heck, someone even asked me about some shorts in the off topic section, and when I found them a link even those had been discontinued. I bought multiple of those too.

You helped turn me on to Salomon shoes. When they discontinued the speed cross 5, I bought 5 pairs at discount. They fit me a little better than the 6 and I got them for about half the price the new version sells for.

Time and time again this mentality has come in handy.

I'm sitting on a stack of South African Cold Steel machetes I paid $15-22 for a pop, while I see those same machetes selling for $80-100 since people have realized the new chinese versions aren't as good.

Companies constantly discontinue excellent products because they seem to be afraid that without a revolving door of NEW NEW NEW customers will lose interest. Sometimes they get it right the first time and should keep selling that version.

So while I buy every knife I own with the intention of using it, and have used 95% of my collection, I do have some sitting pristine in boxes because companies love to discontinue their best models.

Funny you´d mention Salomon Speedcross shoes and "5" vs "6"...the "5" was so good for me and fit my feet better than the previous iterations as well as initially also the "6".
And so I actually did exactly like you and hoarded some pairs of Speedcross 5!
But at the same time I started wearing "minimal/barefoot shoes" more and more - most times, but not always with a superthin sole, but always with no drop from heel to toe, no arch support and a wide toebox.
This kind of toebox actually made my toes spread much wider apart over time (as it naturally should be) - and as a result the Speedcross 5 now is to narrow for my forefoot, while the "6" just soso fits (I still wear Speedcross on some occasions, cause they have some attributes I could not find so far in any "barefoot/minimal shoe". Generally though those kind of shoes really did only good things for me, especially reduced problems in the lower back by a lot)
And so I had to get rid of all my nib Speedcross 5....

Now of course this example does not really or fully transfer to knives.. the hand of a grown adult usually won´t change in a way that a handle that did fit suddenly does not anymore (perhaps though things like injuries might change how a knife feels in hand or how a locktype works for a particular person).

As said, when it comes to the Stretch 1 which not only works better for me than the "2" (which is also great, don´t get me wrong) but still is one of my favorite folders of all brands and all times, I bought backups too... at one point I actually had five pieces (one of those a comboedge, and one with a heavily sharpened-away blade).

I must admit I am also thinking about getting a backup for the Chap SE should this one ever get discontinued, and there also is a voice in me that tells me the same about the thin line Endura or K390 SE Endela/Endura before it will be (soon!) too late for good.

Generally though I found it to be "liberating" not to have knives at home that don´t get used and just trust that I either will not loose the users I have and love, or that something at least as good will come in the future.
So, concerning the Stretch 1, I am now down to one VG10 and one HAP40 user.

Anyway and in any case:
- I could potentially only have "Safequeens" as backups for models I love and use in case I loose one of those.
- But never as a "dedicated safe queen", so as a model that I don´t intend to use at all but just keep as a "collectors piece". Just not for me.

That last part sums up my feelings too.

I'll buy back-ups I don't have an immediate use for because I love a certain model and it's been discontinued.

But I have never bought a knife intending to never use it, just to collect it.

To me 95% of the enjoyment of knife collecting comes from using my collection.

Side note on shoes - Look at the Altra brand if you haven't. I too enjoy barefoot style shoes (Amazon sells a brand called Nortiv 8 that are dirt cheap), and Altra makes thicker soled shoes that share a lot of the same attributes like zero heel to toe drop and a wide toe box.

[Actinolite]

I have four safe queens:
A Native 5 LW 15V, a Kapara S90V burlap Micarta, a Lil Native 10V, and a Sage 1 Maxamet.
On the other hand, these are backups to the same models that I've been using, two regularly, the other two occasionally.

Oops. Almost forgot...last year I lost my favorite, 3-inch EDC, a Native 5 LW SPY27. After a while (not that long, actually) I bought a replacement. By the time it arrived, I had located my original Native 5. So that makes 5 safe queens/backups.