The pain of being a dedicated "user"

[brick]

My knives definitely constitute a "collection", and I bought one or two of them simply because I thought they were unique or interesting. (Kiwi 3, I'm looking at you! Even though that's a solid user in its own right.) The rest I bought because it's taken me a few tries to figure out what I really like in an EDC. And even then my tastes and priorities drift from day to day and week to week. I could see myself selling anything that doesn't see pocket time over an extended period, but for now I like being able to pick up something different and put it to work. It seems like a pretty benign indulgence.

[gbelleh]

I guess for me it's a bit more complicated. If by "use" you mean carrying a knife frequently and using it as the occasion arises, then I do have certain knives that I like in that role. One "use" for me is as an object of appreciation and admiration and not necessarily one to be put to work. Putting certain knives on display, or taking them out now and then to handle and admire is a legitimate use. Keeping some knives in pristine condition to appreciate how the maker meant them to be is also fine with me. There is obviously the advantage of receiving a higher selling price over a used knife should it come to that.

Although I am not able to engage in it, collecting would be a very satisfying and worth-while use of what I would consider exceptional quality knives. If I were collecting I am not sure I would have a theme or driving purpose for it, like certain steels, or colors or styles. For me it would be just whatever knives moved me to want to buy it and appreciate having it.

Strictly for use knives, considering my own needs, I think I would settle on a Delica 4 and a Dragonfly 2, both straight edges. Now, I don't need more than those even though I do have a couple more Spydercos. Any additional Spyderco knives I may buy in the future will likely not be because I need additional "user" knives, but because I appreciate certain ones for their other properties: materials, blade shapes, weight and zoowie factors.

This for me exactly. Though many here don't see admiration as a justifiable use. It's all good though, just different strokes.

[BDNX]

I've actually come to this realization myself the last year or so. Basically unless it was a gift from a loved one or something that actually gets carried, then I would rather free up space for other things and the extra money would come in pretty handy as well.

[Evil D]

Though many here don't see admiration as a justifiable use. It's all good though, just different strokes.

I don't think there's anything in existence that can't be "used" for something other than what it was designed for. I mean...literally...there isn't anything in existence that can't be used for something it wasn't designed to do. Think about it.

That said, I find it funny how people almost seem offended whenever someone brings up the user vs collector debate. It's almost as if collectors feel like they're being bashed or something? I didn't mean to sound that way, as I completely understand collecting and I have many collections of various things. To a 10 year old boy, my collection of Spawn figures that have never been opened is a waste of awesome toys. I get that same satisfaction from having those toys as a knife collector gets from having his knife...so I do understand it. In the same way though, there are people who need to see something perform the task it was designed for, and those are the users. I could never own an exotic sports car just to see it sit in a garage and collect dust. I would need to take it out and romp on it and see it do what it was designed so flawlessly to do. At the same time, there's a guy somewhere thinking about the depreciating value of each mile I rack up on it.

I don't think there is a right or wrong point of view here.

[bpahk]

I also just buy solely with the intention of using. Only exception was the s90v cf manix 2 I picked up last yr (and probably paid too much) to round out my manix collection (all users). Then the s110v lw was released and i just couldn't bring myself to use the s90v since the steels are so similar anyway. It's the only safe queen I own. Can't sell it though cuz I love the platform too much

[twinboysdad]

Users only, no safe queens here! There is a certain appreciation that only comes from experience. How rare tuna tastes. How a star gazer Lilly smells. How a kiss from a woman feels. Sal seems to engineer that into his knives and the hand is the recipient of the experience. There are knives that really are pleasurable to look at but they never get your respect like a user does. That busted up Endura 3 that you only replaced only because you thought a newer Endura might be fun...that bastard looks good because of where you went with it, the things you cut with it, the jams it might have bailed you out of. I feel sorry for the collections that if scratched or blemished are turned upside down, but that is just my opinion and I could be wrong.

[Bill1170]

I'm in that same user boat. I have many knives that are seldom carried and a few that I carry constantly. Because of this fact, I rarely buy knives for myself anymore (they last me a long time). Many I bought out of curiosity, and some of those I have later gifted to friends. I pretty much know what works for me in terms of handle and blade materials/geometry, so I'm set for users. A Delica, Endura, and PM2 cover 99% of my pocket carry needs.

[MichaelScott]

I don't think there's anything in existence that can't be "used" for something other than what it was designed for. I mean...literally...there isn't anything in existence that can't be used for something it wasn't designed to do. Think about it.

That said, I find it funny how people almost seem offended whenever someone brings up the user vs collector debate.

Saturn 5 rocket. Moon lander. Supercollider. Antibiotic drugs. Integrated circuit.

I don't recall anyone being offended. I merely think that one man's ceiling is another man's floor, which is to say Spyderco knives can be used as items to be enjoyed by collectors, as tools by users, and as both by anyone. I would prefer to use some of my future knives as objects to be appreciated rather than being used to cut and chop things. Other of my knives get to cut and chop things.

But, you are right, such observations from both viewpoints tend to bring out a certain amount of opposition and disrespect. I suppose the best solution for me would be to buy two of my favorite Spydercos, one for use, one for keeping in original condition.

[Evil D]

My point in this thread was more to talk about knives you like but probably wouldn't buy because you wouldn't use them but it sorta spiraled lol.

[tvenuto]

An interesting perspective from Geno, but I have to say that I feel like most here: I do feel a certain "pain" if a knife sits unused for a long period of time. I like the word pain because it's not quite guilt or regret, just a irksome feeling that this phenomenal tool isn't being used to its potential. That said, I have a few models that I carry and use very seldom, but still love them nonetheless. I'll never get rid of my drop point D'allara for instance, even though I carry it much and only use it at home.

I'm with you on the Nilakka, really interested but I know I wouldn't carry it due to form factor. I think the Hungarian fits in this category too (ergos, not wanting to scratch bolsters) as does the Ulize (not wanting to sharpen that blade shape), they're both long for EDC as well.

Something I'm running into is wanting some older discontinued models but not wanting to pay an arm and a leg for them because I plan on using them. The orange millie, orange PM2, and CF Delica come to mind. I'm not sure why "market value above original street price" affects my using decision (the millie is prob less than a Slysz Bowie, for instance) but it does. Maybe we need to start clamoring for a CF Delica sprint?

So in the end, I'm with you, D. I'd love to have 'em all but wouldn't be super happy with not using them, and given funds aren't unlimited I guess I feel like I can only have a certain $ value tied up in non-user knives.

[nirvanero]

I guess many people can't be "dedicated users" when having a rotation of hundreds of knives, sometimes just because they don't want to stick to a couple of folders they know will be using for sure and then feel the "pain" of not having others. Fortunately for Spyderco (and many cutlery makers) most of their customers don't buy just knives which will be frequently used, otherwise I guess they would only sell Delicas and Dragonflies. I'm also not sure if everybody thinks about the definition of a "user" the same way... from the guy who uses a dedicated knife for his work, the one who spends hours everyday conducting steel tests or those who carry their knives on a daily basis for cutting a bag of chips or a box and little else. Different ways of looking at it.

[Evil D]

I don't think there's anything in existence that can't be "used" for something other than what it was designed for. I mean...literally...there isn't anything in existence that can't be used for something it wasn't designed to do. Think about it.

That said, I find it funny how people almost seem offended whenever someone brings up the user vs collector debate.

Saturn 5 rocket. Moon lander. Supercollider. Antibiotic drugs. Integrated circuit.

I can use the rocket to propel a salt flat car, I could also put it on the moon lander and cruise around on it, I'm not even sure WTH a supercollider is so you may have won that round but I can shoot antibiotics with a sling shot at my neighbor's dog.

:D

[ohcyclist]

As Evil said this seems to be moving away from his original intent with the thread but it is a fascinating discussion.

Like many of you there are a few models that get the bulk of my pocket time but I enjoy having diversity to choose from even if some specific knives are only carried rarely. From time to time I feel a bit of guilt about some great knive not getting carried a lot but that tends to pass. On some level every knife gets carried less as you have more of them and rotate frequently.

[flipe8]

For whatever reason, I'm wired in such a way that I have a really hard time owning "stuff" that doesn't get used regularly or has a specific role that it serves. I'm big into paddling and have had somewhere around 20 high end seakayaks over the past two decades or so, always looking for the perfect boat. I've had true ocean play boats that will surf very well, but won't track worth a pinch and have no carrying speed. I've had full expedition boats that will carry everything you would need for two months of un-supported trips but are friggin barges that you get lost in with pretty much zero responsiveness. In an ideal world, perhaps I'd own one for each of the things I do, but that doesn't make sense to me. I've rather have a quiver killing boat that can play on tidal bores with the ability to cover miles easily. Something I use for guiding, instructing and doing what I like to do. Something I use every time I go out on the water. I have the same attitude towards my other gear and knives are no exception. I 'd rather have one(or perhaps two) true EDC knives and use them until something else catches my eye. When that happens, I end up selling the one that no longer sees pocket time.

While there are countless knives I'd love to own, I'm content having a very small collection these days.

[Surfingringo]

I feel exactly the same way as most here and that's why my collection remains relatively small. Once I start seeing a knife sit around and never get used I try to sell it (or more often give it away). So yes, I need to see some type of practical need for a knife before I can buy it. Of course, I'm really good at coming up with reasons why I "need" a new model/knife. I have half a dozen fish cleaning knives. Before I got on the forums I cleaned everything with one fillet knife. Now I have a couple of mackerel knives, a specific knife for cleaning big snapper, a couple of general use fillets and a hard use cleaning knife. I've almost got myself convinced I need one more.

[TomAiello]

I sometimes think I could pare down my folding blade collection to the Manix s110v LW and the Chaparral (for short blade jurisdictions) and call it good. Maybe throw in a Pingo for travel even further into uncivilized realms.

[MichaelScott]

As a writer on fly fishing once observed, it's an activity in which need is equivalent to want. Same here.

Given my current life, what I need is one locking folding knife that is easy to carry in a pocket that stays pretty sharp, is lightweight with decent ergonomics.

What I want is a different story entirely.

Having an EDC "rotation" is merely a way of convincing ourselves that we need more than one (or maybe two) knives so we can get the knives we want.

I'm really fine with this.

[brick]

My point in this thread was more to talk about knives you like but probably wouldn't buy because you wouldn't use them but it sorta spiraled lol.

OK, I finally thought of one: Elmax/Ti Pingo sprint. I think I would actually use it, but I don't need it since the Pingo I already own and carry has yet to not do what I needed it to do.

[twinboysdad]

Maybe throw in a Pingo for travel even further into uncivilized realms.

But they think they are more civilized right?

[jabba359]

I can use the rocket to propel a salt flat car, I could also put it on the moon lander and cruise around on it, I'm not even sure WTH a supercollider is so you may have won that round but I can shoot antibiotics with a sling shot at my neighbor's dog.

:D

If you use some of the copper/niobium superconducting material out of a supercollider (aka, a particle accelerator), you can make cool handle bolsters like these, which came from scrap out of a particle accelerator that never got completed: