Spyderco Forums

I was looking through pictures of my dad's gun collection today, and it got me thinking about collecting in general. Dad had a relatively modest collection - maybe 40 handguns and a few long guns - and maybe half of those were ones he actually shot, while the others he bought for their historical significance and/or their cool factor. Of those, many had never been fired outside of the factory. He just loved to look at them, and to own little pieces of history. And although he had a little drawer full of old pocket knives, and carried one every day, he definitely didn't collect knives with any intent.

I'm the opposite: I have a little collection of knives (mostly spyderco folders, and various brands of fixed blades), and maybe 1/3 of them are what I'd call collectors items, not users. I love their designs, I think they're beautiful, but they're not practical for me to use. On the other hand, the firearms my husband and I own are all practical users (with the exception of my grandpa's WWII army-issue colt 1911 that I just couldn't part with), definitely not a real collection.

So, I'm wondering who else thinks of themselves as a "collector" here, and if so, what do you collect and why?

I think I have some 10 non-Spyderco knives, and little over 20 :spyder:. None of them are BNIB, maybe 3 could pass for like-new.

Once you go over a certain number of knives, you become a collector... maybe even a hoarder in a harmless way :)

I am a user/collector with just over 100 Spyderco’s. I work in a warehouse and all my knives get some use and carry time at some point. Some get carried only on the weekend. Sometimes I carry a particular knife for weeks, sometimes just a day. Rarely is it ever ‘hard use’ tho. I really can’t see keeping a knife that I will never use. I can honesty respect whatever ppl do with their knives tho. Just my two cents.

Tough one, depends on how you see it:

- All of my folders (except my only duplicate / backup (Stretch 1 in VG 10) are users.
- All of my (quality-) folders, except one BM, are Spydercos.
- I try not to have more than 10 or 11 Spydies at any point in time (partly so that I CAN really use each one more or less often)
- So am I a collector? NOT in the sense, that I´d have knives just for collecting, not for real use. But on the other hand, I have MORE than I´d need (in fact, for example my HAP 40 Endura can do everything I need and would probably last me a lifetime, wouldn´t really NEED another folder). So does this make me a collector?!

Wartstein wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 10, 2019 4:59 pm

Tough one, depends on how you see it:

- All of my folders (except my only duplicate / backup (Stretch 1 in VG 10) are users.
- All of my (quality-) folders, except one BM, are Spydercos.
- I try not to have more than 10 or 11 Spydies at any point in time (partly so that I CAN really use each one more or less often)
- So am I a collector? NOT in the sense, that I´d have knives just for collecting, not for real use. But on the other hand, I have MORE than I´d need (in fact, for example my HAP 40 Endura can do everything I need and would probably last me a lifetime, wouldn´t really NEED another folder). So does this make me a collector?!

Definitely a gray area, maybe I'd call you an enthusiast. But seriously, I don't think there's a right or wrong answer. I'm just curious how people think about their spydies, and/or their other passions.

Knife user, but I used to collect some '80s toys and Spawn figures.

No.

I buy knives that I have a use for.

Sometimes I'll buy multiples of the same knife to have back-ups or different steel / scale / edge type options to choose from within my favorite designs.

Sometimes I'll hold on to knives I no longer use because they have sentimental value.

But every new knife I buy is with the intent to immediately put it to use.

I trade off or sell knives that no longer get used that aren't sentimental.

I do have things you could say I collect....but I use all of those things. Records, sports equipment, knives, bikes. I have more than I neee, but it all sees use.

I'm definitely a collector, but I also use my knives, everything has been carried repeatedly. I've got well over 50 knives, about half are Spyderco, with a few ZTs, BMs, WE, and Bucks making up most of the rest. (I live really close to the Buck factory).

I have a collection of knives but not for the sole purpose of collecting. It's more than I like just like to try different steels and designs and have a hoarders mentality and almost never sell anything even if it would be the sensible thing to do.

The one's I don't use often I consider "functional art"

Knives are strictly for use. I don't collect.

I wouldn’t call myself a collector. To me, “collectors” seem to want one of every version of a type, where I only want the ones that appeal to me. Collectors go after the rare or weird because those might be the ones that grow in value. There’s an element of prospecting I guess? If I get the rare or weird it’s for another reason rooted in utility. Almost everything I’ve ever bought because I liked the historical aspects or collectibility have gone down the road to fund more practical pursuits. I do still have some highly collectible items because they are family heirlooms. I do get multiples of things I like. I think of myself as an accumulator more than a collector. Someone else might call me a collector.

I don’t buy Spydies not to use.

I do buy Spydies whose designs and/or components intrigue me. Curiosity, not completism, has led me to use (and accumulate) a lot of Spydies.

If curiosity explains why I accumulate Spydies, an absence of resolve explains why my accumulation does not get smaller...

bbturbodad wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 10, 2019 5:33 pm

I have a collection of knives but not for the sole purpose of collecting. It's more than I like just like to try different steels and designs and have a hoarders mentality and almost never sell anything even if it would be the sensible thing to do.

The one's I don't use often I consider "functional art"

I'm kinda with you here. Every knife I've bought was with the intention of using it, but some just didn't work for me practically (too big, ergos wrong, the steel didn't work for me, etc.). Of those, most I've sold, but a few I hang onto because they really are special for some particular reason, imo.

I collect steels rather than knives. All of my knives are users for anything I might need a knife for. It helps that I know I can fix anything short of a blade snapped in half without difficulty.

Yes. I collect exclusively Spyderco. Most of what I own gets used in some way but I'm still definitely a collector. I have enough knives that I've lost count of them but can only think of three that I just won't use.

I would still consider myself a knife user too though. You do not have to be one or the other.

I buy designs that I like, it's that simple.

I don't need every knife I buy to be the most efficient cutting tool possible. I just need to like it. (and it needs to be a Spyderco :p)

- I don't collect knives, only have users
100% of the knives that I own are users, but they may not have been used yet. They were purchased with the intent to use them.

- I collect various brands
I have 85 knives, invested value of around $20,000.

- I collect other things (knowledge)
I collect videos and books related to prepping, wilderness medicine(general care to surgery), and martial arts (the arts having to do with Escrima/Arnis and Knife) / self defense(the mindset, the laws). My goal is to get back to work and train in person with some of the martial arts instructors that I have trained with in the past or met online, get an associates in EMT(emergency medical tech), and survivalism(courses in surviving in the wilderness, edible plants).

Mushroom wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 10, 2019 6:08 pm

I would still consider myself a knife user too though. You do not have to be one or the other.

(and it needs to be a Spyderco :p)

Agree 100%. My husband would say I collect boots, too, but I wear and love every pair. :D

The only knives I have that aren’t users belonged to my grandfather. I have several carter Cutlery kitchen knives and a couple of his neck knives. I was born in the early 80’s and grew up watching MacGyver so I will always keep a sak around. My carry knives are Spyderco.

I just have a collection of knives I use to varying extents. :)

I sort of collect handmade fixed blade hunters- knives that I won't use but I enjoy looking at them. I have a few fixed blades that I bought to use but I don't have much opportunity to use them. I buy folders to use and most of my good folders I actually do carry and use. So even though I collect a few knives I don't consider myself a real collector.