Can't seem to use them all....

C

clockman

Joined
Jan 14, 2009
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3,176
I have about a dozen CRK's. I use/carry most of them except 2 large regulars that are nib and 98% and a nib large Madagascar rosewood.

I just can't seem to get myself to use these 3 with all the other choices....a large classic, large star benza, older Zaan, and 2 large cgg

large regular users, and a new small unique that I just got on the forums. I'm leaving out a couple.

I bought all my CRK's to use, not fondle and live in a safe.

Anyone else with a few CRK's use/carry all their CRK's or are there some that will just have to be bored for a while.

Tell us about some of your knives that just can't get any 'attention'. I'm not asking collectors of CRK's to tell us about their families or

extended families that are in a safe.
 
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I was in the same boat as you, on a smaller scale. First I implemented a weekly rotation through my humble CRK collection (6 folders) so everyone got some carry time, and I had a chance to appreciate, justify, and learn about each knife. In the beginning, I left out my small wood-inlayed 21 from this plan because it was too 'nice'. Then that idea started to bother me, so now my small wood inlay is the only CRK I have been carrying for almost a month as part of the wear test discussed on another thread. The only knife I have that is still in 'the safe/MIB' is my large 21 Tamboti, awaiting the results of the wear test on the aforementioned small 21.
 
Most of mine don't get used. Can only carry and use one at a time. I am extra careful now after losing a large 21, so rather than having several laying around, I just have one.
 
When i first got into CRK they were mostly Never used. After a while i realized I'm happier and enjoy ownership of the knife a lot more when I actually carry and use it. So I now only Buy CRK's that I wont mind a scuff or 50 getting on it. So I probably will never own any bitch'n CRk's like nyefmaker. However My offer for the Panda CRK still Stands lol.
 
Well, I bought the Wilson Combat left hand large and small 21 and the LH zaan to use, but cannot bring myself to use them. I picked up the same three knives in the plane jane and have been using them instead. I guess the WC's will go in the collection area. I also have a hard time making myself use the micatra inlays I have and I love micatra and bought those specifically to use. Now I have more collectors than users, not a bad dilemma to be in
 
All of mine get carried (currently have a dozen), though some get much more pocket time than others. The only CRKs that I have owned that I never warmed to carrying were inlaid 21s. I really disliked how the polished Ti picked up oil and grime, and with the double inlays so close together, it is almost impossible to wipe it down. I don't have that problem with UGs and annuals so they get carried. As a result, I no longer have any inlaid 21s, save for my micarta insingo which has blasted scales.
 
While I totally understand the user mentality, since I buy my Sebenza's to use also, there is nothing wrong with keeping a couple collectables(and those you mentioned qualify as collectables). You have plenty of users to keep you busy and I wouldn't be at all surprised if the 3 make it out now and again for some light duty. Their time might yet come.
 
Don't feel badly about it. I don't! I currently have 35 CRKs and only two see pocket time. That said .... I still get extreme pleasure from the other 33!!!
 
I have a large 21 CF sitting in my tray that I have been meaning to press into service for a long time now. I have been carrying an original run Umnuumzaan at work since 2009, it might be time to retire her to the Hall of Fame and pick up that CF.
 
I have 3 with one on the way. The three get carried all the time. I usually carry two knives on me (nuts but that is for another thread). I have one on the way and depending on what the paper work says from Chris and Anne will determine where is will stay, pocket of safe. I love using my CRK's. And love looking at the safe queens that show up on here!
 
I just have two so I have no trouble carrying them. The small 21 Madagascar Rosewood gets carried at work and my 25 shares time on the weekend.
 
Below describes the journey I have taken in life with highly desirable items. It's meant to reflect my own experience and opinion and is in no way meant to say my experience is the "correct" or "good" way... just how things turned out for me and my personality (quirks). :D

I used to be the type that liked to just "have" something nice (be it knives, old muscle cars, whatever). Just the "having" of the item was enough... what made it "special". The fact that *I* owned it... that it was *mine*. And therefore I loved to keep said item as pristine as possible................that is... until I realized one day that trying to keep something pristine and NOT using it actually slowly sucked all the joy out of owning it. Eventually I'd end up losing interest, thinking that whatever the item was (knife, car, etc) that it just wasn't what I *really* wanted after all and there must be some other item that was what I really wanted. So I'd sell item A, pursue item B, start the cycle all over again until I'd sucked all the joy out of owning item B by "over protecting" it and move onto item C.

Moral of the story (for me). I get my joy from owning AND using. It's the connection I get from carrying the knife, from using it... from putting the scratches on it myself, from the memorable situations in which it was used to solve a problem, etc. That's what forms the bond with me (for whatever item... with a car, it's driving it... going places in it, making memories in it). In this way I get to experience the joy of ownership continually and not just as a hermetically sealed onlooker. :)

Anyway, that's just how it works for me. I completely realize that others are more attuned to the "collector" mindset and get their joy of ownership differently. As I said, I used to think I was that way too... but I was mistaken. Now... where'd my Sebenza go???? Oh yeah, it's in my pocket. Egad! Is that a scratch on the handle??? Indeed. Good! ;)
 
I rotate through all of my CRK knives (about 15 right now) pretty well. I actually noticed an exception last week when I skipped my camel thorn mnandi for the second time when it's turn came up. I can't give a reason, but it is not going anywhere!
 
I have four that are safe queens with a fifth on the way. The rest are used and some heavily. Rotation is a good thing!
 
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