- Joined
- Feb 3, 2001
- Messages
- 32,293
I’m ashamed to say how many knives I own. Let’s just say I’ve been collecting/accumulating knives for over 45 years so I have a substantial accumulation.
As for knives that are worn? I don’t have any that are worn beyond usefulness.
Knives gifted to me? They go into 1 of 2 categories. Junk that well meaning family and friends give me because I’m “the knife guy” are kept for sentimental reasons regardless of quality. The others get carried and used at some point like the rest.
Specialty knives, like the over 100 year old folders get carried throughout the year but lightly. I carry anywhere from 3 to 6 knives at any given moment so they never are exposed to excessive use and wear.
One of a kind and collectibles also get used like above with the exception being knives I bought to specifically resell at a later date. Those only get fingered, fondled and pictures taken for posting later.
Custom knives get used like regular knives and again because of the quantity of knives they don’t see excessive wear as their use is distributed amongst all the knives.
The last category are knives bought or acquired specifically as an EDC. These get carried till they begin to exhibit visible signs of a fair amount of use. These then get put into semi-retirement where they get pulled out on weekends or for an occasional use during the year.
Here’s some examples of the condition my knives are in.
Here’s a Rexford/ZT 0808 that was a gift from a friend here on BFC, I love this knife so much it finds itself into one of my pockets at least half the time. You can see the wear from use, the Ti handles are all scratched and scuffed from pocket detritus and the blade has sharpening marks and presents with about a 95% blade.
This one’s far from ready for retirement, maybe in another 10-15 years.
Here’s another, a well used Sebenza also far from being retired although the blade presents at about 85%. This knife is so well engineered and made it’ll probably never be retired, just passed on.
The small Plain Jane 21 in the top right corner is my oldest Sebenza acquired 6 years ago.
Here’s another example a mid 1800s Josef Sziraki sleeve board pearl lobster pattern. I carry this knife often throughout the year, usually when going out somewhere knice.
Here’s a nearly 100 year old Graeff & Schmidt jack Knife I rescued from the trash. A lot of time cleaning and the end result is a knife that at nearly a century old is still a perfectly functional and carriable knife. Even thought the blades present at about 75% there’s still decades of use left in it.
Last pic, here’s a custom Bud Nealy Aikuchi I bought from him at one of his first big shows back in the late 80s, early 90s. I’ve literally carried this knife as a backup to my pistol and as an EDC utility blade. Most of the blueing has worn off, I modified the bolster to allow me to orient the blade without looking. The sheath has been extensively modified to reduce weight and leave less of a print than the original.
This knife is also far from retiring and even with 29 years of EDC the blade still can perform its function flawlessly.
With all that said over the years I’ve gifted and given away many knives either directly or through GAEs. Fortunately I’ve been blessed with many friends here at BFC over the years and now have a substantial paddock of knives with sentimental value which will never leave my collection.
I also keep many older Traditional knives as a historic reference for patterns you don’t typically see out there anymore.
In answer to the storage question, I use everything from knife rolls and Plano tackle boxes to cigar boxes and jewelry boxes. You’d be amazed at how accommodating a woman’s jewelry armoire can be to an avid knife accumulator.
Hope I answered some of your questions. My original answer was a smart aleck one that after reading the rest of the responses I reconsidered and decided on a legitimate reply.
I agree with everything you said except the first paragraph.
As for knives that are worn? I don’t have any that are worn beyond usefulness.
Knives gifted to me? They go into 1 of 2 categories. Junk that well meaning family and friends give me because I’m “the knife guy” are kept for sentimental reasons regardless of quality. The others get carried and used at some point like the rest.
Specialty knives, like the over 100 year old folders get carried throughout the year but lightly. I carry anywhere from 3 to 6 knives at any given moment so they never are exposed to excessive use and wear.
One of a kind and collectibles also get used like above with the exception being knives I bought to specifically resell at a later date. Those only get fingered, fondled and pictures taken for posting later.
Custom knives get used like regular knives and again because of the quantity of knives they don’t see excessive wear as their use is distributed amongst all the knives.
The last category are knives bought or acquired specifically as an EDC. These get carried till they begin to exhibit visible signs of a fair amount of use. These then get put into semi-retirement where they get pulled out on weekends or for an occasional use during the year.
Here’s some examples of the condition my knives are in.
Here’s a Rexford/ZT 0808 that was a gift from a friend here on BFC, I love this knife so much it finds itself into one of my pockets at least half the time. You can see the wear from use, the Ti handles are all scratched and scuffed from pocket detritus and the blade has sharpening marks and presents with about a 95% blade.
This one’s far from ready for retirement, maybe in another 10-15 years.
Here’s another, a well used Sebenza also far from being retired although the blade presents at about 85%. This knife is so well engineered and made it’ll probably never be retired, just passed on.
The small Plain Jane 21 in the top right corner is my oldest Sebenza acquired 6 years ago.
Here’s another example a mid 1800s Josef Sziraki sleeve board pearl lobster pattern. I carry this knife often throughout the year, usually when going out somewhere knice.
Here’s a nearly 100 year old Graeff & Schmidt jack Knife I rescued from the trash. A lot of time cleaning and the end result is a knife that at nearly a century old is still a perfectly functional and carriable knife. Even thought the blades present at about 75% there’s still decades of use left in it.
Last pic, here’s a custom Bud Nealy Aikuchi I bought from him at one of his first big shows back in the late 80s, early 90s. I’ve literally carried this knife as a backup to my pistol and as an EDC utility blade. Most of the blueing has worn off, I modified the bolster to allow me to orient the blade without looking. The sheath has been extensively modified to reduce weight and leave less of a print than the original.
This knife is also far from retiring and even with 29 years of EDC the blade still can perform its function flawlessly.
With all that said over the years I’ve gifted and given away many knives either directly or through GAEs. Fortunately I’ve been blessed with many friends here at BFC over the years and now have a substantial paddock of knives with sentimental value which will never leave my collection.
I also keep many older Traditional knives as a historic reference for patterns you don’t typically see out there anymore.
In answer to the storage question, I use everything from knife rolls and Plano tackle boxes to cigar boxes and jewelry boxes. You’d be amazed at how accommodating a woman’s jewelry armoire can be to an avid knife accumulator.
Hope I answered some of your questions. My original answer was a smart aleck one that after reading the rest of the responses I reconsidered and decided on a legitimate reply.
I never "use" any of the knives in my collection, even if they were used when I got them. I consider them collectibles that I want to preserve in the best condition possible.
HOWEVER, I have many other knives (mainly kitchen, camp & gardening tools) that I do not consider part of my collection that will ALWAYS use unless they break and cannot be repaired or can no longer function for some other reason. To date, there is no such knife in my possession; every knife that I have ever used, some over 50 yrs old, can still be used and is stored where I can find and make use of it when needed.
I agree with everything you said except the first paragraph.