All About Pocket Knives

Do you ever get discouraged? Ever feel the hobby has too many issues when it’s supposed to be something that brings you joy? New knife prices keep getting higher and higher. And yet another brand new knife comes in, and it’s flawed so you either have to ask for a refund or send it in for repair. Want a knife so badly on fleabay, you bid way beyond your means, and you still get outbid. Put a knife up for auction on fleabay with a low starting bid, and you have one bidder, so it sells for a tenth what you paid for it. Looking for that special knife for years, and you wonder if it actually exists. Etc., etc. of course, none of these are issues I’ve ever experienced!

Tim, that's life! You can also find a rare and valuable 100+ year old prize in the $1 bargain bin, or find your "grail" knife. Those are the experiences that keep us going. All the frustrations in between are what makes the great "finds" special. And the friendships you make along the way are priceless.

Ken

tvic wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:02 pm Do you ever get discouraged? Ever feel the hobby has too many issues when it’s supposed to be something that brings you joy? New knife prices keep getting higher and higher. And yet another brand new knife comes in, and it’s flawed so you either have to ask for a refund or send it in for repair. Want a knife so badly on fleabay, you bid way beyond your means, and you still get outbid. Put a knife up for auction on fleabay with a low starting bid, and you have one bidder, so it sells for a tenth what you paid for it. Looking for that special knife for years, and you wonder if it actually exists. Etc., etc. of course, none of these are issues I’ve ever experienced!

I’m pretty sure I just saw a prescription drug advertised on TV tonight that makes everything all better and chases the blues away - gotta get some of that

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:50 pm Tim, that's life! You can also find a rare and valuable 100+ year old prize in the $1 bargain bin, or find your "grail" knife. Those are the experiences that keep us going. All the frustrations in between are what makes the great "finds" special. And the friendships you make along the way are priceless.

Ken

Friends along the way, are the best part of this hobby. Harold

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:50 pm Tim, that's life! You can also find a rare and valuable 100+ year old prize in the $1 bargain bin, or find your "grail" knife. Those are the experiences that keep us going. All the frustrations in between are what makes the great "finds" special. And the friendships you make along the way are priceless.

Ken

Couldn't have said it better, Ken! I like to say, "I came here for the knives, and stayed for the people!"

tvic wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:02 pm Do you ever get discouraged? Ever feel the hobby has too many issues when it’s supposed to be something that brings you joy? New knife prices keep getting higher and higher. And yet another brand new knife comes in, and it’s flawed so you either have to ask for a refund or send it in for repair. Want a knife so badly on fleabay, you bid way beyond your means, and you still get outbid. Put a knife up for auction on fleabay with a low starting bid, and you have one bidder, so it sells for a tenth what you paid for it. Looking for that special knife for years, and you wonder if it actually exists. Etc., etc. of course, none of these are issues I’ve ever experienced!

Tim, I'll only add one thing to what Ken said. I have found some of the coolest knives in some of the most unlikely places. Keep hunting.
Like they say, "life's about the journey, not the destination"..

bestgear wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 11:29 pm

tvic wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:02 pm Do you ever get discouraged? Ever feel the hobby has too many issues when it’s supposed to be something that brings you joy? New knife prices keep getting higher and higher. And yet another brand new knife comes in, and it’s flawed so you either have to ask for a refund or send it in for repair. Want a knife so badly on fleabay, you bid way beyond your means, and you still get outbid. Put a knife up for auction on fleabay with a low starting bid, and you have one bidder, so it sells for a tenth what you paid for it. Looking for that special knife for years, and you wonder if it actually exists. Etc., etc. of course, none of these are issues I’ve ever experienced!

I’m pretty sure I just saw a prescription drug advertised on TV tonight that makes everything all better and chases the blues away - gotta get some of that

My favorite TV advertised health product was the one that promised to "provide a life time of temporary relief".

Hey Tim,
The Trail is calling!!
Resistance is Futile!!
John

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 2:44 pm

bestgear wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 11:29 pm

tvic wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:02 pm Do you ever get discouraged? Ever feel the hobby has too many issues when it’s supposed to be something that brings you joy? New knife prices keep getting higher and higher. And yet another brand new knife comes in, and it’s flawed so you either have to ask for a refund or send it in for repair. Want a knife so badly on fleabay, you bid way beyond your means, and you still get outbid. Put a knife up for auction on fleabay with a low starting bid, and you have one bidder, so it sells for a tenth what you paid for it. Looking for that special knife for years, and you wonder if it actually exists. Etc., etc. of course, none of these are issues I’ve ever experienced!

I’m pretty sure I just saw a prescription drug advertised on TV tonight that makes everything all better and chases the blues away - gotta get some of that

My favorite TV advertised health product was the one that promised to "provide a life time of temporary relief".

Ha! I like that one!

Yes, I do get discouraged and when I start feeling that way I switch gears and instead of looking for more knives I would like to get, I focus on all the knives I already have. Sometimes it's good to stop the hunt, take some time to rest and "smell the roses" in my own "garden", i.e., take out some knives in my collection that I haven't looked at for a while and just hold them, maybe even give them a cleaning and a drop of fresh oil. Doing this causes me to remember the excitement I felt when I got them and to feel positive, happy feelings that chase the blues away. As I handle each knife individually, I feel a comforting familiarity and sense of satisfaction much like contacting an old friend I haven't spoken to for a long time and rekindling our friendship.

Ken, Harold, tmk - you’re exactly right. The best part of the hobby IS the friends, and that is what keeps me going. Q, you’re right, too. Best to step back from those discouraging episodes and look at what we have - and for me, anyway, I have quite a few knives that are associated with a good memory, so revisiting those does make me smile. In the end, that’s a good lesson in life - just look at all the positives and how they far outweigh the negatives. Thanks for letting me vent, guys, and thanks for the kind, reassuring words. I would have expected no less from the great people on this Forum!

This is the thread I needed. I love coming on here for the fellowship, hominess and friendship, but also wishing I could show off more knives. I have a very tight budget and getting a knife is a luxury for me (as much as I hate to just admit that). I wish I could go to garage sales, flea markets and the like and pick up knives like you guys do, but, as was said already, that's life. I am proud of the knives I do have and I pull them out here and there to admire and hold them, pull the blades out and watch them shine in the light. It is very frustrating to watch Cutlery Corner or get a new catalog from a company and drool over them like a kid in a toy store, knowing you cant get them. Good thing I'm not a rich man or I'd be like Elvis Presley and saying "Gimme one of those, two of those, one of those, one of those, etc..." Knives and baseball cards (that I also had started collecting but stopped) are just astronomical in price. There are lower end priced knives that do I have eyes on though. I would L-O-V-E to have that CRKT Provoke. I fell for that one as soon as I laid eyes on it, but $100 is a might steep for me.
I also do a lot of drooling from this site too!

Interesting topic.
I used to get a little discouraged with the ridiculous prices of older knives.
I have changed though. Now if I think a price is to high I just move on. There are to many old knives out there to get upset over missing out on one . I'll just look for another at a reasonable price.

Good topic, Tim, and I hear ya. Prior to that breathing attack I experienced awhile back I was logging-in every day with total enthusiasm, but since then I find I've needed to slow my pace considerably resulting in less things being accomplished, and feelings of frustration along with a lack of interest at the previous level. My emotions have gotten the better of me a number of times over my 71 years, but fortunately for me these periods are never too long and before I know it I'm back to my usual self. I have also experienced forum "burnout" in which I've over done things and had to step back and let the smoke settle before I felt better. That old saying "Too much of a good thing isn't always good for you", fits here for me.
Don't be overly concerned, brother, just like "good things never last", well, neither do the bad things. My advise is to carry-on with your activities, and the future will look after itself. I know that doesn't help much when you're feeling like you are, but it is true. Hang-in, buddy, we love ya!

I’m with you on the tight budget, Missouri! Obviously, the price of knives is going up a lot faster than the little increase I see on my retirement check each year!

Good attitude there, David. Thanks for sharing that.

And, as always, Mark appreciate your kind words and encouragement, my friend!

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 3:10 pm Yes, I do get discouraged and when I start feeling that way I switch gears and instead of looking for more knives I would like to get, I focus on all the knives I already have. Sometimes it's good to stop the hunt, take some time to rest and "smell the roses" in my own "garden", i.e., take out some knives in my collection that I haven't looked at for a while and just hold them, maybe even give them a cleaning and a drop of fresh oil. Doing this causes me to remember the excitement I felt when I got them and to feel positive, happy feelings that chase the blues away. As I handle each knife individually, I feel a comforting familiarity and sense of satisfaction much like contacting an old friend I haven't spoken to for a long time and rekindling our friendship.

Well said. I do this as well but didn't really realize it until you articulated it for me.

tvic wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:02 pm Do you ever get discouraged?

... Tim, What could go wrong*? ... Pretty much everything in life goes smoothly for me.... ... .... Such as ordering a Case XX hunter with bone scales for $80 on ebay?

* this is how I found my "package" in the mailbox......

Drops can be frustrating at times, but it’s the people in the hobby that make it great. I was recently looking for an AAPK Barlow to complete my set of 86s, and a nice gentleman here sold me one for a great price. Patience is needed in this hobby.

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 2:21 am

tvic wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:02 pm Do you ever get discouraged?

... Tim, What could go wrong*? ... Pretty much everything in life goes smoothly for me.... ... .... Such as ordering a Case XX hunter with bone scales for $80 on ebay?

* this is how I found my "package" in the mailbox......

No knife?
Did the seller make it right for you?
His fault if he didn't seal the box.

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 2:21 am

tvic wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:02 pm Do you ever get discouraged?

... Tim, What could go wrong*? ... Pretty much everything in life goes smoothly for me.... ... .... Such as ordering a Case XX hunter with bone scales for $80 on ebay?

* this is how I found my "package" in the mailbox......

Oh man, I'm so sorry. I'd be hot!

MissouriGuerrilla wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 3:35 pm

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 2:21 am

tvic wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:02 pm Do you ever get discouraged?

Oh man, I'm so sorry. I'd be hot!

MG.... I wasn't too happy .... considering I really wanted that knife! ....

edge213 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 2:46 pm

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 2:21 am

tvic wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:02 pm Do you ever get discouraged?

No knife?
Did the seller make it right for you?
His fault if he didn't seal the box.

I sent a message and had to wait 4 days for an answer, but I saw yesterday evening when I looked at my account that I had just got a refund. ... So I was sweating that one .... thinking, was the seller going to make it easy? Was the seller going to fight the request for a refund?

As for the box, I don't what he was thinking.... ... there was one little piece of tape running down one side of the box. ... ... ....
.... when I ship a knife or any item, I slap about 6 oz. of tape on that deal... it's wrapped up tighter than the little baby Moses floating down the Nile....

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 8:35 pm

edge213 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 2:46 pm

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 2:21 am

No knife?
Did the seller make it right for you?
His fault if he didn't seal the box.

I sent a message and had to wait 4 days for an answer, but I saw yesterday evening when I looked at my account that I had just got a refund. ... So I was sweating that one .... thinking, was the seller going to make it easy? Was the seller going to fight the request for a refund?

As for the box, I don't what he was thinking.... ... there was one little piece of tape running down one side of the box. ... ... ....
.... when I ship a knife or any item, I slap about 6 oz. of tape on that deal... it's wrapped up tighter than the little baby Moses floating down the Nile....

Glad you got a refund

edge213 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 8:39 pm

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 8:35 pm

edge213 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 2:46 pm

Glad you got a refund

Thanks David, ... I really wanted that knife, but I suspect that there will be another one on down the road sooner or latter....

Yes, that CAN be discouraging, TOPDOG! A refund is great,but when you’d really rather have the knife…. You know, I understand the seller should have sealed it up better, but what kind of treatment was that box getting by postal employees to look like that? And Priority Mail, too! And if the box disintegrated, and the contents fell out, couldn’t they slap another piece of tape on it? Apparently, someone saw the contents and wanted it!