DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COLLECTING

VANDOO · 20th October 2006, 02:33 AM

WE ALL COLLECT IN OUR OWN DIFFERENT WAYS
SOME ONLY COLLECT ONE THING ALL THEIR LIVES AND SPARE NO EXPENSE IN GETTING ALL THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN ANY LANGUAGE AND GET IT TRANSLATED. THEY ONLY BUY THE VERY BEST ITEMS WITH EXCELLENT PROVENENCE AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF EXPENSE. THEY VISIT THE MUSEUMS WITH THE VERY BEST COLLECTIONS AND ARRANGE TO SEE THEIR BEST EXAMPLES. IF THEY PUBLISH A BOOK ON ALL THE THINGS THEY HAVE LEARNED IN A LIFETIME WE ALL PROFIT IF NOT IT IS OFTEN ALL LOST WHEN THEY PASS AWAY.

OTHERS START THE SAME WAY AS ABOVE BUT MAY LOSE INTREST IN THE FIELD THEY ARE COLLECTING IN AND CHANGE TO SOMETHING ELSE. THIS IS OFTEN DUE TO RUNNING OUT OF NEW KNOWLEGE AND THE LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF ITEMS TO COLLECT THAT ARE UP TO THEIR STANDARDS. THEY THEN SELL OUT THAT TYPE OF ITEM AND START COLLECTING IN A NEW FIELD. BOTH OF THESE TYPES OF COLLECTORS ARE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR COLLECTING AND MUST HAVE POSITIVE PROOF OF ANY INFORMATION OR KNOWLEGE BEFORE THEY WILL ACCEPT IT. THEY ARE USUALLY DRIVEN TO BE AT THE TOP OF THEIR FIELD AND VERY COMPETIVIE AND MOSTLY ONLY RESPECT OTHER COLLECTORS SUCH AS THEMSELVES. THEY OFTEN ARE SO DEDICATED TO THEIR OWN COLLECTING AND INTERESTS THAT THEY JUST DON'T HAVE TIME OR A DESIRE TO SHARE THE KNOWLEGE THEY HAVE WORKED VERY HARD AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY AQUIRING. IN A WAY THEY ARE RIGHT AS GIVING THEIR INFORMATION TO A COMPETING COLLECTOR JUST MAKES THEIR COLLECTING MORE DIFFICULT AND SHAREING IT OPENLY WITH LESS DEDICATED TYPES OF COLLECTORS SEEMS A WASTE OF TIME AND EFFORT. SO MANY TIMES THE KNOWLEGE IS LOST WITH THE COLLECTOR AND THEN ANOTHER COLLECTOR OF THAT TYPE WILL HAVE TO GO FIND IT ALL OVER AGAIN FOR HIMSELF. IF IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN DOWN SOMEWHERE HE MAY GET TO THE SAME POINT BEFORE HE LOSES INTEREST OR PASSES AWAY. THE COLLECTORS OF THIS TYPE WHO LIVED DURING THE OLD DAYS OF HEAD HUNTING AND PERHAPS TRAVELED TO THE ACTUAL LOCATION AND AQUIRED ITEMS AND KNOWLEGE FROM THE SOURCE AND SPOKE THE LANGUAGE WERE VERY FEW AND MUCH OF THEIR KNOWLEGE WAS LOST FOREVER WHEN THEY PASSED AWAY AND BARRING THE USE OF A TIME MACHINE IS LOST FOREVER.

THE MAN WITH UNLIMITED TIME AND FUNDS AND THE DRIVE AND INTEREST TO COLLECT IN A FIELD WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OVER THE MAN WITH LIMITED TIME AND FUNDS. HE CAN MAKE LOTS OF CONTACTS AND BUY FROM SOTHBYS, CHRISTIES, AND THE MOST EXPENSIVE GALLERYS. THE DEALERS HE CONTACTS WILL LOOK FOR THE TYPE OF HIGH DOLLAR ITEMS HE WANTS AND CONTACT HIM WHEN THEY FIND THEM. THIS TYPE OF COLLECTOR IS AT THE TOP OF THE COLLECTING FOOD CHAIN

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS BELOW THIS SOME WHO STILL COLLECT ONLY ONE TYPE OF ITEM AND ARE AS DEDICATED BUT JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR MONEY TO MAKE THE TOP OF THE LINE CONNECTIONS OR COMPETE PRICE WISE WITH THE TOP COLLECTORS.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE THE INTREST BUT A LACK OF FUNDS AND JUST HOPE TO OCCASIONALLY GET LUCKY AT A FLEA MARKET,GUN SHOW OR GARAGE SALE. THE GROUP I FALL INTO IS FAIRLY LOW ON THE FOOD CHAIN PERHAPS A JACKAL VERSES THE LION AT THE TOP. I AM HONEST AND HAPPY TO COLLECT ANY CRUMB THAT FALLS THRU OR BONE OR TASTY CHOP I CAN SNEAK IN AND GET AWAY WITH.

MY TYPE OF COLLECTING IS WHAT I AM INTERESTED IN AND LIKE, WHICH IS MOST EVERYTHING I CAN AFFORD IN BOOKS OR EDGED WEAPONS. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH OVER THE YEARS TO FIND A FEW VERY GOOD ITEMS AT GUN SHOWS ,FLEA MARKETS AND GARAGE SALES. THE ITEMS I HAVE COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LOW END AT THE TIME. I NEVER COLLECTED JAPANESE, GERMAN,OR PERSIAN WHEN I STARTED COLLECTING AS THERE WAS A LOT OF INTREST AND COMPETICIAN AND I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY. THE LOW END AT THE TIME WAS PHILIPPINE,OCEANIC,AFRICAN,MEXICO AND SOUTH AMERICAN SO THAT WAS THE DIRECTION I TOOK. I STILL REGRET THAT I DIDN'T SAVE UP AND BUY HIGHER QUALITY ITEMS ESPECIALLY FROM THE OLD ARMS CATALOGS OF THE 1960'S. I HAVE NEVER BOUGHT FROM CHRISTIES ,SOUTHBYS OR THE BIG GALLERYS AND UNLESS I FALL INTO A LOT OF MONEY NEVER WILL BE ABLE TO. I WOULD IF I COULD BUT I AM JUST NOT IN THAT ECONIMIC CLASS AND HAVE TOO MANY OTHER INTERESTS TO BE DEDICATED ENOUGH TO BE THE TYPE OF COLLECTOR AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN EVEN IF I WAS VERY WEALTHY

THERE IS A LOT THAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM A COLLECTION SUCH AS MINE AS IT INCLUDES A FEW GOOD EXAMPLES FROM MANY DIFFERENT CULTURES IN PARTS OF THE WORLD. IT ALSO INCLUDES COMMON EXAMPLES OF VARYING QUALITY AND AGE FROM EVERWHERE TOURIST OR OTHERWISE. CERTIANLY VERY LITTLE TO INTEREST THE TOP OF THE LINE COLLECTOR OR ARMS MUSEUM BUT EXAMPLES FROM VARIOUS ETHINOGRAPHIC CULTURES. TO ME A SWORD MADE IN NIAS BY THE LOCALS IS A NIAS SWORD REGARDLESS OF WHEN IT IS MADE. I WOULD CERTIANLY PREFER TO HAVE THE VERY BEST OLD EXAMPLE WITH FULL PROVENANCE OF OWNERSHIP BY THE HIGHEST CHIEF IN NIAS HISTORY BUT WILL HAVE TO SETTLE FOR A CURRENT EXAMPLE FROM NIAS WITH CARVED WOOD TEETH ON THE FETISH BALL. SO AT LEAST I HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE NOT GOOD QUALITY ,AGE, MATERIALS OR PROVENANCE BUT THE BEST I COULD DO. PERHAPS SOME DAY I WILL FIND A GOOD OLD EXAMPLE AT A GARAGE SALE UNTILL THAT HAPPY DAY I WILL JUST HAVE TO BE CONTENT TO HAVE MY EXAMPLE AND LOOK AT PICTURES OF THE REAL OLD ONES.

WE ALL SHARE A COMMON INTEREST BUT HAVE DIFFERENT DEGREES OF DEDICATION, KNOWLEGE AND FINANCES. WE ALSO ALL HAVE THE ITEMS WE CONSIDER THE MOST DESIRABLE AND GO IN OUR SEPARATE DIRECTIONS AS FAR AS COLLECTING. I ESPECIALLY LIKE ITEMS I HAVE ACTUALLY FOUND WHILE TRAVELING TO FORIGN COUNTRYS AS ADVENTURE AND LOCAL ALWAYS ADDS TO THE BUYING OF ETHINOGRAPHIC ITEMS. END OF TOME

Rich · 20th October 2006, 03:08 AM

Good commentary. I have one rule for collecting (I collect all sorts of
sharp pointy things :-) - that is: collect what you like, but like what
you collect! I've always found researching and knowing something of
the history, culture, etc always enhances my enjoyment of the piece.

Rich (aka old puukkophile)

The Japanese Sword Index
http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm

Robert · 20th October 2006, 04:04 AM

Vandoo, Excellent post. I fall into the lowest end of the food chain myself. I will never have the finances to travel to the countries whose weapons I love so much and have often had to make a choice of spending more than I can in reality afford to buy something that I really like or waiting for something more reasonable to come my way. Most of the time I depend on other forum members to help me to identify my purchases and to my thinking this is not an unacceptable practice. Being of limited mobility and living in the country with little but the Internet to help me in my research makes thing difficult to say the least. I've seen swords on this forum that I would love to have but at the same time would not trade my humble collection for them. All I can say is if I can offer any help or information to anyone at any time I am more than glad to do so. The one thing that I do not and never will understand is the withholding of knowledge for ANY reason. My best wishes to all in their pursuit of knowledge, collecting and happiness.

Robert

Tim Simmons · 20th October 2006, 07:30 AM

Also living off an oily rag. One can get obsessed with hunting for things. Now I often feel it is not worth having unless I can find it below the general price, simple or grand. But I did live in Scotland. None of those jokes- How do you cure a Scotsman of sea sickness? - put a penny in his mouth. Scots are very generous people.

Spunjer · 20th October 2006, 02:40 PM

Quote:

One can get obsessed with hunting for things...

i think you nailed this right on the head, tim. i must admit that when i first started collecting, i was going thru phases:

phase 1- i see a sword on ebay

pahse 2- i bid on it, so subconsciously or conciously, i feel like it's mine already

phase 3- i think about it for days, even counting down when the bid is gonna be up.

phase 4- in the final minutes, if i'm home, the F5 button (refresh) in my pc becomes my friend

phase 6- i win the sword. it's a rush!

phase 7- now it's the waiting game until i get it. this is the longest week ever.

phase 8- mailman comes. it's christmas! i literally rip the package. i dote on it for a day or two.

phase 9- then i wrap it up in a towel and store it.

phase 10- back to ebay.

Flavio · 20th October 2006, 02:55 PM

Hey Spunjer, it's the same for me!!!! Maybe this is a true pathology

Lew · 20th October 2006, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spunjer

i think you nailed this right on the head, tim. i must admit that when i first started collecting, i was going thru phases:

phase 1- i see a sword on ebay

pahse 2- i bid on it, so subconsciously or conciously, i feel like it's mine already

phase 3- i think about it for days, even counting down when the bid is gonna be up.

phase 4- in the final minutes, if i'm home, the F5 button (refresh) in my pc becomes my friend

phase 6- i win the sword. it's a rush!

phase 7- now it's the waiting game until i get it. this is the longest week ever.

phase 8- mailman comes. it's christmas! i literally rip the package. i dote on it for a day or two.

phase 9- then i wrap it up in a towel and store it.

phase 10- back to ebay.

Spunjer

I am a lot like you

SOMEBODY HELP ME PLEASE!

I also like Tim try and find the bargains but now and then I will spring for the big buck item

If you guys ever visit you will be able to peg my house easily
it's the one with all the swords bulging out the front window

. So many weapons to collect and no more space to store them

Lew

TVV · 21st October 2006, 04:47 AM

I wish I could come up with a nice theory to justify my collecting addiction, but I think it is just that I never grew up. As my wife points out, when boys get older, the only thing that changes is the price of their toys.
I am in the bottom of the collecting food chain, and I think this is where I will stay regardless of how wealthy I get. I like almost all ethnographic edged weapons and I find it hard to concentrate even on one geographic area, let alone on one type. I have a main area of interest, but for every weapon from this area I acquire, I tend to get two that have nothing to do with it. So generally, I am extremely undisciplinned at my collecting, and whenever I see something well priced on eBay or at an antique shop in Bulgaria (when I am there) I tend to go for it...
And so far I have been unable to figure out upgrading either, as I find it extremely difficult to part with items in my possession, even in cases in which I know they are junk. Unworthy of display, I keep touristy weapons stored somewhere, but cannot force myself to sell them, because of the memories associated with most of them, especially since these touristy weapons got me started on collecting ethnographic arms in the first place. Interestingly enough it only works this way with ethnographic items, as plenty of bayonets passed through my hands and I never developped an affection for any of them.
All these weaknesses mean that I will forever stay at the bottom of the collecting food chain, but I do not have a problem with this - I like it this way.

joshualayne · 21st October 2006, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVV

I wish I could come up with a nice theory to justify my collecting addiction, but I think it is just that I never grew up. As my wife points out, when boys get older, the only thing that changes is the price of their toys.
I am in the bottom of the collecting food chain, and I think this is where I will stay regardless of how wealthy I get. I like almost all ethnographic edged weapons and I find it hard to concentrate even on one geographic area, let alone on one type.

You know, right up to the liking almost all ethnographic part, I would swear you were reading my mind...

I have too many interests - music, woodworking, computers, etc... so any weapon purchase is always competing against not only other weapons, but other hobbies as well (I blame my vanishing for two years on this).

Also, while I have respect for many sword (and other weapons) making and using traditions, I find there must be something more to draw me in - I have particular aesthetic interests: I love the form of Dhas - they are visually very well balanced, I love most chinese and almost all japanese weapons and some middle-eastern (turkish: yataghan for example), and I am sure my tastes will change as I collect more.

It is funny though - I love the blade of pesh khabz, but I find the handles jarring and too squat somehow and I can say this about a number of styles in that there is an element that I love, but something inconsistent with the overall piece - I know, I know.... they weren't all made to be looked at, but as that is what I will be doing with them, I see them as (primarily at least) art.

I doubt I am the only one out there that collects based on aesthetics foremost (but I think I am the first one to say it in this thread

)

My wife has made the same comment about the cost of my toys I believe....

best,
j.

Spunjer · 21st October 2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

And I wonder what will happen to these pieces when I move on? Sometimes I feel they should go home ...

I would like my pieces to go to people who will love and respect them as I do.

ironic...

20th October 2006, 02:33 AM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COLLECTING WE ALL COLLECT IN OUR OWN DIFFERENT WAYS SOME ONLY COLLECT ONE THING ALL THEIR LIVES AND SPARE NO EXPENSE IN GETTING ALL THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN ANY LANGUAGE AND GET IT TRANSLATED. THEY ONLY BUY THE VERY BEST ITEMS WITH EXCELLENT PROVENENCE AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF EXPENSE. THEY VISIT THE MUSEUMS WITH THE VERY BEST COLLECTIONS AND ARRANGE TO SEE THEIR BEST EXAMPLES. IF THEY PUBLISH A BOOK ON ALL THE THINGS THEY HAVE LEARNED IN A LIFETIME WE ALL PROFIT IF NOT IT IS OFTEN ALL LOST WHEN THEY PASS AWAY. OTHERS START THE SAME WAY AS ABOVE BUT MAY LOSE INTREST IN THE FIELD THEY ARE COLLECTING IN AND CHANGE TO SOMETHING ELSE. THIS IS OFTEN DUE TO RUNNING OUT OF NEW KNOWLEGE AND THE LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF ITEMS TO COLLECT THAT ARE UP TO THEIR STANDARDS. THEY THEN SELL OUT THAT TYPE OF ITEM AND START COLLECTING IN A NEW FIELD. BOTH OF THESE TYPES OF COLLECTORS ARE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR COLLECTING AND MUST HAVE POSITIVE PROOF OF ANY INFORMATION OR KNOWLEGE BEFORE THEY WILL ACCEPT IT. THEY ARE USUALLY DRIVEN TO BE AT THE TOP OF THEIR FIELD AND VERY COMPETIVIE AND MOSTLY ONLY RESPECT OTHER COLLECTORS SUCH AS THEMSELVES. THEY OFTEN ARE SO DEDICATED TO THEIR OWN COLLECTING AND INTERESTS THAT THEY JUST DON'T HAVE TIME OR A DESIRE TO SHARE THE KNOWLEGE THEY HAVE WORKED VERY HARD AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY AQUIRING. IN A WAY THEY ARE RIGHT AS GIVING THEIR INFORMATION TO A COMPETING COLLECTOR JUST MAKES THEIR COLLECTING MORE DIFFICULT AND SHAREING IT OPENLY WITH LESS DEDICATED TYPES OF COLLECTORS SEEMS A WASTE OF TIME AND EFFORT. SO MANY TIMES THE KNOWLEGE IS LOST WITH THE COLLECTOR AND THEN ANOTHER COLLECTOR OF THAT TYPE WILL HAVE TO GO FIND IT ALL OVER AGAIN FOR HIMSELF. IF IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN DOWN SOMEWHERE HE MAY GET TO THE SAME POINT BEFORE HE LOSES INTEREST OR PASSES AWAY. THE COLLECTORS OF THIS TYPE WHO LIVED DURING THE OLD DAYS OF HEAD HUNTING AND PERHAPS TRAVELED TO THE ACTUAL LOCATION AND AQUIRED ITEMS AND KNOWLEGE FROM THE SOURCE AND SPOKE THE LANGUAGE WERE VERY FEW AND MUCH OF THEIR KNOWLEGE WAS LOST FOREVER WHEN THEY PASSED AWAY AND BARRING THE USE OF A TIME MACHINE IS LOST FOREVER. THE MAN WITH UNLIMITED TIME AND FUNDS AND THE DRIVE AND INTEREST TO COLLECT IN A FIELD WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OVER THE MAN WITH LIMITED TIME AND FUNDS. HE CAN MAKE LOTS OF CONTACTS AND BUY FROM SOTHBYS, CHRISTIES, AND THE MOST EXPENSIVE GALLERYS. THE DEALERS HE CONTACTS WILL LOOK FOR THE TYPE OF HIGH DOLLAR ITEMS HE WANTS AND CONTACT HIM WHEN THEY FIND THEM. THIS TYPE OF COLLECTOR IS AT THE TOP OF THE COLLECTING FOOD CHAIN THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS BELOW THIS SOME WHO STILL COLLECT ONLY ONE TYPE OF ITEM AND ARE AS DEDICATED BUT JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR MONEY TO MAKE THE TOP OF THE LINE CONNECTIONS OR COMPETE PRICE WISE WITH THE TOP COLLECTORS. THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE THE INTREST BUT A LACK OF FUNDS AND JUST HOPE TO OCCASIONALLY GET LUCKY AT A FLEA MARKET,GUN SHOW OR GARAGE SALE. THE GROUP I FALL INTO IS FAIRLY LOW ON THE FOOD CHAIN PERHAPS A JACKAL VERSES THE LION AT THE TOP. I AM HONEST AND HAPPY TO COLLECT ANY CRUMB THAT FALLS THRU OR BONE OR TASTY CHOP I CAN SNEAK IN AND GET AWAY WITH. MY TYPE OF COLLECTING IS WHAT I AM INTERESTED IN AND LIKE, WHICH IS MOST EVERYTHING I CAN AFFORD IN BOOKS OR EDGED WEAPONS. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH OVER THE YEARS TO FIND A FEW VERY GOOD ITEMS AT GUN SHOWS ,FLEA MARKETS AND GARAGE SALES. THE ITEMS I HAVE COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LOW END AT THE TIME. I NEVER COLLECTED JAPANESE, GERMAN,OR PERSIAN WHEN I STARTED COLLECTING AS THERE WAS A LOT OF INTREST AND COMPETICIAN AND I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY. THE LOW END AT THE TIME WAS PHILIPPINE,OCEANIC,AFRICAN,MEXICO AND SOUTH AMERICAN SO THAT WAS THE DIRECTION I TOOK. I STILL REGRET THAT I DIDN'T SAVE UP AND BUY HIGHER QUALITY ITEMS ESPECIALLY FROM THE OLD ARMS CATALOGS OF THE 1960'S. I HAVE NEVER BOUGHT FROM CHRISTIES ,SOUTHBYS OR THE BIG GALLERYS AND UNLESS I FALL INTO A LOT OF MONEY NEVER WILL BE ABLE TO. I WOULD IF I COULD BUT I AM JUST NOT IN THAT ECONIMIC CLASS AND HAVE TOO MANY OTHER INTERESTS TO BE DEDICATED ENOUGH TO BE THE TYPE OF COLLECTOR AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN EVEN IF I WAS VERY WEALTHY THERE IS A LOT THAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM A COLLECTION SUCH AS MINE AS IT INCLUDES A FEW GOOD EXAMPLES FROM MANY DIFFERENT CULTURES IN PARTS OF THE WORLD. IT ALSO INCLUDES COMMON EXAMPLES OF VARYING QUALITY AND AGE FROM EVERWHERE TOURIST OR OTHERWISE. CERTIANLY VERY LITTLE TO INTEREST THE TOP OF THE LINE COLLECTOR OR ARMS MUSEUM BUT EXAMPLES FROM VARIOUS ETHINOGRAPHIC CULTURES. TO ME A SWORD MADE IN NIAS BY THE LOCALS IS A NIAS SWORD REGARDLESS OF WHEN IT IS MADE. I WOULD CERTIANLY PREFER TO HAVE THE VERY BEST OLD EXAMPLE WITH FULL PROVENANCE OF OWNERSHIP BY THE HIGHEST CHIEF IN NIAS HISTORY BUT WILL HAVE TO SETTLE FOR A CURRENT EXAMPLE FROM NIAS WITH CARVED WOOD TEETH ON THE FETISH BALL. SO AT LEAST I HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE NOT GOOD QUALITY ,AGE, MATERIALS OR PROVENANCE BUT THE BEST I COULD DO. PERHAPS SOME DAY I WILL FIND A GOOD OLD EXAMPLE AT A GARAGE SALE UNTILL THAT HAPPY DAY I WILL JUST HAVE TO BE CONTENT TO HAVE MY EXAMPLE AND LOOK AT PICTURES OF THE REAL OLD ONES. WE ALL SHARE A COMMON INTEREST BUT HAVE DIFFERENT DEGREES OF DEDICATION, KNOWLEGE AND FINANCES. WE ALSO ALL HAVE THE ITEMS WE CONSIDER THE MOST DESIRABLE AND GO IN OUR SEPARATE DIRECTIONS AS FAR AS COLLECTING. I ESPECIALLY LIKE ITEMS I HAVE ACTUALLY FOUND WHILE TRAVELING TO FORIGN COUNTRYS AS ADVENTURE AND LOCAL ALWAYS ADDS TO THE BUYING OF ETHINOGRAPHIC ITEMS. END OF TOME

20th October 2006, 03:08 AM	#2
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Good commentary. I have one rule for collecting (I collect all sorts of sharp pointy things :-) - that is: collect what you like, but like what you collect! I've always found researching and knowing something of the history, culture, etc always enhances my enjoyment of the piece. Rich (aka old puukkophile) The Japanese Sword Index http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm

20th October 2006, 04:04 AM	#3
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Vandoo, Excellent post. I fall into the lowest end of the food chain myself. I will never have the finances to travel to the countries whose weapons I love so much and have often had to make a choice of spending more than I can in reality afford to buy something that I really like or waiting for something more reasonable to come my way. Most of the time I depend on other forum members to help me to identify my purchases and to my thinking this is not an unacceptable practice. Being of limited mobility and living in the country with little but the Internet to help me in my research makes thing difficult to say the least. I've seen swords on this forum that I would love to have but at the same time would not trade my humble collection for them. All I can say is if I can offer any help or information to anyone at any time I am more than glad to do so. The one thing that I do not and never will understand is the withholding of knowledge for ANY reason. My best wishes to all in their pursuit of knowledge, collecting and happiness. Robert

20th October 2006, 07:30 AM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Also living off an oily rag. One can get obsessed with hunting for things. Now I often feel it is not worth having unless I can find it below the general price, simple or grand. But I did live in Scotland. None of those jokes- How do you cure a Scotsman of sea sickness? - put a penny in his mouth. Scots are very generous people.

20th October 2006, 02:55 PM	#6
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hey Spunjer, it's the same for me!!!! Maybe this is a true pathology

21st October 2006, 04:47 AM	#8
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,620	I wish I could come up with a nice theory to justify my collecting addiction, but I think it is just that I never grew up. As my wife points out, when boys get older, the only thing that changes is the price of their toys. I am in the bottom of the collecting food chain, and I think this is where I will stay regardless of how wealthy I get. I like almost all ethnographic edged weapons and I find it hard to concentrate even on one geographic area, let alone on one type. I have a main area of interest, but for every weapon from this area I acquire, I tend to get two that have nothing to do with it. So generally, I am extremely undisciplinned at my collecting, and whenever I see something well priced on eBay or at an antique shop in Bulgaria (when I am there) I tend to go for it... And so far I have been unable to figure out upgrading either, as I find it extremely difficult to part with items in my possession, even in cases in which I know they are junk. Unworthy of display, I keep touristy weapons stored somewhere, but cannot force myself to sell them, because of the memories associated with most of them, especially since these touristy weapons got me started on collecting ethnographic arms in the first place. Interestingly enough it only works this way with ethnographic items, as plenty of bayonets passed through my hands and I never developped an affection for any of them. All these weaknesses mean that I will forever stay at the bottom of the collecting food chain, but I do not have a problem with this - I like it this way.