Horological Meandering

(Photo credit: AlexS for his wonderful photoshop skills, who helped composite three separate shots by the WanderingPurist)

It's funny - sometimes, one feels loneliest in a room full of people.

As much as the internet tears down barriers and brings the world closer together, allowing those who think they are alone in their unique peculiarities to find like minded soulmates, I think human beings need another few millenia of evolution before they can consistently and intuitively think beyond their "narrow" POV.

How often do we read on these forums the newbie sighs of relief, "Boy, am I glad I found you guys!  Around me in real life, everyone thinks I'm crazy to care so much about watches. And when they find out how much I spend on these things, their eyes widen as they wind their index finger around their ears, "HOW much?!?""

Yet...

As I travel the world speaking about collecting, connoisseurship, and the wonderful world of watches (my original WWW ) I also have the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with others of similar interests and passions, some much more experienced than myself; others newbies; and all the points in between.

I am frequently caught by surprise how many deeply passionate and experienced collectors of timepieces, themselves well aware of how OTHERS sometimes perceive their passion for timepieces as a very strange oddity, yet somehow miss the irony of doing the same thing to other fields - cars; boats; airplanes; buggy whips; fishing rods and reels; PEZ dispensers; comic books; coins; stamps; guns; knives; art; wine; beer; food; shoes; purses and briefcases; audio equipment; recordings...and so on and so on...

I was driving with a very dear friend of mine, someone whose knowledge and experience in the world of timepieces I respect very much. He was commenting on how surprisingly nice the car rode and drove -

(yep, we are talking about the mellow yellow vehicle...   )

The conversation came around to the price, as he felt it was so nice "I'd actually seriously consider one..."

When I told him, he was ...surprised? shocked? 

I myself was surprised by his surprise. "But wait a second, what's that watch on your wrist?!?"

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On a more serious note, I had a very interesting conversation with my teen aged daughter the other day, about stereotypes, generalizations, and bigotry. To me, what allows bigotry to continue to exist is the inability to look at things from someone else's point of view, often avoiding doing so based on the condescension that dear Dr. Bernard Cheong refers to in his recent post.

To me, the difference between stereotypes and generalizations; and bigotry, is that properly held stereotypes and generalizations are based on "fact" (hopefully) and allow for exceptions, whereas bigotry does not and irrefutably assumes things based on those stereotypes and generalizations - african americans are more likely to be involved in crimes (statistical fact) and thus african americans are more likely to be criminals (bigotry)

The range of this phenomena can be as inoffensive as "I am so tired of eating Asian Food all the time" said by the American travelling in Asia; to something slightly more offensive like, as said by some Swiss watchmakers during a quotation negotiation, "We won't compete with the Chinese on price. We can't live on rice!"

?!?

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Are watch geeks like us really so unusual?

Do the mental gymnastics we go through, tortured though it sometimes is, ours and ours alone?

Brand worship by the fanboys for Patek Philippe and Rolex and Tag-Heuer and Omega et al;

Establishment partisanship;

Anti-establishment and iconoclastic rebellion (sometimes for its own sake);

I love complications/I hate complications/I am learning to look at each watch for its own sake and merits;

Modular vs integrated; column wheel vs cam and lever...

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Are we really alone in all this?

A friend pointed me towards this essay; I found it very interesting and in its own way, reassuring. The topic is about knives and knife collecting - the original thread was titled,

"Dearly Departed"

(sound eerily familiar already?    )

With thanks to Dustin Atkins for his permission to reprint his words of wisdom.

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Recently I have been trying to thin the herd down to knives that I truly love. As I near my goal I found some time for retrospection. As I was looking through my list of knives I realized that I have moved mucho steel in the short time I have been at this. I still own lots of knives so this list should be taken as a grouping of knives that I either: owned way too many of, had no use for, didn't make the grade for some reason or another (I'm pretty picky), or served as trade fodder knowing that I could easily secure another at a later date. I have put a star by the ones I regret selling or trading..... you will notice that there are not very many stars .

Feel free to share your lists or just opine on the state of being a knife junky and feelings about buying/selling/trading in general.

Bark River River's Edge
Ben Hastings Sandshark II
Benchamde Rukus (large)*
Benchmade Auto
Benchmade Gravitator
Benchmade Mini Dejavoo
Benchmade Mini Rukus (x2)*
Benchmade Rift
Benchmade Skirmish (mini)
Benchmade Skirmish (large)
Benchmade Ti Lum
Benchmade Vex
Blade-Tech Rijbak*
Bradley Alias II
Bradley Mayhem
Buck Strider 880SP
Buck Strider 882
Buck/Strider 881T (STR rebuild with GCM)*
Butch Harner Wharncliffe (CPM3V)....actually lost this one and miss it***
Chive Damascus
Chris Reeve Large BG42 Sebenza (User)
CRK Sebenza
Derespina Model 10
Derespina Model 10 Trainer
Emerson SOFCK-A
Graham Brothers Pocket Khuruki
Hinderer Kubaton BP SSB
Hinderer Kubaton Flamed AP SSB
Hinderer Pen Aluminum
Kershaw Avalanche
Kershaw Blur Tanto
Kershaw Boa Serrated
Kershaw Bump Black Aluminum (x2)
Kershaw Centofante Onion Red
Kershaw Chive Boron
Kershaw Cyclone Black
Kershaw E.T.
Kershaw Ener-G II
Kershaw Gentleman's Knife
Kershaw Groove
Kershaw JYD II
Kershaw JYD II Black Handles
Kershaw JYD II CE Black/Black
Kershaw JYD II Composite (x2)
Kershaw JYD II Ti SG2 (x3)
Kershaw Lahar (x3)
Kershaw Leek 13C26 PE Reverse Tanto
Kershaw Leek Black/Black CKT Random
Kershaw Leek Composite
Kershaw Leek DAM
Kershaw Leek Damascus (x2)
Kershaw Leek Polished Grooved G10
Kershaw Leek Random (x2)
Kershaw Leek Textured (Polished) G10 (x2)
Kershaw Leek Textured (Stonewashed) G10
Kershaw Leek Ti ZDP
Kershaw Mini Cyclone
Kershaw Mini Cyclone Ti ZDP (STR anodize jean blue)
Kershaw Mini Cyclone Ti ZDP
Kershaw Mini Mojo
Kershaw Mini Mojo User
Kershaw Mini Task PS
Kershaw Needs Work (x2)
Kershaw NRG
Kershaw OD-1
Kershaw Offset 1st Run (x2)
Kershaw Offset Aluminum (x2)
Kershaw Offset G10
Kershaw Outcast
Kershaw RAM
Kershaw Scallion
Kershaw Scallion Black (x2)
Kershaw Shallot (x2)
Kershaw Spec Bump
Kershaw Speed Bump
Kershaw Starkey PE G10
Kershaw Starkey Ti
Kershaw Storm
Kershaw Talon G10
Kershaw Talon Ti
Kershaw Ti Bump Green (x3)
Kershaw Ti Bump Blue (x2)
Kershaw Whirlwind
Kershaw Zing
Kershaw Needs Work G10
Kershaw Random Task
Kershaw Shallot S110V
Kershaw Skyline
Kershaw Tyrade
Kershaw Tyrade, G10, Orange (x2)
Koster EDC*
Koster K4 (O1 and Curly Maple) (x2)
Koster K6
Koster Nesmuk (Black Canvas)
Krein Micro Chef*
Les Voorhies Toothpick CF
Lone Wolf T2 Ranger
Ranger RAK Black
Ranger RAK Black/Orange
Ranger RD
Spyderco Barong
Spyderco Centofante II STR framelock Rebld
Spyderco Centofante III
Spyderco CF Caly 3
Spyderco Citadel
Spyderco Civilian (x3)
Spyderco Delica ZDP Blue
Spyderco Dodo
Spyderco FFG Endura
Spyderco G10 Endura
Spyderco Mini Manix (x2)
Spyderco Native
Spyderco Pacific Salt
Spyderco Paramilitary
Spyderco P'kal (x2)
Spyderco Spyderfly
Spyderco Spyderfly Rainbow
Spyderco Spyderhawk Salt
Spyderco SpyKer (x2)
Spyderco SS Endura 4
Spyderco Waved Delica
Spyderco Waved Endura (x2)
Spyderco Yojimbo
Starkey G10 PS
STR BUSSTR
Strider AR
Strider GB
Strider PT
Strider RCC-GG
Strider SNG
Wilkins Griptilian
XM-18 (blue, BB, flipper)
ZT 0121
ZT 0200 (x2)
ZT 0205
ZT 0300 TAD USN
ZT 0301
ZT 0302
ZT 0500 (x3)*
ZT0350

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When asked

"I would be interested in knowing what you have kept or EDC because there are some great knives in that list.

Just curious to know what made it to the top for you."

He replied

"I have the entire Kershaw Bump line (some many times over). I think the Spec Bump is quite possibly the most well designed knife ever built. I also have a Ken Onion Ti/Studlock Bump (The crown jewl of the collection). A close second for me is the Kershaw 25th Anniversary (Basically a Ken Onion Midtech). The older Ken Onion designs also rate very highly with me (Random Task/ Mini Task).

I have quite a few Kreins and Grahams. I am a recent convert to the small, front pocket fixed blade. I absolutely love them. The utility of a fixed that is similar in size to a medium folder is tremendous.

I have 6 ZT0300 series knives. I really dig the size, heft, fit/finish and utility of them.

My EDC ranges from smaller, more run of the mill Kershaws (Zing, Random Leek, G10 leek) to a ZT0301 with a stone washed blade to one of my pocket FBs (mostly the midtech Graham SS3 or the Krein PSK).

My interests are all over the place. I know you are interested in why the Sebs, Striders and the Hinderer all got the axe. All I can tell you is that I felt like they were over-hyped and had no soul. Ken Onion designs, even productions, have curves and emotion in the design. This leads to ergonomics that are as satisfying as the aesthetics. Ti slabs on ti slabs or G10 slabs with little eye to that ultimate soul soothing hand feel (the this knife was made for me thing) does little to motivate me no matter how strong the pivot is. The ginds from your Hinderers, CRKs, and Striders are lack luster as well. Sure they work well, but, in a world of endless options that isn't enough. Grahams have beautiful grinds and flawlessly contoured handles that feel great and work all day w/o tiring the hand. Kreins feature (IMO) the most amazing attention to cutting ability AND beauty. No one can cut a Swedge as nicely as Tom can. Tom's handles are incredibly well contoured so they too meet the eyeball and the hand test.

As I stated earlier, the knife world is too big to fall in lock-step with the masses. If a knife does not ignite something in me...... it is out the door regardless of hype or price tag. One of my favorite folders is a $35 RJ Martin designed Kershaw Zing. The $400 Sebenza is one of my least favorites. It is what it is. I'd encourage all of you to not make the mistakes I have made. You can see from the list in the first post that I have bought the hype, I've tried just about every design Kershaw has made. I have tried most that Spyderco has made.... all b/c I heard they were great, nevermind the fact that they did nothing to get the passion, that makes this hobby go, flowing in me. Buy what you love.... don't lock your knives away in the safe and be secure in the knowlege that you own them.... Get them out and let them make you feel good about the hobby and the knives you love.

***SA steps off soap box and exits, stage right*** "

Thanks a lot for this thought provoking post. I appreciate that someone has the standing to touch such a topic in this forum. Your reference to the world of Tolkien’s novels made me recognize the tightrope walk between a passion for beautiful things on the one hand and a greed for new acquisitions and unique possessions on the other hand. However, I wouldn’t call this greed a sin as long as it does not cause harm to someone. I consider it just as a typical human behaviour.

Best regards, Heinrich

not a harangue or accusatory.

It also touches on issues that I have wrestled with all my life.

"material objects" vs "experiences"

One's good fortune vis a vis other's "lesser fortunes"

But first a clarification - I've always tried to encourage, even embedded in the very policies and enforcement protocols we have on ThePuristS and now on PuristSPro, that what we celebrate here is not MONEY - not the "monetary value" or potential monetary appreciation or depreciation of OBJECTS - but rather the implicit passions in their conception, creation, AND APPRECIATION.  Remember, the enthusiast is as much a part of the whole process as the creator.  In fact, I would argue that a great collector himself becomes an auteur of sorts, in the same way a director of a great film is an auteur...

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So yes, the survivor/winner can sometimes suffer pangs of guilt about their good fortune.

This can be a good thing - it keeps one humble, and helps us appreciate what we have.

But I hope we can also not get too carried away with this -

How  many calories should one ingest daily before qualifying as a glutton and being wasteful?  Afterall, not only is it "unfair to all the starving people in the world" to waste food (wait a minute, some would argue that's a non-sequitor - what are you going to do, "transporter beam" that bunch of bananas or steak to East Africa or inner Mongolia?!? But the broader point stands) but it's also unhealthy if taken too far...

How many square feet does one "reasonably need" to live in - 200 square feet? 500? 35,000?

How many pairs of shoes? underwear?

For that matter, how much of the money one "earns" should one keep, and how much should one "tithe" or give away to the less fortunate?

Is this a dollar amount? or a percentage?

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On the one hand, I am sincerely asking the above not merely as rhetorical questions, but in order to read the SINCERE, CONSIDERED thoughts of members of this community.

On the other hand, part of my point is rhetorical - I've considered these issues for most of my life, even before I was a teenager, and the conclusion I've reached, to be at peace with myself, is that everyone needs to find that "inner peace" balance point for themselves, and abide by it.

That's why, while we always encourage all community members to give generously and charitably to the less fortunate, we also do not allow formal solicitations and don't engage in them ourselves.

I give privately, and for the ONLY reason to help; not to be invited to the gala ball; not to "extend my network" and not to get a deduction, and certainly not to use as a marketing message.

And I tend to consider direct, insistent solicitations with prejudice.

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So, CF, others, any further thoughts to share or add? (sincerely, no irony intended)

Cheers,

TM

“… had no soul … emotion in the design … soul soothing ... eyeball and hand test … ignite something in me … the passion that makes this hobby go … buy what you love … don't lock (them) away in the safe … get them out and let them make you feel good.”

I realize that we come to this ‘hobby’ from different directions, but deep down we are very similar. Personally I could apply my approach to horology to many endeavors, and in fact I have done so in the past.

The things that appeal to me are: history, mechanical systems, design, human endeavor and spirit, art, complex systems that allow classification, sorting and organization, and workmanship and beauty. Basically I could be describing many different hobbies/interests, and I have a few of them, as readers of TO would be aware.

I just better stay away from handcrafted knives and Dustin Atkins; I don’t really need any more hobbies like this.

The internet, and sites like PuristS, has brought a large number of like-minded individuals together. We should calculate one day how many square meters of earth each Purist would occupy if we were equally distrubuted on this planet. The chances of meeting each other would be slim.

Thanks Thomas for bringing this essay to our attention.

Andrew