Peter Bleed Posted April 16, 2020 Report Posted April 16, 2020 Here I am, trapped at home and bored. Suddenly, I am over-powered by all the stuff I have. I mean, where did all this stuff come from? I ask that question here - on this forum - because I AM a Japanese sword collector and I have recently gotten out a bunch of - well - Namban stuff without having put away my Katchushi stuff away. I even put a thoughtful post right here on the NMB. But such fame is fleeting.. . . And my wife really wants me to get our lawyer (OMG!) a list of my "good swords" but I don't think she is even talking about the rapiers. OMG! And it gets worse. My daughter-in-law is uncomfortable with the granddaughters being in a "house with guns" but she really wouldn't know a matchlock from a Mauser - - altho I'll say with pride that I think the granddaughters might cover that one pretty well (tho I sold my broom handles and all the Nambu's some time ago. They're bright girls). But here's the question. What in the world do NON-COLLECTORS have that collectors don't have? I have all this stuff. What would I have if I hadn't been a collector? Peter 7 Quote
Oshy Posted April 16, 2020 Report Posted April 16, 2020 Nicer vehicles, houses, vacations, other type of collectibles, earlier retirement? To each their own.. 2 Quote
Blazeaglory Posted April 16, 2020 Report Posted April 16, 2020 Lol I feel ya on that one One of the good things about it for me is I never have to buy another cardboard shipping box or packing supplies ever again! 3 Quote
16k Posted April 16, 2020 Report Posted April 16, 2020 On 4/16/2020 at 10:01 PM, Peter Bleed said: What in the world do NON-COLLECTORS have that collectors don't have? I have all this stuff. What would I have if I hadn't been a collector? Peter Money. 4 Quote
Peter Bleed Posted April 16, 2020 Author Report Posted April 16, 2020 Thank you NMB. This is a nice community and I appreciate the quick permission I was given to be silly. Peter 1 Quote
ChrisW Posted April 16, 2020 Report Posted April 16, 2020 Sue me for answering seriously I guess! I approach my hobby of collecting swords as an investment for retirement, seeing as I cannot take them with me when I do go someday. So I nearly always buy swords from the perspective of "I can immediately turn this for a profit if I must," with only a few exceptions. As for what do non-collectors have that collectors do not? Eh.. probably depends on how poorly they spend their money. You wouldn't catch me spending money on worthless Apple crap like the latest iPhone... though I definitely could use a better camera! 3 Quote
vajo Posted April 17, 2020 Report Posted April 17, 2020 Peter you can tell your Granddaughter nothing is more safe than to live with a lot of old swords. All these dead warriors will protect you if you give honor to the swords. My son is 12 and he began to love the swords too. He feels fascinated and he fears it but he loves to watch them through the glass. 1 Quote
Brian Posted April 17, 2020 Report Posted April 17, 2020 All I got from that whole post is that your son needs to get a divorce. 4 Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted April 17, 2020 Report Posted April 17, 2020 I can't think of anyone I know who ISN'T a collector, Pete! From one friend with far too much spare cash who collects Ferraris, to my next-door Hawaiian neighbor who has a shell collection that would drive a malacologist green with envy. I think it's just built into us, as a species. And it's not just us. I had a huge crow that lived in my back yard in Louisiana that could make anything shiny disappear in the blink of an eye! I finally had to raid its roost when it swiped my house keys, & the amount of shiny booty was incredible! So, here's to us collectors, of whatever species!! :beer: 4 Quote
Dave R Posted April 17, 2020 Report Posted April 17, 2020 Personal experience as a collector since I was eleven, and my brother never understood the hobby. I have owned some very nice items that gave me great joy while I had them, and economic support in difficult times when sold for cash when needed. I also got into the habit of saving money, and researching the market. The reading and hands on research has been near as much of a joy as the acquisition. My brother did not collect, was not interested in reading or any academic or intellectual pastime and had a busier social life and a successful one by all normal standards.Towards the end of his life, too ill for any of his usual recreations or activities, he found it very difficult. I think he would have found that later period of his life more enjoyable if he had something in the way of an actual hobby or interest. 3 Quote
Blazeaglory Posted April 17, 2020 Report Posted April 17, 2020 On 4/16/2020 at 10:26 PM, ChrisW said: Sue me for answering seriously I guess! I approach my hobby of collecting swords as an investment for retirement, seeing as I cannot take them with me when I do go someday. So I nearly always buy swords from the perspective of "I can immediately turn this for a profit if I must," with only a few exceptions. As for what do non-collectors have that collectors do not? Eh.. probably depends on how poorly they spend their money. You wouldn't catch me spending money on worthless Apple crap like the latest iPhone... though I definitely could use a better camera! Same here. My family thinks Im nuts and question the authenticity of my purchases... "Hey, check out the 600 year old sword I just found!"... *Family looks at me with doubt*, "But how DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE its real?"....My response, "Sit down, were gonna be here for a while..." as I begin to read from 'The Connoisseurs Book of Japanese swords'... 5 hours later, "Yeah, but HOW DO YOU KNOW THE SWORDS YOU HAVE ARE REAL"? Well I just sold one for 2000$ Oh ok, its real 2 Quote
Blazeaglory Posted April 17, 2020 Report Posted April 17, 2020 On 4/17/2020 at 1:21 PM, vajo said: Haha Dwain, you nailed it. No matter what I do my Aunt will never believe that a person can own something that old without spending a million dollars. Actually, Im still shocked about it as well tbh 1 Quote
PNSSHOGUN Posted April 17, 2020 Report Posted April 17, 2020 Perhaps ignorance is bliss for the non-collectors out there? 2 Quote
ChrisW Posted April 17, 2020 Report Posted April 17, 2020 On 4/17/2020 at 1:18 PM, Blazeaglory said: Same here. My family thinks Im nuts and question the authenticity of my purchases... "Hey, check out the 600 year old sword I just found!"... *Family looks at me with doubt*, "But how DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE its real?"....My response, "Sit down, were gonna be here for a while..." as I begin to read from 'The Connoisseurs Book of Japanese swords'... 5 hours later, "Yeah, but HOW DO YOU KNOW THE SWORDS YOU HAVE ARE REAL"? Well I just sold one for 2000$ Oh ok, its real This. Exactly. Every time I make an acquisition. Quote
Michaelr Posted April 17, 2020 Report Posted April 17, 2020 I think we are ALL Collectors. We just ALL collect different STUFF. Some collect objects, some collect money, some collect pictures of their vacations. I think I am one of the Very Lucky Collectors here on the board. As a old time collector I have had a lot of nice stuff, as a newer member of Nihonto I have a very modest collection of Beautiful Japanese Swords ( with the help of some Great Members here ), as one of the older members ( in age) I have collected money and enjoyed it-then turned it into stuff that I enjoy more. So I don’t have much money, but I do have a lot of stuff. But the collection that I am most proud of is my Beautiful Family, my Beautiful Girlfriend and the Great People here on the board. Thank you to ALL and stay safe in these trying times. MikeR Quote
Shugyosha Posted April 17, 2020 Report Posted April 17, 2020 I guess non-collectors have to hide less stuff from their wives. I had the embarrassing experience of seeing a piece on-line that I'd remembered really liking and wished that I'd bought it when it was available. Anyhow, some time later I was looking for something at the back of my tansu and found an unfamiliar item, opened the fittings box and there it was! No magic involved, just a brainf@rt. I had bought it, got it, stashed it before herself found out, and completely forgot about it. 3 Quote
Ganko Posted April 17, 2020 Report Posted April 17, 2020 Many years ago,I was told by Kazushige Tsuruta of Aoi Arts "You should collect money, not swords". Obviously I did not heed his advice. No regrets. 1 Quote
waljamada Posted April 17, 2020 Report Posted April 17, 2020 I go in waves where I save money, but when my bank account gets fluffier the temptation comes in to buy something I love. Do I need to spend $400 on some old scrimshaw? Do I need that other Mark Twain first edition? Do I really need another piece of original comic art or political cartoon art? Do I really need a bust of Abraham Lincoln by Robert Berks? Do I need an antique bronze statue of Darwin's thinker? Do I really need 7 or more Japanese swords? Yes, yes I do. In the end, these things inspire and enhance my life. I receive something from each piece and I buy things I can always love. In a way I'm investing in permanent home decor. 1 Quote
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