I'm curious about the motivations for selling swords / kits, etc. No one has unlimited income, so that's the obvious answer: sell to get money.

But why? Are you upgrading to nicer swords? Changing interest in periods? Gotta pay rent/real life demands?

Sometimes just getting rid of unused swords, to save maintenance and space.

P. Schontzler wrote:

I'm curious about the motivations for selling swords / kits, etc. No one has unlimited income, so that's the obvious answer: sell to get money. But why? Are you upgrading to nicer swords? Changing interest in periods? Gotta pay rent/real life demands?

When I first read the OP's post, I registered selling swords/"KIDs"...lol As to the swords/kits/et al...I imagine there are many reasons, of course, but the most common (with me) is the "money sitting in the corner" thing. If I'm not getting enough use/enjoyment from an item, it seems wise to move it on to a good home, and have the money it represents for something I actively need or want. I recently sold a bayonet and an original Ames (1850 Foot Officer), not because I didn't like them on some level--nor them having issues--but instead due to simply recognizing I'd get more use/enjoyment from something else.

Obviously, I still have items I don't actually touch/use often, yet do not sell, because I still enjoy simply looking at it/them as I do...As an example, we have a couple rather old Colts which see little active use, though just seeing them (and carrying/shooting them every once in a blue moon or three) still brings a warm smile to my face. Thankfully, my wife is very understanding and supportive of such things. ;)

Bored with what I have.

Want to try/learn something new.

Interest shift.

New hobbies.

I don't sell mine and never will.
There was an article written on this website about how we are "keepers" of swords until we pass them to the next "keeper"

NONSENSE, not concerning me. I would will never get rid of my Albions, the closest thing I could to do that is pass them down to a relative when I die but sell? Not happening.

I have swords I will sell, I have others I will not.

I have 12 Albion swords one of which is a duplicate. That one is for sale or trade for the right price or piece though I have not put it up as such. I have others I bought in 2008 or 2009 because I got them cheep and when the market is right they are for sale but I do not sell 'my swords'

My Swords, well they are the core of the collection, not for sale, not for trade, mine because I love them.
They are as much a part of my home as I am
http://abnsmith.deviantart.com/gallery/37206593

I keep mine, though I tell myself that I should thin out the collection, get rid of the old stuff or pieces that I couldn't bond with.

Many have a limited budget to buy swords, and can only justify getting something new and desirable by selling one of their old ones to help pay for it - one that has perhaps lost its appeal.

I think i am over 130 now, :eek:

I don't sell anything in my collection, not because I can't imagine selling anything, but because I am too lazy to put together the pictures and prepare the package once the item is sold. I do need to get around to that . . . . . . one day.

:D

I have sold many swords over the years. The reason is very simple. I like to refresh my collection now and again. I get tired of some swords and want to get new ones instead. Some I think I will keep forever but, to be honest, who knows?

There are many reasons I sell. For starters, my collection is stored in a display cabinet of finite size and is basically full. If I want to add something new, I need to make space. I promised my wife I wouldn't take over our house with my crap. :) There's also a financial reason. To keep from being a drain on family finances, I've been operating my collecting for more than 6 years with no money out of pocket. That means I buy some things to sell and sell off other things I no longer need/want to fund new purchases. It's kind of fun and is very challenging.

In the past, I've sold things because I didn't like them as much as I thought I would. I bought a rapier and sold it after I discovered rapiers weren't my primary focus. Ditto a Viking sword. Ditto a compound hilted sword (whose sale helped fund an engagement ring). And there were other things I bought on impulse and regretted later. There were yet more items that were great until something better came along.

I love my collection. It's not huge by some standards around here (7 swords, 1 helm, 6 knives, and 8 daggers-- no 130 items for me :) ). There are items I would hate to sell, but I'm not sure there's anything that is beyond considering selling.

I do it just 'cause I like gettin' stuff in the mail. Anytime I get a long, heavy box from UPS, I ...umm, ahh...get a bit of a thrill from it. Sometimes. :lol: ..............McM

I sell because it's just stuff. Sometimes I get bored with the current stuff and want new stuff. I have a very few pieces I'm sentimental about and would hate to sell, the rest is just stuff, cool, but hardly essential to my well being.

I sell swords as I only have so much money to spend on swords and I have a wide ranging interest with regards to sword styles, so I have to rotate my collection... out with the old, in with the new!

I've recently thought about selling. my collection is very limited, and my next planed purchase is going to be about as much as the last one, but still a strain when you have so many other finances to deal with.

but in a way, the few that i have are all worth more to me than what i can get for them, so i would rather keep them. i have a few that are just wall hangers, and I've considered selling them more than the others, but these days the problem is no one really wants them. (seems to be the same for chrome wheels i just cant sell the things.)

i wouldn't say that my interests in them shift to the point that one style and i abandon one. the study of one leads to another and another and another. i do have a wish list, thankfully its small and maybe one day I'll obtain a collection of sorts that reflects the research and craftsmanship i appreciate.

I sell sometimes because of space requirements.

About 4 years ago, I took an inventory and had over 150 swords. I gifted about 40 of the lower cost (200 or less) ones and sold some others.

I currently have it down under a hundred now. My target is to get down to 50 or so. Problem is I like what I have in the collection now. :lol: