Validation of fears

[David Bowen]

I have been contemplating future insurance for my knives/tool or some kind of place to store them that is worry free. I have this odd phobia, I fear something is going to happen like being robbed or the house burning down and losing everything I own including my collection of goodies. Is this normal? I know they are only material possessions and don't amount to a hill of beans compared to family but it sickens me to think that something could happen and POOF lose it all. Maybe I am alone in this, but the fear is there regardless. Anyone have any suggestions for this sickness? I know I don't have collections like some other folks (Chako), wonder what suggestions they have.

[Mr. Whippy]

If it keeps you up at night, get insurance enough to cover the losses.  For those things which are irreplaceable, get a fireproof safe.

Safety and security is always a fluid thing, but risk of loss should be kept in perspective (how likely is it really?)

[Gadget Guy]

I look at it this way, If I lost everything I would get to start over which would be really fun!    Of course I don't want to lose my collection, but I don't worry about something that may or may not happen.   

[Sazabi]

That fear is effectively the reason why I don't keep the best goodies I come across for myself; it's because of that fear that leads to the point where, if I kept them locked away in a fireproof, multiton safe (which they are, anyway, while they're in transition), I'd not be able to appreciate them.  On the other hand, if I had them in a nice footlocker (like the Gerstner Machinist Chest - which I am getting one day  ), I'd be fearful of the house being broken into and all of the items stolen by some chav.  Well, that's the main and subsequent subset reasons, but beyond that, for the past year or longer, I've been in a minimalistic mode, and I suppose college is helping with this (i.e. having much less available funds, as well as space), and I don't see the point of having all of these really neat goodies when I know someone else could easily enjoy and appreciate it much more than I could... in fact, that's yet another reason why I'm wondering just what the hell I'm going to do with a Victorinox rotating display cabinet I received for Christmas. :/

Would I be hurt if I lost my "collection?"  Eh, yeah, probably some, but what I have now, aside from the items I find at gun and knife shows and pass on to others (hey, I know that most people going to them have no bloody clue that such and such an item is more than just pretty, and I like helping out my sources... they've become friends over time, in fact), I have around forty knives or so back home, and even many of those I'm trying to whittle down.  Granted, that doesn't include the six chronometers (or more?) that I've received over the years as gifts - none of them worth less than $200-$300, and that's the cheapest one... and yes, losing those gifts would hurt even more, but I'd just view it as a chance to evaluate what I really "need," and go from there, being able to live simply and minimalistically... well, and still probably have a small cache of thirty SAKs or so - they cost so relatively little, and take up such little space, that I might as well have a small collection of them; with that said, however, I'd much rather have models that I'd actually carry and use, as opposed to having, for example, Shuttles, Astronauts, and Battle Series knives (or any of the specially scaled Ambassadors), which, frankly, I'd not be able to carry... carrying them would defeat the whole purpose of their existence in the first place.  To carry those would be akin to using mint, uncirculated coins to pay for your coffee... umm, no.  That's not right, in my book. 

Oh, and I suppose to stay on-topic *hah* yeah, get insurance to cover the items.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Let a few tools go by without buying them and invest in a few good fire extinguishers!

Just kidding- I am certain that your household insurance company would be happy to take some extra money from you every month to cover your collection.  The difficulties involved though are valuation (since we are the authorities on multitools can we realistically be allowed to set our own values?) and replacement if you could get an accurate appraisal done.  I don't know about you, but I imagine some of the ones I have like the MUltitool.org Charges, Depanneur and Al Mar 4x4 are going to be almost impossible to replace.

Def

[Magnus]

Wouldn't the normal house contents insurance cover them?

A small CO2 fire extinguisher only costs about £20 - £30 and is a good investment.  CO2 extinguishers are safe for electrical fires and are least likely to damage things you use them on.

[DaveK]

Wouldn't the normal house contents insurance cover them?

It depends on the policy I think Magnus.

Mine does, provided I can provide evidence that I actually owned them. That's one of the reasons I started my blog - as a sort of catalog

I really do need to make a list and attempt a valuation though, but like Grant says - it's hard to put values on some of the old, rare or customised pieces.

[Sazabi]

Wouldn't the normal house contents insurance cover them?

It depends on the policy I think Magnus.

Mine does, provided I can provide evidence that I actually owned them. That's one of the reasons I started my blog - as a sort of catalog

I really do need to make a list and attempt a valuation though, but like Grant says - it's hard to put values on some of the old, rare or customised pieces.

Their value is as much as you want... one million for a pocket knife?  Suure.  XD

[Chako]

DaveK, that is exactly one of the reasons why I take so many photographs and squirrel them away on Photobucket to post on here.

[David Bowen]

I am not freaking out or anything, just always been something in the back of my mind for the future. Glad to know I am not the only one who thinks this way sometimes, nice to know there is an option. I reality I know nothing is going to happen, sometimes I think we all get in the doom and gloom mode and think the sky is falling like chicken little