Farthings and SwissChamps

[IMR4198]

      I read a short story years ago about a young boy who collected coins and a curio dealer who did likewise.  I don't remember the name of the story or who wrote it, but it took place in 19th Century England.  I might have to fabricate a few parts to fill in the parts I don't remember. 
       A youngster on his way to school passed by an old shop of curios.  A hand-lettered sign in the window says.  Farthings needed 1833 and 1836.  Will pay 1 sovereign each. 
        The lad collected coins and knew it might be difficult to find some of these, but the promise of a hefty reward plus the idea he would be helping a collector complete a set gave him inspiration.  So he began.
         The youngster asked all the older folks that he knew if any of them had any old coins.  Many did.  They would take down an old tin box, or maybe a jar from a cupboard and let the lad look through the dusty relics.  Finally he found one.  The 1833.  He could scarely breathe as he took the coin clutched tight in his hand down to the shop.  The sign was still in the window.  Inside an aging proprietor accepted the coin.  Took out a glass and looked it over carefully.  Then he reached into the till and took out a shiny new sovereign. 
       The child was thrilled and redoubled his search for the last remaining farthing.  At last he came across the 1836 coin.  He could scarcely breathe.  The woman who had it wondered why he wanted it so badly, then asked him half a crown for it with a sly look in her eyes.  Shaking, he counted out the price, then saw the old woman had a tear in her eye.  She pushed the money back to the boy and said that he could have it for nothing. 
        His feet didn't seem to touch the ground as he went back to the curio shop and passed the coin to the proprietor.  The boy said that the old man could take down his sign now.  The old man walked solemnly to his front window and took down the sign, then gave the lad another sovereign. 
       Several days passed before the young man found himself passing by the curio shop again.  There was the same familiar sign in the window.  Farthings needed 1833 and 1836.  Will pay 1 sovereign each.  The boy was puzzled was walked away.  Why?  He knew the man had both of them now?  With new resolve, he walked back to the shop and entered.  Same old dark, dusty shop that smelled of old wood.  Same old expressionless proprietor.  He asked the man why he put the sign back up again to try and find the same two coins. 
        The proprietor didn't answer for a while.  Then he told the lad why.  He said that if he didn't put out the sign and keep looking for the coins life had no meaning at all. 

        That is a long-winded beginning.  When I came on this site, I figured I needed a goal of some sort.  See if I could get a Leatherman and maybe a big Victorinox.  Champion or something.  Now I have both.  More than one Leatherman courtesy of a friend and the Sos surprise box.  A SwissChamp.  Newly received from another friend.  Nice things and I appreciate them, but I do feel just a shadow of what the old curio shopkeep was feeling.  Best wishes.  G  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

[nate j]

I get it.

Sometimes the it’s the thrill of the hunt we enjoy more than having the trophy on the wall.

I guess I’ve been collecting knives and MTs long enough that it ebbs and flows.  Sometimes I branch out into a new area, or find a series of great deals.  Other times, I don’t see much I’m interested in acquiring for a long while.

[Frailer]

It’s very common to see folks in collecting communities speak of finding a “grail” item. Nevertheless,  it often turns out that the item in question was  merely expensive, or perhaps moderately difficult to acquire.

IMHO a “grail,” by its very definition should be a thing that might *never* be found.  There are two such items in my own little collecting world. One is a specific revolver that I know exists, yet I know no one who has ever seen one in the flesh. The other is a Victorinox 91mm “Waiter Plus” with its proper box.

Someday…maybe.  But the joy is in the hunt.

[Rockwell]

As Frailer says "the joy is in the hunt" Nice little story i recognize somehow.

[AzteCypher]

I definitely agree with those sentiments.  It's the journal towards the goal, and the good people you meet on that journey, that makes it worthwhile.

[J2000E]

I wrote the following piece for another hobby - but for me the mechanism is the same for whatever I take interest in:

Do not surrender to - what I have named - "grail emptiness". The feeling of meaninglessness and anxiety that can hit you when you have reached one of your goals. The emptiness and sometimes disorientation has its explanation.

Take comfort in the knowledge that collecting is not solely about the possession of things. It is as much, or more and for some, maybe to the full extent - about the quest. The research, the hunt, the journey, meetings, contacts - and the dreaming.

You are not alone in your grail emptiness. I would say we all suffer from it in different ways and forms. I tackle it by finding a new grail to covet and long for. Sometimes I alternate between hobbies to find new inspiration.

I found this some time ago and I think it is well put:
“The main thing is that I discovered that half the fun of owning a watch is, like the fulfillment of all desires, about the pursuit –shopping around is fun and ownership is the beginning of something, but also the end.” Jack Forster, Contributor, Forbes Magazine

[MTSAK]

Acquiring a grail and no longer having that search always leaves an empty hole.

[PitCarver]

Awesome, and with silver tech scales also.
Definitely worthy of a grail quest.

[gustophersmob]

Funny thing, my grail just popped up on eBay. A ‘57 elinox pioneer with the original, triangular awl. But, alas, it will remain a grail as the opening bid is $400. Far more spendy than I could ever justify.

[nate j]

Funny thing, my grail just popped up on eBay. A ‘57 elinox pioneer with the original, triangular awl. But, alas, it will remain a grail as the opening bid is $400. Far more spendy than I could ever justify.

My advice is to put it on your watchlist and keep an eye on it, anyway.  Often, opening bids that are too high are off-putting to buyers (even if the item might have been bid up to that selling price eventually).  Then it becomes a waiting game to see if the seller will drop the opening bid price.

[Ozark75]

One is a specific revolver that I know exists, yet I know no one who has ever seen one in the flesh.

Now I'm curious. I'm a wheel gun collector myself. Care to share what this grail is you've been searching for? PM me if you don't want to share in an open forum.

[Frailer]

Now I'm curious. I'm a wheel gun collector myself. Care to share what this grail is you've been searching for? PM me if you don't want to share in an open forum.

I don’t mind sharing. I collect 2”-barreled Smith & Wesson revolvers, primarily early (1950s) J-frames. My “grail” is a Centennial Airweight (“pre-Model 42”) from 1953 with an aluminum cylinder. There were supposedly 37 made, but I’ve yet to see one.

[Ozark75]

I don’t mind sharing. I collect 2”-barreled Smith & Wesson revolvers, primarily early (1950s) J-frames. My “grail” is a Centennial Airweight (“pre-Model 42”) from 1953 with an aluminum cylinder. There were supposedly 37 made, but I’ve yet to see one.

Very nice. Now I'm going to have to keep an eye out. I collect spur trigger 22 revolvers. Usually 1870's.

[AzteCypher]

I don't collect guns but I'm a fan of the pinfire revolvers and the break tops.

[Barry Rowland]

This sums it up for me. 

I wrote the following piece for another hobby - but for me the mechanism is the same for whatever I take interest in:

Do not surrender to - what I have named - "grail emptiness". The feeling of meaninglessness and anxiety that can hit you when you have reached one of your goals. The emptiness and sometimes disorientation has its explanation.

Take comfort in the knowledge that collecting is not solely about the possession of things. It is as much, or more and for some, maybe to the full extent - about the quest. The research, the hunt, the journey, meetings, contacts - and the dreaming.

You are not alone in your grail emptiness. I would say we all suffer from it in different ways and forms. I tackle it by finding a new grail to covet and long for. Sometimes I alternate between hobbies to find new inspiration.

I found this some time ago and I think it is well put:
“The main thing is that I discovered that half the fun of owning a watch is, like the fulfillment of all desires, about the pursuit –shopping around is fun and ownership is the beginning of something, but also the end.” Jack Forster, Contributor, Forbes Magazine

[Barry Rowland]

I love wheels guns. 

Now I'm curious. I'm a wheel gun collector myself. Care to share what this grail is you've been searching for? PM me if you don't want to share in an open forum.