Is Collecting Letter Openers a Hobby?

[Charmion]

In the process of trying to find a replacement for a letter opener that costs $8.99, I stumbled on these (way, way over $8.99). Maybe this should have been posted in that nerdy thread awhile back.

http://www.walshbrothers.co.uk/Stock001/silver/HB7431s.jpg

http://www.walshbrothers.co.uk/Update/letter_opener.htm
http://www.walshbrothers.co.uk/Update/Pewter_Letter_opener.htm
http://www.walshbrothers.co.uk/Update/Celtic_Letter_opener.htm
http://www.walshbrothers.co.uk/Update/silver_letter_opener.htm
http://www.walshbrothers.co.uk/Update/envelope_opener.htm
http://www.walshbrothers.co.uk/Update/silver_plated_paper_knives.htm

http://www.letter-openers.com/

[LadyShea]

Collecting is a hobby, and yes there are some super nice letter openers- antique, vintage, and modern- out there that someone might collect. I have seen Waterford crystal and sterling silver ones as well as whimsical pieces that look like animals and so forth.

[livius drusus]

My dad had an onyx letter opener that matched this crazy onyx old-timey phone he had in his office. It was way, way cool, needless to say.

[Ymir's blood]

I have a letter opener from Japan that looks like a tantō. My grandfather had it when I was growing up and it always fascinated me. *The tannic acid in the bog does leave the mummy somewhat gooey and distorted however. He was stationed in Japan after the war, but I don't know that that's how he acquired it.