A shift in the paradigm?

I've already found my happy place - and the simple truth is that I don't need any more knives....especially fixed blades (I'd like to thin that herd; but it will be tough)
I won't say that I'm done buying....but it's back under control. <snicker>
I don't need $400+ knives to be satisfied...I'm glad I tried these, and I like them enough to keep them; but I'm very happy with what I've experienced at $250 and under.
 
hhmoore said:
Will I soon adopt an elitist attitude? Will I no longer appreciate "lesser" knives? Will I be able to carry, and use, these new knives? Or will I be too worried about the cost?
Only time will tell.........
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I experienced a similar situation recently. My first quality blade was a Kershaw Leek. I then built up a solid Kershaw collection, and ZTs were my grails. I remember seeing the 0562CF announced and drooling over it. That winter I bought an 0562CF from a dealer (the only knife I've ever bought new to this day) and an 0801BLK. That marked a serious shift in my collection. I crossed from the sub $100 range to the $100 to $250 range. I then started culling down on the Kershaws and built up the ZTs. I noticed that I wasn't interested in carrying most of the Kershaws anymore, which really marked that shift for me. I peaked at 10 ZTs at one point, and I decided once more that it was time to up my game. I had a ZT 0560 with all Ti hardware and a CF scale. I threw it up for trade for a blade in the $350 range. I managed to trade it for a Strider SMF CC. This was the second (and most recent) shift in my collection. Since then, I've acquired an SnG, a couple ADV Butchers, and some nice Brous. I've found myself more willing to add cash to a trade, and I've worried less about losing $10 value on a trade (which mattered a lot back in the Kershaw days). Another major difference when compared to the last shift is I haven't felt the need to cull down the ZTs. I currently have 7 ZTs, 2 Strider, 2 ADV, 1 Brous, and 1 Kershaw in my collection. I carry all of my knives, but I'm definitely more cautious about using one less than the other. I can still appreciate the value of the cheaper blades, but I don't really have a desire to own them.
 
I have really went around the block. I joined Blade Forums April of this year at that time I had about 63 knives and the majority were junk. I took a deep breath and gave most of them to my son intending to start over with knowledge obtained here. Since then I have I have spent over $8000 (yea kind of stupid) on knives thinking I had to have everything the guy's and gal's on here thought were cool. For the last several weeks I have realized what I really like are old used traditionals. It's like finding treasure when you find one. I like to think about who has owned them, what they have cut and where they have been not to mention that they take me back to a simpler time of growing up in the 60's. Don't get me wrong I still like a lot of modern folders and are keeping some I have but am selling and have sold a lot of them recently. I have no idea if or when I will head off in another direction in this crazy hobby we have chosen, I do know however I will never spend this much money on knives in such a short time again. But best of luck to the OP and all of my fellow knife addicts.
 
@ hhmoore:
I did not mean to insult you in any way, sorry!
I did not mean to question your experience or education in any way.
For what I meant is, that I learn something new every day. i.e: so many new steels and production techniques.
Each purchase enriches my experience, as when i handle/use a knife i get new impressions.
So learning and gaining experience is a livelong endeavour, at least for me.
red mag
 
Im jealous of your knives.

Regarding the thumb pain with the Dua: its possible your grip is squeezing the framelock into the blade when you go to open it. I had the same problem with some framelocks until i was aware i was applying pressure to the lockbar. Changing my grip solved the problem.

YMMV.

Good luck.
 
red mag said:
@ hhmoore:
I did not mean to insult you in any way, sorry!
I did not mean to question your experience or education in any way.
For what I meant is, that I learn something new every day. i.e: so many new steels and production techniques.
Each purchase enriches my experience, as when i handle/use a knife i get new impressions.
So learning and gaining experience is a livelong endeavour, at least for me.
red mag
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red mag,
It wasn't you, per se...as my comment indicated, it's something that comes up regularly when I (or anybody else) is less than thrilled with CRK; with the implication being that we aren't simply aren't educated or experienced enough to appreciate the quality that CRK brings to the table. (that was part of sentiment behind my elitist attitude comment). Looking back, I didn't entirely get that vibe from your post, and I think that it wasn't intended. For my part - I'm far from the most experienced or most knowledgeable person in this hobby...but I know what feels good in my hand (and I don't think education and experience have all that much to do with that).
Jamesh Bond said:
Regarding the thumb pain with the Dua: its possible your grip is squeezing the framelock into the blade when you go to open it. I had the same problem with some framelocks until i was aware i was applying pressure to the lockbar. Changing my grip solved the problem.
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You are correct, that can be a problem with frame locks; and it is always worth throwing that information out there. In this instance, though, I did check my grip in case the size of the knife left my fingers in the wrong place. It was just hard to open - and has improved since I lubed it.

I just realized I hadn't posted pictures yet. I can post the Dua, because I already took those and put them in photobucket. The others will be up shortly.
 
Just received my first Grayman. That Dua is tough to open. Still has that new knife stiffness, so hope that will smooth out over time. Thanks for the lube idea. Want to like this one, as I love the way it looks, but needs to one hand open easier than it does.

All told, a difficult pressure lift for the human thumb/hand to achieve. I find this also on my Sebenza 25 with that tough holding ceramic ball. As it now stands, my EDC Seb 21 is the one to beat. Thanks for all of the info...;-)
 
K.O.D. said:
Sometimes I really ought to listen to my wife. She had mentioned on several occasions that I really should scale down as there are only two or three I ever carry. The problem is, most of them (Spyderco's) are well loved/used and not really in condition to sell. What I mostly carry now are the SG Spider Monkey, which is by far my favorite knife I've owned, then the TSF Beast and Kizer Ki423.

The Southern Grind is the knife that has made me stop looking at other knives, except for the fact of wanting a commemorative custom as mentioned in my thread on it.
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Just got a spider money too, and I know what you are talking about.

As for the OP, I think now is the time that you really know what you want in a knife and pay a little more to get it. Yes you will start using them, it may take a while. It took me about a year before I started carrying my Sebenza regularly.
 
Great info here. I have evolved into the same kind of situation as a lot of other people on here. I have owned a ton of different knives in the last few years.

Finally took the plunge last year into the CRK, Strider, and RHK world. Went about full circle and back to a large Insingo Sebenza and an SMF is what I am holding onto these days.

Are they the perfect knives.....no........but they are the knives that work for me.......at least until I get bored or see something else I want!! Haha
 
Same deal here. I started with Spyderco's, I think I have 4 left now (just the ones that aren't easily replaced) I have moved on to CRK, Strider, Hinderer and I still have some ZT's and Emerson's. It is a bit of journey to find what you like but for me Hinderer feels pretty close and now that the pricing has come into the realm of "somewhat affordable" this one kind of ticks all the boxes.

To get back to the OP, specifically will you become and elitest, carry them etc. For me I have found I have just gotten more selective meaning I know what I like to use specific knives for. Now I have users and I use them at work where they are likely to get to get scratched up this is typically an Emerson on ZT. When I don't anticipate that type of day I carry a more expensive folder and thoroughly enjoy it. This kind of gives me the best of both worlds.
 
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K.O.D. said:
Sometimes I really ought to listen to my wife. She had mentioned on several occasions that I really should scale down as there are only two or three I ever carry. The problem is, most of them (Spyderco's) are well loved/used and not really in condition to sell. What I mostly carry now are the SG Spider Monkey, which is by far my favorite knife I've owned, then the TSF Beast and Kizer Ki423.

The Southern Grind is the knife that has made me stop looking at other knives, except for the fact of wanting a commemorative custom as mentioned in my thread on it.
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A good trick I have found is giving even my nicer knives away. Not only do I make someone happy, I make myself really think before impulsively buying a new knife. If I am looking at the latest new and shiny and have to remind myself that just last week I gave away a $150 knife that I didn't need, that will make me give it some critical thinking before pushing the button. :)
 
I've spent four years working through a complete cross-section of knives.........from $2,000.00+ to less than $100.00. I've worked around to ZT 0550/0551 and Hinderer......I've got a few beyond that, but that's where I'm at. I love the fit and finish of Hinderers/ZTs and very few other knives live up to those standards. Good luck in your search.....I've been there and done that.
 
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