Buying for what purpose

I slowly worked my way up starting at a $30 gerber folder and beating the life out of it till the edge couldn't cut ANYTHING. Then I got use to using higher dollar knives for all my tasks, now I carry a Strider SMF and love it. But all of my knives have been used and pretty hard for quite a while.
 
rkhndjr said:
I am new here and wonder how many buy for a collection type as opposed to utility. There is such a huge assortment and I am spending hours on this PC going over sellers and reading here. Looking at a Manix 2 and a BM 940. Great price difference. I can only afford one more and so many choices is driving me nuts:-)) I appreciate all your comments and patience. Just wanted to get it off my mind here. What do you base a decision on?
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"collecting" implies organization, which I don't really have.
"utilization" implies I need every knife I got, which I got too many for that to be true.

I guess I buy knives because, "OOOOOO! that looks like it might be a really neat design! I gotta try that one!"
or
"Cool! I've never had a knife with that alloy! I need to try it! and see how that alloy performs!".
 
When I was a kid living in upstate New York, I bought a swiss army knife and a buck because I thought they were neat and would be useful to tool around with in the woods.

In my college years, I started accumulating fixed blades for camping and generally for outdoor use. Loads of them just to try them out more than anything else.

With the modern folders, I guess I buy them just to check out the technology and innovation. I don't really need all of them. I'm not in to cars and hi-tech gadgets, or rather my job takes care of all that, so I guess knives are just a diversion for me. I don't think collecting these modern folders is any different than the previous generations and thier slipjoints. Plus it's a pretty neat hobby since knives retain their value well.
 
I don't really collect knives to have any special particular one, but I've just been buying them for so many years. I like to see which ones are more suited for which task, and sometimes I just want a knife because I like the look of it and want to see what it's like to use for one thing or the other.

Then when it comes time that I actually need a knife for something, I've already got a great big collection of several that are fit for the task.
 
Did you decide yet? For me the BM 940 is excellent with the only exception being the forest green handle. I want black without going to an LE version. I'm also not really a "spydie hole" kind of guy. Eventually they may win me over because of their impeccable quality, but not right now.
 
Personally, if I see a knife that's different or new compared to what I have, and I have the money for it, I'll buy it. A lot of my friends are into knives, so it's nice to compare and contrast. I'm never without some sort of knife, so variety is nice, and it's like John Smith said, knives retain their value, so if I really regret a purchase, or really need cash, it's not like I can get rid of them
 
I buy knives for a combination of reasons. It's mainly an entertaining hobby/diversion for me, but the output is something i can use.

I - in all honesty- go a day perfectly fine without a knife in my pocket. I rarely have a definite need for a pocket knife, but if i've got one i'll use it.
For instance, when i go camping, i've got a hatchet and a folding knife on me. But when i'm at work, there are days that my EDC folder never leaves my pocket.

I buy knives that are functional, and of quality. Sure, for my daily uses a $30 knife is plenty sufficient (and often it's what i've got on me), but i appreciate quality as much as the next guy. I'd like to say i've got few qualms about using my knives, but i also choose what to carry based on what i'm doing.

When i'm biking, i've likely got my Kershaw Skyline or a SRM cheapie on me, because if it fell out of my pocket, i'd never notice until i stop. when i'm at work, i'm generally in a lab or at a desk for hours, and i'll carry whatever knife pleases me. Today it's a SAK pocket pal, tomorrow it'll probably be my 940, and later this week (hopefully) it'll be a new sebenza.

knarfeng said:
"collecting" implies organization, which I don't really have.
"utilization" implies I need every knife I got, which I got too many for that to be true.

I guess I buy knives because, "OOOOOO! that looks like it might be a really neat design! I gotta try that one!"
or
"Cool! I've never had a knife with that alloy! I need to try it! and see how that alloy performs!".
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That's often the same with me. I don't really have all that many knives, which is probably a good thing because i tend to feel guilty when one doesn't get enough pocket time. I figure, if i had a larger collection, i'd be swapping knives in my pocket several times a day. My pockets would disintegrate.
 
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corwise said:
I'm at the point where I'm trying to decide what to buy next. Almost all my purchases thus far have been users. But I've passed the point where I have more knives then I could ever use. While I do sell/trade some knives, for the most part I like keeping/having the good ones.
So do I stop buying knives? Sounds horrible. Do I start buying 'collection' knives? Or just keep buying more and more Busses/Sebbies? Or do I buy crazy expensive users, like getting a Walter Brend Model 2 for $2400 (best price I could find!). Scary.
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I went through that with cameras and now am sensible as to money. My feelings are to buy as long as you can afford to and enjoy the collection. I just got a Delica 4 Light in the mail and am as thrilled as if it were a Sebenza. I have pondered which to get next but decide3d I didn't need another at my age. Maybe one more:-)) So many choices, though..
 
knarfeng said:
"collecting" implies organization, which I don't really have.
"utilization" implies I need every knife I got, which I got too many for that to be true.

I guess I buy knives because, "OOOOOO! that looks like it might be a really neat design! I gotta try that one!"
I dig that! Done it too many times with other toys. Ain't it fun, though???
or
"Cool! I've never had a knife with that alloy! I need to try it! and see how that alloy performs!".
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Or. that lock will be best I think and will go ahead and buy the knife.
 
John Smith V said:
When I was a kid living in upstate New York, I bought a swiss army knife and a buck because I thought they were neat and would be useful to tool around with in the woods.

In my college years, I started accumulating fixed blades for camping and generally for outdoor use. Loads of them just to try them out more than anything else.

With the modern folders, I guess I buy them just to check out the technology and innovation. I don't really need all of them. I'm not in to cars and hi-tech gadgets, or rather my job takes care of all that, so I guess knives are just a diversion for me. I don't think collecting these modern folders is any different than the previous generations and thier slipjoints. Plus it's a pretty neat hobby since knives retain their value well.
Click to expand...
You know, I am 84 years old and this is really the first time I knew there was a knife forum. I quit the camera buying and went directly to this and it is just great...
 
DallasSTB said:
Did you decide yet? For me the BM 940 is excellent with the only exception being the forest green handle. I want black without going to an LE version. I'm also not really a "spydie hole" kind of guy. Eventually they may win me over because of their impeccable quality, but not right now.
Click to expand...
I got a Delica 4 Light today and the BM 940 is next on my list. It will be the last for me since my wife sees me as getting back into "gotta have that"...
 
rkhndjr said:
Thanks for all this info. I really like the looks of the Manix 2 and am probably going for it. Weight is no factor. ( I just look at both again and decided the 940 is going to be it. I am a sucker for tanto blade and the slim design makes it better) I really enjoy looking and handling the knife and it is a lot cheaper than selling and buying cameras which I did for many years. I can justify a $100 buy but bot a $600 buy:-))
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I was into cameras for many years too, mostly early Nikon and Leica (ouch!).

As for knives, if I can't use it, I am not interested in it. They all have to pull their weight.
 
I believe that it is not worth buying if you are not using. I have a few decent knives. About 20 and use them all throughout the year as I feel the need to. So I wont really say I am a collector of art knives but more a gatherer of tools.

You made a good choice with the Manix 2. It is a great user knife. Now start saving for the Benchmade and then you have a dress knife as well! That way you live up to the Bladeforums motto of 'get both', 'buy what appeals to you' and 'a knife for every occasion'!
 
I like S&W revolvers - but I think I have enough. This is a simple decision - new S&W's cost what a new large and small Sebenza would cost - and that's a J-frame. Want something nicer? Add the cost of a new CR Umnamzan!

So - it's economics. I get the same enjoyment, as far as pride of ownership, when I fondle a new knife, $100-$200 range is my upper limit, as I do with a $600-$1,000 revolver. Of course, I can use it anywhere - and most will fit my pockets, too. No Fed #4473 form to fill out, either. No 30+ mile trip each way to a 'knife range' - I can open that PayPal bill with that new knife - on my stoop - for that latest edged buy. I guess resharpening is akin to cleaning... but - I can't find anything equivalent to my basement ammo factory - an expensive need for a firearm.

I choose knives I've always wanted - often, given the choice, I'll opt for a lesser scale - Micarta vs burls - but premium blade metal. I prefer US-made - but like Germany and Switzerland (Where else for SAKs?) as well. Technical/engineering aspects are important - as is handfit. Sadly, I act like my grandmonsters all-too-often... "I want! I want!! I want!!!". May be the age...

Stainz
 
rkhndjr said:
You know, I am 84 years old and this is really the first time I knew there was a knife forum. I quit the camera buying and went directly to this and it is just great...
Click to expand...

Age has absolutely nothing at all to do with the toys we want. :D
 
I buy my knives to use. Every single one of my knives has seen at least some use. They generally just get replaced when I find something I like more, but they will often find their way back into my hand cutting something eventually. I do have one nice knife, my mcusta mc-1 in paper micarta and damascus, that sees limited use because it's just so darn purdy. that said, it does see use whenever I'm dressed up in something nice or it is some sort of special occasion and something needs to be cut.
 
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