Ever think you're done buying knives?

F

fishbulb

Joined
Sep 18, 2001
Messages
1,196
I have now reached the point where I have one of all the major varieties of knife. I have a good fixed blade, a good slipjoint, and a great folder that could not be better for my uses. Of course, there are also a couple multitools and some assorted sharp gadgets (Spydercard etc.).

I have the ability to get more knives, and I want to get more knives, but I absolutely can't think of what to buy. I do know that I'm not ready to start looking at handmade and custom knives.

I don't like the idea of being a collector, and there is no way I can justify having an EDC rotation like some people here. I suppose I could always get a balisong, our flipping friends seem to have a lot of fun with those.

In short, I love knives but I know I can't justify purchasing any more of them.

Maybe after Blade there will be some new stuff available that I will decide I need.

Has anybody else ever hit a similar impasse, and what did you do about it?
 
Well Fishbulb,

I was at exactly that spot in my collecting hobby, when I turned to customs. Granted, there are a lot of different customs to be had. The bad news is, I'm at a dead end with the custom route now. I have every maker I ever wanted in my collection. Those that I read about in Blade as a youngster and truly admired, were the first ones I bought.

Now that I've found Mike Snody folders, I don't think I'll ever need to buy another knife as long as I live, but we all know that won't happen.

I'm sure we will both find a new route to embrace.
 
"Knife acquisitions flow endlessly like the Great Yellow River, Grasshopper. One cannot cease the flow, merely re-direct it."
 
how can you say you have every variety of knives and yet you don't have a quality balisong.....FOR SHAME

May I reccomend a Benchmade 43
 
I was actually one click away from getting a BM 31 when I decided I would wait to see what the folks from Colorado are offering. It seems that the balisong market is ready to expand very fast, and I want to be able to take advantage of it.

Don't worry, I see several balis in my future.
 
By chance I stopped buying knives when my friend stopped smoking. He now smokes two packs a week while I buy one knife a month. I guess he came out best.;)
 
I can't see me ever completely ceasing to buy knives. There will always be something I like. There will be times when I won't be focused on knives like I am now, but I will always love knives. It's too cool a hobby to ever give up.
 
The only times I'll be done buyin, is when I'm broke or dyin', right now been outta work 3 months recovering from knee surgery:( , and all my friends are waitin' for me to kick so they can divie up my collection.:mad:
 
I'm almost done.
The Rinaldi TTKK I've got on order will round me out nicely. That will make 19 knives, total, and I could lose five or six of them that were gifts or are beaters without missing them. I'm very satisfied with the knives that I still own (the ones I haven't sold off), and have no desire to replace any of them with "something better", since for the most part they are the "something better" that have already replaced other knives.
Those are all users.
If I was going to collect knives, there would be no end to it. I like "tactical" folders, neck knives, fighters, big choppers, various types of slipjoints and lockbacks, etc, etc, etc.
Just can't bring myself to start a collection, because 1) I don't like stuff sitting around not being used, considering it a waste of a fine tool, and 2) even if I didn't feel that way, I'm obsessive, would never be satisfied, and would WANT to dump gobs of money that I don't have on them. A complete collection of anything is a pretty costly endeavor. If I had tons of disposable income, it would be different, but that's just not the reality at the moment. More's the pity...
 
I would say get a 4 inch balisong as your first, as 3 inch is too small and 5 inch is too big for a beginner.
 
Fishbulb,
I'm currently facing the same predicament. I have all the knives i need, possibly a few more and i can't seem to find a piece that draws my attention enough to buy it, there are very few manufacturers that i have any interest in and have yet to buy from. I've yet to find the 'perfect' folder for me. I'm currently waiting on my first custom (fb), should be with me in a week or two, maybe i need to get a Camillus Maxx as well :confused:
I imagine that getting into balisongs would open a whole new world of knife-swinging goodness for you. Happy shopping :)
 
Get some other people hooked. Pick out a mark, someone who you think will be susceptible, and give them a decent Spyderco, SAK or multi-tool.
 
You know the drill. You're on your knees, looking into a toilet bowl that's spinning like a kaleidescope, your head is killing you, you can't remember or imagine feeling worse, and what do you say - (come on, sing along boys and girls) - "I'll never drink again."

And what happens, you don't drink, for another two hours or two months or whatever, but one day you're gonna do it again.

You might be looking at your excellent collection of knives, and your low bank account, and say, "I'll never buy another knife again." But one of these days you'll come around, and you'll get another knife, and the best part about it is - you won't have to puke it up!

Reason #153 why knives are better than beer.
 
For the foreseeable future, yes. I have all of the Microtechs I need or want, and some of the aluminum LCC's to use as EDC's. I did have a high-end fetish, but a month ago I found and purchased the last remaining one I needed to complete the set.

I have an Opinel, a Chang custom, a Buck Big Sky, a stag handled stilleto, a few Kershaw Speed-Safe models and a bunch of freebies to use and abuse. I've also successfully sold off the knives I no longer need or want. I like my collection.

I'm going to back out of the hectic trading world for a bit and wait to see what the next craze is going to be.
 
There is no need to justify buying anything. Its all a matter of disposable income and how you want to spend it. If you like a certain knife and it would give you pleasure to own it, then buy it if you can afford it. Other people spend money to travel far and wide. I could care less about that. I would rather spend my money on guns and knives. Most recently knives more than guns. Its easy to find knives I want, but one cant have them all, so choosing is the hard part. If it was about need, we would all live in tiny apartments, drive the cheapest little car we could find, and dress in the cheapest clothing, etc etc, its not and never will be. Some people that shell out 40 grand for SUVs and then say they need a reason to buy a knife, are just prioritizing differently. Its never been about a need. Or economy would collapse if it ever was just about need.
 
What folks from Colorado?

I stopped buying guns and am now only buying knives, so I figure I'm WAY ahead of the game. I can buy a lot more knives now and I don't even feel bad about it!

I never buy ANYTHING just for collection purposes - for it to sit around unused. I only buy things I could see myself using and getting pleasure out of.


Originally posted by fishbulb
I was actually one click away from getting a BM 31 when I decided I would wait to see what the folks from Colorado are offering. It seems that the balisong market is ready to expand very fast, and I want to be able to take advantage of it.

Don't worry, I see several balis in my future.
Click to expand...
:confused:
 
There have been rumors of a Spyderco Balisong for some time, and it appears that it is actually going to happen. Spyderco is the folks from Colorado.

When I mentioned justifying a knife purchase it wasn't a matter of need. I could probably get by just fine with a Wave and a cheap machete for chopping. Need went bye-bye long ago.

It is more a matter of what I can carry and use at one time. There is just no way I will carry more than one knife at a time. Most of the time I have a folder. If I am camping or fixing things I use a fixed blade and a Leatherman.

For example, thanks to my BM 555 I will never require another folder. Despite that I carry a nice slipjoint to work, because it is attractive and a pleasure to carry (plus no Rambo comments).

I'm thinking that I'll start looking for older slipjoints. These are cool, relatively inexpensive, small, and available in an almost unlimited number of configurations. I guess I might end up a collector after all, though I still intend to use everything I buy.
 
Yes....one can only redirect the flow.


Every time I fill up on users, I look for hard-to-find or great looking knives.

Every time I fill up on expensive knives, I get the urge to buy some cheapies, for perspective.

Every time I fill up on all kinds of knives, I buy gear.

Evey time I fill up on gear, My knife "needs" shift again, and then it is time to refresh the "users", etc.

And then there is that great deal I can't pass up on Ebay....
 
True to my knickname of "Tightwad" I measure all that I buy
by one thing..........

"Is what I'm about to buy measurably better that what I already own?"

If the answer is yes then I consider buying that item. ......knives included.

The problem lies in decideing if it's better or just different. Due to that twist
I've slowed almost to a stop in my buying. I have favorites that all knife buys
are measured against. If they fail to measure better , which most do, I don't
buy that knife. Keeps me balanced. I like the comfort of knowing I like what
I own and own what I like.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top