Got the blade fever bad...

[bigpatvoodoodad]

$600, and you haven't seen a high-end production or custom knife that interests you? Have you looked around?

For around that price, you could have:

There's a ton of options out there. I only mentioned the tip of the iceberg

Those are absolutely beautiful. I've kind of just focused on getting an assortment of quality knives to start off with before buying an individual knife > $150. I'm sure I'll get there eventually.

I was kind of the same with AK rifles at first too. Bought a few cheaper East European AKs here and there and then bought the Russian Izhevsk SGL-21, which costs as much as any of the other 2 or 3 combined. They all shoot well though

 

[The Aflac Duck]

Those are absolutely beautiful. I've kind of just focused on getting an assortment of quality knives to start off with before buying an individual knife > $150. I'm sure I'll get there eventually.

I was kind of the same with AK rifles at first too. Bought a few cheaper East European AKs here and there and then bought the Russian Izhevsk SGL-21, which costs as much as any of the other 2 or 3 combined. They all shoot well though

I hear you!

But trust me when I say "been there done that". Ever since I got into high-end cutlery, I have a drawer full of knives that I don't carry anymore. I wanted an assortment at one point, but now that assortment is more like a horde Nowadays, I buy what I really want, rather than the ol' buy-and-try method that I used to do.

The knives you have are all great! If you're gonna step it up eventually, then take that step now and get it over with:thumbup:

If you foresee yourself stepping into the high-end knife culture in the future, then buy yourself a Sebenza or Umnumzaan and don't look back. Otherwise, all the knives you're accumulating now will just collect dust eventually

 

[bigpatvoodoodad]

Nice startup package!
In just a couple months you've acquired pretty much all the "starters" for the 3 major brands, Benchmade, Spydie, and KAI (Kershaw/Zero Tolerance), you obviously did some homework on your own time before swiping the credit cards, and I want to say thank you for that, rather then just posting the standard "help me pick" thread. Love that you just went ahead and picked for yourself, and choose (D) all of the above, lol...

Welcome to the folds, lookin forward to hearing your opinions on each, and seeing which direction you begin leaning towards. Now all you need is a Mora and a slip joint to let the fixed blade and traditional bugs to set in, and you'll be really screwed

Thanks. Yeah, it can be overwhelming at first. So many brands. I just narrowed it down to a top 3. I do like doing my own research and since no one really knows what I like better than me, I hesitate to ask for others to "help me pick". I have some old school knives in my sight.

When my dad died he left me a Case Mako and Sodbuster, both well used. I gave those to my siblings after I gave them some TLC. I've still got an old beat up Gerber lock knife from the 70's/80's. I also have a Parker Cutlery Bobcat that is in OK condition. He also left me a Schrade EOD knife which is pristine. My dad was trained EOD, but never used the knife. That's what they have bomb robots for

 

[edgybat]

You sound like you definitely feel my pain. I need to look up most of what you mentioned. The only SAK I own is a multi-tool. It's the Spirit X and it rides on my belt when I'm outside working in the yard.

Yeah I got the Tinker and the SD as a package...good little deal on Amazon. The rest were bought after lots of research on what I wanted. Man, this is an expensive obsession

 

[bigpatvoodoodad]

I hear you!

But trust me when I say "been there done that". Ever since I got into high-end cutlery, I have a drawer full of knives that I don't carry anymore. I wanted an assortment at one point, but now that assortment is more like a horde Nowadays, I buy what I really want, rather than the ol' buy-and-try method that I used to do.

The knives you have are all great! If you're gonna step it up eventually, then take that step now and get it over with:thumbup:

If you foresee yourself stepping into the high-end knife culture in the future, then buy yourself a Sebenza or Umnumzaan and don't look back. Otherwise, all the knives you're accumulating now will just collect dust eventually

Thanks for the advice. BTW, I'm a big fan of Jimi, and other blues musicians too - John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.

I like your quote too. I'm a HST fan. I've read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Hells Angels. That dude lived a hell of a life.

 

[bigpatvoodoodad]

Yeah I got the Tinker and the SD as a package...good little deal on Amazon. The rest were bought after lots of research on what I wanted. Man, this is an expensive obsession

That's the truth. Thanks to an Amazon deal of the day back in December, I am now knife nutty.

 

[onojoe]

Sounds like me when I first got into knives. If I could be so bold as to offer a little a advice it would be to slow down on the buying a little till you really know what you like. Then you won't end up with a hundred knives half of which you really don't want. Welcome to the club!

Mike

Great advice. I was just like you, ended up buyng knives that I never used, because they sounded so good. It took me a while to realize what I wanted in a knife and now I am selling off and refining my collection.... Welcome

 

[bigpatvoodoodad]

Great advice. I was just like you, ended up buyng knives that I never used, because they sounded so good. It took me a while to realize what I wanted in a knife and now I am selling off and refining my collection.... Welcome

My buying is definitely done for a bit....I think. lol

 

[Spyder59]

That's the truth. Thanks to an Amazon deal of the day back in December, I am now knife nutty.

Kershaw also makes Zero Tolerance knives. Check some of those out sometime. [emoji6]

 

[bigpatvoodoodad]

Kershaw also makes Zero Tolerance knives. Check some of those out sometime. [emoji6]

Will do. I have catalogs en route from my "top 3".

 

[NJBillK]

I hear you!

But trust me when I say "been there done that". Ever since I got into high-end cutlery, I have a drawer full of knives that I don't carry anymore. I wanted an assortment at one point, but now that assortment is more like a horde Nowadays, I buy what I really want, rather than the ol' buy-and-try method that I used to do.

The knives you have are all great! If you're gonna step it up eventually, then take that step now and get it over with:thumbup:

If you foresee yourself stepping into the high-end knife culture in the future, then buy yourself a Sebenza or Umnumzaan and don't look back. Otherwise, all the knives you're accumulating now will just collect dust eventually

One thing that this comment brings to mind is; if you are going to drive a car, just save up and spring for a Bentley, merc, Aston Martin, etc...

Buying one knife that is Huge in cost because it is a high end knife doesn't tell you (until it's too late) that you prefer a liner lock to a frame lock, or prefer a slip joint.
-------
I am with the majority here, pick up a bit of everything. A slip joint, a frame lock, an axis lock, bearing and washer pivot, lock back.

Get to know your likes and dislikes prior to dropping 650+ on a knife that you won't carry due to not liking it's lock, or even worse, forcing yourself to carry it only to sour yourself on the design.

You will eventually get there, maybe in a month, maybe a year, but don't make the purchase blind. You won't know what you are actually getting since you won't have a baseline to compare it to.

Again, welcome aboard!

 

[The Aflac Duck]

One thing that this comment brings to mind is; if you are going to drive a car, just save up and spring for a Bentley, merc, Aston Martin, etc...

Buying one knife that is Huge in cost because it is a high end knife doesn't tell you (until it's too late) that you prefer a liner lock to a frame lock, or prefer a slip joint.
-------
I am with the majority here, pick up a bit of everything. A slip joint, a frame lock, an axis lock, bearing and washer pivot, lock back.

Get to know your likes and dislikes prior to dropping 650+ on a knife that you won't carry due to not liking it's lock, or even worse, forcing yourself to carry it only to sour yourself on the design.

You will eventually get there, maybe in a month, maybe a year, but don't make the purchase blind. You won't know what you are actually getting since you won't have a baseline to compare it to.

Again, welcome aboard!

Thats a poor example. Obviously, OP has $600 to drop on knives so that's why I made such a suggestion. Plus, he already has an assortment to get a feel for and see what he likes/dislikes about them.

Going off of your example, why buy 10 Corvettes when you could have bought a Ferrari? The money is there, but what do you really want? There is nothing wrong with having multiple knives that cost less, but if there's a Sebenza in the back of your mind, get it!

Also, it's easier to sell one $500 knife instead of five $100 knives.

 

[coinbuysell]

Ha, I had a similar story. Lots of guns, but only cheap knives. Then bought a Blur. That was over 200 blades ago.

Blur's seem to be the gateway, that was also my first knife purchase in a decade...I heard about how great S30V was so I bought a Blur blem from Dave and it has been downhill from there. The knife industry has come a long way in the last decade or so, from Schrade/Buck lockbacks and traditionals to one hand opening super steel wonders :victorious:

 

[bodog]

Do yourself a favor and pick up an inexpensive Opinel, a strop and possibly a ceramic rod for touch ups.

You will be surprised how easy it is to get an Opinel Incredibly sharp. They do both carbon and stainless equally as nice, so don't fear that you are giving up any ground by going stainless, if you want to.

+1. If there's anything I'd really recommend to a guy just waking up to the knife world is that he needs to learn how to sharpen first. The rest will come with reading and doing.

Learning how to keep an opinel razor sharp will be a very important foundation for years to come. Blade geometry, blade sharpness, overall performance, value for the money, etc. should be the focus, not brand. Brands come later, after someone learns what is important to them. Many people waste a lot of time and money figuring out which brand they like rather than what kind of knife.

 

[Cursum Perficio]

OP, I think you will like the Manix XL, it's a favorite of mine.
May I suggest you get a deep carry clip for it? It's one of few Spydies that I think really needs one.

 

[Wavester]

Yes- you have it BAD lol. but I love hearing the excitement in your post...nothing like it. You have a lot of nice knives coming and you have come to the right place to enhance your blade *sickness* hahah. I see we are both BLUR fans. And since you are a Kershaw fan as well, make sure you check out the Knockout - excellent knife!

[video=youtube;-swkJoRFBbY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-swkJoRFBbY[/video]

I am a gun nut, and really only ever had crappy tac-force knives that I bought for myself. That is until this past December when I bought myself a Kershaw Blur (Sandvik Steel) on an Amazon deal. Since then I have been trying to learn as much as a I can about quality steels and quality knife makers.

Well, tax return is a coming and I have been on a knife buying binge. Today I bought a Kershaw Launch 2, a Kershaw Scrambler, and a Buck Omni Hunter 10 pt. Tomorrow I should be receiving my packages from bladehq and knifecenter. I have a Spyderco Manix 2 XL, Spyderco Endura 4, and Benchmade Griptilian coming along with a Boker Kalashnikov Auto and other cheaper "beater" knives - Schrade Auto, S&W Extreme Ops Auto, and a Smith and Wesson Karambit folder that will be a box opener. I will EDC each knife in rotation and will definitely use them, but I like keeping them razor sharp.

I have a 2 sided DMT hand-held red/blue sharpener, but I also have the Spyderco Sharpmaker in the mail.

So as a newb, I must say that I really like the Kershaws I have. The Launch is my first auto that I own and it's a blast playing with it so far. The CPM154 steel is scary sharp. The Blur is also scary sharp and the Sandvik steel resharpens with ease. The Scrambler is a a good budget Kershaw, with a decent blade (8Cr18MoV) and the deployment via flipper is pretty easy.

The Buck Omni Hunter felt right in my hand and I like that it is shaving sharp out of the box and has a lockback mechanism. As it is a more budget friendly knife, I wouldn't mind loaning it out to a friend.

I look forward to getting my Spydercos and Benchmade tomorrow. I'm sure these are sure to impress me as much, if not more, than the Kershaws I have in hand. I also look forward to getting my budget autos in so I can give the Launch's spring a rest from playing with it.

 

[Cutlover]

One thing that this comment brings to mind is; if you are going to drive a car, just save up and spring for a Bentley, merc, Aston Martin, etc...

Buying one knife that is Huge in cost because it is a high end knife doesn't tell you (until it's too late) that you prefer a liner lock to a frame lock, or prefer a slip joint.
-------
I am with the majority here, pick up a bit of everything. A slip joint, a frame lock, an axis lock, bearing and washer pivot, lock back.

Get to know your likes and dislikes prior to dropping 650+ on a knife that you won't carry due to not liking it's lock, or even worse, forcing yourself to carry it only to sour yourself on the design.

You will eventually get there, maybe in a month, maybe a year, but don't make the purchase blind. You won't know what you are actually getting since you won't have a baseline to compare it to.

Again, welcome aboard!

There are no sane people who would say "Oh, I already own a civic. Better get this ford fusion, dodge charger, smartcar, prius (in case I like hybrids), and accord before I buy that Maserati."

With knives, you really only need one to get a feel for most of the terms used. You could pick up a cheap frame lock, and you would already understand how smoothness, thumbstud, flipper, frame lock, blade centering, weight, jimping, blade thickness, grind, and lock stick would affect operation. Once you understand these, every other knife is for the most part very similar. You can get an even deeper understanding of knife operation just by watching video reviews of regular knives all the way up to customs, where people like Skelton give a really detailed comparison and overview of each knife. You can find paper slicing tests, lock strength tests, and other tests. You just have to filter out the tests that don't apply to your lifestyle. If you get into customs, you can research makers as well.

I'd rather do research and pay $500-$1000 for a nice quality knife then buy 20 sub-$100-$200 knives, but that all depends on the individual. Optimally, I would like to own multiple high end knives (Like Blues), since I am a sucker for quality and innovative designs. Maybe in a few years

 

[strategy9]

See, if I had $600 to spend on a knife, even with all the ones I already own, I still wouldn't consider a $600 knife. Maybe two $300 knives, or a $300 and two for around $150... Because while I appreciate the finer knives, they're "too nice" for what I want in my knife, and that $150-300 range is plenty nice enough for my taste.

Just like I can appreciate a Maybach, but I would personally much prefer a Cadillac. And I can appreciate a Ferrari, but I would take a New Corvette (z07) for myself any given day... Unless it was a pre 1971 GTB 4 "Daytona" (with fixed headlights) then I may just take the Ferrari...

 

[MulliganAl]

I gave up drinking beer so I could buy more knives, now the weight I'm loosing I'm gaining in steel.

Here is my modest collection just over the last year or so. I'm afraid to think about what I'll want next, especially after seeing some of the photos posted here. Just got the ZT0562 yesterday and it is FANTASTIC!!! My 0566 is still my EDC because of the size but that 0562 is a beauty.

 

[bigpatvoodoodad]

I gave up drinking beer so I could buy more knives, now the weight I'm loosing I'm gaining in steel.

Here is my modest collection just over the last year or so. I'm afraid to think about what I'll want next, especially after seeing some of the photos posted here. Just got the ZT0562 yesterday and it is FANTASTIC!!! My 0566 is still my EDC because of the size but that 0562 is a beauty.

That is a kick-ass collection. I too have recently quit drinking. My health just won't allow it anymore. Hey, more money for knives