Have your knife purchases been reflected by age?

S

ShaiHulud

Joined
Jul 21, 2022
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This is a topic I feel strong about simply because it affects us all, in it's own way
For me---
I was serious serious about duty-built tactical knives, fixed or folding, I wanted to be prepared. I still do, but the choices readiness changed, instead of a bomb proof blacked out fixed blades, I went reliable folder/small fixed blade route.
How has it changed for you?
 
It kind of hasn't. I started toting a pocket knife when I was about 6, and for some 65 years I've found it a handy tool to have along in my pocket. I've got a bunch of pocket knives that looked interesting to me and that I wanted to try. And I'm still working at it.
 
I started out a boyscout ( troop 13 wolf pack), and we played “chickey” ,ya throw your knife and try and stick it as close to the other kid’s foot as you can, then it’s his turn. Whoever gets closest win. At 16 carrying a lock back folder for JIC on the streets of Troy, NY. At 17 I was having fun throwing bayonet in the US Army. Never had more than a few knives until I joined BF,now I got a couple boxes full of everything but stitchblades. Don’t care for those and I did try a few.
 
knarfeng said:
It kind of hasn't. I started toting a pocket knife when I was about 6, and for some 65 years I've found it a handy tool to have along in my pocket. I've got a bunch of pocket knives that looked interesting to me and that I wanted to try. And I'm still working at it.
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You sound like me. Were you born in southern WV?
I think dad slid a pen knife in my diaper. I literally cannot remember NOT having at least one knife in my pocket.
Even to grade school.
 
Uncle Timbo said:
You sound like me. Were you born in southern WV?
I think dad slid a pen knife in my diaper. I literally cannot remember NOT having at least one knife in my pocket.
Even to grade school.
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I remember my 5th grade teacher acting mortified that I had a pocket knife. My parents told her that I'd been carrying one since first grade. LOL
 
I have been carrying a knife for approximately 55 years (I'm 62). I carried it all through my school days. I also was a Boy Scout in Troop 19 in the '70s and early '80s. Went in the Navy in 1983 and carried and used a knife daily. I carry a traditional folder in my pocket and a modern folder clipped to my pocket. I have way more knives than I'll ever need, but occasionally will still buy something that I "need".
 
Not so much age but rather wisdom. I’ve learned that smaller knives fill a purpose as much as larger knives. That sometimes, having a Mnandi in my pocket will do just fine. That a large CRK is better suited for my work needs. I’ve learned that I’d rather a knife that will be forgiving and even though it may need to be touched up more, I don’t have the stress of breaking something with a less forgiving knife. That some of my knives are for a specific task and that there is no one do all knife for me. And I’m good with that because I still enjoy most of the flavors that are available today.
 
There's are big differences, but i don't think it has anything to do with my age. The whole world changed. I got a little smarter. I make a little more money. The internet makes me dumb and poor. Ideas and technology exploded in the knife industry, so there has been much, much more variety in what I would even consider trying out, and i have to think differently about the value proposition offered than I used to, given everything else that has changed. I still like what I always liked.
 
I can now afford to indulge myself a lot more. I would have commited myself, at the thought of a $400, much less a $1000 knife in my youth. Back then I was pretty high end with my $35 Gerber. Of course the $35 was worth more then, but still.
Sometimes I do have to wonder if I was smarter back then. The knives still do the same thing-cut.
 
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In my 60s as well. Started out with a Kamp King and kept slipjoints in my pocket until I was 55 or so. Thought I should finally give “modern” folders a try. Spyderco, ZT, & Benchmade…liked the few that I bought but gave them away to friends and family. When I turned 60, treated myself to a Chris Reeve knife…I believe I’ll keep that one for a bit 😀 Early on, I took a liking to your basic 4” drop point hunter…Loveless-style knives…picked some up through the decades and now have a small collection of fixed blades. My knife purchases have remained pretty constant through the years. Give me a Stockman or Texas Jack and a small hunting knife and I’m pretty happy.
 
Compared to 10-15 years ago, I realize it's not all about ownership and consuming. I used to feel like I "NEEDED" every new knife that piqued my interest. Now it takes much more. Just buying another knife doesn't give me that same feeling; and while I still make purchases whenever I feel that it will, if I see no urgent pull compelling me to pull the trigger I tend to hold off until the knife finds its way to me. That, and I realize that you can get the same (if not more) enjoyment out of a SAK/Case/vintage/discontinued/etc. knife than you can with the expensive hot newness. Or even from customizing and refreshing a knife already in your collection. Funny thing is, even though I'm not purchasing knives like I used to, I feel like I'm enjoying the hobby and loving knives as much as ever.
 
I went up to a few mid tech knives in my purchases - a few Chris reeves and one Shiro. My knife purchases have slowed way down but I find myself purchasing knives in the $200 range these days when something catches my eye. Mainly spyderco which kind of brings me full circle as my first spydercos were in the mid 1990s before I started accumulating/collecting around 15 years ago. Almost always a spyderco in my pocket these days. Too many knives as is as I don’t sell knives.
 
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