Having a 'blade renaissance', trying everything

A

AlexSchira

Joined
May 12, 2007
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After years of being content with my HAK pair, my Alox Vic Cadet, and a few Leathermans on my keychain...I'm finally past that tolerance stage. Spent the last couple months in an anti-tool environment where carrying even a Leatherman Squirt was prohibited, to keep sane I just spent more time researching anything I could on various topics, blades included. Now that I'm not being loaned out to a company from hell because I like my boss and the benefits were good for my savings, I'm back to EDCing like a law-abiding adult. But my time spent in 'Oceania' (as I grew to call it with all the Orwell similarities) wasn't wasted whining and missing my little urban blades, as I'm not itching to take this hobby to a new level. I'm currently the local 'knife guy' to my social circle which is a bit too chic and urban, been helping them pick EDCs based on their needs and ability for years now. But now I want to take that role a little more seriously by trying out new models so they can really get a feel for what they like and want.

It's a goal of mine to have a good sample from various 'types' of knives. Not a collection, just a repertoire so I can study each kind and teach others about the types, and of course to mess around with the variety. I've always been covered with a Mora in the woods, but now I'm going for a Becker BK2 because...well, it's there. I'm fine with my HAK, but am looking to try out more smaller necker-sized fixed blades because my friends grow to like mine so much. With the new folder options out since my absence, I'm hitting up Spyderco and Boker for a couple new models. Purely for analysis and historical reflection, something similar to an Applegate-Fairbarn would be wonderful. No, I'm not buying a sword to drown my sorrows, but a cheaper tomahawk may end up in the mix.

Finally, getting into the idea of amateur sheath making simply to save money with my fixed blade habit. No plans to sell any except for gifts and hook-ups for friends, odds are the product will be hideous but functional. Got bored enough out there I almost considered trying some leather sheaths even though I'd never carry one. An instructional DVD set is in the mail, I'll be studying a few such sources before buying any tools or materials.

I'm happy to say this outburst isn't just based around blades, I'm also trying to pick up another language, some older literature, new diet plan, various other little things to feel like I'm learning and changing. If anyone has recommendations for which cheaper blade types I should handle and try out or a niche in the industry that deepens the experience a bit such as sheathing or larnyards, etc, I'm all ears.
 
Sounds like we have similar things in mind with regard to accumulating knives... A good sampling of what's available, without a particular focus or specific bent.
In order to tell you what we think might be a "must-see" for someone with your aim, it'd help if we knew a little more about where you stand already.
As far as neckers, have you checked out the RAT Izula yet? It's gotten all kinds of good press around these parts.
Spyderco is a good place to start, but I'd replace Boker with Kershaw. They've really got some awesome offerings on the table lately, especially when you include the ZT line.
HTH.
 
Cheaper fixed blades? Get yourself some Moras, my man! Moras are where it's at, when it comes to bang-for buck. They may not look like much, and they cost very little, but they PERFORM. And Condors are also more than worth looking at. :thumbup:

Edit: Oh yeah. 5,000 posts. Hooray for me! :)
 
Already getting ready for an Izula, debating the color and mounting option. As I mentioned, I keep around a Mora Clipper for beating in the woods, but I may pick up some of the Craftsmen models just to try out as the ultimate beater-knives for gifts.

...Kershaw? Really. Never had anything against them, just never really tried anything. Current collection includes a pile of traditional Victorinox and Leathermans, the HAKs, I've given away more Subcoms to friends than gift cards and still value my Wharcom, also a fan of the Boker Edit in colder months for when I'm in gloves. Everything tends to stay short and wide because of Illinois blade laws, the Izula was the first 'tradtional' shaped blade I really took an interest in for EDC. I'm very familiar with most companies and can identity most folders on a guess, I'm just not a collector and never bought more than the handful of knives.
 
Since you like neck knives, if want to step it up and get familiar with a totally different type of knife, get a Murray Carter. It's worth the money.

Another good one is the RAT Izula. It's a little tank.
 
Don't look at me. My last "blade rennaissance" involved me re-discovering Randalls. I'll be paying them off for the rest of my life.
 
chipped said:
Grab something from Spyderco's Salt line. H1 is fantastic.
Click to expand...

I still don't quite understand the love of H1 other than the fact it can't rust. I have a salt 1 and it doesn't hold an edge well at all. I got a friend one and he ended up giving it to me because how quickly it dulled.

What gives?
 
Not quite sure what your interests are - the original post is very broad.

That said, based upon my interests being steel, locks, and bladeshapes, I'd suggest getting the basic classics of a Buck 110, a Benchmade 710, and a Spyderco Military as a start and then expand out from there. With those, one can gage other folders as to merit IMO.

Currently the "kings" of new are CRKT, Kershaw, and Spyderco (as far as lock designs and steels go and in no particular order). A lot of interesting knives are available from these firms, whether you base that criteria on lock design, steel, or blade shape. Other firms offer some interesting choices, Cold Steel has that Triad lock for example, too.

Either way, you have an interesting and expensive journey ahead.
 
Not being allowed to take suitable tools to work because some of it may be edged is a real bummer - I'm a CCO so no knives at work is a real PIA - but at other times I often have a stockman in integral horizontal belt pouch - and/or LM Wave. When wearing pull-up shorts I like to carry a Waved Endura. Large enough to be useful and light enough that I won't end up with the shorts around my ankles when I jog

Lots of industries here do not allow knives - some even have random alcohol & drug testing. Given the makeup of the workforce in some industries (lots of casual labour with ??? backgrounds) and the need to conform to strict OH&S regulations this is not such a bad thing, although it does make it inconvenient for those of us who are used to EDC'ing a knife or multi-tool
 
Just to update you guys on my mania, here's my current buy-list. Starting small and functional, models I'll be using or that my friends may want to try out.

-Spyderco Chicago. Will be carried IN Chicago and tested by hipster Chicago residents, this should be interesting. Very eager to try out the carbon fiber handles. Thank you for the advice, Mr. Glesser, and also thank you for the minimum of a thousand knives I've done on my Sharpmaker setup. Given away a few Spydies to friends, all Delicas except the Salt 1 my friend the dive instructor is currently using. Come to think of it, I'll throw in a Bug, that'll be a nice conversation piece.

-Buck Smidgen. Something about tiny fixed blades...Why? No idea, but it's cheap enough I can stash it around in everyday kits, makes for an easy gift for minimalist friends.

-RAT Izula. Not sure which color, but the standard shape has me going nuts for different carry options, will probably try making myself a sheath for it for neck carry. Looking into two, actually, one for a female friend who would actually carry the pink version amazingly.

-Kydex materials. Ordered a few feet, eyelets, setter and anvil, spent a few hours watching a DVD set on the topic today and studying up on the methods and styles. Nothing complex or innovative, just trying to learn a new skill that ties in well to my hobbies.

-Undecided Boker CLD design, used to be a weird fan on the forum, still giving out Subcoms left and right to non-knife-people. A few friends have liked them enough that the Chicago may become a higher-end option for the gadget-types who would like the materials and styling. I may just get the Hyper for a bigger Subcom, but supposedly a second-gen Karambit is in the works with an actual pocket clip.

-Becker BK2, the quarter-inch crowbar that happens to resemble a knife. I've been a light-duty urban user for so long, I need ONE burly one. I've been fine with my Mora as stated, but my cabin fever is going to lead to some more demanding excursions and a heavy-duty blade for my pack makes sense.

CRKT-The Neckola, Minimalist, maybe the Dogfish for my more recreational friends, I just have that thing for smaller fixed blades. Living with just my Hideaway Knives for so many years has me very adapted to the format and handling, cheap neckers appeal to me as beater-alternatives I can swap out for different uses, or make for easy gifts for those who know me long enough to like my tastes in tools.
 
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