Help me fill out my collection

J

Jessero

Joined
Jan 12, 2011
Messages
168
Im looking to buy a few new traditional knives (for EDC) to round out my collection, there are some obvious gaps to fill.

I have:
-a whole bunch of Bucks (several of the 300 series, 500 series and 110s and a 112)
-a big variety of Victorinox SAKs
-a couple Boker traditionals
-a few Opinels
-a Le Thiers friction folder
-a Mercator Cat
-a Mora
-a Hobo knife
-an Ontario Marine Raider

Im planning on getting:
-a Buck Solo (dont have any Chinese buck traditionals) - is the 420J2 steel decent?
-a Case knife - I dont have any Case knives.
looking at a low cost one... thinking right now a yellow mini sodbuster - any other suggestions?
-a Douk Douk
-a Higo no Kami - what material and size is the most desirable?
-Svord mini peasant - want hardwood... the synthetics are $10 cheaper. But hardwood looks so much nicer
-something small from the Schrade old timer line. Currently have the 18OT mighty mite in my cart but am thinking maybe a small lockback instead

What else am i missing as far as traditional folders in the "less than $30 so if they get lost or hurt i wont be upset" price range?
 
Since you don't mind buying Chinese knives, Rough Rider has some cheap and very nicely built traditional knives. Lots of patterns to choose from.
 
The best advice I can give you is to buy/collect what you like. Figure out which kind of knives or patterns appeal to you visually or functionally.

Otherwise, relying too heavily on suggestions from others, you’ll end up with a collection that looks just like everyone else’s.

Maybe it’s just me, but the more time I spend here, the more I enjoy seeing something unique in the “what are you carrying” threads, and the less interested I am in seeing the same knives over and over.

Make your collection just that...your own.
 
Jessero said:
Im looking to buy a few new traditional knives (for EDC) to round out my collection, there are some obvious gaps to fill.

I have:
-a whole bunch of Bucks (several of the 300 series, 500 series and 110s and a 112)
-a big variety of Victorinox SAKs
-a couple Boker traditionals
-a few Opinels
-a Le Thiers friction folder
-a Mercator Cat
-a Mora
-a Hobo knife
-an Ontario Marine Raider

Im planning on getting:
-a Buck Solo (dont have any Chinese buck traditionals) - is the 420J2 steel decent?
-a Case knife - I dont have any Case knives.
looking at a low cost one... thinking right now a yellow mini sodbuster - any other suggestions?
-a Douk Douk
-a Higo no Kami - what material and size is the most desirable?
-Svord mini peasant - want hardwood... the synthetics are $10 cheaper. But hardwood looks so much nicer
-something small from the Schrade old timer line. Currently have the 18OT mighty mite in my cart but am thinking maybe a small lockback instead

What else am i missing as far as traditional folders in the "less than $30 so if they get lost or hurt i wont be upset" price range?
Click to expand...
I have several of the China made Buck 300 series knives. A couple 371's a 373, a couple 389 canoes, and a 374 (large) trapper.
Whatever the blade steel is, it holds an edge just fine, and is easy to sharpen should it ever need it.
I switch between a 301 and 371 stockman as part of my EDC. I can honestly say I have not noticed any difference in edge holding between the two.
My 389 canoe seems to hold an edge just as well as my CV Case canoe, and Rough Rider canoes.

Schrade has a 95OT 4 1/8" closed Trapper and 12OT Mighty Mite (basically a single blade peanut) set for around $20
I'd also recommend a Buck 371 and Buck 389 or Rough Rider canoe and a Rough Rider 'Zombie Nick' Sunfish for EDC.
And maybe a Böker Magnum 4 blade Scout/Camp knife (allegedly 440C blades, but they are etched "440A") or a Marbles MR273 all steel Scout/Camp knife. (Marbles' rendition of the Camillus "Demo Knife" but without "CAN OPENER" stamped on the can opener blade. Other than that, it is Mil Spec.) The Marbles Scout/Camp knife can generally be found for $10 ~ $12 or less.
 
The old Schrade Uncle Henry or Old Timer patterns are killer one of those for sure.
As far as case I like the mini trapper or large stockman for getting 1.
 
Also Marble's knives (made/sold by same company as RR's). RR's are excellent knives. Look at the Bone handled Schrades, all good knives. I hope one of your SAKs is a Tinker :-)
Rich
 
Case's #62032 Texas Jack is a fairly iconic pattern, and the basic amber bone version can be found pretty inexpensively.

I would not buy a knife with 420J2 steel.
 
I also recommend Rough Rider, I've also had some really good luck at antique a store, and have a couple pawn shop finds. I picked up 5 knives recently for what averaged out to about 10 bucks each. 2 Imperials, a Hammer Brand, an Ulster and a Camillus. Cool thing about older knives is you get a piece of history, for instance the Camillus I picked up turned out to be a knife made during WW2. It was part of a series made to be sold in the post exchange, and that the pattern I picked up is really hard to find nowadays. Found this info out from input from the great people here on this forum. Good luck in your collecting,:thumbsup:
 
Higonokami in brass is the most attractive to my eye, and takes a nice patina. +1 on the wood Svord mini peasant. Don’t be afraid to sand the handle smooth and round off the butt end.

Look at MAM, Antonini Old Bear, Aitor, Pallares de Solsona. Consider some fixed blades: Mora, Marttiini, Hultafors, Old Hickory, Russell Green River. Sardinian Resolza, Pattada, many other regional european patterns, some of which may run to more expense.

Rough Rider for some nice slipjoints that you may not find elsewhere. Flea markets and garage sales for other old USA slipjoints.

Think of it as an exercise in exploring and investigating the world of knives, more than acquiring to fill slots or check off boxes. If you keep prowling these pages, you wil continue to learn about knives, some of which catch your fancy, some which do not.
 
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Henry Beige said:
Think of it as an exercise in exploring and investigating the world of knives, more than acquiring to fill slots or check off boxes.
Click to expand...
I like that sentiment. I buy 'em, try 'em out, and sell them if they don't work. Right along the same line of thinking.
 
Henry Beige said:
Think of it as an exercise in exploring and investigating the world of knives, more than acquiring to fill slots or check off boxes.
Click to expand...
My thoughts exactly. A collection shouldn't be some predetermined list of items to check off just for the sake of having them. A collection should evolve over time based on experiences.
 
Thank you for all the replies. You guys are right, collecting isnt about a checklist, it should be about getting what you like! Since i am one of the extremely few that will actually be appreciating my collection, why buy any knife that i dont really really want? To that end, i just ordered 3 new lockbacks that ive had my eye on for a while:
-Schrade LB5. I know its not the same, but it has a personal nostalgia to me, watching my dad use his LB7 throughout my life. I have his LB7 now but dont use it for safekeeping (plus its a bit big and heavy for EDC in my opinion).
-Gerber US1. After buying 3 imported Gerbers and not being happy with them, i decided to give them one last shot.
-Case medium black plastic lockback. Sure its not a really traditional Case, almost blasphemy being plastic, but its the one i really wanted, and the price was so good... and now i will have my first Case
 
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