Hitting a Wall

Joined
Jul 4, 2014
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Happy new year everyone.

Now that it is the beginning of a new year, I have to at least try to keep my new year's resolutions and goals. At least for a little while.

One of my goals is to continue downsizing and fine-tuning my knife collection. Last year's PIF thread was a huge help in both areas but there is still more to do.

There are a couple of gaps I need to fill. Picking up a small forest axe is still on my list. Along with a machete or froe (leaning towards a froe).

My EDC gear is in pretty good shape, so not much is needed there but, a CRK Small Insingo is still on my dream list. So is a CPK EDC 2 fixed blade thanks to a forum member. You know who you are and I promise not to drool on your knife anymore. I think I am past that now. Honest.

This brings me to the point of the thread. I think I have hit a wall with my knife collecting. I don't need more knives and there is not much that I want or can justify. The thing is, I need very little to finish out my collection and my wish list is pretty much the same as two or three years ago.

I have found most of the new knife products boring, way to flashy, or just downright ugly. Yes, I can find something to appreciate but, not enough to put it on my wish list. Or, it just is not worth the money the maker is asking.

In the past, I have stated that I am pretty happy with what I now own. That is true, I am pretty pleased with what I own.

As I said, I think that I have hit a wall. How do you move forward with a hobby when you have pretty much everything you need and can't justify more purchases?

How many of you have hit a wall with the knife hobby and why? What's your story and how did you work it out?
 
I’ve reached the same point. I have all I need for sure and there aren’t even any I want.
 
We are in pretty much the same place. Prices on all the new interesting stuff is through the roof. To heck with supply and demand and Econ101, yes, prices are too high. Glad I already have my hoard. I enjoy what I have and reading about knives. Considering what I own, I can't justify spending any more. My next big leap will be selling. For now, I am just too lazy to do it.

That said, maaaayyyybe I will buy another one some day, who knows?
 
I have never had this issue because I have never had the resources to exhaust the list of knives I want. But if your not into what is coming out now, maybe try going vintage. There are many interesting pieces that were made decades ago.
 
When I take a break from BF and browsing the various online retailers like DLT or BHQ I don't know why I bought so many knives.
It's like a haze has been lifted and I couldn't see the need to ever buy another knife again.
When I browse BF and take just a quick peak at BHQ or whatever, I can't decide which one I want to buy next because there are so many I "need"
for this or that practical use or just to continue to round out the collection.

The thing about rounding out a collection is you tend to go 'round and 'round' and 'round till a loved one or angry girlfriend/ wife yanks you off
the knife ride for a little while so your bank account can recuperate.
 
I always hit a wall. Then somebody goes and builds a way cooler wall.

Once it was Balisongs that got me out of a rut. I play with them still now and then. Never did get good at them, but still fun.

Then it was the search for the ultimate hunting knife, followed by the optimum mushrooming knife.

Now I find satisfaction in the hobby by finding the perfect knife for others. I give away a butt load of knives, so I'm usually on the hunt for a knife that somebody else needs but doesn't know exists. Be awhile before I hit that wall, I tell ya.

Washington State almost passed legislation allowing automatic knives last session. I'm hoping they try to introduce it again. This will begin a huge search for autos for me to EDC.

Just find another wall, Brother-Man... lots of them to scale out there.
 
Walls will always crumble, I stopped buying $500 knives, then boom, holt, guthrie, gavko, eustler, burger, sham, cole, shiro, rockstead, olamic, appeared, now Im in a new way, buying exactly what I want, the wall on price I had crumbled, I wish you good luck. After you get a CRK, you’ll want that fit and finish on every knife you buy.
 
Up until right before Christmas I hadn't bought a knife since last Spring. I thought I was done. Then I stumbled upon a knife that checked 3 or 4 boxes I had a year ago and said "Lets do this thing...". When my knife showed up the blade was way off center and the pivot kept unscrewing, compounding problems. With it being a multi-hundred dollar knife I decided to return it. I'm still waiting on the refund. Not the worst thing as some of the edges were sharper than I have become used to, so the bad was putting a drag on the good with this one. I spent a few hours looking through recent releases and of the 2 or 3 that were of possible interest, they were out of stock. At this point I think I'm going back into knife collecting hibernation, after having spent the last few days sharpening and cleaning my collection.
 
If you’ve stopped enjoying it just move on. I’m sure you can find a place for your attention and dollars. My interest in knives ebbs and flows, as it does for LPs, and motorcycles and....
 
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Same exact reason as you Sabre. I've doubled back many times at this point and have greatly reduced my collection.

Realizations knives that are perfect on paper and in my head aren't actually the ones that I actually want to use everyday.

Knives that you can use with reckless abandon and abuse etc... Are highly useful.

Modern Spyderco folders with basic lockbacks are the shizznitz for me. And get used the most.

Basic $45 Alox's are just as useful as that Delica or Endura.

A multi tool is useful pick your poison

Lastly I like wharnie blades more than anything else and if you like wharnies you absolutely must get an Insingo.

I don't even know why. Like Sebenza's it's old school, the Insingo does nothing superbly. Ain't the lightest, ain't the sliciest sure as heck ain't the easiest to open. You have zealots who will defend it's imperfections to the death like the crappy thumbstud whose annodizing smudges off the moment you stare at it too long. Yet somehow the moment I opened the box it's stout basicness made it my most favorite edc.

I still enjoy the forum for example but in terms of knife purchases I'm pretty set and ok with not buying any further except perhaps for a large Insingo down the road.

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I do not need any more knives.

The more I learn; the more I nitpick.

I really don't like the CRK I just acquired.

I want a Burger and a ZT.

I have two custom fixed blades headed their way to me this year.

I do not need any more knives.
 
If it's about need that's quickly met. I have now covered pretty much any potential need. After that it's just entertainment. And entertainment interests do ebb and flow, nothing wrong with that.
 
How do you move forward with a hobby when you have pretty much everything you need and can't justify more purchases?

How many of you have hit a wall with the knife hobby and why? What's your story and how did you work it out?
I STOPPED buying knives at the end of December. After Maxamet and K390 what is left ? Especially since I have at least three knives in M4 which is better . . . IMO . . . for my use . . . and I'm right.

Then I ordered two knives to celebrate my new found independence. The last one arrived today but technically they were both ordered in 2019 so I'm still good to go (or not go as it were) in 2020. No more going . . . er . . . ordering / buying knives in 2020.

But getting back to your question : How do you move forward with a hobby when you have pretty much everything you need and can't justify more purchases?
Who says I can't justify more purchases ? Is that a challenge ? !

I am thinking of getting out fitted with a Wicked Edge just to prove to myself that I was right in getting an Edge Pro. How's that for moving forward / justifying the unjustifiable ?
 
Even though collecting knives is the biggest part of the sum in this hobby, it's not the whole equation. Coming here to drool/admire over the endless knife pics, learning the various aspects of this hobby, and being able to help someone whether it's here or a family member or co-worker makes for the total sum of the hobby.
I had a co-worker call me today wanting a good knife, he knows my passion for knives. That in itself rekindles my reason to continue to buy knives. Granted, it's slowed down to a crawl, but I'm still looking. I'll probably recommend the Spyderco Native in Maxamet because he wants one that he won't have to sharpen very often. Knowing him, he'll go a long time before I have to sharpen it again o_O. So, I'm going to pass one along, which in my book, justifies a new knife. Folks at work are always asking me about knives and wanting me to sell them one that I have. I keep a few for just that reason.
I always look in the WTB forum and depending on the member, if I have the knife they're looking for and the mood hits me, I'll offer what I have.
 
It is fun buying knives for other people, if you know that they’ll use them. It’s become my go to Christmas or birthday gift to my father. He really enjoys using nice knives but won’t buy himself decent ones.
 
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