How do u pick???

northend816

northend816

Joined
Aug 25, 2012
Messages
1,476
As a newer person to the knife collecting world ive had a heard time not wanting every single kershaw/ZT i see...This makes life very hard on me as a collector and my wallet!!!! So i was wondering how do u pick what knives you are going to buy this year?? Is it by the look, price, future value, material, or designer???? Im just curious how others do it because i love everything!!!!!
 
I pick by the things that appeal to me most which are materials, steels and handle materials, smoothness of the action, and then size. If they all add up to irresistible knife goodness then I get it!

But be careful just chasing for your next knife, sometimes you get lost in just chasing and don't take time to enjoy the ones you have already acquired. Which I'm guilty of.....:foot:
 
I wish i had a knife store close to me so i could handle knives before i buy them.....my problem is i like everything Kershaw/ZT come out with. Alot of it comes down to feel and smoothness to me, and why i wish there was store around.
 
I don't know if I can explain how I pick the ones I'm going to buy. I don't particularly go by the designer, but how the overall knife looks and feels, to me. If I like the looks and feel of the knife then I usually want it. Then I check the price. If I feel like I can afford it, then I buy it. Whether it's a $30 knife or a $200 knife if I'm not immediatly "attracted" to a knife, I don't want it. Then on the other side, if I feel that the knife is too expensive, for me, I may like it, but I won't buy it.

Shaun
 
Kinda hard to explain. I'm always on the lookout for Blurs, whether it's current production or a discontinued model. R.A.M., Zing, JYD and Groove are others I will always buy if I find a good deal. As for ZT, I buy all the new models that I like. Only one discontinued ZT that I want and that is a PE 400. It all boils down to personal taste and what you can afford. Try making yourself a list of knives you want. Then separate that out to have to haves. As you continue to collect you will find that certain models/designs will just stand out and you won't have to have or even want every new knife. It would help if you could get a hands on before you bought them. Hands on would have save me money and a few headaches, but I don't have any good stores near me. Good luck.
 
If it's a model I already have, it will usually take a different steel to get me to buy another, otherwise it's based on looks first, then my opinion on ergo's/features such as speedsafe or ZTVT. I do like all the Hinderer colabs going on so times are good right now, lots of options! the models I'm going to try and get this year are 0454, 0560BW, 0300BW, 0566 & 0770.
 
is there a Flemarket or a gun and knife show near you?? If so then I would go there to look at them and touch them. besides it is fun day out.
 
sinsanity said:
I pick by the things that appeal to me most which are materials, steels and handle materials, smoothness of the action, and then size. If they all add up to irresistible knife goodness then I get it!

But be careful just chasing for your next knife, sometimes you get lost in just chasing and don't take time to enjoy the ones you have already acquired. Which I'm guilty of.....:foot:
Click to expand...

Good to see another NY who enjoys collecting. :)


I kind of just go with what feels good. I know that it's not practical for everyone to just drop the money on every new ZT that catches one's eye, but fortunately so far I've been able to snag the ones I was really pining for. Usually if there's a knife that wows me at first sight, I'll end up getting it. The 0560CBCF was like that, as was the 0801 and the soon-to-be 0801CF, and the CF Blurs, the Skyline variations, etc. When they pop up, I see them and I act. If I don't like something, it's usually not hard to sell it.

So...I just get what I like. Along the way, I end up really digging a piece and everything else is just for the collection in order to have it.
 
Ive been blessed and cursed with some very particular needs in recent years. I used to collect anything with an edge that I thought looked cool. But after years and years of collecting I have discovered what I really like and now if the knife doesnt have these features, I wont buy it or trade for it unless I can flip it.

1. folders must be manual action bearing pivot flippers.
2. If its not the above it needs to be a balisong or an OTF automatic.
3. Balisongs if custom need bearings or bushings. No exceptions.
4. No replicas or counterfeits. (yes I have reinstated this rule)

These 4 rules have limited my scope enough that I dont have to buy every knife that I see. And they are specific enough that It only allows me the stuff I really really want. The only downside is that many of the knives in these categories get pricey. But quality over quantity. Number four might have some people saying WTF? As wasnt I the A-hole that caused some drama a few months back supporting such knives. Yes. But after really thinking about it and soul searching and trying to think about it from the manufacturers perspective I have reinstated the rule that I will never buy another replica knife period.
 
For me I dabbled in drastically different models to find what I like the best, such as speed safe, manual, kvt, recurve, deep carry vs normal pocket clips. Now I look at new designs and put them in order on my wish list on how much they appeal to me. Then I simply go after them in that order and get what I can. The 0777 was number one for me but I wasn't on a pre order and money was tight when they hit the streets so I had to just let that one pass by. Overall though last year was good to me and I was able to get a lot of what ai wanted, this year isn't looking like it will be the same but I feel very fortunate to get what I am able to.
 
Looks draw my attention, materials keep it, fit and finish solidify it, and price is a minor consideration at best :p
 
If it is bulit well and has good reviews, I look at it. Then a huge deciding factor is whether or not the knife looks attractive.
Nothing worse than an ugly knife, but that's what I like about Kai. I've yet to see an ugly knife coming from them.
 
Mine is a combination of things like looks, price and materials. There's also usually something about the knife that screams "buy me". It's hard to explain.
 
northend816 said:
I wish i had a knife store close to me so i could handle knives before i buy them.....my problem is i like everything Kershaw/ZT come out with. Alot of it comes down to feel and smoothness to me, and why i wish there was store around.
Click to expand...

Yes, everything in marketing is driven by the visual and sometimes the tactile just gets overlooked. For the most part you can trust the major knife makers to keep the balance, but every once in awhile I just get taken with the looks. I got a Speedform II which is a beautiful knife, but not the most practical cutter in my drawer.
 
My biggest driver is to try something new/different and interesting. As such, I tend not to end up with many multiples/variations of a same design. Value (for resale) isn't a factor, but cost is.
 
I read the threads here and I value the opinions of the members. If it's something I like and can afford and has gotten good reviews here I'll get it. As simple as that.
 
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