How Do You Collect?

Most of the time I get an itch for a new chopper or an EDC and I shop around and buy whatever fits the category and price range. Other times I just see something I like and buy it on impulse.
 
popcornpicker said:
Do you collect by brand name, theme or something that you just have to have?
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I don't really care about brand per se, but I must admit that most of my folders are Spyderco. The reason behind that is not just the quality or namebrand, but mostly because I like interestingly shaped blades / handles, and Spyderco happens to have the most reasonably priced ones.

When I can eventually save up for it, I'll start looking into custom makers, I just can't really afford 500+ right now, no matter how cool. I also don't think most of the custom makers will deliver to Canada since all the ones i've found seem to be US based.
 
As I am a custom knife user/ collector, I collect by maker. There are certain makers that I just love.
 
I don't collect, I accumulate.
Bob
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Ditto here; I'm primarily an Accumulator. I buy a wide variety of knives and am always on the lookout for something new. I also have two small areas of focus, micro-collections within the overall accumulation: Schrade-USA Old Timers and vintage Bruckmann knives.
 
Yeah, I also only accumulate, I would never buy the same knife twice(One time with a different color, or SE etc.)
 
Accumulator as well, I have only one rule, no safe queens. If I buy it, I'm using it. Offsets, Millies, "exotic" steels. Especially those, because I think those steels are being used because of their capability, not collectibility (eg. S30V, ZDP 189, BG 42, 154 CM, D2, etc)
 
I look first for aesthetics (something about it catches my eye), then think about the utility of the thing, then consider brand. And, of course, the price which keeps me buying high end production stuff instead of customs. As up above, I accumulate, then use.
 
i stop in to Sportsman's WH, two specialty knife stores, Gun Shows and an army surplus about once every two weeks to check on sales on high quality knives. i mostly collect military/"tacticle" knives.

so far i have collected the following:

Gerber LMF II reg $85 Sale $60
Gerber Yari II Reg $212 sale $75
Buck/Strider sheath knife W/ spear point- Reg $200 Sale $100
Gerber Applegate Fairbairn combat folder reg: $120 Sale $60
TOPS Wolf Pup XL Reg: $135 Sale $85
Tool Logic SL3 Fire knife Reg @ $40 Sale $20
Non-Knife Cutting Gear
Gerber Mil-spec wire cutters Reg $120 Sale $60
Also many other Gerber folders and a few fixed blades that i wont bother to list here. --- Eric
 
I collect based on my favorite model. I then attempt to obtain one in each handle material/color and blade steel.
 
I try to get the very best examples of different styles, mostly folders. The blade material is important, but not more so than quality feel and overall aesthetics.
 
I break it into the following groups:

Primarily folders.

Production Knives CRK Sebenza's and Mnandi's with unique woods. Strider tactical folders.

Customs mainly from J L Williams, Jens Anso, Scott Cook, Rick Hinderer, Tom Mayo, Sal Manaro and Shane Sibert.
 
Most of mine are collected by theme.
Until recently mainly gentleman-like knives, but recently I have become more and more interested in classic regional styles.
I usually do not like aggressive knife styles - I often think they look vulgar, esp those with tanto blades.
And many modern folder knives bore me a bit. As an example, I have a Delica ZDP. A very good folder, excellent in fact. It's nice to use, but I notice I barely carry it, while I keep on selecting a Laguiole, an Eka Masur 88, a Kiwi, an Opinel, more recently also the Buck 110, and the like -more than any other knife in my collection (well the 2 exceptions are the Boker Trance and the Fallkniven U2 which are probably my most used "modern" style knives - but far behind the other ones). In some way, I find that these knives have much more charm.
I played a few times with a Griptilian in the shop. Of course it's splendid, probably of similar quality as the Delica, but I didn't buy it as I would probably rarely use/carry it. I am now looking forward to the delivery of a few classic knife style examples (Nontron, Douk-douk, a special Opinel); and the incredibly beautiful Le Thiers gentlemen knife from Fontenille Pataud. Check it out, it is in my opinion one of the classiest knives on the market.

To continue the trend, later on I expect to order a gentlemen knife from Moki, a heavier "sports"-variant of the classic Laguiole (perhaps a Fontenille Pataud, but actually the more affordable yet similar Puma might be good enough), an Okapi, and a compact Canadian style Bark River.
 
I like to collect old pocket knives the best. I like Case XX that are made in the 1970s and older, Remingtons, Robesons, Winchesters, ect. Anything old that is in good shape. I enjoy going around to the flea markets and seeing if there are any suprises. You never know what you might find. I have a shirt that says Knife Collectors are SHARP! I enjoy collecting! Kevin :thumbup::D
 
I find myself collecting 'unusual opening' folders like "AGRussell's Funny Folder" for example, or that 1941 Imperial "trick knife", or autos of various mechanisms, etc. I'd like to get a CRKT Glide Lock, but not with AUS-4 steel !

Also neck knives (don't why they appeal so much).
And boot knives ( even though you can't carry double-edged, etc outside of your own property here in Texas).

But they all have to have utility...no mall-ninja-fantasy-crap, no safe queens, no display-only, so that rules out high$$ customs...if I fear to use it, I won't buy it.

Lastly, anything cheap, attractive, and/or well worth the $mall change, like Moras, Okapis, Douk-Douks, K55, andujar stylets, etc

JMH
 
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