How do you feed your appetite for knives for maximum enjoyment and satisfaction?

The Aflac Duck said:
Umm, I wouldn’t go that far. Depending on what you’re after, they very much can be in the same price range. It’s not uncommon at all to see knives that are north of $10k. In fact, it’s fairly common.
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I didn't overstate anything. A $15K Loveless is an expensive knife, but it's not a $250K Holland & Holland.
 
I don't buy many knives these days. Instead I prefer the company of my old friends like this Buck 500 that I bought in '88 to replace the 112 that a Texas deputy didn't see fit to return with the rest of my property. I used it on more than a few jobs and I carried it when I went back to school. I used it to help a friend pack to move out of state with his new bride and I carried it on my wedding day. When somebody posts a picture of their grandfather's knife, or a knife they got as a graduation present, I think that's way cooler than any high-zoot custom.
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midnight flyer said:
Buy quality knives that will last, and use the hell out of them so you can build your own history with them. It will be a kick to pull your knife out and remember what you did with it when camping on a rough trip, that time you had to use your pocket knife to skin a deer, when you were glad you had it to cut tinder on a wet campout, or even just your favorite knife you counted on day after day for a few years. I promise the knife that does that will be worth 10X times more than the "fill in blank brand" knife that you had to have just because it had red scales or it was a limited edition. Everyone enjoys their knives in their own way, and if you are where you are now with your guns, then you will get there with your knives soon enough! Have fun!...
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This!

Most of my favorite blades are also the knives I have the most memories with.

I carried a Buck 112 Ranger while hunting with my father.

CRKT’s Prowler or their M16-02Z kept me company while in uniform.

A full size Griptilian was in my pocket while on a road trip taking my daughter out of state for college. Again with the same Griptilian and a pearl scaled Case Trapper for her wedding (she now has the Trapper for my granddaughter, Ruth).

Just as important is the idea that the knives you use could mean something to your family and loved ones when you are gone.
 
scdub said:
By far the most fun I have is clearing trails in my local parks. I rotate between using smaller fixed blades and larger ones, with the addition of a tomahawk and/or Silky saw if I know there are trees down.

My advice: Find your local volunteer trail crew and sign up.
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GREAT advice. I'm a fairly serious hiker/trekker who has blazed and helped maintain my share of trails. I've always had a larger, hand-me-down machete in my kit. I recently bought a CS Black Bear Bowie Machete (made by Lasher Tool in South Africa) on sale for $15.99. Yow! What an improvement! I'm going to buy more CS machetes! Folding saws are also key. I like the idea of a hatchet too. I don't like the idea of "batoning" a large knife.
 
I only buy quality knives, and use I them too. If you buy a junk knife and use it everyday leaving your expensive knives at home. The junk knife will still gain sentimental value and it will still hurt when it breaks or gets lost.

For me personally I can spend extra on a tastefully embellished knife, or exotic handle as long as the embellishments don’t take away from the usability or functionality of the knife.

Things like file worked back springs and pictures cut out of the blade are a no go for me.
 
Instead of getting new stuff, I cycle through what I have, use them how I can, and I generally get to enjoy what’s already in the collection.
 
DangerZone98 said:
Instead of getting new stuff, I cycle through what I have, use them how I can, and I generally get to enjoy what’s already in the collection.
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i have thought that I should have my wife box up a knife out of my collection every now and then and put it in the mail box. So I can get that new knife feeling without spending money. Maybe when I start to get dementia, wait, maybe it’s already happening! Lol.
 
I have been collecting for close to 40 years. My current enjoyment comes from custom orders, mostly unique one off custom pieces. I very occasionally buy a factory knife.

I find that collaborating with a maker to produce an amazing set or a unique piece over a period of time is so much more satisfying for me than simply buying stuff. There are certain makers I will always purchase in the aftermarket, but by and large it's orders only now.

My other great joy is knife shows. For obvious reasons that has not been possible for 18 months and I am definitely in withdrawal. Knife people are some of the best folks on the planet and being able to be with them in person is just so fantastic. If you have never been to a show do yourself a favour and make a plan to do so. You will be hooked.

Welcome to the craziness.......enjoy!;)
 
Preface: I am not a collector by the standards of this community buy by the standards of 99% of the population I have a problem.

I’m at a level of contentment right now and I’m not sure if I love it or hate it.

About 10-15 years ago I reached a level of contentment with the firearms I owned(all my needs were met, very little left on my “list”) so while I still love them I’m no longer in the hunt.
At that time I got more interested in knives, seeing others collections I wanted to pump up my numbers fast so I could feel like I belonged. A few years of purchasing, use, lack of use, and refinement has landed me in a lull. Again my needs are met, I have most everything I can see myself using, a few nice(by my standards) pieces and very little left on my list.
 
It's been an evolution. I started out buying $20 flea market knives because I knew nothing (pre-Internet), and it allowed me to try different things.

As I learned what I like, I took longer and longer between purchases, but the knives were of better quality (and higher cost).

One of the most important things I found was where my upper price limit was. It has nothing to do with objective facts, it's just the amount of money that I personally do not feel comfortable spending on something which is meant to be used, and will not stay pristine and factory fresh.

I might buy three knives a year now, and most of them stay under $80. I know what I like, I know what I'm willing to pay, and there just isn't that much out there that interests me.
 
Stahlmann said:
GREAT advice. I'm a fairly serious hiker/trekker who has blazed and helped maintain my share of trails. I've always had a larger, hand-me-down machete in my kit. I recently bought a CS Black Bear Bowie Machete (made by Lasher Tool in South Africa) on sale for $15.99. Yow! What an improvement! I'm going to buy more CS machetes! Folding saws are also key. I like the idea of a hatchet too. I don't like the idea of "batoning" a large knife.
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Hand-me-downs and $15.99 knives pair well with $250,000 shotguns.
 
I have been collecting knives ,guns ,swords etc for decades

I am blessed to have deep roots and connections in the custom knife world

These days i enjoy working with great makers on pieces that I help design and seeing these creations come to life

David Mirabile and I just finished up a Shobu ZUKURI style Katana that turned out to be magnificent and he is working on another 3 knives inspired by James Williams




 
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Steven65 said:
I have been collecting for close to 40 years. My current enjoyment comes from custom orders, mostly unique one off custom pieces. I very occasionally buy a factory knife.

I find that collaborating with a maker to produce an amazing set or a unique piece over a period of time is so much more satisfying for me than simply buying stuff. There are certain makers I will always purchase in the aftermarket, but by and large it's orders only now.

My other great joy is knife shows. For obvious reasons that has not been possible for 18 months and I am definitely in withdrawal. Knife people are some of the best folks on the planet and being able to be with them in person is just so fantastic. If you have never been to a show do yourself a favour and make a plan to do so. You will be hooked.

Welcome to the craziness.......enjoy!;)
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I miss you 2 buddy
 
eveled said:
i have thought that I should have my wife box up a knife out of my collection every now and then and put it in the mail box. So I can get that new knife feeling without spending money. Maybe when I start to get dementia, wait, maybe it’s already happening! Lol.
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That ”new knife feeling” is something else. All the right hormones rushing in all the right places, lol.
 
JParanee said:
I have been collecting knives ,guns ,swords etc for decades

I am blessed to have deep roots and connections in the custom knife world

These days i enjoy working with great makers on pieces that I help design and seeing these creations come to life

David Mirabile and I just finished up a Shobu ZUKURI style Katana that turned out to be magnificent and he is working on another 3 knives inspired by James Williams




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That’s incredible!
 
Like many of us here, at first, once I truly got bit by the bug, I "needed" all the knives. I bought in a frenzy, and as soon as a new knife arrived I was in search of the next.

Then I learned to slow down and enjoy the research process as part of the experience, and that helped prolong the jolt of dopamine that a new knife purchase brought.

Over time I learned what I liked, wanted, and (kind of) actually needed (or would get the most use out of at least). I justified each purchase by checking a box for a particular use, and tried to obtain the perfect knife for me for each use. I sold off many of my purchases from the aforementioned frenzy, and used the funds towards the purchase of fewer, somewhat higher end knives.

Now, I'm at a point where I just buy what intrigues me. If I see a knife I like, I get it. However, I feel it takes more for me to really want a knife than before, so I end up purchasing less. That being said, I still have fits of purchases, but I honestly don't think to much into it. Just fun and enjoyment.

Every once in a while I think "What does it all mean? Why do I spend so much of my finite time on this planet obsessing over possessions like knives and watches?" Then, in a few hours, the mushrooms wear off, and I'm back online obsessing about knives 🤪

Point being, just enjoy the ride, no matter where you are in the hobby.
 
I've also toyed with two more "limiting measures."

First, buying/ordering knives only for Christmas, Easter Sunday, my birthday and 911 Remembrance each year (unless a smokin' deal comes along.) Kinda spread them out.

Second, I've been eyeing a perfect tool chest at Harbor Freight. Dedicate it to knives. Keep it in the hardened room with the gun safes. "When it's full, it's full." Did I mention it's a roll-away? :cool:
 
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