How do you grow your knife hobby?

corwise

corwise

Joined
Nov 10, 2006
Messages
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I seriously gotten into knives about 3 years ago. Since then I've bought my fair share of CRKs, Busse's, Fehrmans, Striders, and have started into the custom realm of Begg, Hinderer, and am debating if I should buy a Lambert. :D Which is all great, but since my marriage will not go smoothly if I continue to buy at this rate, what do I do to continue my hobby?
I take them out and use them when I can, but with a 2 year old and a 2 week old baby it's a bit difficult. Not to mention of course that like most people on here I already have more knives then I can use in my lifetime. I have a few books, but it's hard to find an actual interesting book on knives for some reason. Most of the ones I find are on values or collecting for money, which really doesn't interest me. I'd love to learn how to make knives, but once again the kid thing, and the military is threatening to move me soon, so it doesn't make sense to get something all set up.
So basically, any suggestions how to learn/find new things out about knives? Reading this forum obviously, but while I still pick up an occasional nugget it is a lot of repeats. Hit the shows when I can, but once again, kids. :) Any thoughts, other web sites, interesting ready, etc, would be appreciated.
 
You might want to take a look at doing some kit knives. Take a look at www.knifekits.com for an introduction to them. On a side note, my excessive spending on knives, even though it did not endanger the bills or retirement, was one reason for my wife divorcing me. Do not let your spending get out of hand as it is really easy to do.
 
I keep my interest in knives by talking to people around the forums. The only issue is that coming here usually leads me to researching a bit too much, and it leads to other hobbies and spendings. It's an addiction, for sure.
 
Might try some cheaper knives, the ones you mention are pricey, there are plenty of quailty knives that are much more afforable, Kershaws, Case, Cold Steel, etc.
 
Might try some cheaper knives, the ones you mention are pricey, there are plenty of quailty knives that are much more afforable, Kershaws, Case, Cold Steel, etc.
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Cheaper knives?! I'm not sure I can do that. :) But it is a good idea...
 
cutter17 said:
You might want to take a look at doing some kit knives. Take a look at www.knifekits.com for an introduction to them. On a side note, my excessive spending on knives, even though it did not endanger the bills or retirement, was one reason for my wife divorcing me. Do not let your spending get out of hand as it is really easy to do.
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+1, I have had to catch myself a few times, and am frantically trying to pay back bills now to get back on top.
 
Just make sure your family comes first. Always keep your knife collecting behind your families needs. Be sure to keep it a maintained frenzy, mention to your family and friends to get you gift certificates instead of that stupid thing they buy you for your birthday, and then you try to return it so you can buy something you really want. There is a great book by Richard W. Barney and Robert Loveless that goes in depth into knife making. "How To Make Knives" Krause publications. I have learned alot, but still just mess with scales, and handles. What is great is that in between the steps of waiting for epoxy to dry, the author says to "leave the shop and go pay attention to your wife." Enjoy your great hobby and addiction but keep it balanced, and your wife will eventually go to knife shows with you! Mine does!
 
Any interest in Kydex or leather sheath making? Not sure how much materials or tools cost, but you can make it into a hobby that generates *some* profit I'm guessing.
 
I agree with trying cheaper knives than CRK, Busse and Fehrman. They are all of great quality, but there is PLENTY more knives that are cheaper, but still high quality.
 
To prove to yourself that you're capable of more than banal consumption, you should make a knife out of a file. Anneal it, shape it, temper it, put a handle on it, make a sheath out of kydex.. or something along those lines. :)
 
  • Buy low, sell high. ;):thumbup:
  • Garage sales (this is along the lines of the slippie/trad recommendations above)
  • Get into sharpening - suddenly the Mrs. realizes that knives aren't such a bad thing for you to be into.
  • Get into cooking/food prep - some nice time spent together, lots of cutting, and ditto above
 
I don't feel the need for any more knives unless something special comes along. I am going to try to feed the addiction with sharpening and getting crazy sharp edges. I can already get sharp but I want to move on to the next level.
 
I have a 3 year old, a 2 year old, and a 1 year old :eek:

I hear you one the kid thing..

I also ran into the same problem, and I only really like high end knives. So coldsteel and most others are out of the question ;) I have found I don't need to buy knives to enjoy the hobby.

Here are a few things I do...

Go to shows when I can, talk to people here and on the phone,
mess in W&C, sharpen.. And sharpen more after that! :D

Then I did a few YouTube reviews, and want to do more but my laptop crapped the bed on me. So being that "blade" is coming up, I am saving for blade and the computer will come after. :D

Also you can do reviews here, design knives on paper (try to make a nice folder desgn that will fold... It's harder than it sounds,) another fun part of the hobby is the photos. I have near 2000 pix in the BIG photo thread :D All done with no lightbox, and a crappy $200 point and shoot cannon.

I find myself logging in here to chat with friends more so than the knives :cool:
 
I can't possibly buy fast enough to curb my addiction. So what I do is put all my knives away. Out of site. Then, every week or so I bring out a new one to carry, use and play with. Rotating their use has helped me slow the spending down but its still bad. I guess there are worse things to spend $$ on.
 
I am doing less collecting and actually thinning the herd.

I am trying to narrow it down to a few users.

It's definitely more satisfying to use the knives rather than staring at them in my safe.
 
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