How do you keep it fresh and interesting? (Or, do you not?)

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
4,765
I'm in deep and have been for years now. This hobby would have died for me years ago if it weren't for:

- The secondary market: the ability to buy, sell, and trade without losing money (if you're patient and careful) makes for a steady stream of new and interesting things.

- I go outside of my comfort zone with knives every once in a while just on the off-chance I'll be surprised. I dove headfirst into traditional knives (slipjoints) and that has greatly broadened my tastes and refreshed the hobby considerably for me. My transition into regular carry of fixed blades has done the same as well.

- I spend a lot of time trolling (not forum trolling) through dealer websites and odd eBay searches and Amazon for things I've never seen or haven't considered in a while* - there's a kind of feeling of treasure hunting as I go through the somewhat tedious process of going through hundreds of pages of inventory on the off chance you'll discover something new and exciting.

* I just recently learned of G. Sakai's offerings in H1 and am debating on a few models - I have also found a number of no-name non-counterfeit Chinese manufacturers with interesting offerings ("TwoSun", "Rike" before they started selling stateside, "Y-Start", and a few others)
 
I change my underwear daily...




Due to financial and marital problems, I've not been able to buy or even be in the market to look at new knives.

Things have changed. I have always been one who will never own multiples of the same knife. I like unique knives. I've played ball in the $250+ range, and so far have found only one knife for me in that range.

To tell you how out of the loop I've been, I had no idea Emerson was even considering a flipper, let alone have two models for sale. I've never owned an Emerson, but this may change things.

Thankfully, Southern Grind does not have a Spider or Bad Monkey flipper, or else I'd probably pass out and wake up to find my car being re-possessed.
 
For good or ill, I own so many knives that I could go for several months without carrying the same one. I have my favorites, which get carried regularly. But when I want to spice it up, I just pick out a knife that I have not carried for a long, long time. Something like a Buck Vantage, or a old school Cold Steel folder. Knives that don't get much love. That seems to do the trick.

Its also okay to step away from things for a while, until one's interest returns. I have done that with flashlight, multitools, guns, etc. For me, the interest always comes back pretty soon.
 
Custom knives and projects with makers keep things interesting for me.

The problem with customs though, is the ridiculous looks of what is popular nowadays. Everyone wants a stonewashed-framelock-flipper that's nearly 1/4" thick with poor edge geometry and finishing. I stumble upon gems here and there though:)
 
After trying and flipping many folders I found a couple that I would purchase again and again and decided that I would keep the ZT0200 and ZT0300. I found that the heavier knives if they fall out of my pocket I notice the lighter ones not so much.
 
For me I was really into higher end knives and I got rid of them to keep only a few and now I am back again. Mind you I had a lot. I am not talking about just 10 knives.

I guess once it is in your blood you cannot ever get out. Either you keep going strong or you take a little vacation from it. Either way time comes and goes and it draws you back in again.

[video=youtube;UPw-3e_pzqU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPw-3e_pzqU[/video]
 
I keep very busy and I dedicate time to other hobbies.. Most of the year I'll have maybe 20 minutes before bed to check out the forums. Right now I'm in France touring the countryside in between Euro 2016 matches. By the time I get back home, knives will be fun and fresh again.
 
The research and history of the old school slip joints keeps it fresh, that and the fact that Glove everything about knives and can talk about them and the people who make and collect them ad nauseum. I could filibuster on knives for days.

I've been accumulatin'/collectin' for 40 years now and I have a large enough collection/accumulation that I could cartridge a different knife every day for over a year and never carry the same one twice. I frequently change out the favorites throughout the week and always find something new I like about an old knife.

Playing with these medium 3"+ folders, the Gerber Bolt lock is one of the toughest plastic handled knives ever made and it's light as a feather.

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The marketplace keeps it interesting for me. Since my first acquisition, a CO4 Spyderco in the early 80's IIRC, there has been a constant evolution of the blade industry that has vacuumed dollars out of my pocket. I'll sound like the geez I am but I remember when Benchmade of a new company and the excitement I felt as their catalogue expanded. Now I'm surprised by the improvement in Chinese knives, I detest their rip offs but respect their collaborations. Unfortunately as with may other industries you have posers and scammers but at the same time we're fortunate to have some a great makers and manufacturers.
 
For me it's all still new and interesting. Loved knives since I was little but it's only recently that I've had enough income to enjoy it. So now I am like a sponge trying to soak up as much knife knowledge as I can.
 
powernoodle said:
For good or ill, I own so many knives that I could go for several months without carrying the same one.
Click to expand...

You and me both - I have about 30 EDC folders at this point. I have at least that many fixed blade knives as well. I have been addicted to blades since I was very young, which was many years ago now. A lot of things in my life have changed over the years, but that hasn't; give me a knife!
 
Crap, I really should start selling or trading. I just keep buying, but always find a reason why I don't want to let each one go. In fact I have a couple dozen inbound right now. Most of them are very inexpensive....i.e., shipping almost more expensive than knife value. But it's fun to try different things.

Some are cheap Peanuts, just because. And other Frost and Rough Rider/Colts. Many will be given away as gifts. Although cheap, I like to have a bunch of "gift" knives around to give to people not currently carrying one. They may toss it aside, but I like sharing my hobbies. Pretty much all of my work associates will be getting at least one of this next batch....just because.

Most likely the incoming ZT804CF and Stag Beagle will be tried out in pocket until the next urge comes. [emoji56]. It will be tough to pull the current ZT 456 out of the pocket because I've really been grooving it. But the tough decisions must be made. [emoji23]. Dang those are stressful.

I actually stewed over what Beagle cover to get for weeks. I love Traditionals in stag, but dang the Red Micarta and Smooth Bone covers looked amazing. I've missed out on way too many first round releases simply because I couldn't decide on scale choice. [emoji16]

Yup, I'm a stupid accumulator. But that's how I keep it fresh.





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People are Strange, When You're a Stranger....
 
Just take it slow. Energy with the knife hobby comes and goes. Certainly using them helps. I don't need to buy a knife a month to keep me happy. I buy in spurts with the last spurt early this month at Blade. Considered not even going as I knew I would spend a good chunk of change I really shouldn't spend. Thinking it will be months before I get another, but never say never. I need to get out in the woods more than buy a knife. If I see I need or want something, then it will happen.

To date, I have only purchased new blades and seldom EVER look at the for sale listings here or try to sell anything. Selling doesn't appeal to me.

I could go a pretty good while rotating weekly what I own as a regular carry knife. But I have my favorites and I generally go with them until the next favorite arrives.
 
I like everything about knives, that's how it stays interesting to me. My direction on the knives have changed and the hunt is always fun. There's a plethora of knives being made and offered that keeps the knife world interesting.
 
I carry the same mid-tech titanium-slabbed folder flipper every day (for the last 1.5 yrs). It's been that way with two or three other high-class folders (CRK's...large Sebbie and Zaan) for the last five or six yrs.
I'm a big Spydie fan and have many NIB that I'll never carry, but will just buy/sell/trade as usual. There were a couple of yrs when I carried a Caly 3 in ZDP for my work-knife. A fine blade and I've gifted a few to relatives, but I really haven't carried a Spydie in yrs...I just admire them.
I've had fixed blades, primarily for the amazing wooden grips on a few beautiful customs, but it's been yrs since I've been in "the woods."
Had a few traditionals recently also, and a whole bunch of SAKs for a short time period.
I'm a firm believer in frame-locks, although the Gayle Bradley 2 is a liner-lock that enthralls me with the M4 steel.
Many, many PM2's have been in my home, all of the super-steels but I've never carried one. I do "love" playing with the compression lock, however, in this model.
The Exchange gets visited by me perhaps five to ten times/day. Looking for a "buy" is fun, but I've never had a net gain in this hobby.
Usually, I sell a few in order to buy something that draws my attention.
It's fun...it's my hobby and something to do...I enjoy the new steels, and have collected/bought/sold many, even though I;ve never carried a super-steel beyond the ZDP Caly.
 
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For me, it's all about making things incredibly sharp. If I'm bored I find something to sharpen. I have a large collection of knives, razors, stones and sharpening systems. I even have specialty equipment to sharpen scissors.

I also like opening the eyes of others to what a good blade is. I have friends who buy gas station knives that won't hold an edge. I try to educate them on steel and show them that they do not need to spend a lot to get good steel, just know what to look for. This usually results in a trip to a knife store. It's fun to help someone else pick out their first good knife and I get to sharpen them after they abuse it.
 
Start making them... That'll keep things constantly new.
 
I guess I do not. I reached maximum knife saturation last year. Happy with what I have, no plans to buy more. Plenty of knives in the drawer and on the shelf to last me the rest of my life.
 
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