How FEW knives do you own?

M

mjh

Joined
Nov 10, 2003
Messages
5
Hi. First time poster.

Out of curiosity, does anyone else own just a couple of knives? It seems most of you are constantly packing several knives and have several more spread in different places (cars, toolkits etc.).

I may not count as a knife enthusiast, as I possess only one folder (Victorinox Soldier) and a couple of Finnish puukko's of which I only use one. But I love to read and listen to talk about knives and blade materials etc., learn about maintenance and sharpening and so on. To learn about knives in general.

The few knives I own are such that hopefully will last beyond my lifetime. I have no need to get new equipment (unless I break or lose something), but more to have a selection of reliable tools that feel like "old friends".

Am I alone with my ways, or do you think I'm just insane? :)
 
I think that's perfectly sensible. I own more than you do, but I am NOT a collector. Each knife I own has a purpose (real or imagined) I don't own any that I have 'just because'.

I'd have to count but I usually only have 10-15 knives total (not counting kitchen knives) at any given time. If a knife doesn't work for me I trade it off for something else that I think will work, if that doesn't work...

-John
 
There is a practical purpose to having several knives for each task you intend to do. Instead of only one SAK or multitool, for example, you can have one in your car, one in your pocket, on at home, one in your survival kit, and one in your desk at work. Add in tactical folders, and small, medium and large fixed blades and you can end up with a lot of knives. In any emergency situation if all you have is one knife and it is lost or broken you are in trouble unless you can knap flint (if you can find it) or forge one from scrap metal like on "The Hunted." :D
 
Welcome to the board. I'm not really a collector, more of a fan I'd say. I have about two dozen each of folders and fixed blades, even less carving and fine kitchen knives, and only about a half dozen each of axes, hatchets, SAK's, multitools, and razorknives. My wife has only a few choice knives, a couple of SAK's, and a multitool. My sons have a couple dozen of my culls between them, and a few of their own choosing. I believe I could honestly get by with only a half dozen each. What I really enjoy is finding excellent quality knives at bargain prices and then giving them as gifts. I suspect that as you learn more about knives and steel, your "collection" will improve.
 
I own several knives and I'm one of those who has knives stashed everywhere. I try to keep one where it will be convenient to get to if needed. That being said, I am not a collector. The knives I have are an accumulation of my search for the "perfect" EDC knife/knives. Here's the short list to date:

CRK small Sebenza
CRK small Sebenza classic
CRK Umfaan
Victorinox Settler (I have two of these)

Paul
 
I definately fit in the LESS categorry now. I went from having 30 to 35 knives, with about a dozen being custom tactical folders, down to just TWO! Well actually I still have a couple of slipjoints and always carry one with me. The two knives I now rotate as edc's are a Camillus Aftermath and a large JWS Evolution. I found out having more is not always the best thing............especially in my case!!:eek: :D :)
 
Like blastjv, the things I own have a purpose. That might be a reason why I sold off all my flashlights and am left only two. The only knife I have is a Spyderco Delica which might get replaced with a BM 705 or MT Mini Socom Elite M/A.
 
I think variety is the spice of life.

While there is nothing wrong with having one or two knives (I often envy those people), I enjoy getting up and deciding which knife I want to carry for the day. On a typicaly weekday I always carry two, a large folder clipped to my pocket and a small folder loose in the other.

When hunting it's a whole different ballgame, it's also different when I'm off of work and doing things around the house.

Right now my collection consists of about 30 knives of varying sizes and types and each sees use. I probably have another 10 that are special to me in some way that I won't ever use. They are all kept in one place with the exception of a small fixed blade I keep in the car.

At some point I will get completely fed up with having this many and pare down to 2-3 like Art but it hasn't happened yet - as long as I'm enjoying them all I don't mind, if it gets to the point where it's more frustrating than fun I'll dump most of them and move on.
 
I too would be counted among the small collectors. The knives I own are used, I have no "display" knives or "colector" pieces. I've got maybe 3 or 4 small folders, a couple of multi tools and two custom made fixed blade knives. I usually carry two different knives with me and which ones I carry depends on what I might be doing that day. Usually I have a small folder and a multi tool with me. The fixed blades I use around the farm for a multitude of purposes.

I'd probably have more if I could afford it but I can't justify spending large amounts of money on something that I'd just like to have around, I've got too many mouths to feed! :)

Having said all that I am waiting for my Cricket to arrive and that's really something that I just wanted. I justify that as my xmas present to myself. :)
 
Originally posted by mjh

Am I alone with my ways, or do you think I'm just insane? :)
Click to expand...

I don't think you're alone or insane. My guess is that most of the world feels as you do. Of course this is a forum dedicated to matter seperators of all kinds, with collectors, makers and dealers of all kind. This group is far from normal, which is why we gather here for group support.

I helped a friend buy his first knife over the weekend. We were at the New York Custom Knife Show, he came looking for a $30 folder, after about an hour of me introducing him to some of the top makers in the world he didn't think that $5800 for a Shane Taylor Damascus folder was out of line. :D
He didn't buy the Taylor knife, but he did buy one of Joe Pardue's production knives ($40) from Joe Pardue. He really enjoyed the experiance. That Pardue knife could last him his lifetime. I have a feeling there will be more knives to come.
 
Originally posted by mjh
...I may not count as a knife enthusiast, as I possess only one folder... But I love to read and listen to talk about knives and blade materials etc., learn about maintenance and sharpening and so on. To learn about knives in general.
Click to expand...

Cool, i thought I was the only one. I agree with the whole just love learning about stuff.
I own a CRKT Urban Shark
Buck big sky with nutmeg wood handle(think that's the name anyway)
and a mora cheapo for fishing
 
Without physically gathering them up to count, I have 20 knives. I'm no collector though, I just make them :D
I only have 10 production knives and 6 of those are carving knives.One is a knife my grandpa gave me that he carried in WWII, and the others are 2 old EDC's and a multi tool. The other 10 are knives that I made and had some reason to not to sell or giveaway (first linerlock, messed something up but still usable etc. )
They all see use at one time or another except for the Quartermaster's knife from my grandpa and a Craftsmen stock knife that was my first knife.

I try to be practical about it. There are quite a few knives out there that I keep almost buying but talk myself out of. I'd like a buck 110 from pete's custom shop and I think a benchmade 710 or 806D2 would make a nice EDC, but I never feel right carrying a production knife and leaving my own work at home. I like the production stuff, but it just feels wrong:confused:
 
I envy the man or woman who can have a hobby and not purchase every new whizbang thing-a-ma-jig that comes along. I have never been that way however. Fishing rods, tools, guns, knives, flashlights just to name a few things that I am interested in and have way too many of. I have over the years, whittled down some of my play toys for one reason or another. I like to have a knife for every occassion and in most cases several I wind up with several looking for something better than the last purchase. I don't buy to collect, I only buy to use. Since my son is a gun and knife nut like me, I will probably hang on to most of what I have so he will have a nice collection of toys from his dad.
 
I think you are very sensible in your approach to knives. My advice to you is, if you want to stay that way it would be best not to hang around here too much. I once approached knives in the same sensible way that you do. After three years of hanging around this place I am now into collecting knives that cost more than I had ever imagined paying for a knife. Get out while you can. Don't say you weren't warned.;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top