How have you gained most of your knowledge about knives?

I was drawn to this site years ago when looking to replace a knife a worker had broken. Then I heard, also on this site, that my longterm favorite cutlery was closing. Curiosity led me to research why. And then the products they made that I was not familiar with. And finally the history of the company and the people behind it. I kept digging. There were always more questions than answers. I checked both online and printed resources. And interview both former employees and famous makers who had done collaborations with the cutlery. And I learned that the history of that one cutlery was not a simple as I had assumed. Almost all of the many cutleries that had existed in the country as far back as the mid 1800's and quite a few overseas crossed paths and influenced each other's products and histories. So more digging. More research. Eventually I became temporary custodian of the archived records of that main company and a friend and associate of the custodians of other company records. Primary sources. This has been ongoing for years and still there are unanswered questions, more resources found, more answers found, errors found in previous resources. I've grown to love the hunt as much as the knives. And the best part is having the opportunity to share what I learn. And have others share what they learn to correct my own errors. Bladeforums has become a very important vehicle for my learning, sharing and entertainment. I might say that because of the forum, I have gained life-long friends around the world, experienced the joy of giving, been humbled by the generosity of others. And what began as a search for a replacement tool has grown to be much more than a hobby, and much more than about the tools. YMMV.
 
The internet just to learn what's out there, learning what I like and dislike only comes from first hand knowledge, the same with sharpening
 
Most of my knife knowledge has come from this forum. A lot of valuable info here if you search for it.
 
This forum and the USN.
Then it just comes down to forking over the money and seeing what you like/dislike.
1. Buy
2. Try
3. Keep or Sell
4. Repeat
 
Practical learning from this forum, the internets :) and YouTube videos.
I also read reviews online, listen to a couple of podcasts...Gear Geeks, Knife Journal and Knife Thursday, and subscribe to Blade Magazine.
 
twenty years ago it had to be a couple of knife mags here and there, and if you once found an actual book on knifemaking it was like gold...lots of time in the library looking for anything that referenced traditional swordsmithing, or observing nihonto at the museum...once i was fortunate to have a collector bring some antique nihonto to our home to teach me the parts, proper handling, and history/story...and a career smith agree to teach me for a short time...once a week part time in the back of a jewelery repair shop helped with the metalworking too...

today the 'net is a great way to watch people at work, lots of career smiths have at least one clip or documentary on youtube somewhere...and books are far easier to track down thanks to the 'net too...making virtual and real connections with other smiths here and there...

and then a lot of work and practice in the meantime!

"if it works...it's art, if it doesn't...it's research."
 
I've found Blade show is a great place to be exposed to many makers and manufacturers. Most people are happy to discuss what they do and are passionate, friendly and interested in talking shop. It can also give a quick idea as to the broad spectrum of design, fit and finish. A lot can be learned in a short amount of time.
 
I learned by using, sharpening, using, sharpening, adjusting, sharpening, and then using again.
 
About 90% of my knowledge comes from this website the other 10% from youtube and other such media.
 
I learned about the proper use and care of a knife in Cub/Boy Scouts. I received my first pocketknife when I was 8 years old. Nowadays the internet is my primary source of knife information.
 
Luckily I had a father who was a bit more adventurous than the cub or boy scouts and one of my earliest memories is watching him sharpen his knives on a carborundum stone. I had my first folder at a very young age, a 1" gift shop souvenir, and have carried ever since. As so many here can relate, high school and university were no deterrent to carrying.

At this point I was way into camping and backpacking and my interest went to fixed blades. Then, relatively recently, I arrived here and the rest of my life was wasted on folders.
 
YT videos (sharpening, tools, blade comparisons) and BladeForum.
 
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Here....right here.

I had a good base first but I've learned a lot here. That's why I adopt a humble attitude towards those who have encyclopedic knowledge even if it is narrowly focused or there is an attitude issue. If you can walk the walk, you can talk the talk.
 
The interweb first and foremost, mostly right here. BF rocks.
And increasingly by carrying and using, as I've spent the last couple of years going from "I think I'll get myself a decent pocket knife" to somehow having at least 20. So far. :confused:
Getting a Wicked Edge and an interest in sharpening sure helped too.
 
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