I am a senior in BioChemistry (with all kind of minors/emphases that I don't want to list off) at UCSD.
Here is the trick to getting to play with lots of knives: Buy a knife and have fun with it, then trade it for another one or sell it for a few bucks less than you paid. That way, you can enjoy the knife and then get to enjoy another one later. Consider the loss in value as "rent" for the enjoyment.
The person you trade with gets a "new" knife too, so you both get to have fun using new kinds of knives.
For instance, I bought a Microtech SOCOM and carried it and beat the heck out of it freely (within reason). In other words I USED it. I bought it for $200 new, and sold it for like $185 six months later after carrying it most every day. The buyer saw it and new it was used, and he wanted to buy it as a "user" at a "used" price, because he was going to further use it, rather than let it sit in a safe. I figure I lost $15, but I got to really USE a Microtech for six months, so the rent was cheap and the enjoyment was immense! Now the person that bought it gets to do the same.
High quality "tactical" folders are pretty tough. If you buy any one of them and use it to your hearts desire for six months, it should only get a few scratches and people will still buy it because they know it will serve them for many years of service anyway.
thaddeus
