How many knives do you need - or "learning curve"

Michael_Aos

Michael_Aos

Joined
Jan 25, 2001
Messages
1,639
I used to get really tired of hearing it from my wife, but now I'm actually starting to wonder. I was buying a "weekday" knife, and a "weekend" knife and a lake knife and a motorcycling knife and a...(you get the idea)

I was buying folders for a while. Mostly production knives, slowly learning what I liked and disliked -- to the tune of about $3000, now that I add it up (about 20). I only carry 1 or 2 of them (either together or seperately) anymore. 1/2 of me keeps thinking I should sell or trade the rest or something. I don't know exactly. Seems like they somehow have more sentimental value than anything.

Now that I've got as close to a "perfect" EDC folders as I care to own (I'm sure there are others that are at least as good, if not better, but I'm happy with what I've got right now), I find I'm doing the same thing -- a "camping" knife, a "hunting" knife, a "utility" knife, a self-defense knife, a lake knife, etc. I guess I've got about 8 fixed blades (9 if you count the one I just ordered from Bill Burke, kinda excited about that) and I'm finding the same pattern. Skinning knife -- that's easy, special purpose. The rest though seem seem to fall into the same general category, and I'm afraid I'm going to wind up with 1 or 2 or maybe 3 fixed blade knives that I really like and another 20 laying around that aren't quite as good.

Is there any easy way to just skip the "learning curve" of spending thousands of dollars and going through dozens of "so-so" knives to get to the handful of really good "keepers"?

Mike
 
Hey, without that learning curve, the knife industry would be in serious trouble!
 
I guess maybe it's "If I only knew then, what I know now".

I've done that with a bunch of things. It's really expensive to not know exactly what you want in the first place.

Mike
 
I've heard people say that once you get your Sebenza, you won't want to buy another knife. I think I said it. But I got a Sebenza, and I still buy knives. I try to fill niches, not buy a knife that does exactly what another one does already. I'd like a Benchmade 710 but I've got a 730.

I always carry the Sebenza, but there's a few others that I rotate along with it. They're fun, they're like jewelry, they can be useful, too.

If you have to ask how much, you can't afford it! Enjoy them, then give them away. :D
 
How do you "learn" about which knives you'll like to keep and which to sell and where to
stop?? Boil everything down to the basics. Forget the fancy names...Forget the price..
Forget whether it is someone eles's favorite. Judge everything on function following
form. A knife doesn't have to have expensive snob appeal to be a good knife. It also
doesn't have to be the latest, greatest kid on the block to be a good knife. Given enough
time and some personal honesty you'll figure out the few knives that you own that
are the most useful and that most fit your personality. Good luck.
 
I don't think one can avoid the learning curve.I know my freinds sure got great deals on slightly used knives from me:) .I got down to 4 folders to cover my edc needs.A lcc for off the job,a 710 for on the job,a CS 5 inch Voyager for where I can't carry a gun and a plain edge Rookie for air travel:rolleyes: .Well then I saw a great deal on a CQC7,and now that Buck strider looks interesting.Guess I'm still on that curve.

You know my dad uses one knife for everything,and I change mine like my underwear (twice a month):D .
 
No, you are doing things the right way. Thanks to these forums, I have traded a few of my knives here. I learned tons by owning knives, checking them out, and then trading them.
 
I listen to you guys. Then I check out what others seem to like. If it were not for this forum, I had have a serious learning curve.

S.
 
Impossible. There is no way to avoid the inevitable.

Thee will always be a new blade grind, a new scale texture, a new polish, a new decoration, a new lock, a new steel, a new carry method, a price you can't pass up.

I try to max out the total number of knives and just keep at that number. But then a new inexpensive knife comes on the market and keeps screwing up that plan.
 
The best way to avoid the purchase of unnecessary knives is... research. Really think about your needs and research for a knife that best fits your needs and desires. I have bought many knives. I have asked myself quite frequently "why did I get that?". I find that making a more informed decision saves me a lot of grief.
 
Have to agree with Architect and Dennis. I see knives every day that are "cool". I want them. Hard to resist buying on impulse, sometimes.
I think you do have to try different types of knives to see what suits you, though.

"Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment."
I think everything in life has a learning curve. I know I never seem to get it just right on the first try:(

The worst thing that can happen is to get one knife that is just "perfect" to you. That's when the hypercriticism (new word?) of everything else in the drawer starts.
 
I didn't buy any of the knives that I own because I needed them, and I probably won't in the future either. The knives I aquire I do so because I must have them.

It is my love of knives that keeps me buying more of them than I could ever use. I could probably get by with 4 or 5, but what would be the fun in that.
 
Originally posted by Michael_Aos
Is there any easy way to just skip the "learning curve" of spending thousands of dollars and going through dozens of "so-so" knives to get to the handful of really good "keepers"?
Click to expand...

No. There is no way. And the learning curve is exponential, it only approaches zero without ever reaching it. It goes on for ever.

My advice? Don't buy expensive knives with your name engraved on them.
 
There seems to be only one problem: The more I know about knives, the expensive are the ones, that I'd like to have.
Nevertheless, I am keeping them all. I use (or used) all of my knifes on my outdoor trips, so there are certain memories linked to it.

Markus
 
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