How many knives would you own, if there was no Internet?

I would probably only have the finest that Wally World had to offer. That and maybe a Case or two like dear old dad. Before I got into ordering online, the scope of my selection was broadened by "the wall" at a certain sports and outdoor store.
 
I would have two Swiss Army knives, as opposed to the many I have now, or will have through trades!
 
I had two SAK's, a Benchmade Elishewitz and a Kershaw Blackout since 1993. Did not buy anything new until two years ago.
 
I actually own less now mainly because they are higher quality and keep me satisfied for a longer period of time before the knife buying itch returns. Guess I have the opposite problem.
 
Maybe some traditional fixed blade and SAK. Pretty tragic image, but I guess ignorance is bliss. :D
 
I actually own less now mainly because they are higher quality and keep me satisfied for a longer period of time before the knife buying itch returns. Guess I have the opposite problem.

That doesn't work for me. I could have a knife hand forged for me by Jesus Christ himself, made of an indestructible, never dulling Heavenly alloy with custom handle design and a fit, finish, and tolerances that makes CRK knives look like they were made by a sloppy amateur...and I would STILL be buying a new knife next week.
 
I'll definitely have less...

But, I'll be selling less or none also so my knives would accumulate...

So, I'd have more?
 
I would just get spydercos and ZT's from gun shops around hear but I would have to find out what they are first. I wouldn't know of these brands if I didn't have the Internet.
 
I'd actually own more, because I wouldn't be able to research so I'd buy any knife I saw, in hopes it would work
 
I would have my buck110 and buck119, the first 110 I got when I was 10 years old and here after 37 years I like them better than most new knifes I have.
 
Consider how the internet has opened up the ability of regular people to sell things. I haven't sold any knives that I no longer have a use for or interest in, but prior to the internet, what options did people have? Not many practical ones... gunshows, knife shows, penny pincher type ads, newspaper classified ads, and Joe down the street you run into.
 
60 miles to the nearest hardware store with knives in a glass case. 125 miles to a store that carries a variety of knives.

All but one or two of the last 50 or so knives purchased have come from the 'net. So, I would have a few but not nearly as many and my accumulation would be significantly slower.
 
Probably the same amount - only different ones.
There have been many sources before the net and those would probably have developed in a different way.
Magazines, Books, shows, local shops and of course mail order catalogs.
Maybe there are more variants of knives and you got a broarder audience and even knives from remote places are easier to obtain these days.
You can get ton's of information, so it get's easier to educate yourself, which helps you to spend you money wise.
:)
red mag
 
.....
There have been many sources before the net and those would probably have developed in a different way.
....:)

Yes there were. Although some of you may not believe it, there was life before the internet and the cellphone, and just as many collectors. For one thing, there were many more knife stores, usually at least one or two dedicated stores in every major shopping center and alot of stand alone sporting goods stores. This was long before Walmart and the Sports Authority drove them out of business. The factories and makers were also good at publishing paper catalogs and I would often call or write to them for their latest copies and you could always order via telephone or snail mail. If anything, EBAY managed to suck the life out of most "antique stores" and "garage sales". It may be easier to find things, but the level of fraud has also increased and prices are higher now than they were then.

n2s
 
My knife collection is very puny atm so without the internet, I'd probably still have the same amount of knives I have now, just different ones i.e. 2 Bear Grylls Parang machetes instead of my 2 HI khuks and a large Winchester bowie instead of my Busse TGLB. Thank God for the internet.
 
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Without the internet, I would never have even heard of all the great custom makers out there.

So definitely less knives and less customs.
 
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