How often do you get a new/used knife?

hauptmja

hauptmja

Joined
Mar 28, 2017
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I am just curious how addictive this hobby(?) is for some people (including myself). It seems like every time I go on to youtube there are a few guys that seem to have knife reviews for at least 3 knives/week (some of them borrowed, but usually its theirs). I maybe acquire 4 knives in the $200-$300 range/year through online retailer or secondary market. How about anyone else?
 
I used to get around two a year, but I've been getting pickier lately. I've only bought one knife in the past 12 months, and I don't see myself buying another one for a while, unless I end up with a lot of extra cash in the near future.
 
5 years ago, I bought 6-10 a year. Most were in the $50-120 range. Many were off the exchange here, other forums, or place like Instagram. I knew I was never going to buy a Sebenza, midtech, or custom. For me, I'd rather put $300+ toward a new handgun or AR build then a knife nowadays. I'm totally content with a LNIB Manix 2 off the exchange for $90. I topped out at 70 knives. I'm now down to 30 and currently have some ready to sell.

Those new to hobby tend to buy a lot at the beginning and downsize after a while. Many tend to go for "quantity over quality".

I've bought one knife in 2016 (Rat 1 in D2 with orange scales) and none in 2017 so far.

My wife has no interest in knives (she does carry a SAK Classic on her key chain) but she likes to shoot and got her CPL last summer.
 
I am used to buy ~3 new kives a year in the range of 100-250$ each.
But in the same time I sale 1 or 2 used knives a year
 
I'm part of a big gift giving family, so a lot of the knives I receive are for birthdays and Christmas from relatives. When I get extra money, more important things often get the nod. The last knife I bought was actually just about a month ago, but it was only because I sold another knife. The last big knife purchase I made for myself was in the summer of 2015 when I picked up my Emerson Horseman.
 
I used to buy a lot. about 2-3 per month. But after buying many "keepers" that got punted I just went out and bought the knives I always wanted yet couldn't justify the cost. It has pretty much eliminated my desire to buy anything else. Now I'm just going to keep those few knives I always wanted and dump the rest as I haven't touched them.
 
At one time I was buying 4 to 6 per month. Last year I bought 2. This year none so far.
 
I imagine that for many people the answer to this has evolved over time but for me it revolves around:

a) changing interests
b) my personal finances

There was a period of a few years, for example, that I was only interested in SAKs and Spydercos. My purchases were basically dictated by Spyderco's release schedule.

There was a period of two years (not all that long ago) when I was on a very strict budget and didn't buy any knives at all! That was actually tough.

Over the last few years, I think I average about a knife every two months or so (?) but sometimes it's three a month and then several months go by with nothing. I actually joined here because I wanted access to the exchange for a couple of discontinued knife models that I missed during my knife draught. :)
 
Over the passed 6 months I think I've picked up.. Roughly 7-8 knives I believe. In the last 2 months I bought 2. All were between $45-$200. Nothing over $200, while the majority of them were $120+.

I went on a miniature spree trying out different knives to see if they were for me. I'll maybe buy another one or two in the next 2-3 months if I see a good deal or I really, really want one, haha.
 
Too often! Usually when money allows. It is tough to say how many a month because I put in orders for mid techs and custom, and you never know when they will be complete. The last two years, probably 1 knife every month or two months at the most. After all my orders are complete in the next few months, I will be switching to one a year at the most, and will be making the rest myself. I have hit the point where I have filled all the niches I can think of, now I am just making knives for myself.
 
These days maybe about 4 a year tops, last year I think I picked up 3. The fanciest was a TAD Dauntless mk3 ($300ish used), the others were under $100 each. This year I've already hit 3, but two are specifically carving knives. 5 years ago I was probably picking up 20 a year.
 
2017 so far

2 used sub $100
1 new sub $100
4 New $100-$200

Plans for 2 $250-$350 by the end of the year.
Granted this is the most I've ever spent on blades in my life and haven't bought a firearm in 2 years. So I'm in for about $1500 anually be it blades or firearms.
 
weekly...all my knives are users or users I decided are not worth using so I sell them. Everything I buy is with the intent of carrying and using. Abusing is a different concept. I abuse (use the knife outside of its generally designed intention). I mostly abuse my dragonfly's and they dont care a bit.
 
I like to think that I am becoming more discerning.
Now if I find a knife that I like the looks of, I do more research than I used to. I find out what is comparable and the next step up/down in price, materials and craftsmanship.

I think I am settling down on a few modern folders, I moved to EDC fixed blades and traditional folders, and they may be mostly sorted out too.

The traditional patterns I like are (Sowbelly & some Trappers, Sodbuster & saddlehorn).

EDC Fixed blade should be (just recently) settled. I am awaiting delivery of a CPK EDC in 4V.
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This leads me to the problem that I didn't want to face. If I want to further my EDC rotation, it is either going to be Customs or targeting specific alloys. The alloys isn't a big deal, as they pop up, I might grab it.

The hard part is the two knives that I have been looking for, but haven't found yet.
- Wenger Professional 4 layer (grail of mine, 4 years and I have only seen 2-3 of them, all from German owners so communication has been spotty at best).

- Busse Meaner Street Variant (I will mod it myself if I have to) but the Busse is now on the back burner due to having the CPK inbound.
 
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I have picked up over 15 in the last two years. I think it would have been fewer if I had been able to actually see and touch a knife first hand. Where I am in Canada I do not have a knife store where I can stop in and browse a Spyderco or a Benchmade or a Bark River. I would get the itch for something, start reading and comparing and shopping and eventually breakdown and buy it and have it shipped in from elsewhere in Canada or the US.

This year so far I have only purchased 3. I find I have a few knives I just gravitate too and carry regularly (my 940 or my Native 5 or my Mini-Grip) so getting more will probably make them sit stored rather then carried and enjoyed.

I bought a Northwoods Bear Lake to see what all the Northwoods hype is about. Nice knife, but I have never carried it.

Now I am looking for a small fixed blade (Micro Canadian or PSK). I might pick something up if I make it to the GEC Rendezvous next month,

,,,Mike in Canada
 
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On average, one a month. $75 to $350 range.

Bought 7 Hinderers over a couple of months, was on a hell of tear for a bit.
 
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