How things change

GB940Rookie

GB940Rookie

Gold Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2016
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For at least a couple decades I considered the Case Canoe a fairly large folder. Now I consider the BM 707 to be small. Funny how likes and opinions change over the years.
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Another thing is I use to carry one folder for pretty much every situation. Now I have 8 different EDC folders, one for every situation I could possibly think of. I still haven't picked up Salt Spydie or a blade for whale rescue while walking down the beach, but I'm sure I will someday.

So, what things have changed for you over the years?
 
For me the biggest change is what I find acceptable to spend on a knife nowadays. I remember when I thought $50 was insane, while I'm not like others who'll spend $1,500 on a knife(custom or production), but $200-250 is pretty average now.

Another thing is how I perceive steel. I never used to care if it was 420 or even some random Chinese stuff I never heard the name before, now I need to know exactly what type of steel the blade is running, and if it's up to my own personal standards. I've grown to enjoy testing different types of steel just to see how they preform and compare to one another. Like a hobby inside a hobby, haha.

Good idea for thread, GB.
 
I keep realizing how little knife I actually need. Just spent ten days out in the middle of nowhere on a Lake in Ontario fishing and could've gotten by with a Victorinox classic. In reality I find myself needing a small sharp blade for random daily things that pop up. Don't need special steel, don't need a serrated blade, don't need at least a 3 inch blade etc. I keep buying knives to check them out and end up selling them or giving them away once the novelty wears off. My always knife is a victorinox classic. Everything else has come and gone, some more than once. The Kabar Dozier folding hunter and the mini folding hunter are the two knives I may just hold on to. Simple, utilitarian and cheap.
 
McFeeli said:
For me the biggest change is what I find acceptable to spend on a knife nowadays. I remember when I thought $50 was insane, while I'm not like others who'll spend $1,500 on a knife(custom or production), but $200-250 is pretty average now.

Another thing is how I perceive steel. I never used to care if it was 420 or even some random Chinese stuff I never heard the name before, now I need to know exactly what type of steel the blade is running, and if it's up to my own personal standards. I've grown to enjoy testing different types of steel just to see how they preform and compare to one another. Like a hobby inside a hobby, haha.

Good idea for thread, GB.
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Totally agree about willing to spend the $. I would never have considered spending more than $100 just a few years ago.

And don't even get me started on steel snobbery.:)
 
Gurdygurds said:
I keep realizing how little knife I actually need. Just spent ten days out in the middle of nowhere on a Lake in Ontario fishing and could've gotten by with a Victorinox classic. In reality I find myself needing a small sharp blade for random daily things that pop up. Don't need special steel, don't need a serrated blade, don't need at least a 3 inch blade etc. I keep buying knives to check them out and end up selling them or giving them away once the novelty wears off. My always knife is a victorinox classic. Everything else has come and gone, some more than once. The Kabar Dozier folding hunter and the mini folding hunter are the two knives I may just hold on to. Simple, utilitarian and cheap.
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I hear you.
I go back and forth on blade length. I prefer around 3.5 but rarely need over 2.5 inches. Tried some 2" blades but was left wanting more too many times.
 
The pocket clip was the real game changer in terms of acceptable carry size.

A Benchmade 710 or even the Cold Steel Recon 1 is perfectly acceptable clipped inside my back pocket. Either would be completely and utterly ridiculous dropped freely inside a front pocket however.
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
The pocket clip was the real game changer in terms of acceptable carry size.

A Benchmade 710 or even the Cold Steel Recon 1 is perfectly acceptable clipped inside my back pocket. Either would be completely and utterly ridiculous dropped freely inside a front pocket however.
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IMO the best accessory ever added to a folder. Changed everything for me. Great point.
 
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I started carrying a knife two years ago, it used 440A and I thought it was just fine, but then I had to get a Byrd Meadowlark. The steel game changed when I saw a difference in performance and researched steels.

Recently I decided I won't buy a knife with AUS-8/8cr or lower, all (3) of my folders use at least D2.
 
McFeeli said:
For me the biggest change is what I find acceptable to spend on a knife nowadays...
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^^^Definately this. ^^^

Another thing that has changed is my awareness of knife design, especially subtle elements. Along with that has come an appreciation of designs and aesthetics that might not appeal to me personally. The range of variability helps make this pastime interesting--and kinda keeps me broke!
 
For me the biggest change was size.
I've learned how capable a lot of small knives are, and have changed my mind on what is or isn't big enough to be a primary edc folder.

In the same regards I've also gotten comfortable with carrying a fixed blade that's up to 11" oal, most are 9" or less but I do have one that's 11" which I carry on occasion.
 
I've gone from an (overall) 8" when I first started carrying fixed every day to a 13" now. A 7" blade is now the sweet spot.
 
I started out with modern knives back in 2004 or 2005, when I discovered Smith & Wesson at Big 5 Sporting Goods in San Francisco. Even then I'd wait for the $40.-$50. models to go on sale. After joining Bladeforums, and I started learning about the modern knife industry, I was hooked. (I still have a couple of those old S&W's around for sentimental reasons, but now it's Spyderco, Benchmade, Kabar, etc.)

Now, I'll drop upwards of $150. on a knife on my short list - when we're working and have a steady income. Being broke has shown me just how much knife I don't need.

I've actually become a bit of a minimalist now. I posted up in the Trditional forum in January that I was moving back to the older, more traditional patterns in my collection. Below is a re-scaled Camillus #23 'Jumbo Jack', above it is a Zero Tolerance #0566 that was customized (Gnoleb full Ti package, SheppardCC scale.) I loved that ZT, but just don't need that much knife. The old Camillus #23 gets a lot of lovin' & use these days... but it may go by-by to another member soon as well. As much as I love it, it is a bit large for pocket carry. I have an A.G. Russell Japanese-made belt pouch for it, so it rides in that when I carry it.

r82g8dZ.jpg


Over the years, I've picked up a dozen or more knives that need to be cleaned up, re-ground, re-profiled, re-scaled, etc. I've started working on those, and moving the rest of my modern designs out. (I just sold that lovely ZT up there last week.)

Below are standard Opinel #8's. They get a lot of the grunt work in the kitchen now.
Cah0ds6.jpg


~Chris
 
orca8589 said:
I started out with modern knives back in 2004 or 2005, when I discovered Smith & Wesson at Big 5 Sporting Goods in San Francisco. Even then I'd wait for the $40.-$50. models to go on sale. After joining Bladeforums, and I started learning about the modern knife industry, I was hooked. (I still have a couple of those old S&W's around for sentimental reasons, but now it's Spyderco, Benchmade, Kabar, etc.)

Now, I'll drop upwards of $150. on a knife on my short list - when we're working and have a steady income. Being broke has shown me just how much knife I don't need.

I've actually become a bit of a minimalist now. I posted up in the Trditional forum in January that I was moving back to the older, more traditional patterns in my collection. Below is a re-scaled Camillus #23 'Jumbo Jack', above it is a Zero Tolerance #0566 that was customized (Gnoleb full Ti package, SheppardCC scale.) I loved that ZT, but just don't need that much knife. The old Camillus #23 gets a lot of lovin' & use these days... but it may go by-by to another member soon as well. As much as I love it, it is a bit large for pocket carry. I have an A.G. Russell Japanese-made belt pouch for it, so it rides in that when I carry it.

r82g8dZ.jpg


Over the years, I've picked up a dozen or more knives that need to be cleaned up, re-ground, re-profiled, re-scaled, etc. I've started working on those, and moving the rest of my modern designs out. (I just sold that lovely ZT up there last week.)

Below are standard Opinel #8's. They get a lot of the grunt work in the kitchen now.
Cah0ds6.jpg


~Chris
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No telling where the knife path will lead us. I just try to enjoy the stroll.

I don't know if I will ever transition back to traditionals but you never know.
 
Mine was price and money spent too.
I was most of my lifetime's years below the $20 mark, then my first SAKs up to $30 and my first OHO folders were the $15-30 ones.
A year later I was at $50-80, two years from then I went up to $250 and that's where the limit is for me.
I've found that is hard to beat the $70 value in modern folders today (for my needs) and still look at the $250 as a crazy expense.
I think it's a matter of time, though, as I would've never ever accepted paying $70 for my Pacific Salt (current EDC for 3+ years) back then in the beginning
 
Without the slightest doubt......price!
First 'real' knife was a Spydie Pac Salt, ~ $70, in June of '15. $70???? WOW!!!
This coming from a looney toon that spends $4000 on a pool cue and $1000 for an air rifle!!
Kinda leveled out in the $250 - $350 range.
Joe
 
I must admit, I have to agree with almost everything written above.
I used to love clip point blades, now I rarely even look at them. I also am finding myself leaning towards plain simple drop point blades. FFG is an area of interest, now. So are multi-tools and fixed blades. A back up knife is something I am considering and I can now see that one knife won't meet all my needs.

I now look much more at QC and where a knife is made. I am much more critical about what I own than I ever was forty years ago.
 
Used to be choppers and large six-and-up fixed blades. Then large, overbuilt folders of the sharpened prybar variety. Nowadays, it is large, non-overbuilt folders and smaller four-and-under fixed blades (with certain exceptions).
 
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