How/What do you buy/collect?

[Squidman24]

Still relatively new here on the porch, so excuse me if this has been previously discussed.

What do you focus on in your traditional knife purchasing/collecting?

• Do you tend to stick to your favorite pattern? (i.e. pattern 15s only)
• Do you purchase various patterns but only in a particular cover material? (i.e. various patterns all with stag covers)
• Do you collect SFOs only because you prefer more rare knives?

These are obviously only a few examples of how one might approach collecting knives, I am sure there are many other approaches being used. I am curious to hear them!

I’d also be curious to know what percentage of your collection actually gets used/carried and what percentage are for fondling purposes only.

 

[Rookie82]

I'm sure you'll get 50 variations of what people like to collect. As long as you like what you're buying, you're doing good.

For me, my Grandfather used to buy me the annual NKCA Youth Knife each year in the 1990's for 6 years in a row. When I got out of college, I started searching to find all the other years that I didn't have. From there, I started looking for the NKCA prototype knives, after they were all sold off during a Voyles auction.

Then a few years back my Grandfather gave me his 1906 Tuna Valley knife, and that sparked my current obsession of collecting the Tuna Valley knives made first by GEC, and now by Queen.

For me, my collecting knives are for collecting only, not using. I have an EDC S&M stag sowbelly that I bought to use, and that is the knife I'll use until it fails me.

 

[hhmoore]

I had about 2 dozen Case knives in display cases - that were acquired from approx 1998-2001. Some were gifts, the rest purchased by me. Hadn't touched, or even thought about, them in over 10 yrs... then, one day, I broke the locks & started checking them out. Most of them didn't appeal to me in the least...but there were a handful that got polished up & now get pocket time.

As far as more recent acquisitions, it's been mostly GEC patterns. A few 15s and 92s, a couple of 77s and 47s, and singles of a few other models. All of them get some pocket time. I've got 2 S&Ms, one of which I absolutely love (even if it is big & heavy).

Aside from some of those aforementioned Cases (the ones that don't appeal to me, primarily), all of my trads get carried...except one. A Northwoods Hawthorne Jack in camel bone. I just can't - and that's okay. One day, I may find myself with another that I consider too nice to use... and then the Hawthorne will probably get dropped in my pocket.

 

[leghog]

Narrowing it down to US military issue/war knives and scout knives.

 

[Kevin-B]

I collect every traditional knife pattern, the barlow pettern in my favorite so i tend to look more at those but...
And for now i only collect knives with natural handle materials, I dont really like the thought of having a traditional knife with a none traditional handle material.
So im not the biggest fan of Micarta or any Acrylics but they might grow on me, some day.

 

[Bartleby]

I collect as the spirit moves me. I have multiple examples from different makers of the types I use most often, but don't intentionally purchase items to never use.

 

[afishhunter]

I only buy inexpensive "user" knives, like Rough Rider, Marbles, Schrade/Old Timer/Imperial/Uncle Henry and Buck.
My favorite slipjoint patterns are the Stockman (3 7/8" closed or larger), the Sunfish, Canoe, Scout/Camp knives, Barlow, and two blade Half Hawks. The full size Trapper pattern has begun to interest me, as well, so I have three of those now.
For lockbacks, the Buck 110, Old Timer 6OT and 7OT, and the Uncle Henry LB7 are all I've ever carried and used.
All my knives get carried, though not on the same day.
My normal EDC is a stockman, Scout/Camp knife, (SAK Huntsman more often than not) Barlow or Canoe, and Buck 110.
This week I'm trying a Buck 119 or 877 in place of the 110.

 

[hhmoore]

...i only collect knives with natural handle materials...

I forgot to include this in mine. There were two with celluloid covers in that group of Case knives; but I'm strictly in the natural materials camp, now. Wood, bone, stag, and horn (a couple of the old ones are MOP and abalone)... with bone or wood being my preference, because asymmetric (stag) covers grate on me.
I did buy the 2017 forum knife, despite the micarta handles - thinking I'd dye it, or maybe have the scales changed - but I have an active dislike for that color micarta, so it sits in the tube (forgotten until this moment)

 

[Kevin-B]

I forgot to include this in mine. There were two with celluloid covers in that group of Case knives; but I'm strictly in the natural materials camp, now. Wood, bone, stag, and horn (a couple of the old ones are MOP and abalone)... with bone or wood being my preference, because asymmetric (stag) covers grate on me.
I did buy the 2017 forum knife, despite the micarta handles - thinking I'd dye it, or maybe have the scales changed - but I have an active dislike for that color micarta, so it sits in the tube (forgotten until this moment)

I dont think you should dye or change the scales on the BF TC its a collectors piece if you dont like it just sell or trade it
But its your knife of course who im i to say you what to do.

 

[hhmoore]

I dont think you should dye or change the scales on the BF TC its a collectors piece if you dont like it just sell or trade it
But its your knife of course who im i to say you what to do.

The plan was to use it, which made the collectability irrelevant; so turning it into something I liked was a must. I couldn't get by the micarta, though; so I didn't do anything.
At some point, I will make it go away - for now, though, it isn't worth the hassle of selling it.

 

[Wurrwulf]

2016 saw my collection focus on Case Peanuts, small GECs (14, 18, 83), and Beer Scouts.

2017 saw all but one of the Beer Scouts leave, both 18s leave, and an influx of fixed blade knives as I figure out what I like/dislike in fixed blades.

I have one custom fixed blade on order that will land in 2018, but other than that, I think I'll be focusing on what I have already and possibly pairing down.

All that to say: my tastes change fairly often with only one constant: the Case Peanut. I have about a dozen now, but I really only carry one. The knife is absolutely all I need for 99.9% of my knife duties, is indistinguishable in my pocket, attractive, comfortable, affordable, and available.

 

[Kevin-B]

The plan was to use it, which made the collectability irrelevant; so turning it into something I liked was a must. I couldn't get by the micarta, though; so I didn't do anything.
At some point, I will make it go away - for now, though, it isn't worth the hassle of selling it.

I'd still buy a used BF TC but thats just because im a TC freak, but you know if you're not planning on selling/trading it i think its ok i guess to dye or change the scales its just that i personally wouldn't do it because its a BF knife

 

[hhmoore]

Meh - if dyeing the scales helps me like the knife, and gets it used, it's a positive thing. Sure, maybe the resale value takes a hit - I'd expect that between the modification and the use - but, then again, maybe somebody really likes the look, and wants it BECAUSE of the color. While the collectible factor is relevant to this thread, I'd let things swing back to the original course.
If imgur sorts itself out & lets me load pictures, I'll post something

 

[jc57]

I no longer actively collect.

My collection philosophy was something along the lines of wanting to experience a lot of different patterns, brands, handle materials, and steels, so I don't have a real focus in a particular thing. I was into primarily Case knives because of their availability, variety, and affordability within my budget, so the majority of my collection is comprised of Case brand knives.

I have a smattering of other brands: GEC (14), Queen (3), Buck (3), Canal Street (1), US Schrade (1), Rough Rider (2), Taylor Brands Schrade (2), and Victorinox (11). I also have a few modern folders (10 or so) from various companies.

At one point I did a tally and the count came out somewhere around 150. It may be a little higher, I did it from memory at the time. I probably occasionally carry something like a tenth of that total - some more frequently than others. Some are left in the car or briefcase for use when needed, and not really carried on me.

Most were purchased at the time with some vague idea that I would carry it, without fully realizing how many knives I was piling up (or remaining in voluntary denial about it).

If I could send a message back in time to my younger self, I would tell myself to limit it to no more than a single purchase per month, and then to carry that knife exclusively for the following month before deciding whether or not to buy another one the next month. I think if I had done that, I would have ended up with many fewer knives, and with only those that I enjoyed carrying.

 

[hhmoore]

Still no luck with imgur.
Here are two of my "more recent" acquisitions - not quite the same, but the similarity (to me) is obvious.
View attachment 820459

The problem is, as you've likely noticed, one is upside down and backwards. As much as l like the bocote on the 38, I've been struggling to get used to it. I can't even open it without stopping & thinking.
View attachment 820460

 

[deltaboy]

I buy Old USA Made Knifes mostly Old Timers and some Kutmasters, Callimus, Imperial, Colonial and then I get New Taylor ,Case and Rough Riders.

 

[kamagong]

I don't collect. But I like knives. Over the years that has led to an accumulation of knives of all sorts that have for one reason or another piqued my interest.

 

[Gevonovich]

I don't collect. But I like knives. Over the years that has led to an accumulation of knives of all sorts that have for one reason or another piqued my interest.

Bravo !! The Argentine Criollo gets me every time. And as for the BlackJack

 

[black mamba]

I buy lots of different kinds and styles of knives, from traditional to modern. My favorite pattern is the stockman, making up about 40% of my knives. But when I think of collecting, I think of an organized effort to complete a set, not just random accumulation. The only pattern I collect is the GEC Cuban Stockman, the #5383xx knives from 2007, 2008 and 2011. I've got 49 of the 52 different iterations.

 

[chuko]

I collect with a focus on vintage knives. Favorite pattern is the gunstock, whittler, lobster (aka Orange Blossom) like these.

I also collect the early New York Knife Co. knives like these.

These are not carry knives, but treasures of history and the quality of workmanship of bygone days.
I just love knives and have many other kinds, but these are areas of long time focus.
Charles