How/What do you buy/collect?

[mrknife]

Single blades mainly in general. for gecs its usually 15,48,77s and derivatives I suppose.

 

[bikerector]

Originally I was looking at collecting only splitback whittlers with non-bone or stag handles but I eventually started moving towards patterns I enjoyed using which were 2-bladed designs, trappers first and then muskrats and I've opened a little on the handle materials if the bone or stag are appealing.

I didn't like the look of jigged bone original until getting a kabar coppersmith large stockman, as I really liked the copper bolsters, and found the bone felt nice in hand even if the appearance wasn't as nice as micarta or wood. I really like the look of wood slabs but I enjoy using the micarta and jigged bone the most as the polished wood gets a little slick when my hands are dry, like all winter long.

 

[robinpeck]

 

[Railsplitter]

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.

Jeff, I'll pick my jaw up off of the floor long enough to say that that is one heck of a nice collection!

 

[Dan of Bazz Clazz]

I currently own about 75 knives. Slightly more than 1/2 are fixed blade knives; and with the exception of 3 fillet knives, the fixed blades are pretty much all hunting knives. Almost 1/2 being of the bird and trout style. Not a big knife fan.

Of my folding knifes, about 1/3 are what would be termed gentleman's knives, another 1/3 are flippers. The balance are either very unique or just struck me in some way aesthetically. CRKT's Fulcrum, and Opinel's design for instance

While it may be heresy to some here, I have little interest in the over-built knives that are the rage, and I'm far too experienced to go for the tactical fad. Prefer to beat 'em with brains rather than intimidation at this point in my life. lol

But that is the beauty of the hobby. There is something for everyone and none except the extremely young need to be exempt from it.

 

[wayben]

I collect a wide variety, if it's sharp and pointy I'm in. Traditional to modern, fixed blade to folder, factory to custom, they all hold my interest. However, most of my collection is traditional style folders from a variety of makers. My favorite pattern is the Stockman, but variety is the spice of life.

 

[black mamba]

Thanks a bunch, Rick!

 

[Henry Beige]

I started off with a fistful of Opinels and SAKs, and still buy an Opinel now and again, and less frequently, an SAK. I have bought several Cases, and quite a few Rough Riders. I have a continuing interest in low-tech working knives, like MAM, Douk-Douk, Antonini, Svord, Higonokami, Mercator, Aitor, Pallares, and many others which I have not yet acquired. My only GEC are the last two forum knives, both splendid knives.

Fixed blades are heavy on Moras, with a few Marttiini, Condor, Hultafors, mostly with an eye toward camping or yard work. Lately I have picked up a couple of Old Hickory and a Russell Green River.

If there is a unifying theme it is these four attributes: quality, function, esthetics and cheap.

 

[rockman0]

I'm focused on barlows for now, especially vintage with saw cut bone covers. I've also developed an interest in old knives from Sheffield England. Picked one up recently with nice jigged bone. Amazing that the blade has zero play and snaps hard opening and closing despite being well over 100 years old and in well used condition.

 

[justsomedude]

Always a treat seeing examples from your collection, Charles. Thanks for posting!

Nice stag, robinpeck.

 

[Lansky1]

Late model Case's (~100) ... mostly 90's, 47's, 32's and 07w's, and ratcliffe modded muskrats

 

[Hickory n steel]

I'm an accumulator not a collector and I'm all about high value inexpensive users, preferably not Chinese but it's not a complete no-go.

I have patterns I like, but am not going for anything specific.
Currently I think to round out my users I need a good standard stockman, and an old carbon steel scout.

I love carbon steel shell construction imperials, because they happen to have thin slicy blades in a well treated steel, I tolerate the somewhat cheep feel of the shell construction but it does have a certain charm to it and is growing on me more and more.

 

[Frailer]

I collect Victorinox SAKs with tool sets that interest me—specifically, 93mm Alox and “minimalist” cellidor models.

Since I’ve not been bitten by the “collect all the Alox colors” or (heaven forbid) “collect all the models” bug, it’s not terribly expensive.

 

[Mora2013]

I guess I’m still searching for that “grail” knife. The one that suits me just perfectly. However, since my needs and wants change over time I know I will never find it.

Thus, almost every knife I buy, I buy with the intent of using it as an edc. I wind up carrying it for a few weeks and then ... either it stays in my pocket until my tastes change - which may take a few years - or it goes on the list of: “nice, but just not quite right” and I’ll try to find excuses to carry it once in a while.

There are a few knives I buy to fill a particular niche - dive knife, camping knife, etc.

And a select few I buy, I know I’m setting aside just for keepsakes.

 

[TheChunk91]

In general all I really collect are schrades, especially pre-swinden ones, but sometimes I'll get something else because I really like it. Sometimes I use those other knives, sometimes I get them just to have. However I have become fairly picky on what non schrades I'd get.

My favorite knife is the schrade cut 8813/schrade walden 881 in peachseed bone. I am very partial to all the stockmans on that same 4" frame so most of my interest is in acquiring variations of those. I also like schrade cattle knives just as much, those old cattle patterns didn't survive into the delrin/
swinden/old timer/uncle henry era of schrade so they are a tougher find.

 

[JITDC]

I like what Hickory n steel said about being an ‘accumulator not a collector’ That pretty much describes my knife buying habits.

It started with accumulating GEC 77 barlows. For a brief period I wanted to collect each cover of the initial clip/wharncliffe run. However there were so many other knives that interested me many of my 77’s were sold to find other purchases. Now it seems my knife drawer has morphed into a gathering place for various GEC 15’s. Especially TC clips and clip/pen jacks.

I try to rotate and carry the majority of my knives. Some more than others out of habit. None are stored away out of sight. They all live together, organized, oiled and relatively dehumidified in a drawer in my office.

Long response already, but for me like a few others it’s just about what I like at the time. That is totally subjective and changes which is reflected in my collection.

 

[strokednbored]

I'm all over the map.
I can't say there is any other rhyme or reason other than "somethin that caught my eye" or interested me at the time. I wouldn't call myself a collector so much as a "sharp things enthusiast "

Lately it's been GEC patterns to find the ones that fit me the best or are the nicest to look at - bullnoses for chores, 74s/77s/15s for daily carry.
I will say I pocketed my new 78 yesterday for the first time and it was really good as well! Very nice size and feel, but time will tell.

But, I also enjoy finding great "value" modern folders that fit for me (I get a kick out of somethin when I feel it out performs it's price point - highly subjective here) along with some more pricey modern stuff.

 

[clutchcarter]

I have a thing for the 85's

 

[tongueriver]

Pre-War folders, especially Schrade Cutco and some other New York marques, and exceptionally pleasing fixed blade hunting knives of all ages, especially Ruana. It wasn't always this way. I have dozens of knives to release. What a hassle.

 

[Chief]

I collect by theme or maker. Have always been a knife guy ... most often with one tactical and one traditional knife in tow. Retired from the USAF in 2000, got a business license and became a knife dealer. Sold enough Microtechs to become a "Microtech Certified Dealer" and still have the letter from their CFO advising me what I needed to do in order to step up to "Microtech Certified Distributor" status. At the last minute, the owner decided he had too many distributors and told me to urinate up a rope. Told him, "No, you urinate up a rope, I quit", then proceeded to sell MT ultratechs to anyone at dealer cost. Sold a lot of them which killed the price of their cash cow Had a lot of nice custom Microtechs come through my hands, kept most of the rare ones, protos, Brends, and Tony mirror finished blades.

Sometimes I grabbed every plain edge SKU, like these MTX2s

Or one of every color.

After closing Chief's Cutlery, my interest began shifting to traditional knives. Almost became a GEC dealer but after buying one knife as a from them as a dealer, decided against it. Retired plus working full time for AT&T didn't want / need to use my time off to make more money.

3.5" plus or minus a little is the sweet spot for me, single blade first preference as blade rub bothers me. When my custom traditional made by a local friend had the backspring break, was on the search for a replacement. About this time TC barlows hit the scene and was lucky to score a couple from CC, single blade clip points. Wow, they were the perfect size and made better than any other factory offering. Only carry one traditional knife at a time, but have this inherent need for a backup, just in case. The search was on for more single blade TC clips, some runs were less than a dozen, the quest was on! Though diligence and some help from friends, have managed to get them all but a couple. Don't care how much they are worth, wish GEC would make enough to fill demand, re-release is fine by me. Evan rehandled a walnut TC which I carry everywhere.

GEC single clip 15s are the perfect traditional for me, sound, size, halfstop with flush backspring, and SS. Managed to grab one each of GEC's 2016 SS 15s single clips (and a couple doubles not shown)

My dad retired from the Rock Island Railroad as a conductor and I worked there before joining the USAF, so GEC conductors find a home here too.

In customs, I still stick to a theme, like ivory WTs.

Or by maker. Rick and Bret are both local to me which helps.

Won a couple in the Blade lotto, got a couple from Tony, a couple from dealers (thanks Vince for the stag trapper second from the right, my favorite traditional), and the remainder from the forum.

Rarely do I sell a knife, so am pretty picky about what I buy.