Howdy and a question

M

mattyc

Joined
Oct 5, 2011
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Hi all, first post here for me, though I've been reading here awhile. You may not realize, but you-all have spawned countless acquisitions in the last several months: Case Sway Back Jack CV, numerous Great Easterns, a few Marbles and some Northwoods Scagels. Thanks, I think. :rolleyes:

I've got a list of slipjoint "wants" that is pages long, which got me thinking recently about quality versus quantity and whether I should be saving for nicer pieces rather than picking up every other slipjoint that catches my eye. So now a question: Do you think it's worth it to splurge on something like a Case/Bose collaboration or a cheaper custom, or do you get more enjoyment from multiple, cheaper slippies?

For the price of a Tribal Spear, I can get a couple of nice GECs, or a bunch of Cases or Queens in patterns I haven't tried yet, and I'd probably be more apt to use the latter slippies (I have a GEC 73 in Genuine Stag that I've carried every day since I got it, but I can't seem to bring myself to use the damn thing!). I guess this also ties in to the whole collector versus user question: I've got a few that I have just to have, but generally I buy 'em to use 'em and think it's a waste to have a safe queen. I've read posts by a lot of you that regularly carry beautiful customs, and it seems like the makers themselves prefer to have their creations used as intended. I'm trying to get used to the idea of using nice blades, but my main concern is that if I get something like the Tribal Spear it will stay in my pocket like the stag Scout, to be fondled but not used. Thoughts?

--Matt
 
It's nice to have a good selection of knives you're comfortable with carrying and using. It's also nice to have a piece that's mostly eye candy. Whatever you're most comfortable with is what matters most. If your budget for knives would allow you to get something more expensive then you could try one like a Case/Bose and see how you feel about it. If you decide to use it, cool. If you decide to just keep it for looking that's cool too. If you would rather have a couple of other knives in its place then you shouldn't have much trouble getting back most or all of what you paid for it or getting good value in a trade.
 
I'm in the economy camp. Victorinox, Buck, Case...I like these knives. I can afford to have the ones I like, try out new patterns. I'm not ruling out ever paying for a custom or some high-end model, but I use knives I buy and sometimes use them pretty hard. I know a lot of guys with the expensive stuff don't sweat scratches on their blades and that's very cool, but the money situation being what it is I'm very happy with what I have.

Also, if you spend your hard earned cash on a good variety of patterns and such now you could find the one perfect pattern for you. When that happens then would be a good time to start shopping around for a high dollar production or custom piece. You may wind up with the knife you carry for the rest of your days.
 
Spend some time in the balisong or auto world where you have to pay custom prices for production level knives on the secondary market...that'll bring ya right on track.
 
Welcome to the forum, Matt!

Apparently, you have already experienced a lot of influence from this forum so I guess a little more won't hurt.

In my opinion, you should not deprive yourself of some of the higher end knives like the Case/Bose collaborations and the many fine custom knives available. If you can afford them then I think you owe it to yourself as a knife enthusiast to at least try them out. If you don't like them or if you get bored with them you can sell them in the Exchange for usually only a minimum loss. Kind of like "renting" the knife to see if it's something you want to keep.

If these higher end knives are something that you must save up for then I can tell you from experience that it will be hard to pass up the cheaper knives while you are saving. I am going through this process right now myself and there have been a fair amount of knives that I have had to pass on buying so that I can afford the customs that I want. I am only able to hold back because I want the customs more than the others but it is difficult at times. Especially with GEC putting out all these new patterns all the time. The #61 Deluxe looks like it will be one of those must have knives for me but I can't have one if I want my customs. Just a little something to think about.

Either way, I think you should try out whatever you want as long as you can swing it. You will eventually come to know if the quality over quantity concept is right for you or not. Good luck, Matt and please keep us posted.
 
Thanks for your thoughts guys. It's funny that it never occurs to me that I can sell a knife I don't particularly like, though I know the secondary market is there.

WvHiker: I like the idea of exploring patterns cheaply with the cheaper brands. I haven't found "the one" yet, instead I've found "several ones".

Railsplitter: "...I think you owe it to yourself as a knife enthusiast to at least try them out." That is a tour de force of enabling the likes of which I've never experienced! Seriously though, good thoughts on customs versus production knives.
 
mattyc said:
Railsplitter: "...I think you owe it to yourself as a knife enthusiast to at least try them out." That is a tour de force of enabling the likes of which I've never experienced!
Click to expand...

Well, I do what I can.:D
 
I'm firmly in both camps, but my budget keeps me in the production knife market most of the time. I currently have 3 custom slippies, although one of them was not built for me, just bought by me. I carry and use my Mutz canoe more often that the other two. Actually, I have carried the white micarta jack that Keith Johnson made me a few times, but haven't actually used it. The clip point sodbuster has been used a few times for light duty like opening boxes and mail, but nothing real tough. I generally carry production knives when I know that something ugly is apt to come up. One such time was when I had to clean paint off of window panes after the mulls were painted. I picked a Kershaw "Needs Work" for that job before I left the house to do it. The big sheepsfoot on that knife is perfect for the job.

Anyway, I tend to buy production knives more often, but I enjoy the customs too. Would I use the customs on a tough job; yep, they are definitely capable of doing the job. It's kind of like putting a new pickup in the woods the first time. Kinda hard to do. If I had a Tony or Reese Bose custom, I doubt I would be able to bring myself to use it.

Ed J
 
Update: Ended up throwing down for a Case/Bose Tribal Spear in antique bone. All I can say is wow! This thing is tight. Easily the nicest slipjoint I own, but definitely not in a pocket jewelry kinda way: this thing wants to be used. It's been riding in my right front pocket since I got it a few days ago.

Edge came pretty darn sharp out of the box, backspring is flush at closed/half/open. Fit & finish is excellent, and I really like the ergonomics. As others have said it's slim and doesn't feel huge in pocket despite it's length. The closest knife I have to compare to it would be my GEC scout single blade, though the feel of the Spear is definitely more substantial and I want to say more precise in its action. The rat tail bolsters are the bees knees! I'm interested to see how the 154CM behaves over the coming years--most of my users are 1095.

All in all I'm glad I went for it, despite the cost. It's cool to see how well-made a knife can be. I can only imagine what a real Bose would feel like, but I'm definitely pleased with the quality of the Case collaboration. I'll try to get some beauty shots up later today....
 
mattyc said:
Update: Ended up throwing down for a Case/Bose Tribal Spear in antique bone. All I can say is wow! This thing is tight. Easily the nicest slipjoint I own, but definitely not in a pocket jewelry kinda way: this thing wants to be used. It's been riding in my right front pocket since I got it a few days ago.

Edge came pretty darn sharp out of the box, backspring is flush at closed/half/open. Fit & finish is excellent, and I really like the ergonomics. As others have said it's slim and doesn't feel huge in pocket despite it's length. The closest knife I have to compare to it would be my GEC scout single blade, though the feel of the Spear is definitely more substantial and I want to say more precise in its action. The rat tail bolsters are the bees knees! I'm interested to see how the 154CM behaves over the coming years--most of my users are 1095.

All in all I'm glad I went for it, despite the cost. It's cool to see how well-made a knife can be. I can only imagine what a real Bose would feel like, but I'm definitely pleased with the quality of the Case collaboration. I'll try to get some beauty shots up later today....
Click to expand...

Great post. I'm glad it worked out well for you. Congratulations on carrying and using a great knife!
 
<opinion>
I hear you on the GEC stag. I have Stag GEC #23 that's waiting in my stocking for Christmas. One thing I do when I get a new knife is to immediately sharpen it. In fact I had Bark River do a convex edge on my #23. That action should remove the knife from being a mint collectable. I buy nice knives to be used, most have natural handle materials. Once it's no longer mint then it's easy to begin using and actually enjoying the knife.
</opinion>
 
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