I only have a few knives, and I'm happy. Am I crazy?

No your not crazy.

I carry the same folder in my right front pocket every day. I have two others that see carry time, I'll toss one in a jacket pocket or back pocket If I think I'll need it that day.

My knife box has seven more folders that don't see the light of day anymore.
 
I have roughly 35-40 folders to include my multi-tools. When I go to work I always carry a back pack, so that means more room for more knives. I'll carry about 3-7 different knives to work.

At work we have quite a bit of down time and sometimes I just get bored and like to flick, and I'll switch it up and flick a different one lol then if I need to cut something I'll have a different one for that task.

I applaud you for sticking with what you have. I would love to just only want to carry one or so. My wife hates it when we're walking out of the door and I go back to choose a different knife.

Guess I can't be satisfied but when I get a new one I'll carry it for a couple days solo and then it'll get thrown into rotation with the other 5 or so I enjoy carrying.

The Quest to find the one and only knife is never ending.
 
Variety is the spice of life...you can't know for sure until you've tried them all. But the old saying, "you don't miss what you never had" may work for you.
 
Definitely not crazy, I only own about a half dozen knives at any given time, when I get bored with a knife or just stop carrying it, it goes away. This is partly due to financial constraints, but I'm pretty sure that I would follow the same basic pattern even if I had unlimited funds...
 
OP, we're very similar! Of the 5 folders that I own, two of my most carried are my PM2 and Native 5 G10! Great knives. My other (probably most carried) is a new Slysz Bowie. Then there are two dragonflies. All 5 definitely get carried, but those top three are the typical ones. I recently restructured my collection and am trying to only own knives that I'll carry and use. I recently started using the exchange and am finding it really helpful!

I do really want a Techno...maybe once I get that I'll actually be happy for a while!

Either way, if this is crazy, I don't want to be sane.
 
Most of the knives mentioned here are overpriced. Sure.

I've posted here a time or two already that my local dealers have told me to buy now because prices are soon going to soar due to various market/corporate factors. Now I see Spyderco going to MAP and really wonder what's ahead for all makers.

At one time I easily had a 100-count of knives. Four or five years ago I noticed I was mainly carrying no more than ten. The rest were lookers I was hesitant to use. Always thinking of the 'value' for future sale. Sure, they'd see a bit of pocket time, but a lot of tasks were passed up due to caution with the cosmetics. Sound familiar?

So I had, say, 80 or 90 knives that I mainly looked at, fondled or showed off over the table. I started to dwell on that. It was then I decided I was a 'user' not a 'collector.'

I began to sell the cupcakes off. I'm holding on to one large Sebenza, sitting in a drawer for a couple years now because I have no attraction to the knife--never developed a fondness for it or other breeds of Sebenza. I hold on to it though--because of what it is. Who knows some day I may see through that too and sell it. It's about my only OCD hangup within the hobby now--I never obsessed over steels, brands, or lock types. I go with what makes me feel good. :)

I have a reasonable number of knives now for a knife knut, but not the number of many "collectors." I still EDC the same basic 8 or 10 that have been proven over time. Others are carried now and then or on special occasions. Although I still maintain interest in buying knives I like, I'm much more cautious before pulling the trigger.

I still buy now and then to try out those that attract me, but the instant I know they won't be carried a lot I sell them. Monetary loss on these has been minimal, luckily, and I chalk it up to the fact that at least I tried one and am now familiar with it, whether I still have it or not.

For those who have considered doing this I'll say I never missed a one of them that I sold. I knew I had sold them because otherwise they would rarely have seen the light of day and would virtually never be carried.

Now I look forward to seeing all the new ones and trying out another one now and then. If it works into my rotation I carry it; if not, I sell it before I buy another one. I'm continuing in this conservative way to build the numbers gradually again, although never to the point it once was.

I feel I've been freed for years now. I keep only the knives I really enjoy, some less expensive, some too-damn-high.
 
I only have 6 knives total and I EDC them all depending on the occasion. Getting dressed up calls for the Dragonfly 2 with G10, shorts are typically Mini Ritter Grip with custom scales, jeans or regular pants get the Large Ritter Grip, also with custom scales, or my ZT 0562CF. Going camping or for heavy yard work or just out in the woods calls for the Manix 2 LW with S110V. I just bought a Large Sebenza with Box Elder Burl inlay and I have a sneaky suspicion that it will kick certain knives out of the rotation or at least limit their pocket time. Might have to sell the Griptilians and get a Small Sebenza.
 
sharkattacksw said:
Hey all,

I've been thinking about my "collection" lately and it's paltry compared to what a lot of your guys have. But, the thing is, I like carrying the ones that I have an awful lot. The ones that get the most pocket time are my Spyderco PM2, Spyderco Native 5 G-10, and my newly acquired Benchmade 15060-2 (Grizzly Creek). I've got a couple of Delicas, a few Bucks and a really nice Cold Steel American Lawman with some great file work done on it, but those knives just don't "do it for me" like the main three I listed. Unless something really, and I mean really grabs my attention, I'm fine with what I have. Does that make me weird?

I'm wondering how many of you guys really only carry a few different knives, like your favorite 2 or 3. Even if you have many more knives than I do, do you typically only carry your favorite 2 or 3? I've seen some pretty cool knives, but they wouldn't be too practical to carry, and if I'm buying a knife, I like to carry it. I was never much of a collector, only letting them see daylight once in a while.

Anyway, I've rambled enough. Your thoughts?

Thanks,
SA
Click to expand...

Not crazy!

I've got two benchmades that I really like and that trade off EDC duty, one buck liner lock that I hate and some little damascus bladed slipjoint thing someone gave me for Christmas a few years ago tucked away in my closet somewhere. Oh, and a reeeeeDICulous SAK with about 30 blades/tools that my mom picked up in Switzerland a few years ago as sort of a joke. Only been out of it's box a couple times to look at it, otherwise it's pretty much forgotten. Basically I'm a two knife guy and you have me beat by far!

Doesn't make me any less interested though, I enjoy seeing and reading about new stuff daily. Also I love making stuff and I'm about 2 or 3 months away from stepping back into making some nice folders after a 20+ year break.
 
I reserve the descriptive 'crazy' for those people who don't carry a knife at all, and those who call me crazy for spending $XXX on a pocket knife, then head off to spend there hard earned at the pub soaking up alcohol and putting money into pokey machines or horse races.

OP, you are likely more sensible than I, in that you seem satisfied with what you have, for good reason, whilst I keep wanting to buy more...

I have about 30 folders now, and yes I do have maybe 6 that get carried most often by far, but they all get their turn at times. If I don't/won't use it, I wont buy/keep it. Carrying and using it now and then justifies me having it :D
 
I usually never edc same knife for consecutive days as my edc knives are around 15. I remember I would edc the same knife until I lost it or broke it as I was fairly irresponsible..
The only issue I see with just carrying one exclusive knife daily now days is that everything else does not feel right afterwords. For example, my former edc was kershaw knife that was tip down with inner lock. It took me months to get acclimated to other knives that was not tip down and not inner lock design. Now I carry different varieties of knives everyday and do not have that award feeling when it does not clip back or deploy that way you were only costumed to.
 
I have owned a lot of knives, but I only carry one folder. It might take you a while to find one that will handle your common daily needs, but when you do...it's great.
 
Cursum Perficio said:
I reserve the descriptive 'crazy' for those people who don't carry a knife at all, and those who call me crazy for spending $XXX on a pocket knife, then head off to spend there hard earned at the pub soaking up alcohol and putting money into pokey machines or horse races.

OP, you are likely more sensible than I, in that you seem satisfied with what you have, for good reason, whilst I keep wanting to buy more...

I have about 30 folders now, and yes I do have maybe 6 that get carried most often by far, but they all get their turn at times. If I don't/won't use it, I wont buy/keep it. Carrying and using it now and then justifies me having it :D
Click to expand...

I like the cut of your jib, Sailor.

I reserve "crazy" for the people who call me crazy for spending $150 on a knife, but spend $300 a month on TV, internet, cell phone and data service. At the end of the year, I've spent $150 and have a useful tool that will last me my entire life. They've spent 3 grand and have nothing... not even the memory of who won Dancing with the Stars.

I don't know how many knives I have, nor that I have had. Lots of them. But I didn't "collect" them so much as "amass" them. I love trying out a new style, steel, handle material, custom maker... and I indulge myself now and then to do so. The ones I don't like I give away, and I've given away thousands of dollars worth of knives over the years. Ones I like generally stick around the property somewhere.

I don't have a "rotation". My knives are all over the place. In drawers, vehicles, packs and pouches... hell, I'm looking at about a half dozen on the various surfaces around me as I type. I'll grab one as I see fit, or play with one now and then in the case of Balis and throwers. My boys are into knives as well, so if one of these doesn't get used once in a while, it's an oversight, or a knife that's going to find a new home. Sometimes I'm carrying a knife because it happened to be closest to the door when I headed out.

If I had to pare down this pile into one or two knives, I'd really be hard pressed to do so. But I'd get there and I'd be happy with the two knives I had left. (Thinking one folder and one fixed here).

But I'd still be back on here looking for the next possible "replacement piece".
 
I have 8 of them, with one more on the radar. Aside from that, I don't have the addiction that many here seem to have. :)
 
I had the addiction for a while. I am currently down to 7-8 with a "grail" on the way. I'm to the point were if a knife isn't used or carried - off it goes.

I seem to have found the knives I like and I happy..... for the moment. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top