Ideas for collection?

Fixed blades or folders?
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Both
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I have a 'thing' for fixed blades even though I'm an Accumulator, not a User. I appreciate the styling, materials, and workmanship of Ka-Bar, ESEE, Ek, Buck (their fixed blades with phenolic handles), Anza, Becker, Camillus, and many others.

For more traditional style fixed blades, knives designed more for hunting chores and utilizing natural handle materials, I've purchased some beautiful knives from Helle, Karesuando, Ahti, Bark River, Queen, Northwoods, and many makers who sell here in the For Sale By Maker forum section.
 
Bob W said:
I have a 'thing' for fixed blades even though I'm an Accumulator, not a User. I appreciate the styling, materials, and workmanship of Ka-Bar, ESEE, Ek, Buck (their fixed blades with phenolic handles), Anza, Becker, Camillus, and many others.

For more traditional style fixed blades, knives designed more for hunting chores and utilizing natural handle materials, I've purchased some beautiful knives from Helle, Karesuando, Ahti, Bark River, Queen, Northwoods, and many makers who sell here in the For Sale By Maker forum section.
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So how do you feel about SOG fixed blades? Been eyeing a Seal Pup
 
I like how some of them look; I don't own any.
If I were to pick out a single item to represent SOG in the Accumulation, it would be either one of their large fixed blades or one of their Power Lock multi-tools. The Agency is a very attractive knife, as are the Bowie II and Scuba.
 
CJZ,

You have received much good advice from knowledgeable knife appreciators, users and collectors in this thread and others. Good job in just a few days.

I personally have learned much from the knowledge, experience and generosity of BF Members.

To me, the perfect knife is that super sharp that just made many effortless, precise and thin slices in whatever food I was cutting. There are more of these wonderful joys than I could ever count or buy.

I was cutting and slicing food for a huge family with what ever knife I was given and told to use for the task, I think before I was sent to school.

When you cut things for long hours, you become appreciative of a sharp, precise, effortless cut and any specialized sharp that makes the job less onerous. You tend to dislike the boss who does not provide the best he can, or expects you to slog along with dull tools.

I am not a collector. I aggregate (accumulate) examples of any sharp that I find interesting, or that I remember using or coveting in the past 70 years.

I will never have the energy, money, time nor storage space for all the cutters I would like to handle and use.

Browsing Blade Forums, from Traditionals to Tacticals and their custom and production makers in all countries, and all the collector sub-forums will afford a wonderful glimpse into the incredibly varied collecting passions.

Enjoy the journey, and "Cut some Stuff."

Mike H.
 
You can't just say that...
It's like ..." I'm gonna collect lions. what kind should I get? "
You should read this forum for a long while and look at the pics and think about what you see that you like, and what you want to use it for,...then you will already know.
 
reader1 said:
CJZ,

You have received much good advice from knowledgeable knife appreciators, users and collectors in this thread and others. Good job in just a few days.

I personally have learned much from the knowledge, experience and generosity of BF Members.

To me, the perfect knife is that super sharp that just made many effortless, precise and thin slices in whatever food I was cutting. There are more of these wonderful joys than I could ever count or buy.

I was cutting and slicing food for a huge family with what ever knife I was given and told to use for the task, I think before I was sent to school.

When you cut things for long hours, you become appreciative of a sharp, precise, effortless cut and any specialized sharp that makes the job less onerous. You tend to dislike the boss who does not provide the best he can, or expects you to slog along with dull tools.

I am not a collector. I aggregate (accumulate) examples of any sharp that I find interesting, or that I remember using or coveting in the past 70 years.

I will never have the energy, money, time nor storage space for all the cutters I would like to handle and use.

Browsing Blade Forums, from Traditionals to Tacticals and their custom and production makers in all countries, and all the collector sub-forums will afford a wonderful glimpse into the incredibly varied collecting passions.

Enjoy the journey, and "Cut some Stuff."

Mike H.
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Mike,
That first part... How did you know that?
 
I collect to use. Like Reader1 stated, I love really thin edge geometries because of how stinking well they cut, thus I am attracted towards Tom Kreins knives/style. As far as production knives go, I buy whatever is new and catches my eye. And along the way try to pick up the blades that the Company is sort of known by, Kershaw ( Blur, Leek, Skyline, ect. ), Spyderco ( Military, Paramilitary 2, Delica, Endura, ), Cold Steel ( Recon 1, America Lawman ), Benchmade ( Griptilian, 940, 710 ) ect. ect.
As far as custom go, I lean towards makers whose style I really like, and I really like customization, handle length, blade stock, thickness behind edge.

So really what one person thinks should exist in a collection, the next person may totally disagree with, we are all on a journey of sorts, you got to find the path that you like. I think this go way to philosophical :D.
 
Svs said:
Buck: 110
Kershaw: Skyline, Leek, Cryo, Blur
Spyderco: Tenacious, Delica, Endura, Sage Series, Paramilitary 2
...
Most of these knives are in every collectors collection.
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Maybe I misunderstand your use of the word "Collector." All of these knives mentioned are mass-manufactured, readily available, current production items. I doubt there is much collector interest in any of these (aside from special editions or low-volume variations), and I'd guess that most serious Collectors do not seek out these knives for their collections.

Of course that could all change if any of these companies go out of business or the models are discontinued.
 
The first step is to do a lot of reading on this forum before you make a mistake most of us have made or are currently making.... and that is buying a bunch of cheap knives. If you have a few dozens of $6-10 knives.... you're not really a "collector" because those knives hold absolutely no value. It's like saying I collect current quarters and dimes.

To answer your question though, I think every knife nut should at one point in their lives own a crk, hinderer, and a strider. Of course there are a lot of other choices but I personally think the "big three" deserves to be in the "must haves" category.
 
This is my opinion::::So take it for what its worth..
A knife collection should have variety..When I was younger all the "traditional" knives is what my dad,grandfather,uncles and cousins used..So that influenced my collection as well.
Here's some that I like.
Traditionals ie.....Stockman,trapper,peanut,barlow ect...
Spyderco: A delica and endura is what started it all..
A nice swiss army knife.
Kershaw: A skyline,Leek.
Buck: 110 and a 119.
K-Bar.
Glock field knife.
I look at my knife collection like a tool box..No matter what I'm doing,,hunting,fishing,hiking,camping,kayaking whatever ?..I have "the perfect" knife for the job..Collectors value is not a priority with me but since joining here..I have aquired a couple beauties that have some emotional attachment..
CD
 
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IMHO, what makes a true collection is that it has a certain style of knife or handle material, a theme if you like.
Otherwise you are just accumulating (like I am), I wouldn't call myself collector, I just buy whatever I like.
So I'd say go with a style of knife you like and add more of the same style over time.
Or buy only knives with orange (blue,green whatever) handles
Or maybe knives from a certain time period
 
We've already established that the OP desires to be a User, not a Collector. ;)

To use.
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But I agree with your definition, a Collection is a group of knives acquired because they meet a specific criterion. A particular brand, age, pattern, material, etc. Furthermore, I use the arbitrary number "25" to define a collection. For instance I have only four Bark River knives, so not a collection. But I have over 25 Swiss Army Knives, so I do consider it a small collection.
An Accumulation is a bunch of knives that happened to interest the buyer at the time and perhaps have nothing in common.

But all this may not even be relevant to most BladeForums members like the OP. From reading the forums, I get the impression that most people here are neither serious Collectors nor Accumulators, but rather Users. Quite a few Swappers too, if you want to consider that an enthusiast category of it's own.
 
Yeah, I guess I worded my original post wrong: I accumulate knives, I buy what suits my fancy. That fancy is Syderco, Cold Steel, Gerber, so on
 
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