In the pursuit of perfection finding what was in front of me all along

A

Aronb

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2021
Messages
421
Hi, I am a small user/ collector who enjoys well made products and enjoys knives. About 2 years ago I started getting more involved in the knife community as I saw what I had was not the best, now after 2 years I feel like I have seen and handled most common and some very rare knives it feels as if my pursuit has ended and finally I have it (till the next knife comes out lol).
I will try to go through some of the knives I have handled or owned and give some of my feedback and ultimately why I choose my current knife as well as my collection.

I'll try to organize them by company. Here goes nothing

Cold steel
As a new guy to the knife world durability and lock strength seem to be the only important factor and if you can't dangle your car on the lock it's to dangerous to use.
Models I have owned or borrowed
American lawman
American lawman stainless liners
Recon 1
Recon 1 xl
Code 4
Ak47
Ak47 axis style lock
San mai lockback
Espada
Espada xl
Ti lite
Ad 10
Ad15
Ad15 lite
4 max
4 max scout
Comes to think of it I can't remember all the names but hopefully you get the point.
Some of the most usable knives with my favorite being the recon1 it was lite, strong, and cut what else can you ask for? And now we can delve into what makes the knife community and user tick. The recon1 amazed me by how it handled it was comfortable balanced and out worked me everyday but something was missing it was... just not "it" the ergonomics were great for me but i couldn't put it into my pocket or take it out I couldn't close it and it had a very specific grip so on I went....

Spyderco
I really like spyderco even though I can't keep up with all the various steels and exclusives but the ones I tried were

Pm2
Pm3
Military
Police
Yojumbo
Yojimbo
Shaman
Edura
Endela
K2
Smock
Tenacious
And many more

Over all I have to say the shaman came quite close to the win its strong very ergonomic has a nice edge (I had 3 different ones) but again there where issues the back spacer isn't flush the lanyard hole the clip ...... sharp edges the choil nubbin..... I can go on so off we went toooooooo

Benchmade some of my favorite knives with no qc to speak of my experience with them includes
Bugout
Super freek
Anthem
Bailout
Shootout
Grip
Mini grip
Adamas
Mini adamas
Turrent
And many more the standout for me is a tie between the bailout and shootout humpf hard choice either one doesn't make the cut so I'll skip them (both in my current collection) but wait let me not forget the anthem the perfect axis lock but it's a lil slippy and discontinued so don't want to work it to hard.

Next stop

Microtech
I still own a bunch and I can honestly say it will last you a life time plus and will serve you well the models I own are
Socom elite
Socom bravo
Stitch
Utx 70
85
Ultratech
Combat troodon
Scarab 2

I'm torn between the scarab and the stitch ... if only they made a manual stitch. But I have to say I put the scarab through hell it's amazing what they accomplished its razer sharp yet freaky durable but I hat the glass breaker it just ruins most otfs for me.
so on i went to

Chris reeve
Wow great f and f my zaan was perfect but the lockbar was a lil stiff and the lickbar wasn't perfect ..... then came along a sebenza 31 micarta (magnacut) and melted into my hand this was a no nonsense knife works hard and looks amazing doing it not a deep carry clip but... I can't get everything the ergonomics fit me perfectly edge is thin and sharp I think I finally found perfection and it was here all along.


Other knives I tried
Olamics
Henry Williams
Giant mouse
Civivi
We
Kershaw
Schrade
Terra mundi
Heretic
Protech
Guardian tactical
Twosun
And so many others
 
Owen K. said:
Pics or it didn't happen. 😆
Click to expand...
I'll try to post my current collection later it includes
Sebenza
Zaan
2 william Henry's
Super freek
Shaman
Anthem
Fox bali tool
Malibu
Super freek
K2
Smock m4 ti scales
John demko river wolf
Reate exo
Sub hilt d/a
Bailout
Shootout
2 Bugouts
Adamas lent to my bro
Socom elite
Combat troodon bowie
Manticore x
Stitch
Guardian tactical 035
Sog seal xr
Protech boker burnley kwaiken
and i cant remember off hand the rest
Incoming from trades are ad20.5 for the second time and a 187 Medford and a Spartan harsey
 
jstn said:
I'm still wondering what a lickbar is, and whether or not I need one on my knife.
Click to expand...
I keep mine in my pants.

In my 43 and a half years on this planet, I've owned many a knife, and for many a reason. Age 7-13 because they were given to me. Age 14-30 because I was a badass tactical operator operating tactically. However, after 30, I started to get rid of the partially serrated tanto's and buy more "normal" less "weapony" knives, like a Kershaw Leek. At age 34 I joined BF. It all went crazy from there. I was single, living alone (with 2 cats) in an apartment, and my car was paid off and I had zero debt. First purchase was a Spyderco Gayle Bradley. It was at this point that I discovered fidget factor, and how it helped with my adhd and anxiety issues. Knives with bearing pivots were a relatively new phenomenon as well. I ditched the last of my assisted knives at this point. Having a decent enough amount of money to play with, I had little qualms about what I bought, up to a $625 Brian Tighe custom. I owned a large Sebenza 21 with bocote wood inlay, a Strider SnG, etc.

Then I got married, and ended up selling 2/3 of my collection. Then divorced. Then moved home because I had liver disease and was incoherent. Now, I have very specific parameters for a knife, and (normally) scrutinize it for weeks before deciding.

I learned something two weeks ago. It is one thing between seeing and handling a production knife in person vs online. It is another with high end knives. I bought two knives at a show that I would have seen online and loved, considered, talked myself out of, etc. At the knife show, yeah all my reservations went out the window. Now is the recovery--no new knives for the rest of the year.
 
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Looks like I have a lot to catch up with :rolleyes: . Impressive collections! Currently looking for the next best thing in 8670 or MagnaCut, something puukko-ish.
 
Alberta Ed said:
Looks like I have a lot to catch up with :rolleyes: . Impressive collections! Currently looking for the next best thing in 8670 or MagnaCut, something puukko-ish.
Click to expand...
I may have something in magnacut for u post your email on my wall ill send pics
 
Alberta Ed said:
Looks like I have a lot to catch up with :rolleyes: . Impressive collections! Currently looking for the next best thing in 8670 or MagnaCut, something puukko-ish.
Click to expand...
Getting my first taste of 8670 soon myself, in the form of a David Mary cleaver... I am very excited for it, I tell you. I would love to try Magnacut, because I feel it is like the stainless-side version of Cruwear, but Cruwear is pretty stainless as is... it seems like Magnacut is a higher-edge-holding, lesser-toughness LC200N. Could be cool if you need stainless applications (with the humidity, been carrying stainless this week). Almost got one of those Fat Carbon nebula Case knives with Magnacut and a flipper but... meh, I saw it had practically no detent.

A Aronb You have a very fantastic collection, my friend. Your tastes, they are also very similar to mine. I cannot remember one thing, what is the wharncliffe OTF that Microtech made?? That is one I really want! Do not wanna have to go to the Axial series over that. I love my only Microtech, a UTX-70. One question, sir.... WHERE ARE YOUR SWISS ARMY KNIVES!?! Do you not like Multitools or SAKs? Or have not tried yet? I'd be glad to donate one!

But, basically, I am a Spyderco, Victorinox, and Cold Steel M.D with a minor in Opinel and Ontario.

This thread needs pictures, though! Some of my favorites are the
PM2 (favorite so far in use is the Crucarta and BD1N, but I have a lot more usin' to do)
pm2sss.jpg
The whole reverse-S series...
ReverS.jpg
Janich-style Wharncliffes... though I do also love the regular Spyderco Wharncliffe knives, such as my S30V PM2 or my Dragonfly K390, wonderful knives I have posted many times here on the forums.
PXL_20220912_231646192_2 (1).jpg

And their solid "big" knives with about 4" of blade-length that leave me feeling perfectly capable for cutting jobs and anything else life throws your way...
PXL_20220912_231500906_2.jpg

Shoutouts to some Cold Steel, I have the sheath for the fancy Espada XL, though I carry/use the regular G-10/AUS-10a version more often, as well as to this glorious sheath for my Ti PM2, and the Cold Steel Black Talon II, licensed the Reverse-S shape from Spyderco and basically made a more resilient Civilian, with a wave. I could use the Black Talon II as an EDC if it had regular/Spyderco serrations that could be used properly and re-sharpened, or if it was P/E. Awesome knife, S35VN, which is kind of funny.

vicekforep.jpg
viceksheethz.jpg
The Voyager XL is also a top pick of mine.... really need to add an aftermarket wave to this knife!
voyagerxl.jpeg


I notice that we are talking about a bunch of larger and heavier-duty folders, so I thought I would include my favorite Victorinox, and my favorite "all-purpose, just a little pocket knife there for cutting what needs cut" knives. Still do not have an Alox model...
20220912_164555.jpg

Oh, and to this next picture, honorable mention to my Boker USB, Opinel and my Christy Cutter that I forgot to include in the photograph! Might get 'em in a future pic.
20220912_165646.jpg
 

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K.O.D. said:
Then I got married, and ended up selling 2/3 of my collection. Then divorced.
Click to expand...
I once sold off a few of my beauties to show my GF that she was more important. But I ended up dumping her later, because she just wasn't quite perfect. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I just wasn't completely satisfied by her looks. But when she went, the beauties I sold off didn't come back. I won't make that same mistake ever again. Live and learn.

Marriages come and go, but a knife is forever.
 
I suppose there's some virtue in looking at a woman as a dynamic, changing, living and breathing human, and not an object to be sold and traded at whim like a knife.
Otherwise... how sweet of a knife does one have to give you to get a crack at your woman after the initial, physical, WOW" honeymoon stage has worn off, and you have to rely on lame old things like shared personal experience and mutual love to keep a relationship afloat? If "new, shiny and immediately satisfying" is the only criteria, of course...

Marriages come and go? Not always, if you both have been doing it right. 😉

To the thread, though, I've helped my fiance do the same thing. We tried various types of knives from the PM2 to the Ontario Rat 2 and she has decided: 81mm Tinker Small for random tool tasks, Sage 5 LW in M4 and Mint as the EDC work knife, and a purple Opinel no 7 for food!
 
awesome14 said:
I once sold off a few of my beauties to show my GF that she was more important. But I ended up dumping her later, because she just wasn't quite perfect. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I just wasn't completely satisfied by her looks. But when she went, the beauties I sold off didn't come back. I won't make that same mistake ever again. Live and learn.

Marriages come and go, but a knife is forever.
Click to expand...

Sounds like she really dodged a bullet.
 
Hashishiin said:
Getting my first taste of 8670 soon myself, in the form of a David Mary cleaver... I am very excited for it, I tell you. I would love to try Magnacut, because I feel it is like the stainless-side version of Cruwear, but Cruwear is pretty stainless as is... it seems like Magnacut is a higher-edge-holding, lesser-toughness LC200N. Could be cool if you need stainless applications (with the humidity, been carrying stainless this week). Almost got one of those Fat Carbon nebula Case knives with Magnacut and a flipper but... meh, I saw it had practically no detent.

A Aronb You have a very fantastic collection, my friend. Your tastes, they are also very similar to mine. I cannot remember one thing, what is the wharncliffe OTF that Microtech made?? That is one I really want! Do not wanna have to go to the Axial series over that. I love my only Microtech, a UTX-70. One question, sir.... WHERE ARE YOUR SWISS ARMY KNIVES!?! Do you not like Multitools or SAKs? Or have not tried yet? I'd be glad to donate one!

But, basically, I am a Spyderco, Victorinox, and Cold Steel M.D with a minor in Opinel and Ontario.

This thread needs pictures, though! Some of my favorites are the
PM2 (favorite so far in use is the Crucarta and BD1N, but I have a lot more usin' to do)
View attachment 1928815
The whole reverse-S series...
View attachment 1928816
Janich-style Wharncliffes... though I do also love the regular Spyderco Wharncliffe knives, such as my S30V PM2 or my Dragonfly K390, wonderful knives I have posted many times here on the forums.

And their solid "big" knives with about 4" of blade-length that leave me feeling perfectly capable for cutting jobs and anything else life throws your way...
View attachment 1928842

Shoutouts to some Cold Steel, I have the sheath for the fancy Espada XL, though I carry/use the regular G-10/AUS-10a version more often, as well as to this glorious sheath for my Ti PM2, and the Cold Steel Black Talon II, licensed the Reverse-S shape from Spyderco and basically made a more resilient Civilian, with a wave. I could use the Black Talon II as an EDC if it had regular/Spyderco serrations that could be used properly and re-sharpened, or if it was P/E. Awesome knife, S35VN, which is kind of funny.

View attachment 1928845
View attachment 1928847
The Voyager XL is also a top pick of mine.... really need to add an aftermarket wave to this knife!
View attachment 1928849


I notice that we are talking about a bunch of larger and heavier-duty folders, so I thought I would include my favorite Victorinox, and my favorite "all-purpose, just a little pocket knife there for cutting what needs cut" knives. Still do not have an Alox model...
View attachment 1928888

Oh, and to this next picture, honorable mention to my Boker USB, Opinel and my Christy Cutter that I forgot to include in the photograph! Might get 'em in a future pic.
View attachment 1928940
Click to expand...
Nice collection I didn't mention any of my fixed blades or the obvious buck 110
As for sak I want to get one but I'm never sure on the model I want as for pliers based Mt I have wave, signal (my favorite), and a center drive
 
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