Just staring out collecting - $200 to spend - What to buy?

O

odinp

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Oct 25, 2010
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I just started collecting knives. I have a Benchmade Rant, Benchmade LFK10100, Kershaw Leek, Boker Subcom, Boker Mini Resurrection, USMC Ka-bar, and a few others.

I wanted to buy a Cold Steel Rajah 1 but can't find it anywhere. I set aside $200 to get new knives with, and am not sure what to get. Looking at the Kershaw JYD, ZT0200, or Spyderco Centofante III.

I know - get what you like most - but I like them all. This $200 will be the last of my money to spend until next year.

Any advice?
 
You can save yourself a few years and a few thousand dollars by just going ahead and starting to collect traditional slipjoint knives. Mark my words: all roads lead to Case.

You might as well skip ahead to the good stuff! For $200 clams, you can score yourself a couple of sweet Cases. :D

You may think I'm joking, and I sort of am, but I wish somebody had given me this advice a few years ago. I don't know if I would have listened though.
 
Buy a Hogue EX-01 in Gmascus. You won't regret it! 3.5" Drop Point is a terrific edc.
 
I'd spend that money on a hand made custom ... Laconico, JK, ML, Blind Horse and so on .......
 
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I looked at the "value" knives thread here. Not sure if I should get a 4 or 5 of these or one more expensive knife.
 
odinp said:
I looked at the "value" knives thread here. Not sure if I should get a 4 or 5 of these or one more expensive knife.
Click to expand...

The makers that I listed aren't expensive ... you could get one or two of their blades for that price ... or one fixed and then a folder.
 
I have two suggestions: if there is a knife you love but is more expensive than some you like, just buy the one. Get something special that'll stick with you.

The second suggestion is to consider buying some "legendary" knives. The minigrip everyone has mentioned is a knife that pretty much every contemporary knife collector has owned at least one of. But there are a number of knives that have survived the test of time among collections.
 
Spyderco Military or Benchmade 710.:thumbup:

A pair of all-time classics any collection can use.

Best,

Heekma
 
Sargent 666 said:
I'd spent that money on a hand made custom ... Laconico, JK, ML, Blind Horse and so on .......
Click to expand...

What kind of custom can you get for $200? Thats kind of my budget but I want Ti framelock & s30v or D2 for blade steel. I really want the HEST folder as I love the handle shape & blade shape, but falling out of love with it because of the bottle opener (which I'll never use since I dont drink beer) and the jimper.

If they would have done away with those & did a regular a full blade, that would be the perfect knife for me. (I understand those are a couple aspects of what makes a HEST a HEST)
 
agoutihead said:
What kind of custom can you get for $200? Thats kind of my budget but I want Ti framelock & s30v or D2 for blade steel. I really want the HEST folder as I love the handle shape & blade shape, but falling out of love with it because of the bottle opener (which I'll never use since I dont drink beer) and the jimper.

If they would have done away with those & did a regular a full blade, that would be the perfect knife for me. (I understand those are a couple aspects of what makes a HEST a HEST)
Click to expand...


Go and research the makers that I listed ... I haven't paid anywhere near $200 for the knives that I've got from them.

BTW the OP doesn't say fixed OR folder so I gave my advice.
 
I suggest, since you're a new buyer, to experience the widest possible variety of knife styles and types. Spend all your money on a single knife - no doubt you'll get a great knife, but the experiential value is minimal. Buy a half-dozen good knives and a sharperner, and not only will you have six decent knives, but an education as well.

Shop for brands that offer good value at fair prices to make your $200 stretch beyond a single knife. Shop for sales and closeout specials. Don't be in a rush to spend; wait for buying opportunities.

Don't worry about actual "Collecting" until you're certain on the direction you'd like the collection to go. :)

Good Luck!
 
You can afford many different knives and styles with a $200 budget. You might consider visiting several knife stores and handling the knives before deciding. You have to decide what type of knife that you will want to use or carry. There are so many different knives from many different makers and manufacturers that the list is nearly endless.

> What do you want to do with the knife?
> Do you want a fixed or a folder?
> Are you going to carry and use it or only collect it?
> Are you left or right handed?
> Do you want one hand opening?
> How hard of use, if you are going to use it?
> What type of environmental conditions? Stainless or carbon blade?
> How well can you sharpen? Do you want to learn how to sharpen?

I would handle a bunch of knives and decide what I was going to do with it before deciding which knife. People are going to recommend their "favorites" in many cases, but these might not be the one best for you.

However, if you are like many of us, the first ones are only the beginning and your tastes will likely change along the way! You will spend a lot of money looking for the ONE!
 
Thanks for all of the ideas. I am interested in fixed blades as well as folders. I will spend the next few nights researching all of these knifes suggested. If anyone knows of a good knife store in Chicago, let me know. Thanks everybody!
 
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