Knife collecting - a lonely experience?

Do you want a hammer for Christmas? You can ask for a Medford Praetorian (-:

Bad joke, I actually like my Medford once I got used to it.

Anvil collecting does seem like a hobby where you won’t find a lot of kindred spirits. But I bet you’ve got the nicest one in your neighborhood.
 
Jim Bob said:
Are you into blacksmithing by any chance? My daughter is fascinated with it. She's a knife nut too at age 15.
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Farrier, 43 years. Fire pokers, hooks, knives, doodads, anything out of metal.
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I am very lucky to have 1 friend who is also a serious knife guy. We have very
different tastes but it is wonderful to discuss steels, blade profiles, locks, etc.
I saw him today and brought my Ikuchi to show him. He remembered he had some
cool knives in his backpack so I got to handle a large Inkosi and a large Sebenza.
I really liked the large Inkosi best...it was the smoothest of the 3 CRK he showed me.
I tried his cute small sebenza again...but I hated the thumbstuds as usual! I hate
the CRK thumbstuds. But they were all epic knives.
I also got to handle a couple of Pro tech automatics. I really like them but hate 154CM
at the price level...so I would never buy one until they come in a better steel. I really liked
the Godson the best...so fast and I really love the blade shape.
I have not seen him in awhile so I mentioned this thread to him and told him how thankful
I was to have him to talk to IRL.
I shook his hand and thanked him for the opportunity to handle the sebbies and especially
the Pro Techs...which I have never handled before. It was such a nice visit...I was very happy.

Then he handed the Godson box to me and said "Merry Christmas!" He knew I would never
buy one in 154CM...and that I loved it so...he gave it to me!
How wonderful! I oiled it tonight when I got home and wanted to post this epic great event in
this thread.

I am very lucky to have such a nice friend...even if he is the only one. And I am fortunate
to have you all as well. Mostly, it is a lonely hobby. I do not see him often. But it is always
great when I do.

Best wishes to all!
 
Yo
cistercian said:
I am very lucky to have 1 friend who is also a serious knife guy. We have very
different tastes but it is wonderful to discuss steels, blade profiles, locks, etc.
I saw him today and brought my Ikuchi to show him. He remembered he had some
cool knives in his backpack so I got to handle a large Inkosi and a large Sebenza.
I really liked the large Inkosi best...it was the smoothest of the 3 CRK he showed me.
I tried his cute small sebenza again...but I hated the thumbstuds as usual! I hate
the CRK thumbstuds. But they were all epic knives.
I also got to handle a couple of Pro tech automatics. I really like them but hate 154CM
at the price level...so I would never buy one until they come in a better steel. I really liked
the Godson the best...so fast and I really love the blade shape.
I have not seen him in awhile so I mentioned this thread to him and told him how thankful
I was to have him to talk to IRL.
I shook his hand and thanked him for the opportunity to handle the sebbies and especially
the Pro Techs...which I have never handled before. It was such a nice visit...I was very happy.

Then he handed the Godson box to me and said "Merry Christmas!" He knew I would never
buy one in 154CM...and that I loved it so...he gave it to me!
How wonderful! I oiled it tonight when I got home and wanted to post this epic great event in
this thread.

I am very lucky to have such a nice friend...even if he is the only one. And I am fortunate
to have you all as well. Mostly, it is a lonely hobby. I do not see him often. But it is always
great when I do.

Best wishes to all!
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You are very lucky. I just received a Hinderer Full Track and really like it. I messed around with it but got bored and carefully placed it in order with my other Hinderer knives. I love my entire collection but sometimes I definitely wish I had a buddy or two to share in the experience and maybe even debate the merits of each knife or brand. So I kind of feel like I’m ugly and have no friends (but have a lot of knives). Better than being ugly and having no friends or knives!
 
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JDRanger said:
Yo
You are very lucky. I just received a Hinderer Full Track and really like it. I messed around with it but got bored and carefully placed it in order with my other Hinderer knives. I love my entire collection but somethings I definitely wish I had a buddy or two to share in the experience and maybe even debate the merits of each knife or brand. So I kind of feel like I’m ugly and have no friends (but have a lot of knives). Better than being ugly and having no friends or knives!
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I know. Debating the pros and cons online is slow compared to in person. And as much as guys here post epic pictures, nothing beats a pal handing you a knife and asking you "what do you think?"
It is comical with my friend as we are geeking out and handling knives as the coworkers walk past
as we are testing actions or debating different steels merits and downsides.

I am very fortunate indeed. The first thing I think when I get a new knife is "what will my pal think
of this? I can't wait to find out and talk to him about it!"
I have other interests and hobbies that I have never met anyone in real life that is into.
And it is....lonely.

PS. That full track looks like a beast! How do you like it?
 
cistercian said:
I know. Debating the pros and cons online is slow compared to in person. And as much as guys here post epic pictures, nothing beats a pal handing you a knife and asking you "what do you think?"
It is comical with my friend as we are geeking out and handling knives as the coworkers walk past
as we are testing actions or debating different steels merits and downsides.

I am very fortunate indeed. The first thing I think when I get a new knife is "what will my pal think
of this? I can't wait to find out and talk to him about it!"
I have other interests and hobbies that I have never met anyone in real life that is into.
And it is....lonely.

PS. That full track looks like a beast! How do you like it?
Click to expand...
 
It’s large but it fits my medium hand perfectly. I tend to like substantial heavy knives so it’s great for me. Very good quality. It’s a fun knife to open and close one handed. I now have five Hinderer blades and really like each of them. I think the full track is my favorite but it’s my newest so it novel.

If you are looking for a thing blade stock slicer the XM-18 would be a better choice plus it’s just plain smaller.
 
JDRanger said:
It’s large but it fits my medium hand perfectly. I tend to like substantial heavy knives so it’s great for me. Very good quality. It’s a fun knife to open and close one handed. I now have five Hinderer blades and really like each of them. I think the full track is my favorite but it’s my newest so it novel.

If you are looking for a thing blade stock slicer the XM-18 would be a better choice plus it’s just plain smaller.
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I find myself gravitating more to thin slicier blades because they cut better. That being said, I really like my ZT Sinkevich knives...even if they are thick behind the edge. I tend to deep carry so I prize light weight.
When I was younger I liked heavier knives...now I like the opposite!
My heaviest "pocket" knife is a SMF Luftwaffe gravity knife. I really love it.
Mine looks like this but is so worn the logo on the blade is a ghost...it is a war trophy a friend
of my father gave him. I still carry it rarely. My most valuable knife it is also the most hand filling.
Action is excellent.
detail_1765_SMFDDayGravityOTFAutomaticSwitchbladeKnife.JPG


I wish they made these new...it is an epic giant blade. And legal here in NC.
 
HopalongCassidy said:
Tell you daughter to stay in school. I’ve had 8 orthopedic surgeries, 4 on my hands including both thumb joint replacements.
5oI4RDL.jpg
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You would like my small anvil. It was a gift to my father when he was a boy from his uncle. It is a toolmakers anvil and is pure nickle. I have made many simple tools on it. Dad's father was a tool making blacksmith in the steel mill. In western PA. I still have a few of the tools he made. The coolest is a pair of nippers for cutting still red hot wire in the mill. He worked at Babcock&Wilcox.

The anvil was cast in Ohio...I don't remember where. My other grandfather ran the coke ovens at J&L
steel.(Aliquippa, PA) I got to visit the mill as a boy and remember it as a visit to Hell. It was loud, hot, and I was amazed to see guys covered in giant plumes of sparks...what a place...I am fortunate to have seen it.

All gone now.....
 
cistercian said:
I am very lucky to have 1 friend who is also a serious knife guy. We have very
different tastes but it is wonderful to discuss steels, blade profiles, locks, etc.
I saw him today and brought my Ikuchi to show him. He remembered he had some
cool knives in his backpack so I got to handle a large Inkosi and a large Sebenza.
I really liked the large Inkosi best...it was the smoothest of the 3 CRK he showed me.
I tried his cute small sebenza again...but I hated the thumbstuds as usual! I hate
the CRK thumbstuds. But they were all epic knives.
I also got to handle a couple of Pro tech automatics. I really like them but hate 154CM
at the price level...so I would never buy one until they come in a better steel. I really liked
the Godson the best...so fast and I really love the blade shape.
I have not seen him in awhile so I mentioned this thread to him and told him how thankful
I was to have him to talk to IRL.
I shook his hand and thanked him for the opportunity to handle the sebbies and especially
the Pro Techs...which I have never handled before. It was such a nice visit...I was very happy.

Then he handed the Godson box to me and said "Merry Christmas!" He knew I would never
buy one in 154CM...and that I loved it so...he gave it to me!
How wonderful! I oiled it tonight when I got home and wanted to post this epic great event in
this thread.

I am very lucky to have such a nice friend...even if he is the only one. And I am fortunate
to have you all as well. Mostly, it is a lonely hobby. I do not see him often. But it is always
great when I do.

Best wishes to all!
Click to expand...
What a great story! Very inspiring, what a Christmas spirit. I see that a lot in this community, generosity and kindness.

may we see some pictures if possible?
 
cistercian said:
I really like them but hate 154CM
at the price level...so I would never buy one until they come in a better steel.
Click to expand...

I've owned all kinds of steels and 154cm is still one of my favorite all around steels. I think most people underestimate older steels just because it's not one of the trending hyped steels of the day. We live at a time where most modern steels work great for most uses, so chasing the new hyped stuff feels like a waste of time and money to me, unless you're one of the few who can actually tell the difference in performance. Or maybe you're into limited runs and getting rare models. I'm admittedly not one of those people. I mostly can tell the difference when I have to sharpen my knives. And that's one of the areas where 154cm shines.
 
Different strokes for different folks. My club's annual knife show is a real highlight of the year for me. I get to chat for two days with knife nuts I've never met; see hundreds, even thousands of different knives (along with a few other cool things, ie. coins, watches, etc); and hang out with friends that I see infrequently during the year.

eveled said:
I collect because it pleases me. I feel no need to share it. I do enjoy my time here. My Dad was a knife guy, but not a collector. I have no desire to go to a knife club or even a show.
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