Knife collecting and phases

J

Jesse B.

Joined
Oct 23, 2009
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Recently I came to realize that in the few years I've been actively accumulating/collecting knives, I've gone through several fairly clearly-defined phases (though the order is of course not set in stone)~

First: The "basics", or the Delica-Leek-BM 940-Buck 119 phase.
Second: Main phase. The "let's buy the best midrange knives for every conceivable task or scenario I'm likely to encounter" phase.
Third: Specialty phase -- i.e. the tiny knife/gentleman's knife/survival knife phase.
Fourth: (Current) the "trading up"/collecting-for-the-sake-of-collecting phase. This involves reorienting my value system from price-to-performance ratio towards aesthetics, collectibility, craftsmanship, resale and even sentimental value. (High-end knives)

What I'm curious about is how many of you guys can say you've also gone through pretty distinct phases with knives? (If you have, feel free to list your "phases".) Or is it more of a random smorgasbord with you?
 
I definately know what you mean about phases. When I started getting into knives I went straight for high end production knives after only owning 1 byrd knife and 1 cheap buck. The knife that got me hooked was a BM mini skirmish. Up here theres less selection and knives in brick and mortar shops are crazy expensive, so that knife at 230$ when I was 19, was a huge step. Over the last five years I accumulated about 20 high end production knives (most at better prices than the afforementioned), 1/4 of which have never left their boxes.

I recently came to a point where I decided less was more and if I wasnt using it, it had to go. Production knives are doing it less and less for me. With my machining background I know what quality looks like and minor imperfections really stand out to me. I want a sebenza and an XM-18 eventually :D But I definitely try and limit how much I own at a given time (paring down to 10 production folders soon). Accumulating too much of anything just becomes too much of a burden for me. I really get joy out of using all of my knives, and I cant afford to own expensive things I dont use. ymmv
 
Hell yes....
phase 1...anything military
phase2....anything from sheffield or solingen
phase3....traditionals....and this where im staying..................................FES
 
I've gone through several begining with larger tactical and modern folders and currently I'm interested in multiple blade EDC-able traditonal folders.
 
Finding closer to what you will USE and difficult to DEPART/SELL/TRADE.
As my stash getting too small for the ferrous friends i looked hard into what i will use.

I would pay more for a custom (not necessarily MS/ABS work but it counts) which i know fits into my ergo and application than splurging over 20 pieces of mind-range.
 
pretty much the same.
Started with the cheap stainless steel rubbish and progressed through 440c's to Aus8's, now to a 154cm blade
 
Phase 1: Received Buck 110 as child.
Phase 2: Benchmades/spydercos/Al Mar/Case/Kershaw etc.
Phase 3: Reeve Knives
 
There certainly are phases for my collecting. For me it went like this.

Phase 1: Curiosity. I go to knife stores in malls an poke around. Eventually settle on a Kershaw Chive as my first knife purchase.

Phase 2: Exploration. I start picking up cheap knives from multiple brick and mortar's. Mostly CRKTs and no-name knives.

Phase 3: Investigation. I start researching knives. I see a Spyderco and remember when my dad got one from the Fire Department. This nostalgia triggers my first Spyderco Purchase.

Phase 4: Enthusiasm. I find Bladeforums. Purchase my first Benchmades, and expand my Spyderco Collection. I start reading about knives online very often, watch Nutnfancy videos on Youtube.

Phase 5: Snobbery. Trade every knife I own for some Sebenzas. Spend a few months sneering at other knife companies. Eventually realize that a $400 dollar knife does nothing really extra for me, and I am even unwilling to really use them due to cost.

Phase 6: Practicality. Trade my Sebenzas for some Spydies and Benchmades. Continue to trade around and purchase knives in the $60 to $150 range. Slowly try out all the knives I am curious about, begin to really figure out what I like in a knife.

Phase 6: Enjoyment. Have my knife bases covered. I know what I do and do not want. Feeling much less pressure to acquire knives. Dabbling in some nice traditionals, but don't really feel a desire for more since my Sway Back Jack. Ritter Minigrip has locked down EDC role. More of a focus on enjoying what I got than on getting more knives.
 
I am on #@*%^ phase $400-900 custom folders or semi customs range :D, still users only, no safe queens. I don't have enough dough to start collecting so I try to keep my stable withing a few or so:). I'm actually going to thin it down a bit by selling some benchmades and spydies to get resources for more custom that's on order. From being a knife enthusiast I receive satisfaction and joy from using and carrying the knife and not just by admiring it at the display. That's the reason why I prefer folders over fixed, I can only have fixed without looking like a cowboy for the occasional outdoor and such, when I carry a folder daily. If I had a million dollars to spend, I would probably stock a room with 1000-10000 dollar knives fixed and folders :cool:. I guess my point of view is quality over quantity but quantity can never hurt.
I can't really follow any phases, it's just as long as I can remember myself I was greatly attracted to knives as to both tool and a weapon of self defense. Back in a day as a kid I would be way more excited to get sword than today, it just seems too impractical with no real use. I always end up carrying one of my customs (except work when I carry my beater BM Stryker that I can use as a shovel if I want) so I just hate to see my less favorites without action. I just hope I'm getting closer to the phase of stopping looking for more knives and just use the darn ones I already got.
 
Phases? Yep.
1. Lots of cheap knives.
2. Well made production knives. (Bench made, buck,)
3. High end production knives. (Busses, Chris Reeve)
4. High value knives that are very ergonomic. (Mostly Spyderco)

Interestingly I now own fewer knives than ever before. My entire collection stays under ten knives and I only kept one Busses knife from the high end production phase.

Grizzly
 
I have come to a realization that I could never use any of my high dollar custom knives. I have found my comfort zone is production knives $500ish and less. My Striders are about as expensive I want to go and feel like using them out in the woods. Emerson's, ZT, BM, Spyderco, are all great to have and own. The ultra high dollar customs dont appeal to me any more.
 
Jesse B. said:
Recently I came to realize that in the few years I've been actively accumulating/collecting knives, I've gone through several fairly clearly-defined phases (though the order is of course not set in stone)~

First: The "basics", or the Delica-Leek-BM 940-Buck 119 phase.
Second: Main phase. The "let's buy the best midrange knives for every conceivable task or scenario I'm likely to encounter" phase.
Third: Specialty phase -- i.e. the tiny knife/gentleman's knife/survival knife phase.
Fourth: (Current) the "trading up"/collecting-for-the-sake-of-collecting phase. This involves reorienting my value system from price-to-performance ratio towards aesthetics, collectibility, craftsmanship, resale and even sentimental value. (High-end knives)

What I'm curious about is how many of you guys can say you've also gone through pretty distinct phases with knives? (If you have, feel free to list your "phases".) Or is it more of a random smorgasbord with you?
Click to expand...

Definately going through phases, similiar to yours. Right now I'm downsizing and higher end / customs appeal to me. Just bought a small Yuna and have a small Mammoth Bark CRK on the way. Question is, does it stop?
 
Always been an Eclectic Collector and always seem to be in the phase of, not enough money for what I really want to collect. :D

What's missing from this list of Phases is the last phase where you don't need a knife. but want to buy a knife. :D
 
555 said:
What's missing from this list of Phases is the last phase where you don't need a knife. but want to buy a knife. :D
Click to expand...

Man, ain't that the truth! I don't think I've really needed a new knife in the past 15 years. Every year I tell myself I will only buy a couple of knives, but can't remember a year I haven't bought at least 10. Heck I've bought more than 10 in one day at Blade a few times.


I'm 51, and my knife phases haven't changed much since high school. I joined a local knife club then, and started buying alot of Case knives, and several Puma's and Buck's. The first one handed knife with a clip I saw was a Spyderco Endura back around 1991, and I bought it.
I still buy slipjoints, simple custom fixed blades(micarta on steel), along with modern designs from CRK, Spyderco,etc...

I really, really need to get to my last phase....selling about 80% of what I have. I've been saying that for a few years though, but still keep buying. Yep, I'm addicted to knives. I am going to do something about it though...starting next year:p
 
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I'm all over the map, nothing that would fit a point A to point B progression.

I still like budget priced knives , but will buy higher end too.

I like both modern and traditional knives including Buck 110's , but I'm also drawn to stiletto style knives too.
 
Interesting.
Yes I went to phases too.
Mainly from accumulating users to collecting, then get some joy out of fine users.
The more educated I get the expensiver the knives get - at least I feel so.
Then there is a level I don't wish to spent that much.
Is it back to the basics?

And then there is the world of customs. Here the person behind the knife is most important.
YMMV
red mag
 
bobusx said:
There certainly are phases for my collecting. For me it went like this.

Phase 1: Curiosity. I go to knife stores in malls an poke around. Eventually settle on a Kershaw Chive as my first knife purchase.

Phase 2: Exploration. I start picking up cheap knives from multiple brick and mortar's. Mostly CRKTs and no-name knives.

Phase 3: Investigation. I start researching knives. I see a Spyderco and remember when my dad got one from the Fire Department. This nostalgia triggers my first Spyderco Purchase.

Phase 4: Enthusiasm. I find Bladeforums. Purchase my first Benchmades, and expand my Spyderco Collection. I start reading about knives online very often, watch Nutnfancy videos on Youtube.

Phase 5: Snobbery. Trade every knife I own for some Sebenzas. Spend a few months sneering at other knife companies. Eventually realize that a $400 dollar knife does nothing really extra for me, and I am even unwilling to really use them due to cost.

Phase 6: Practicality. Trade my Sebenzas for some Spydies and Benchmades. Continue to trade around and purchase knives in the $60 to $150 range. Slowly try out all the knives I am curious about, begin to really figure out what I like in a knife.

Phase 6: Enjoyment. Have my knife bases covered. I know what I do and do not want. Feeling much less pressure to acquire knives. Dabbling in some nice traditionals, but don't really feel a desire for more since my Sway Back Jack. Ritter Minigrip has locked down EDC role. More of a focus on enjoying what I got than on getting more knives.
Click to expand...

Wow Bob, I think we are long lost conjoined twins severed at birth. Other than the time frame of the Seb, (didn't take me long to figure it out that it didn't do it for me) and the fact I have landed on Spyderco and a G-10 Endura instead of the Grip, we have walked the same path. Although my nostalgia story with Dad was Victorinox's. :thumbup:
 
1. Stage #1 In 2005 searching for information on various cutlery steels I found bladeforums.
Within few month I went from SAK to Gerber, to Griptilian and Native. Still $100 knife was an expensive knife.
2. Stage#2 Early in 2006 joined Spyderco factory forum and became Spyderco addict. $100 barrier was broken right away with purchase of Kopa Cocobolo (and all following Kopas), $200 barrier was broken with purchase of Lum folded Tanto. Most of my knives are safe queens for viewing pleasure, still love knives with good ergos.
3. It looks like may be I am at the beginning of stage#3. Do not know how this will look yet.
 
Right now, if something gives me whiplash, and it's a quality made item, I might get it if I can find a good deal on it. Right now, I like slipjoints and custom bushcraft/camping/work knives.

I started out with a few old Colonial character knives when I was a kid, then my neighbor gave me a Schrade Cave Bear, on which I promptly broke the tip off of. Carried all manner of cheap import crap, and stopped after school on the way home at a junk mall to buy more cheap imported crap. After having a big tanto lockback blade almost take my thumb off (bent backwards, just cutting), I decided I should have a go at high quality stuff.

I went nuts for Buck, Gerber, Cold Steel, SOG, Kershaw.

Then I found a few Spydercos and Benchmades, both on eBay (my first Spydie, a Ladybug sold as a Delica, I had no idea :()). I got any and all folders and fixed blades I liked.

Then I joined here. This place is like a crackhouse. Except, for the most part, we're a little more coherent...

I moved on to higher end production knives, then into Chris Reeve and Strider territory. I still have two Sebenzas, but I don't use them. I had a few one piece CRK's, a few Strider fb's. The folders, got rid of them. Went back to using the BM and Spydercos, sold and traded off most of them, put the money toward Sebenzas, sold and traded off the Sebbies for the BM's and Spydercos I used to have. Also knives like the Buck TNT and the Bradley Alias. During this period, I ventured into custom knives.

I finally got rid of all of my small modern one hand openers, and kept a few large one hand openers (big paws). Got rid of a lot of customs and high end productions.

I finally got back into slipjoints, and went wild looking at all of the junk shops around me for old slipjoints. Pared down my collection to what I will use, and what means a lot to me. I have acquired a couple of knife books, and learned a lot from various members, makers and friends on here about what goes into making a good knife, and that everyone will have a different opinion on what makes the best knife. My problem is that I like a lot of different knives.

I have a good collection of users, but I EDC (not always at the same time)a Case peanut, Victorinox Pioneer, Spyderco Bob T slipit and Gossman micro Kephart. I could sell my collection and keep the SAK and the Gossman, and I'd be okay.

Through all of this, I've learned a lot about knives, steel and handle materials. Most of all, I've gotten the chance to meet a lot of great people, and make some friends.


I just wanna know where the hell all that money went...
 
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