Must haves for a folding knife collection

[City74]

Thanks all for the excellent ideas. I added a few more to my list of must buys. On the topic of higher end vs middle of the road, I guess it's a personal thing. I collect watches, knives and pistols. I have tried watches around the $1000 mark and they are nice but I have some watches I paid $400 for that equal the quality, and in some cases maybe even trump the higher dollar piece. Same thing with pistols. Do I need to spend $1200 on a Sig P226 when a Glock 23 is $500 and just as good in form and function and quality. That's my dilemma with knives already. I see so many in the $200 range that spending $500 seems like it's unneeded.

 

[Loulasher]

The one knife that i can honestly say of all the ones ive owend....and i have owned many....is the benchmade 940. The sebenza is great, hinderers are great, etc........but if you want a knife that is what i consider to be the one everyone should own its the 940. It will be hard to find a knife that is as light and strong , usable for almost everything you will need and take a beating .......hold its value......great warranty....the 940 is the one that got me started . Ive owned 5 of them. Everytime i decide to try something new I always return back to that knife for aome reason. The manix 2 is great as well....and the PM 2 and the MPR755 is cool.....and oh the cqc 7..... And the small sebenza.....and xm18 and ummmm .....haha...I think you will get alot of great answers from everyone here. Happy collecting!

 

[Knave]

I highly recommend the small Ritter Griptilian with M390 steel (I'm sure the large is great as well, but I've gotten to where I prefer smaller knives). The plastic handles could stand an upgrade, but it's still a great knife for $130. The steel and the Ritter blade design are excellent, and you have to love the Axis lock. As for the discussion regarding Sebenzas, and other more expensive knives, I completely understand the skepticism and reluctance. I first became interested in knives, and joined this site, in 1999. At that time, I had a hard time spending $100 on a knife and thought that the people spending $350 and up on a Sebenza were insane. Well, I've gradually bumped up the price of my knives to where the average cost would have been unthinkable to my younger self. And I now have a small Sebenza with snakewood inlays. The fit, finish and tolerances are amazing. I'm still not sure I wasn't insane to buy it, though.

 

[The Burgh]

Not sure what you (the OP, City74) meant about the Southern Grind Spider Monkey having a "wave." Small choil area behind the thumb stud? BTW, you'll not find better executed CF scales!

Take a look at the LionSteel TiSpine (6 colors/finishes) at a bit over $300. Titanium integral. Hole bother you? I don't own a Spydie for that reason, but find this one a gem of a beauty.

Lastly, in your price range, another "looker" with good steel and great CF scales. The FRWK Gratch.

I have all three and couldn't be happier with the totality of everything about them!