My small collection so far (try not to laugh)

[kaosu04]

Not much, but only been collecting for about 6 months now. Yes, I know, theres some cheap junk in there, just threw everything into the picture.Until about 2 months ago, my idea of a quality knife was Cold Steel. The things worth noting:
Cold Steel Recon Tanto and Ti Lite
BM41SS and BM42 titanium
Leatherman fuse
Spyderco Byrd Cara Cara and Delica
Opinel (No 8 I think)
Wenger Esquire
Browning Small Barracuda
Not pictured = Hanwei Practical katana, bokken and fencing rapier for practicing. And a couple cheap slip joints.

 

[JTC]

I think thats a nice collection. It is unique in that it is how it is because you put it together. I'd be pretty dogone proud.



John

 

[kaosu04]

Thanks. I'm hoping to add a BM47 to that collection by next month. If anyone out there is willing to part with one.

 

[Bob W]

That's a nice start.

Some collection questions:
Are those all users, or are you setting them aside for lookin' at?
Are you planning a 'collection' that's focussed on a certain knife style/brand/characteristic, or is intended to be more of an 'accumulation'? I'm an 'accumulator' myself.

Here's a photo of just my folding knives. Although the pic is outdated, it shows the scattered nature of my knife-buying habits.

Best Wishes,
Bob

 

[kaosu04]

Wow, that is very impressive. I dont recognize half of those knives in your collection. Most of mine are users, yes. But when I buy a new knife I like to buy one different from any other in my collection. A few things I still need = a benchmade bali with a tanto blade, and one with a 3 inch blade. An auto, an assisted opener, an axis lock, 154, S30V, and ATS-34. I also only have one fixed blade, so I guess I should expand there too. I no longer limit my knives to things that will be used. Believe it or not, my collection has cost $776. No used or custom or anything. But for now I kind of just want large variety. Perhaps after I cover that field, on to bigger and better things like high end production and customs.

 

[Bob W]

I also only have one fixed blade, so I guess I should expand there too.

Rather than polluting the forum with bad photography, here's a link to my fixed blade photo: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/Bobthearch/knives/Fixed-blades.jpg
I also took a seperate photo of my bayonets, but it didn't turn out well at all. Based on your knife choices so far, I think you'd like the Buck Nighthawk and perhaps the C.R.K.T. Stiff KISS.

an axis lock

I recently bought my first Axis, a Benchmark Griptillian. I was a bit dissappointed with the handle material, but the lock is cool.

ATS-34

I think you'd like the AG Russell Featherlite One-Hand Knife, available in ATS-34, or the less expensive AUS-8.

Believe it or not, my collection has cost $776.

I tend to bargain shop, looking for closeouts, specials, and inexpensive knives of good quality. I do stay clear of totally cheap crap, although as you can tell from the picture a few have snuck in there by way of gifts or freebees. "You collect knives? I found this in the back of my truck last month. Want it?" Notice the Velveta box of junkers in the back?

Perhaps after I cover that field, on to bigger and better things like high end production and customs.

I've recently began to shop for customs, staying on the inexpensive side. Anza knives custom designed and created a knife based on my ideas and using my choice of materials. Very reasonably priced and mailed in five days. You should check out their website.

But for now I kind of just want large variety.

As you can tell, I love variety. I certainly wouldn't want to limit myself by buying a single brand or style of knife. A few things noticably absent from your collection: traditional slipjoint, traditional American-style hunting knife, Scandanavian-style hunting knife, an OldTimer, a military bayonet, and anything vintage.

Noticably absent from my photo, a multi-tool. There is one, but it's a Chinese piece of crap that someone gave me. I like the SOG multi-tools with the gear-driven pliars but haven't bought one yet. Have you seen those?

Best Wishes,
Bob

 

[kaosu04]

Thanks a lot for the advice. I dont limit myself to sales and specials really, but you can probably tell I tend to the cheaper things, except for the sword and the two bm balisongs of course. For my axis lock I was thinking possibly a ritter grip, if not, just a normal grip. There is a protech auto with a 154 blade I have my eye on. I have a couple slip joints, but they're cheap barlows made in pakistan I found in some old tackle box. They couldnt cut through butter. I've been itching for a bowie actually, maybe a kabar. And I'm in the military, so I can probably do without a bayonet for a while The cheapies in the picture were things I started out with, I don't buy any cheapies anymore. Only reason I have a multi tool for work in the hangar, it gets used many times in a day. My EDC hardly ever comes out. I recognize both of those fixed blades on the stand in the back, but names dont come to mind yet. Left looks like swamp rat maybe. One bonus to the cheapies I do have, I leave them scattered around, ie, in the car, other rooms. If I need something I can abuse, I have it there. But luckily I wasnt stuck in a cheapie world for long. I've seen the AG Russell knives, very very appealing. I just try my best to keep the buying down to once a month. Obviously I havent stuck to that very well. And I know all about low quality images. 1mp kodak that I believe was made while Julius Caesar was alive. That long slip joints in the bottom right above the 4 closed slips look interesting. As does the triple action under the camo folder.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I'd never laugh. That is a nice collection.

 

[Bob W]

I recognize both of those fixed blades on the stand in the back, but names dont come to mind yet.

The two knives on the stands in the fixed blade photo are First Production Buck Nighthawks, one with a black blade and one with bead blasted.

Left looks like swamp rat maybe.

nope, no Swamp Rats in my pictures. Which knife?

That long slip joints in the bottom right above the 4 closed slips look interesting.

I think you're referring to the Laguiole knife. Mine is a Pradel Brassard. It's beautiful but when closed the blade hits the backspring, a common fault in many Laguiole knives. Laguiole is a town in France, Pradel Brassard is one of many small companies that make knives in the distinctive and traditional Laguiole style.

the triple action under the camo folder.

That's a Case Tri-Fold. I don't believe they're made any longer.

I'm in the military, so I can probably do without a bayonet for a while

I know what you mean. I'm a geologist and I certainly wouldn't collect rocks in my off-hours. The only modern American bayonet I have is a second generation Phrobis-branded M9 that a friend found in the desert. I think some Army guys lost it while camping/training.

Best Wishes,
Bob

 

[cockroachfarm]

....The cheapies in the picture were things I started out with, I don't buy any cheapies anymore.......

I bet 99.999% of the people here got into knife 'collecting' the same way. I know I did and I'm proud of it!

Let's see - you already have an Opinel, Leatherman, and Spyderco. Nothing to laugh at here.

Happy collecting!

 

[cockroachfarm]

Hey, kaosu04 - I just looked up and realized my response to you was my #2000!

That means you are the 'contest winner'! Please PM me with your mailing address.

 

[PhilL]

It's not where you start it's where you finish, and most of us will never be finished. You are certainly in the right place to learn about which knives to add to your collection. Buy what you like and what you can afford. This isn't a competition for most of us it's a passion.

If you click on my logo below it will take you to my album site where you can see most of what I own. Just about every knife was added after finding BFC in 1999, and they all have a story that's connected to BFC.

Thanks for sharing your collection, enjoy the journey.

 

[kaosu04]

Thanks for all the support and comments. I dont see any of it as a competition. Just knife fanatics sharing their expensive and, to many "outsiders", pointless passion