New Directions

[A.P.F.]

I budget myself to $200 - $300 per month for knives and in the past, the dollars have usually been spent on Spyderco or Buck products. Today, I was deciding which knives to get, so I opened the Spyderco drawer and had a look to see if there were any gaps that needed filling. Nothing came to mind, so I scanned the catalog. For the first time since I started collecting, there was absolutely nothing in the lineup that did anything for me.

OK, I thought, I'll move on to the Buck drawer. I looked at all the beautiful custom Bucks and a large selection of non-custom Bucks. I realized that I had just about every Buck that I wanted! Nuts. In fact, neither Spyderco or Buck made it to my EDC today, so I wasn't even too excited about carrying one. What is up with that?

So I opened the third drawer and my eyes immediately fell on the Lahar I bought a few weeks ago. I picked the Lahar up and re-examined it. After comparing it to some Bucks and Spydies, I realized that the Lahar is one of the best built, smoothest, most comfortable knives that I own. The black Scallion that I just bought is right up there too. In fact, all of my Kershaws exhibit the same quality and attention to detail found in the Lahar, and represent exceptional value for the dollar.

Well, there it is then. I have embarked on a new 'voyage of discovery' of Kershaw knives. The Lahar went in my pocket, my browser went to a Kershaw retailer and my two 'bills' went bye-bye. In the end, I am very happy with my choice, as I can look forward to some exciting new models and my collecting won't go stagnant. So, here's to Kershaw and Thomas, who I am sure together will succeed in keeping me broke.

 

[tom19176]

AL, I am a similar collector as I spend about $700 per month on knives and the biggest brands I collect are Buck and Kershaw. In the world of assisted openers, Kershaw wins hands down for all the reasons you listed. I have over 100 Kershaws now, so hurry and caught up to me !!!! lol

 

[rnr]

.... my browser went to a Kershaw retailer and my two 'bills' went bye-bye. In the end, I am very happy with my choice, .....

And after all that, you didn't tell us what you got?? :grumpy:
So we'd better see some pix when they show up.

 

[A.P.F.]

AL, I am a similar collector as I spend about $700 per month on knives and the biggest brands I collect are Buck and Kershaw. In the world of assisted openers, Kershaw wins hands down for all the reasons you listed. I have over 100 Kershaws now, so hurry and caught up to me !!!! lol

Thanks for your post, Tom! Now I can show my wife that my collection and spending habits are not even close to yours. A little perspective can be a good thing.

@ rnr - Heh, my bad for forgetting to tell what I ordered.
I don't have any Tanto knives in my collection, so I thought I would fix that by ordering a Tanto Leek and a Tanto Groove. To complete my S30V 'fix', I also ordered a Spec Bump. As you can tell, I really like black bladed knives.

 

[Thomas W]

Really nice post Al, appreciate your new direction.

 

[riffraff]

Thanks for your post, Tom! Now I can show my wife that my collection and spending habits are not even close to yours. A little perspective can be a good thing. [...]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing! "See, hon, it could be worse!"

 

[A.P.F.]

Really nice post Al, appreciate your new direction.

Thanks, Thomas! I really feel excited about my Kershaw direction. I feel like a kid at Christmas, waiting for Santa to bring some new toys.

@ Riffraff - It is good to see that I am not the only one with an Overlord...er...I mean Spouse.

Just yesterday I watched a piece about household budgeting and the suggestion was that a person should allow themselves $100 per week for 'mad money'. I mentioned to my wife that she should spend more on herself. Of course, I will demand parity.

 

[J_Curd]

Better up your monthly budget at the rate Thomas and Co are releasing new goodies!

I bought the Lahar yesterday. Its a nice piece of work. Already took it apart and polished the washer area on the blade and it flips open without an ounce of wrist flip now. Im in love.

Also, if you are into mods...put a 15 degree per side convex on the edge, and go cut through some redwoods...

 

[knivesandguns]

Enjoy that Tanto groove--now that the weather is starting to get cooler here in Oregon, and jeans go on, the Tanto groove is constantly clipped!

Let us know how that Spec bump works out for ya

 

[A.P.F.]

Better up your monthly budget at the rate Thomas and Co are releasing new goodies!

I bought the Lahar yesterday. Its a nice piece of work. Already took it apart and polished the washer area on the blade and it flips open without an ounce of wrist flip now. Im in love.

Also, if you are into mods...put a 15 degree per side convex on the edge, and go cut through some redwoods...

Yup, my budget will definitely require some modification. I just ordered 3 more Kershaws and I am already planning my next purchases.

Yes, Kershaw went way over the top when they designed the Lahar. When you consider the value for the dollar, I can't think of anything that beats it. As for sharpening, I can see how a 30 degree convex would give a wicked, yet strong edge. Hmmm...added to my projects list.

 

[riffraff]

@ Riffraff - It is good to see that I am not the only one with an Overlord...er...I mean Spouse.

Doesn't keep me from buying them...but maybe this thread'll get her to quit bit...yakking about the cost so much!

 

[SPXTrader]

APF, welcome back to Kershaw Knives! The Lahar is a great hunk of steel for the $$!

As for a budget, I learned a while back that this word doesn't fit when talking about Kershaws. The list Thomas released for September/October is chock full o goodies that I must have.

This list doesn't include the coarse G-10 Leek, Boa, SG2 Blur or TIZDP Mini Cyclone I've already bought this month! There are so many great ones now discontinued that are still available, I try to load up when I see em!

 

[mmmotorcycle]

Welcome and I hope you can can convince the missus that these new knives are worth it! :thumbup:

 

[A.P.F.]

Thanks for the warm welcome, SPX and mmmotorcycle! It feels good to be back. :thumbup:

Ah yes. When dealing with the wife, I practice trench warfare. Anything goes. That said, she has absolutely no problem with Kershaw. Why? Because I gave her a Mini-Cyclone of her own. Well, perhaps 'gave' is not the right word. Truth is that she saw it, liked it, and took it. Either way, it has given me a lot of Kershaw 'mileage'.

 

[J_Curd]

My wife has an original 440A Scallion clipped in her purse constantly.

She's a fan, and quite the "outlaw" with all of her prissy friends when she breaks out the AO for some task they cant resolve with their nail files...

 

[Wavester]

AL, I am a similar collector as I spend about $700 per month on knives and the biggest brands I collect are Buck and Kershaw. In the world of assisted openers, Kershaw wins hands down for all the reasons you listed. I have over 100 Kershaws now, so hurry and caught up to me !!!! lol

I guess I am not feeling too bad now on spending $1500 on knives this year since April 1st. I see I am in good company

 

[Daniel Dorn]

Wow! I wish I could afford $200/month for knives, let alone, $700

I guess I can't complain too much. I've been lucky enough to have spent nearly $500 this year on Kershaw. My usual knife budget is under $200 per year!

DD

 

[jonnymac44]

wow, what a great post, Al.:thumbup: The only proplem is that you'll now need to increase your monthly budget to keep up with new releases

 

[A.P.F.]

wow, what a great post, Al.:thumbup: The only proplem is that you'll now need to increase your monthly budget to keep up with new releases

Thanks, Jon! Yes, all these new models are going to exact their pound of flesh for sure. I never have figured out what to do when you want at least one of everything.

I just finished going through the picture thread and realized that one of those S60V Blurs would look really nice sitting in my pocket. Add that to the fact that I am a sucker for limited production runs and I figure that I'll make Wall Street's problems look like chump change.