Recommendation? New Guy Pocket/Camp Knife Collection

[Boosh]

Hello for the first time knife enthusiasts!

My brother bought me a walnut Opinel No. 8 about a year and a half ago and I've been hooked on mostly pocket knives ever since. I really like the traditional varieties quite a bit for some reason. As Marge Simpsons would say, "I just think they're neat."

Anyways, I've been lurking on your forum for about a year secretly taking suggestions on what to buy next, and here's where I've ended up :







Case Mini Wharncliffe Trapper - stays in my office, mostly opens letters and boxes
Morakniv Companion - dicking around in the garage, yard, bonfires, etc.
Morakniv Bushcraft - camping, shaving firewood
Schrade SCHF9 - camping, batoning firewood
Milwaukee Fastback - garage, yard
Victorinox SwissChamp - utility drawer, traveling
Victorinox Deluxe Tinker - bass fishing bag
Wenger Swiss Sportsman - trout fishing bag
Victorinox Climber with custom walnut scales I made - EDC most carried, around the house, out and about
Victorinox Custom - EDC, out and about
Victorinox Bantam Alox - weddings
Wenger Classic Corporate - my dad's company growing up, they were all over our house, he died so it's a nice memory, I thought they were so cool when I was a little kid
Kershaw Chill - not much use, sometimes with a suit at work
Mercator Black Cat SS - though I don't really use it for anything, I think it's one of the coolest knives I have
Rough Rider Canoe - EDC, around the house
Opinel No. 4 SS beachwood - sharpening woodworking pencils in the garage
Opinel No. 8 SS walnut - the knife that started it all, food prep, eating while camping
Opinel No. 10 SS beachwood- food prep while camping
Wenger Cigar Cutter - golf bag
Smith and Wesson M&P Shield - car, its pointy, kinda silly

I also have a Victorinox 84mm Spartan that I made custom scales out of Thuya Burl that I can't find at the moment, which is admittedly very disconcerting as it's the neatest of all and the one I'm most proud of and I can't even show it off!!! I shaped the scales to be nice and round that I find much better than the very thin plastic scales on a 1 layer SAK, especially for opening beer bottles at BBQs which is it's primary use. I'm sure it will show up and I'll post a picture. I'm confident it's mixed in with the clutter somewhere.

Some knives on the wanted list include a barlow pattern, carbon canoe, carbon Opinel No. 6, SS Opinel No. 8 with an oak handle, higonokami, Buck 110, Mercator Black Cat carbon, Camillus scout knife. Let me know if you have any suggestions that you think would fit in!!!

Thanks for looking, if you can't tell, I'm pretty jazzed about my collection despite it being not expensive at all, pretty generic, nothing scary for self defense or anything, etc. It's mine and I like it!

 

[bflying]

Great start. Your going to need a second job before long.

 

[abcdef]

SAK, Opinel, Mora. Your collection is complete.

 

[Henry Beige]

Opinel and Mora. All else is vanity.

That said, you are in a pretty interesting corner of the knife world. First suggestion: try the Traditional subforum, if you haven’t already. Most of your knives will be discussed there.

Next: Baryonyx Knives. A contributing vendor. Most of the knives he carries are right in your wheelhouse.

A few additional makes to try: Douk-douk, MAM, Antonini. Spanish knives. French knives. Old Hickory. Dexter-Russell Green River. While there are others, delving into these will occupy you for quite a while. Okapi. Svord.

 

[dinoatlas]

Hello for the first time knife enthusiasts!

My brother bought me a walnut Opinel No. 8 about a year and a half ago and I've been hooked on mostly pocket knives ever since. I really like the traditional varieties quite a bit for some reason. As Marge Simpsons would say, "I just think they're neat."

Anyways, I've been lurking on your forum for about a year secretly taking suggestions on what to buy next, and here's where I've ended up :







Case Mini Wharncliffe Trapper - stays in my office, mostly opens letters and boxes
Morakniv Companion - dicking around in the garage, yard, bonfires, etc.
Morakniv Bushcraft - camping, shaving firewood
Schrade SCHF9 - camping, batoning firewood
Milwaukee Fastback - garage, yard
Victorinox SwissChamp - utility drawer, traveling
Victorinox Deluxe Tinker - bass fishing bag
Wenger Swiss Sportsman - trout fishing bag
Victorinox Climber with custom walnut scales I made - EDC most carried, around the house, out and about
Victorinox Custom - EDC, out and about
Victorinox Bantam Alox - weddings
Wenger Classic Corporate - my dad's company growing up, they were all over our house, he died so it's a nice memory, I thought they were so cool when I was a little kid
Kershaw Chill - not much use, sometimes with a suit at work
Mercator Black Cat SS - though I don't really use it for anything, I think it's one of the coolest knives I have
Rough Rider Canoe - EDC, around the house
Opinel No. 4 SS beachwood - sharpening woodworking pencils in the garage
Opinel No. 8 SS walnut - the knife that started it all, food prep, eating while camping
Opinel No. 10 SS beachwood- food prep while camping
Wenger Cigar Cutter - golf bag
Smith and Wesson M&P Shield - car, its pointy, kinda silly

I also have a Victorinox 84mm Spartan that I made custom scales out of Thuya Burl that I can't find at the moment, which is admittedly very disconcerting as it's the neatest of all and the one I'm most proud of and I can't even show it off!!! I shaped the scales to be nice and round that I find much better than the very thin plastic scales on a 1 layer SAK, especially for opening beer bottles at BBQs which is it's primary use. I'm sure it will show up and I'll post a picture. I'm confident it's mixed in with the clutter somewhere.

Some knives on the wanted list include a barlow pattern, carbon canoe, carbon Opinel No. 6, SS Opinel No. 8 with an oak handle, higonokami, Buck 110, Mercator Black Cat carbon, Camillus scout knife. Let me know if you have any suggestions that you think would fit in!!!

Thanks for looking, if you can't tell, I'm pretty jazzed about my collection despite it being not expensive at all, pretty generic, nothing scary for self defense or anything, etc. It's mine and I like it!

Nice collection!

 

[markwesti]

Nice , thanks for sharing . If I might suggest a case for your collection . Gerstner makes some nice stuff .
https://www.suncoasttools.com/crm/I...er=TBGI-T12+++WOOD+++GI&VendorNumber=GERSTNER

 

[gazz98]

Welcome to the forums and very nice collection!

I'll suggest a few locking knives since you have a few traditionals.

Ontario Rat 1 or Rat 2. The AUS 8 steel is good for the price but the D2 steel for a few dollars is worth it imo. About $40 or under.

Buck 112 or 110. Another classic. $24+ .

 

[stevekolt]

Agree with the suggestion about the Buck 110 or 112, another classic is the Buck 119.

 

[kvaughn]

You might want to check out the Traditionals sub forum for some "old timey stuff"--
Welcome to BF!--KV

 

[GIRLYmann]

Hello for the first time knife enthusiasts!

Some knives...wanted ..Let me know if you have any suggestions that you think would fit in!!!

..., I'm pretty jazzed about my collection despite it being not expensive at all, pretty generic, nothing scary for self defense or anything, etc. It's mine and I like it!

a sensible collection so far !
perhaps you may not realize this
but going by size of it,
you have already exceeded
the realm of "average user need".
but i agree with your choices
these are knives that won't break a bank
or if seldom, ever makes one rich;
but they are just the type of things that
would enrich the knife using experience
and keep one adequately happy.
maybe a couple more
budget buys won't hurt.
just stay on track and
try not to over blow
the wants department ;-)
best of luck with keeping it real.
and thanks for sharing!

 

[bigsurbob]

Excellent collection. Lots of purpose. You could stop right there.

Bet you won't!

 

[Boosh]

Opinel and Mora. All else is vanity.

That said, you are in a pretty interesting corner of the knife world. First suggestion: try the Traditional subforum, if you haven’t already. Most of your knives will be discussed there.

Next: Baryonyx Knives. A contributing vendor. Most of the knives he carries are right in your wheelhouse.

A few additional makes to try: Douk-douk, MAM, Antonini. Spanish knives. French knives. Old Hickory. Dexter-Russell Green River. While there are others, delving into these will occupy you for quite a while. Okapi. Svord.

Dang you aren't kidding. That website will certainly keep me occupied for a while.... I've searched all over the web and some of these knives I've definitely never seen before. The Antonini ones look really sweet, like more refined Opinels. Douk-Douk will definitely be bought at some point, Douk-Douk/K55K/Higonokami set would be sweet, something about those just seem awesome. I love history and as an extension knives with rich history. Thanks!

 

[Boosh]

Welcome to the forums and very nice collection!

I'll suggest a few locking knives since you have a few traditionals.

Ontario Rat 1 or Rat 2. The AUS 8 steel is good for the price but the D2 steel for a few dollars is worth it imo. About $40 or under.

Buck 112 or 110. Another classic. $24+ .

I've definitely almost pulled the trigger on a Rat. Buck 110 or 112 is essential, I know, it'll definitely be purchased one of these days. Thanks!

 

[sabre cat]

A well thought out collection for sure.

May I suggest a Christy Knife be added?

 

[skyhorse]

Welcome ! Two of my most used knives are the Buck 110 and Victorinox Farmer. The saw can come in real handy on occasions.

 

[comis]

Hello for the first time knife enthusiasts!

My brother bought me a walnut Opinel No. 8 about a year and a half ago and I've been hooked on mostly pocket knives ever since. I really like the traditional varieties quite a bit for some reason. As Marge Simpsons would say, "I just think they're neat."

Anyways, I've been lurking on your forum for about a year secretly taking suggestions on what to buy next, and here's where I've ended up :







Case Mini Wharncliffe Trapper - stays in my office, mostly opens letters and boxes
Morakniv Companion - dicking around in the garage, yard, bonfires, etc.
Morakniv Bushcraft - camping, shaving firewood
Schrade SCHF9 - camping, batoning firewood
Milwaukee Fastback - garage, yard
Victorinox SwissChamp - utility drawer, traveling
Victorinox Deluxe Tinker - bass fishing bag
Wenger Swiss Sportsman - trout fishing bag
Victorinox Climber with custom walnut scales I made - EDC most carried, around the house, out and about
Victorinox Custom - EDC, out and about
Victorinox Bantam Alox - weddings
Wenger Classic Corporate - my dad's company growing up, they were all over our house, he died so it's a nice memory, I thought they were so cool when I was a little kid
Kershaw Chill - not much use, sometimes with a suit at work
Mercator Black Cat SS - though I don't really use it for anything, I think it's one of the coolest knives I have
Rough Rider Canoe - EDC, around the house
Opinel No. 4 SS beachwood - sharpening woodworking pencils in the garage
Opinel No. 8 SS walnut - the knife that started it all, food prep, eating while camping
Opinel No. 10 SS beachwood- food prep while camping
Wenger Cigar Cutter - golf bag
Smith and Wesson M&P Shield - car, its pointy, kinda silly

I also have a Victorinox 84mm Spartan that I made custom scales out of Thuya Burl that I can't find at the moment, which is admittedly very disconcerting as it's the neatest of all and the one I'm most proud of and I can't even show it off!!! I shaped the scales to be nice and round that I find much better than the very thin plastic scales on a 1 layer SAK, especially for opening beer bottles at BBQs which is it's primary use. I'm sure it will show up and I'll post a picture. I'm confident it's mixed in with the clutter somewhere.

Some knives on the wanted list include a barlow pattern, carbon canoe, carbon Opinel No. 6, SS Opinel No. 8 with an oak handle, higonokami, Buck 110, Mercator Black Cat carbon, Camillus scout knife. Let me know if you have any suggestions that you think would fit in!!!

Thanks for looking, if you can't tell, I'm pretty jazzed about my collection despite it being not expensive at all, pretty generic, nothing scary for self defense or anything, etc. It's mine and I like it!

That's a great collection of user and I like how you are trying to expand the horizon worldwide. Just a few cents to already some great suggestions:

1) Buck 110 is definitely a classic, but also take a look at Buck 112 which is slightly smaller/lighter and more pocket friendly.
2) For traditional, I would suggest to take a look at GEC offerings. They are not cheap, but the workmanship is really great and the material used is top notch as well.
3) For going international, I definitely recommend Svord friction folder, Le Theirs or Laguiole French knives, Corta-E-Pica from Portugal and Puukko from Finland.

 

[Owen K.]

Welcome! Thanks for sharing. Do you sharpen yet? If not, you should look into a sharpener, whenever you feel like spending more money.

 

[Boosh]

A well thought out collection for sure.

May I suggest a Christy Knife be added?

This knife is really interesting, but it looks kind of risky with the blade sort of exposed? Is it well shielded when it's closed?

Welcome ! Two of my most used knives are the Buck 110 and Victorinox Farmer. The saw can come in real handy on occasions.

The farmer is wildly popular and really should be bought at some point if only for collecting purposes, but I just never really think to myself, "I need the SAK saw right now." Maybe I just don't do things that requires it that others do. What do you use it for?

That's a great collection of user and I like how you are trying to expand the horizon worldwide. Just a few cents to already some great suggestions:

1) Buck 110 is definitely a classic, but also take a look at Buck 112 which is slightly smaller/lighter and more pocket friendly.
2) For traditional, I would suggest to take a look at GEC offerings. They are not cheap, but the workmanship is really great and the material used is top notch as well.
3) For going international, I definitely recommend Svord friction folder, Le Theirs or Laguiole French knives, Corta-E-Pica from Portugal and Puukko from Finland.

The tang on the Svords has honestly kept me away, but I will likely purchase the mini version at some point because of how cheap they are and it would simply be a good addition to the collection. I have a rule for myself: don't buy a knife unless you have a particular purpose for the knife (why I don't have a Puukko yet,) which hasn't really come up for the Svord yet. That rule gets broken from time to time (for example, I bought the Mercator just because I thought it was sweet, though I'm now realizing after carrying it around for the last few days it's a phenomenal (albeit kind of scary looking) letter opener and is really just a great all around knife.) I considered buying a Svord for my wife because she's always using a steak knife to open boxes, but I went with an Opinel No. 8 garden knife as (1) friction folders turn me away a little (one reason I haven't purchased a Higo No Kami yet,) especially for the wife, because I'd like to avoid accidents the best I can, and having any kind of lock or even back spring was essential in my choice for her, though I wish they made an Opinel garden knife in No. 6, (2) her nails can't open a solidly closing knife that requires use of a nail nick (for example, Case knives,) and the Opinels are slow, deliberate, relatively safe with a simple and slow lock, can easily be opened with a finger pinch and not a nail, and there's no snap.

Laguiole is definitely on the list, but still kind of holding out for a trip to France (at some point in my life) as that would be a sweet souvenir.

Corta-E-Pica I had never heard of until now, and it looks absolutely awesome and interesting, though doesn't appear to be extremely available like the rest.

GEC knives will come one day, but as you can see I've stuck mostly to pretty inexpensive choices because, as indicated in my original post, I have a tendency to lose things....

Welcome! Thanks for sharing. Do you sharpen yet? If not, you should look into a sharpener, whenever you feel like spending more money.

I have a whetstone, though it's kind of a pain and I'm not great at it though getting better. I have considered purchasing one of the handheld sharpeners and probably will one of these days.

 

[sabre cat]

This knife is really interesting, but it looks kind of risky with the blade sort of exposed? Is it well shielded when it's closed?

...The farmer is wildly popular and really should be bought at some point if only for collecting purposes, but I just never really think to myself, "I need the SAK saw right now." Maybe I just don't do things that requires it that others do. What do you use it for?

...I considered buying a Svord for my wife because she's always using a steak knife to open boxes...friction folders turn me away a little (one reason I haven't purchased a Higo No Kami yet,) especially for the wife, because I'd like to avoid accidents the best I can, and having any kind of lock or even back spring was essential in my choice for her, though I wish they made an Opinel garden knife in No. 6, (2) her nails can't open a solidly closing knife that requires use of a nail nick (for example, Case knives,) ...

The Christy knife has been around for ages and the blade retracts completely into the body. I use mine as a fob on the end of my pocket watch chain. Never any problems. Ever. Fun little knife. Very unique.

Now for the SAK Farmer. I don’t own one but I do own numerous Pioneers and Soldiers. The Farmer offers better ergonomics because of the extra width. The saw actually works very well too.

I like the idea of owning a Soldier model but the Farmer really is the better knife. I would say the Farmer is the best 93mm Alox overall unless you need scissors.


Consider a SAK Cadet for you wife. Very easy on the nails. I have nail problems myself, so I use a Cadet as my choice for a small dress knife.

 

[Hal]

My brother bought me a walnut Opinel No. 8 about a year and a half ago and I've been hooked on mostly pocket knives ever since.

LOL! so, 17 knives so far in 18 months! Yeah, you got bit by the Knife Knut bug pretty bad!
The good news is - it never ends!

You mentioned wanting a Barlow - good choice.