New to the board, and looking for some advice

B

bhmorrill

Joined
Dec 4, 2006
Messages
95
Well, in my teenage years I spent LOTS of time looking at knife catalogues etc. and bought quite a few knives...but they were all low end knives since I didn't have much money. Anyway, then I went to college and started doing lots of other things and kind of got away from looking at knives. Well, my wife really wanted to get me something that I would really enjoy for christmas this year (instead of clothes again, thank goodness), so I started thinking about knives again. Well, now I am hooked again!!! Here is what she already got me for christmas that I helped pick out:

Spyderco Delica 4 combo (FRN handle, and VG10 blade)
Byrd finch
Benchmade 557S
Benchmade benchmite II

And I am loving all of these! The byrd doesn't impress me too much, but since it was so cheap and is going to be a keychain knife it is all good. But the other three I am REALLY digging! Especially the axis lock on the 557! I think I will be mostly buying folders with blades around 3-3.5 in.

Anyway, here is where I would like some suggestions. I also got some christmas money from the fam, and of course now I want to spend it on more knives. So, here are some that I have been looking at...but I am for sure not closed to anything. Any and all suggestions will be appreciated. In the knives I picked above I was trying to get ones that would be different types of steel, and different types of handles, so any other suggestions of where I should go from there would be great as well to test out other types of materials or designs to see what I really like. Anyway, here are the ones I have been looking at:

Benchmade 14210S
Benchmade 722BK
Spyderco delica ZDP racing green
Spyderco delica ZDP blue (limited sprint run)
Emerson mini CQC7 satin combo-MCQC7-SFS

I have also considered getting one fixed blade, just because I really like the looks of it:
Benchmade 100SH20

Or, do you think I should save my money to get something even nicer for my next purchase? I have about $150 right now. Thanks in advance for any and all input! And also, this is a great site. I have learned quite a bit over the last couple of weeks that I have been reading on here. Cool to see so many other people that are so geeked about knives!!!
 
I think those are fine choices. If it were me though, and just starting to 'accumulate' knives, I'd want more variety. Also, with those common factory knives there's no reason to be in a hurry; I hold off on knives like that until they're on sale/closeout.

Happy shopping! And welcome to the 'club'
-Bob
 
bhmorrill said:
Or, do you think I should save my money to get something even nicer for my next purchase? I have about $150 right now.
Click to expand...
Gene Ingram makes some beautiful small fixed blades, I ordered one for $150 a few months ago but now I see the prices went up a little. Still worth it for a truly fine small knife you can slip into your pocket, with D2 steel and top-notch fit & finish. Otherwise, check out Eddie White's offerings at ShadowKnives.com. I have one of his model IX hunters, it's one of the best deals on a handmade fixed blade you will find anywhere, and it's only $90. They are excellently crafted, but are meant for using, so the micarta is finished for a good grip and not polished to a fancy finish. Both of these gentlemen have free shipping, so the price listed is what you pay. Gene has a pretty long waiting list (they're worth it), Eddie is getting knives out quick right now but as more people discover his knives that list may get longer...
 
welcome aboard, bhmorrill :)
your wife sounds like a hell of a nice lady.

i have a cqc 7 in tanto. if i had to do it over, i'd get the droppoint plain edge, but thats just me. but its well worth the money.

i think bob and torz gave you great suggestions, so i'll second them.

now, onto the real business...can i have your wife? :D
 
“bhmorrill”, it was the same for me. Although in my youth I had a few swords and some cheap pocket knives. It only took one good knife show in Novi, MI to get me back in the game!

I also agree with “Bob W”, you should look at a little more variety!

My first few knives were…
SOG - Tech Bowie – Satin (S10P)
TOPS - Steel Eagle (TP107C)
KA-BAR - D2 Extreme (KA1281) – You need the Eagle Sheath!
Becker Knife & Tool (BK&T) – Brute - BK1
Helle – Brakar - HE90
Spyderco – Native - C41PBK

Then of course you get the courage to look at more expensive knives like Chris Reeves. I have a 7” Green Beret and a Mk VI, great knives!

Best of luck to you!

Of course here are some manufacturers links for you to browse (I tend to cruise the manufactures website to find what I want and then search for the best place to buy!)
http://www.chrisreeve.com/pffixed.htm
http://www.topsknives.com/
http://www.sogknives.com/store/index.html
http://www.camillusknives.com/1mainframe.htm?bkt/index.shtml~main
https://www.kabar.com/
http://spyderco.com/
 
Welcome to Bladeforums! :)

You got off to a great start. Step back, relax, you've lots of good use ahead of you with those. Learn about what's out there, who makes it, the best place to buy them, what steel to look for.

I've been collecting references for a while, and organized them, and posted a few here, in BladeForums.com Service and Support: Suggestion: A Knife WIKI.
 
Here's a short list of ten knives that will expose you to the widest variety possible, at a very low cost-to-quality ratio:

1- Swiss Army knife, any one really, $20 or less
2- American-made Shrade Old Timer, common on eBay, 34OT for example, $20-ish
3- Bruckmann - high quality pre-WWII German pocketknives that sell on eBay for amazingly low prices, $20-$30 in unused condition
4- some sort of Spyderco or Benchmade, Griptilian, Endura, etc. (you've got that one covered :D )
5- Buck 119 Special, or the Woodsman or Pathfinder, $40
6- Opinel, $8 - $12
7- A Scandanavian-style knife by Marttiini, Helle, Karesuando, etc. $8 and up.
8- antique military bayonet, like a Swiss SIG or Spanish Mauser, $10-$15
9- Buck 110
10- Grohmann #1 or #2, $50

Of course, I'd be very disappointed if you went out and bought these exact ten knives just because some guy on an online forum suggested it. You have to buy knives that interest you.

Good Luck,
-Bob
 
I don't believe that the blue ZDP Delica is still available. It was a sprint run and I believe that all of them were snapped up almost immediately. The BRG ZDP Delica is another sprint run that has not happened yet. If you want one, I suggest that you attempt to get a pre-order in to a dealer.
 
Hate to tell you, FullerH, but the BRG Delicas are regular production and out there right now. I have one in my pocket next to the sprint run blue I picked up out of the first batch of 600. The ZDP-189 steel is amazing. Normal people (not me) should be able to touch it up every month and have a scary sharp knife all the time. :thumbup:
 
Before rushing off to spend your money, take a moment to remember that the hunt is half the fun.
:D
 
I would recomend Spydero Ed Schempp's full size Persian. It is exelent knife. VG10 3.5" blade, black micarta handle, fit and finish equal to customs. It is discontinued, but possible to find. John Jensen has a few.
http://www.johnfjensen.com/acatalog/catalog.php?page=3&category= Spyderco Knives also Spyderco Caly3 and if you can wait, upgrated version with CF handle and ZDP-189 blade will be out in 2-3 month, just remember it is full flat ground.
 
Given the knives you seem to like, I'd hold out for the ZDP Caly3 due out sometime in Feburary... Beautiful design, construction, and top notch materials. I'll probably get one myself.
 
Wow, thanks a lot for all the great information. I have checked out all the links you gave me and can see that I have many hundreds of hours of reading in front of me!!! (Especially with all the links on your thread Esav) Which is good...keep me out of trouble :) I have decided that it probably is wisest for me to sit back for awhile and see what I can learn. Also, as of right now I am liking the idea of holding out for the Caly 3 with ZDP blade and CF handle. I didn't know that was coming out soon, and have actually checked out the Caly 3 multiple times so I think that would be a knife that I would really appreciate. Any ideas on about how much that one is going to run once it is out? But, who knows, maybe I will find something else between now and then to help me diversify a bit more.

jude_061, I will be sure to pass your compliments on to my wife, she will get a kick out of them!!! But no, I don't think I could give her up...she is pretty patient with me and my weird hobbies. My other main hobby is breeding small pythons (have around 50 in my basement right now), so buying knives is much more normal ;)
 
I second the Gene Ingram recommendation, and also have to put in a word for Bark River. They're both fixed-blade options, but it's a good idea to have a nice fixed blade or two in your quiver.
 
I also agree about Gene Ingram. And I would add: Charles May & Tom Krein. I would also suggest you take a look at Nemesis knives; the Arch Ally.
 
$150 is about right for sprint run Spyderco Carbon Fiber BG-42 Military:
military.jpg


Also check out $100 Benchmade Gravitator:
gravitator.jpg



IMG_4336.jpg


Or Benchmade 42 Balisong? Benchmade Skirmish/Rukus? Benchmade 710? Spyderco Manix? Paramilitary? Or wait for upcoming Spyderco sprint runs (ZDP189 Lum chinese, ZDP CF Calypso3, ZDP CF Stretch)?
 
If I were you I would look at Ingram Knives,Bark River,CRK or Dozier.The first two can be had for around the $150 range but if your patience is in tact,you could save a bit and look at the others. All are wonderful knives.One thing you will discover if you haven't already,its a sickness.Welcome to the forums.

MPE
 
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