Now What?

marcinek said:
You could hang out here and talk about knives.
Click to expand...
I'm doing that. The neat thing is that since I've been here, I have found decent enough folders that meet my needs (and wants for the most part). Nowadays, I look at a knife and ask myself if it really is that much better than the knife I already own. Most of the time the answer is no. A few times the answer is yes but, not for what the retailer is asking.

It's funny, I have very few knives that I am considering for my collection and the ones I want to add have stayed pretty much the same for years:

1. CRK Small Insingo.

2. Spyderco D'Allara 3

3. Lion Steel TM1

4. Buck Froe

Plus the ones I listed earlier. I don't really feel that I need the Lion Steel and the Spyderco so that really knocks it down to three. Or, if I had the Lion Steel, I could get rid of my Griptilian.
 
I love the 551 D2 vs. Ritter Grip reference. I went through literally the exact same conundrum a few months back. I have a well-used 551 in D2 I got at Cabelas - it's been everywhere with me since college and was my first "nice" knife. I got a Ritter Grip in M390 thinking it had to be better than my old trusty 551. Well, I found out rather quickly that the M390 would do nothing to replace the memories of hiking, camping, sailing and traveling with the 551 D2. So the Ritter went on to a new owner and I'm perfectly happy knowing I kept the knife with the memories instead of the knife with the super steel.
Great suggestions here and I'm in the same boat as you - looking for ways to "enjoy" knives while not buying superfluous items. I've found that the stories from others, reviews, and getting into sharpening are helping (at least for now).
 
My knife “needs” have been fulfilled a very long time ago. But I don’t think my knife “wants” will ever be fulfilled:D I feel that is the beauty/curse of knife collecting.
 
aking
ddavis said:
I love the 551 D2 vs. Ritter Grip reference. I went through literally the exact same conundrum a few months back. I have a well-used 551 in D2 I got at Cabelas - it's been everywhere with me since college and was my first "nice" knife. I got a Ritter Grip in M390 thinking it had to be better than my old trusty 551. Well, I found out rather quickly that the M390 would do nothing to replace the memories of hiking, camping, sailing and traveling with the 551 D2. So the Ritter went on to a new owner and I'm perfectly happy knowing I kept the knife with the memories instead of the knife with the super steel.
Great suggestions here and I'm in the same boat as you - looking for ways to "enjoy" knives while not buying superfluous items. I've found that the stories from others, reviews, and getting into sharpening are helping (at least for now).
Click to expand...

So, you kept the D2? That's encouraging.

I think mine was originally from Cabelas but, I'm not sure because it was purchased used. I have never owned a knife that was as hard to sharpen as this one. Any secrets? Oh, I added orange scales. It's amazing how many people like the new scales.

I have been considering playing around with Kydex. I have some sheath ideas for a couple of fixed blades I own.

I also am toying with the idea of improving my freehand sharpening skills. I haven't done much freehand in years.

Please keep me posted how things are going. It should be enjoyable to hear what you are going through.
 
AlphaDog86 said:
My knife “needs” have been fulfilled a very long time ago. But I don’t think my knife “wants” will ever be fulfilled:D I feel that is the beauty/curse of knife collecting.
Click to expand...
Oh, I don't know, I am finding that a used knife with a good story behind it is much more enjoyable than a new folder with bling scales and a fancy blade steel. I would trade almost any knife I own for the one I carried when hunting with my father. Some thief decided that he needed the knife more than I did.
 
I don't recommend this if you don't have at least a moderate amount of disposable income lying around, but you can always get into custom knives or other high end productions. I used to only buy production, but once you go custom/high end it's hard to go back. It's not for everyone though; some people don't see the value in high end knives, and others can't afford it.
 
Once you have a folder and a fixed blade that work well, anything else it is just a hobby. And being a hobby you don't need any justification for it. Enjoy it while it lasts, and when it stops making you happy, go find a different way to spend your disposable income. There are so many maaaaaaaaaaaany absurd ways to spend money and time that it is not even funny. Just like ours, wtf do we have enough knives to be rotating daily for a month without repeating any of them? (in my case, I am sure some guys could be rotating different knives for a few years without carrying the same one twice).

Mikel
 
Mikel_24 said:
Once you have a folder and a fixed blade that work well, anything else it is just a hobby. And being a hobby you don't need any justification for it. Enjoy it while it lasts, and when it stops making you happy, go find a different way to spend your disposable income. There are so many maaaaaaaaaaaany absurd ways to spend money and time that it is not even funny. Just like ours, wtf do we have enough knives to be rotating daily for a month without repeating any of them? (in my case, I am sure some guys could be rotating different knives for a few years without carrying the same one twice).

Mikel
Click to expand...
Well said. I don't think very many people spending time on a knife forum are here purely to find a functional tool then never look back.
 
Sounds like you have been collecting up to this point to fill specific use cases. It makes sense that you are getting to the end of that road. I would echo what others in here have said. Take up sharpening, learn to do it freehand, go to a knife show. Whatever tickles your fancy. I took my son to a show this weekend. Not the best show ever and I didn't buy anything but I had a terrific time talking to other knife knuts and sharing my interest in this hobby with my son.

As for me, I collect different types of locks/opening mechanisms. So far, there appears to be no bottom to that particular rabbit hole. Perhaps @SpySmasher has found it, but I have yet to glimpse it. I'm also loosely interested in improving my sharpening abilities. Given the debates that rage on regarding sharpening, I'm positive there is no bottom to that rabbit hole. My point is, despite initial appearances, our hobby is actually pretty varied. Find another road and start walking. Good luck!
 
I started making them. If you want, you can dump tens of thousands of dollars into DIY belt grinder projects, forges, fixtures, jigging, clamps, and consumables like sanding belts, tape, and epoxy. Better yet, it's a never-ending cycle of not being totally happy with the finished product, and telling yourself that you'll do better on the next one.
 
I'm there. I haven't purchased a knife for myself (that I didn't give away within a couple of weeks) in about a year. I've got the itch, and I've been looking...I just can't find anything i want to buy. I thought I had one a few weeks back, then i realized how close it was to something I already had - the differences were the opening & locking mechanisms, and the blade steel. The new one was a liner lock, so it would have been a more "normal" thing for me (I carry more frame and liner locks than other types; so the muscle memory is there. When I have a compression, axis, or other lock, I have to think about what I'm doing.) I almost bought it anyway; but, at $400+, I had to stop and think.
Of course, thinking about it today, as I type this, I'm wanting it again... probably because I don't have a knife in my pocket, and I want to fix that.
 
BilboBaggins said:
Sounds like you have been collecting up to this point to fill specific use cases. It makes sense that you are getting to the end of that road. I would echo what others in here have said. Take up sharpening, learn to do it freehand, go to a knife show. Whatever tickles your fancy. I took my son to a show this weekend. Not the best show ever and I didn't buy anything but I had a terrific time talking to other knife knuts and sharing my interest in this hobby with my son...
Click to expand...

I did not start out collecting knives to fill specific uses. That is something fairly recent. I admit, it really has made my knife hobby more enjoyable. I now have knives that meet my needs better and are more of a pleasure to use.
 
sabre cat said:
...So, how do you continue to enjoy the hobby even though your "needs" have been fulfilled?
Click to expand...
THAT is an important question. If you aren't interested enough to be looking for the next knife, you're probably stagnating in terms of the hobby. I was a very active Colt collector for years and active at that forum.... then I decided I had enough and I seldom even visit the forum anymore. In fact, I would sell almost any Colt I own right now and they are all 22 revolvers for the most part. So, knives.......??

My thoughts are that you keep the buying or potential buying reasonable and continue to expand the knife hobby at least to the point of being knowledgeable about what's new and going on. I am where you are as well and I have tried to simply slow down the buying, but not stop cold turkey. This year (2018) I have actually purchased a few more blades than I did in 2017 which puts a thorn into my slow down approach. But, I am actually slowing things down in general.
 
There is a certain ZT that tweaks my interest. The knife does not have the typical look that I usually buy, but I keep looking and thinking about it. Why? Just because... Don't need it.

The price thing is important on new knives in the middle level. I look at one for about $150-$200 and I ask myself, why do I want this one? Why Why Why? (I ask myself the same question with regard to 22 rifles in particular... same deal with knives. I have plenty.) There is no answer other than I want it. Maybe my interest will die a bit on that one (ZT). We'll see. But I don't collect knives and I certainly have every conceivable use niche covered at this point even if I have not used the blade to this point.

Added: With 22 rifles, I love them. I lust for the the good ones. But I notice just how much I am shooting these days and I just can't lay down $1000-$1500 to just let it sit in the safe or gun case. There was a certain Kimber (Oregon model) that was NIB at the local gun shop.... I lusted for it. BUT I resisted the urge to acquire it. The result of this reduced usage is that I don't participate at the Colt or Rimfire Central forums like I used to. I still have the knowledge, but I don't have the interest to share or tell people what I think much. Knives have been a substitute of sorts.
 
Last edited:
I used to ski with some guys who has a saying... "All skis are rock skis."

Rock skis are beater skis you use when conditions are thin and you might hit a rock and rip out an edge, particularly if you ski fast and hard. "All skis are rock skis", is a reminder to ski "fast and danger" without regard to the carnage that might result on the ski bases. In other words, don't let the skis own you. Own the skis.

For me, my ongoing interest in knives (or any gear) comes down to my ongoing interest in their use. Injuries took me off my bike and I've lost interest in cycling gear because I'm not using it as much. Climate change has made my local area less conducive to cross-country skiing, so I'm less "active" in discussions of ski gear.

I continue to use knives and I'm always fascinated in the interplay of design and use. Today, I started off carrying an old Schrade 6OT because I haven't carried it a long time and was reminded of much I dislike the balance of a large barehead. It's not even 10am and a Buck 110 has replaced it in my pocket. It's this sort of rumination on designs that keep me interested. I have a set of most used knives and a set of less used knives and occasionally I'll go back to my less used knives and re-remind myself why they're less well used and why my most used knives are my most used. Today's reminder is that I prefer knives with a particular balance in hand. The Buck 110, large Case Sodbuster and Opinel 9 all have it, despite being very different in weight. The Schrade 6OT does not. Interest is continued for another little bit.
 
sabre cat said:
I did not start out collecting knives to fill specific uses. That is something fairly recent. I admit, it really has made my knife hobby more enjoyable. I now have knives that meet my needs better and are more of a pleasure to use.
Click to expand...

it is now time for the battle royale.
my knives meet needs, other than a few gifts that I still hold onto.

but I find some enjoyment in trying to find better knives to meet those needs. so if something comes along that kicks my interest and I can fit it in the budget, I'll grab it, compare it to what I currently have in real life conditions, and then decide which one to keep and which one to pass along.

my knife budget is pretty thin these days with two kids away at school, so most of my users at up to about $100, which leaves a lot of room for future comparisons when the budget allows.

I truly enjoy sharpening my knives and an occassional for others. between touching up my EDC, and other users (seasonally), and keeping the kitchen knives sharp (there are quite a few of these) i like to play with the angles and grits on the kitchen knives and see what works best for each.

I'm also dabbling in knife making, albeit slowly

if none of that sounds interesting - get a motorcycle
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top