I’m pushing 50 years old, stated for perspective.
Was a Boy Scout in the 70’s, owned a standard Boy Scout knife then but no longer have it. Bought a Buck 110 at Target back in the early 80’s (Twin Cities, Mn.). Carried that for a couple of years, but it’s gone, can’t remember why. I have 3 brothers, may have had something to do with that.
Through my teens and 20’s always carried a SAK (Victorinox). Didn’t discover “new” knives until my late 20’s. First knife not a SAK was a CRKT, didn’t know what Benchmade was and the CRKT was 1/2 the price, $50 vs. $100, I think the Benchmade was a Leopard model. Couldn’t justify the price. I wish I had bought it now, but that’s neither here nor there.
Hit my 30’s and discovered SOG, then ZT. Carried a ZT 0350 for a couple of years. Discovered Blade Forums around 2010 and was introduced to the great world of knives, outside of what I already knew. At that point, I had always carried a pocket knife, but hadn’t been yet introduced to how widespread the knife world/culture really was.
I tell you that to tell you this.....I bought and used knives, then bought and collected knives, and then over time, I discovered that the knives that I owned that I chose to keep but didn’t use (“safe queens”) I quickly lost interest in. I came to the conclusion that if I didn’t use it or was afraid to use it because it was too “valuable”, I didn’t bond with it or the personal value I had invested in that knife eventually decreased to the point that I either traded or sold them to further explore other knives.
At this point, my collection fluctuates between 5-10 folders. I carry and use them all. I have 2-3 that I don’t carry because I don’t love them but I’m too lazy to move them on, at least for the time being. The knives that I do have and use are by many, considered to be valuable. Curtiss F3 (M390-rare), Koenig Arius (204P-rare), Ritter Grip (M390, not rare but kind of valuable), early Hinderer XM-18’s and XM-24’s (20CV somewhat rare), Benchmade 710-1502 (I think that’s the number, Knifeworks M390, discontinued), etc. Point being, a small collection of knives that are worth a bit of money each, but I use them because I love them. They are tools that do the job that I need them to do and they do it very well. Each one means something to me for what they are, but the value to me is that they excel at their jobs and they serve me exceptionally well.
I guess what I am trying to say is that I have a moderately small collection, but I do not collect in the traditional sense. I maintain a small tool box of fine knives. And throughout my 40+ years of carrying knives, I have found that the most satisfaction that I get is from fine knives that serve me well and I can always depend on each one doing the job that needs to be done without question.
