Question for Knife Collectors

[ShaiHulud]

Gonna change your user name to "Debbie Downer" pretty soon.

It's a good observation, however

 

[Blues]

It's a good observation, however

If you do say so yourself.

 

[Alberta Ed]

Nice collection. I don't have any specific criteria, but I like to try new steels (as well as tried-and-true ones), innovative designs as well as proven ones, with high quality being the most important.

 

[norcalAF]

This is kind of what I am doing now...I do like to try 1 or 2 of a certain type or manufacturer and go from there! If I like it, I'll add more to the collection!


I've been eyeing those but a little out of my budget for now! I might be able to swing a LG Astor folder maybe!

The Astor is a great knife IMO, it's a collaboration between my two favorite makers, LG and Spartan.

 

[norcalAF]

I feel the same way about the state of the knife market. It is as if we are exiting a golden age of knives, entering into a period of stagnation until the next round of innovations to change the game occurs.

I'm holding out for a lightsaber or at least a vibro blade!

 

[Slice-E]

I'm holding out for a lightsaber or at least a vibro blade!

The lightsaber would double as a flashlight!

 

[DavidABQ]

I usually buy whatever catches my fancy. I am more of an accumulator than really a collector. I did have a friend who bought Benchmade knives and little else. He had a rather large Benchmade collection.

 

[AusLoX]

Exactly how I feel. I’m more inclined to buy a Great Eastern Cutlery than any modern knife nowadays. At least traditionals are beautiful.

I agree. I tend to bounce between types of blades. Traditional, big folders, small folders, fixed…if I could carry OTF and Bali’s in my ignorant state, I’d definitely be into those as well.

 

[Slice-E]

I agree. I tend to bounce between types of blades. Traditional, big folders, small folders, fixed…if I could carry OTF and Bali’s in my ignorant state, I’d definitely be into those as well.

If you actually have to use your knife at work, I’ve carried all types and OTF and Balisong are really not people friendly knives. Plus, OTF get stuff on the blade and constantly need wiped down otherwise your action will get messed up!

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

Aesthetics and function for me. Beauty in utility.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Whichever occupies my thoughts when I try to go to sleep. That's the next one that I must own. lol

You think about me when you are falling asleep...?
haha, that's kinda weird!

*haha, that's ok.
I'm probably thinking something similar too

 

[Ikhnaton]

Lacking proper knife stores in my area, I gravitated to Youtube and this forum to see what knives are out there and which ones had a good reputation or were considered to be amazing users (wouldn't buy a knife just to look at) and Spyderco just spoke to me. I think it's a pretty personal thing, choosing the knives you'll like, but input is never a bad thing. Hang around this place, look at all the threads (a colossal task sometimes) and just find what might work for you

 

[AusLoX]

If you actually have to use your knife at work, I’ve carried all types and OTF and Balisong are really not people friendly knives. Plus, OTF get stuff on the blade and constantly need wiped down otherwise your action will get messed up!

Haha yeah, but I’d still carry them. I own them but they sit in my collection because I’m not allowed to carry them. Bali’s are great users

 

[Slice-E]

Haha yeah, but I’d still carry them. I own them but they sit in my collection because I’m not allowed to carry them. Bali’s are great users

Balis are good users, I did find some times when having to flip the knife open was a bit troublesome. In confined spaces for example. I wasn’t bad at flipping either, and having to relatch after every use was a bit annoying as well.

 

[scorpnsnake]

You think about me when you are falling asleep...?
haha, that's kinda weird!

*haha, that's ok.
I'm probably thinking something similar too

Darn... Cats out of the bag. It's bromantic only though. lol

 

[chevyrulez1]

What has driven my accumulating / collecting knives is a sense of experimentation. I like to try different steels, manufacturers, patterns, styles, grinds, blade shapes, etc.
That is what seemed to drive my purchases the last few years. Now I am "attempting" to slow down because I have figured out what I like and I am trying to resist the urge to buy more. I still find myself looking at knives and going "I don't have one of those! " but I have to stop and tell myself that I really cannot buy anything that can fill a spot in my collection that is not already covered by something else I already own.

Now I am more inclined to hold out for special stuff, finding a good deal on something I like or have wanted for a long time, the Forum Knife, the Case Vault Patterns, etc.
I can honestly say I really don't need any more, but what fun is that?

 

[Hashishiin]

It has to be made somewhere decent and have some point of pride for me to want to carry it. Knives are one area where I can exude much control in my choice of product. If my whole knife collection got stolen tomorrow, I could still pay for something I genuinely like for cheap - A SAK, Mercator, Opinel... Buck 110 LW. I would never have to own something I'm not proud of or don't like.

So there's that, and then I need to have a fascination with the type or style of knife. Like, I have EDC a Native Chief for the last few months, and I love it, but I don't see myself getting another one for no reason/to mod/for the steel. At one point I had nine different PM2s, I still have like seven or six. That model really had me going when I first began in this hobby.

The Navaja style of knife is another, which manifested in my purchase of various eras of Cold Steel's Espada series, totalling... Eight L and XL, aluminum, G10, hollow ground...

Or the reverse-S shape from Spyderco. I almost dropped 500 on a Mother of Pearl, file worked Civilian. I was after a reverse-S Meerkat and a S.P.O.T and that big elongated one, model slips my mind, to "complete the set", as I have near every other model.

SAKs had me for a while too, interesting and unique scale designs as well as blade shapes and older models.

 

[RocketFoot]

Sevearal mentioned chasing a certain particular knife or hunting for a good deal...I gotta admit that I do also enjoy the thrill of the hunt for a great deal! Like today, I spent hours perusing Smoky, BHQ, KC, and a hand full of others and finally settled on a Spyderco Tenacuous G10 and a Kershaw Iridium for just over a hundo! Again, I've never really been a Spydy man but the Tenacious caught my eye! Same with the Kershaw... the Iridium just looks awesome and seems highly regarded! I am also eager to test out the Duralock! BTW, DLT's shipping is insane! I got the shipping notification like 30 minutes after I placed the order! Nice!

 

[mph57]

To answer your specific questions:
“Do you buy because of brand name?” No
“Brand Loyalty?” No
“Cool factor?” No
“Resale or investment value?” No
“Something else?” Yes! I buy what I like and will use that is within my small budget. That equates to a few knives per year. I take time to carry, use, and enjoy them. If they continually sit in a drawer, I get no satisfaction from owning them. So I give away what I don’t use to friends and family. So I have maybe 10 slipjoints, 5 modern folders, and 10 fixed blades. Anything else, 1 out before 1 in….and I feel, at times, 25 is way to much for me

 

[not2sharp]

Just buy what you like. There is no resale guarantee; popular makers, designs and steels can fade like yesterday’s newspaper. So assume that you will be stuck with it forever.

N2s