Rebuilding my collection of knives

C

cutter17

Joined
May 16, 2006
Messages
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I posted this in the Community forum, and have alluded to it a few times in some of the posts I've made. I am speaking about the spinal stroke I had the last week of July. I spent close to 4 months in the hospital and in rehab, which really ran up quite a bill. I have a rather rare condition called Spinal Cord Infarction that has left me unable to walk and in a wheelchair. The prognosis is that I will have pain and be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life, although I have a walker and am walking each day to rebuild my stamina, and it is working!!! Be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life??? I DON'T THINK SO! My condition is termed incomplete which means I have feeling from the waist down which allows me to feel all the pain from the tips of my toes up to the lumbar region of my spinal cord. Not looking for pity, not looking for a handout, just explaining why I was gone from the forum for close to 5 months, and why I am rebuilding my collection. Luckily I have a good health insurance plan, but not having used it that calendar year I had to pay deductibles from the first dollar. My total bill was $190,000, with my insurance paying $182,000! Needless to say this still put a strain on my resources, and selling off my collection of knives seemed like a good place to begin, and by the end of February I had a $0 balance:thumbup::thumbup::)

So to the title of my thread, rebuilding my collection. Btw, the only knives I did not sale were some Rough Rider, Hammer Brand, and my Boker Plus Valkyrie. Over the years I have learned that the type of folders I like are the large, heavy duty built, hand filling, and with enough weight to let you know that there is something solid in your hand. So far I have picked up 11 knives, but ended up keeping only 7 of them;

ZT0200KW
ZT0561
Hogue EX-02 flipper w/green g-mascus
LionSteel SR-1D Raindrop damascus
Fantoni HB-01 in foliage green scales
BM275BK Adamas
Victorinox Mechanic

I bought, but gave away the following;

ZT 0350
BM Bone Collector
Boker Plus Field Marshall
Boker Plus Epicenter

I think you probably see a trend with the knives that currently comprise my collection, large, and heavily built, with exception to the Victorinox. Except for the ZT0561 and the Hogue, I've had the others in my collection before and buying them again should tell one that I really liked them the first time around. I am finding myself slowing down on buying knives, not buying just for the sake of buying. I am picking the ones I want with a bit more research than I did before, and even when I get one that just doesn't fit me for whatever reason I usually just try to make someone's day and give them a knife.

I am really finding it fun to research a knife I have an intrest in, and not just rush out and buy it for the sake of buying a knife. I also am looking to add a few more fixed blades to the collection. The Boker Plus Valkyrie is a really nice knife in my eye's, but there are a few USA made knives I want to invest in. It is also nice knowing what I do know about some knives so I can stay away from them, or to be sure that I get them again.

Anyone else rebuilding a collection, or going in a different direction with the collection they already have? If so, now's the time to speak up!
 
Hey man been watching your progress from your posts and have to say congratulations on your recovery so far, and I pray for a full recovery in the future! It always sucks to have to sell something you love/enjoy to pay for serious issues :o mortgages, bills, medical, etc, good news is things can be replaced :D :thumbup: people can't.

As for the collection that is one mighty nice collection already! Looks like you know what you're looking for, but I would recommend a few Spydercos for that list ;) how bout a Spyderco Manix 2? Or Manix XL? And the Spyderco Tuff seems like a folder that would suit your fancy perfectly.

Hope that helps and take care!
 
It is good to hear that you are on the mend and feeling better. It must be very gratifying to know that you are all square with your bills and you can move forward to rebuild your collection.

I can see that you really like big strong overbuilt knives. If you have a mind, consider an Andrew Demko AD10. Yes it is a custom, yes it is a fair wait to get one, but they are surprisingly affordable directly from him and they are beautifully made and built like a tank.

I wish you all the best for the future and I will put in a word for you with the man upstairs that you continue to improve and get healthy.

Steven
 
Thanks for the kind words, and especially for the prayers, I really appreciate it!

As for the Spyderco knives, there are at least three i wouid be interested in;

-titanium Military
-Vallotton
-Gayle Bradley

i've had all three of these and I really liked them all.

Good suggestion on the Demko. Atm though I am waiting for a John W. Smith SD-3, with the 4.5" blade, to show up on a couple of sites I frequent.

Big, strong, and overbuilt say's it all! Rebuilding my collection with the knowledge I have from my previous collection has definitely allowed me to go big, strong, and overbuilt, and at the same time it lets me do more research than maybe I did in the past. The research is a good thing though because it helps to fill the time I now have. I will never be able to work at my job again so spending time with a hobby/hobbies is something I am really going to need.

Back to knives again:D I really have my eye on getting a second BM275BK Adamas, since the all black models seem hard to come by. After that I can see a HTM Madd Maxx in my future, and from there it's going to be more research for some more big, strong, and overbuilt toy's!:thumbup::)
 
cutter17 said:
Be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life??? I DON'T THINK SO!
Click to expand...

Absolutely awesome :thumbup: I wouldn't go for a second Adamas yet, but that's because I believe variety is the spice of life! Maybe you should add some pics of your collection to give us a better sense of your taste (or so we can enjoy the pics :D)
 
Congratulations Cutter and prayers for a full recovery!
I second getting a Spyderco Tuff. I want one so bad.
Also, have you checked out Strider? Since you like big tough knives? The SMF would probably be best for you.
The SNG is perfect for me.
They're really nice knives and built like bricks.
I suggest one in Z-Wear steel . =]
 
Glad to hear you made it cutter. Hang in there and work hard, I bet you will walk again one day, never give up.
The must haves are:
Spyderco Bradley, Szabo folder is nice too
Benchmade Adamas
ZT0550
 
Mercator K55?
Is pretty different from what tou generally like from what I can tell, but I love it.
Thin, fantastically sharp and a great slicer.
Feels nice in hand.
Quality made in Germany.
Flat ground, 3.3 inch blade.
Only problem I had really was it felt a little rough to open, but some oil should remedy that.
It can be had for about $20-30

If you don't like it, try a silver Douk Douk
 
I wish you the best in overcoming adversity. I've "lost" collections before. After the wife and I seperated, I sold off everything but my grandpa's Catt 225q, Balisong #9, my first damascus fixed blade, a Jaguar bali, and an Uncle Henry small stockman.

Now I have added ...

AG Russell Ti spearpoint framelock
BM45
PCC Imada High Hollow grind
Rolex Submariner

And I'm waiting on a Yojimbo2 that will get a hidden wave mod.
 
Thanks for the kind words once again. Though I will probably have to have a wheelchair for the rest of my life, I also have a walker that I am using. I walk every day, but my stamina is not yet where it needs to be, but it will come as long as I continue to walk. My main goal atm is to be able to begin driving, and once I can do that I feel like I will have made a huge leap in recovery. I can handle the wheelchair and the walker and never walking like I once did, as long as I can drive, and drive safely, and regain that bit of independence driving will give me.

Now on to knives. The only reason I want to get a second Adamas is that the all black versions will soon be gone. BladeChick, I simply have read too many mishaps about Strider knives and I do not like the construction method of one titanium scale and one G-10 scale, I'm just too old fashioned I guess. The only reason I kept the ZT0561 is because it has the steel liner on the G-10 side. The Spyderco Bradley is on my to get list and I keep thinking about the Szabo folder, but I haven't read enough user reports about it. The K55 has always interested me and I can remember way back seeing advertisements about it, just never jumped on it. I'm sorry to hear that you and your wife seperated CM, and it looks like you have picked up some nice knives and watch. The Imada High Hollow grind is a real slicer!! I saw one a long time ago and remember to this day how sweet it looked!

Again, I really do appreciate all the kind words, thoughts, and prayers.:)
 
IFor the past.few days i have sat on the couch and come up with a list of knives, both folding and fixed, heck i will fight them zombies from a wheelchair, just bring them on!!! That said, and it is enough...i think, i have come up with what i think is an excellent list. The only thing missing are custom folders, and i am hoping that the place i buy from will be getting in the SD3's they have on order, the ones with the 4.5" blades! Those i loved.

Anyway the following is from my list and are the ones i will be ordering first. The fixed blade is one i have had before, in fact this will be my third one. It is the Browning Crowell/Barker Competition knife. It is 15" with a 10" blade. Comes with a nice leather sheather, and from the cutting i did with the others it is a nice chopper. Straight back with a flat grind down to the edge, good and strong!

The folder, should say folder's, are the BM 275BK Adamas, and the Spyderco Vallotton. The BM because i just don't think they will be available much longer, and though i normally don't care for all black, it just looks great on the Adamas. The Vallotton is a slim but thick built knife. By slim i mean from top to bottom, and thick is side to side. The blade is 4mm, or.157" thick, and the one i had befoe came hair popping sharp out of the box.o

So this is a start to what i already have. Though knives are costly, i get short term disability, and i have been approved for my Social Security Disability, wkith a total take home of $4009. This is more than i brought home when i was working, but i would love to go back to a lower paycheck and be able to walk. Even as i sit here my legs are aching and hurting like hell from walking around outside today. But you have to pay the price--for it goes like this "No pain no gain"!!! 'nuff said.

So you have it for the month of April. But May will be here soon!9
 
Congratulations on the recovery so far!!! Good to see you have a very positive attitude about walking, because that attitude is what will get you there. :)

Sounds like you need to buy some more ZT knives. :)

I started with Kershaws, and then ZT, and then auto knives, including Microtech and Pro-Tech. My current obsession is dual action autos with stealth deployment. Collecting a variety of brands.
 
You have a great collection of tough-as-hell knives that seems to match your personality :D

It's all about the journey..... stay tuned-in, learn, pass on whatever knowledge you've acquired to anyone who will listen, and even during the worst depths of your experiences throughout life: stay motivated, man :thumbup:
 
Being disabled with lots of medical problems, I can relate. I took a different tack and started saving for really good knives like Sebenzas, rather than a bunch of good but common knives.

I am selling off my Benchmades, etc, and now have 10 knives, most high end like Chris Reeve and Hinderer, and am shooting for a total of 12. It took a lot of patience, because as soon as I got some money I'd buy the first knife that caught my eye. Now I'm being very selective. I kept one BM and one Spyderco. But each takes his or her own route and I wish you the best.

PS: I hate insurance companies!
 
Want to thank all you folks for the kind words and the prayers you have offered up for me, I can never thank you enough! I went for my monthly doctor's appointment this past week, but not really anything to report except an increase in the amount of morphine and oxycodone I take for the pain. I am really trying to watch the amount of these medications I am taking and holding off as long as I can before upping the amounts. I wish I did not have to take them but the pain can really be bad so I am glad there is something that helps.


But enough of that I say and on to the true reason for this post......KNIVES!! Since my last post I have added a few more knives. Up to this point I had accumulated 7 keepers; ZT0200KW, ZT0561, Hogue EX02, Fantoni HB01, LionSteel SR-1D raindrop damascus, and BM275BK Adamas (2). I have since added the Spyderco Vallotton around the middle of April, along with a Victorinox Mechanic. And a couple of days ago I got the Fallkniven PXL with maroon micarta scales, and a Victorinox Cybertool 34. So I now have 11 quality folders with only a few more I want to add. But I am sure there will be some I know nothing about yet that I will just have to have!! I also picked up a Kershaw Camp 10 fixed blade to give me a total of 2. But there are more I am eyeballin'!!

I have yet to find the custom folders I am looking for, but I am sure I will find them before it is all said and done.
 
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Glad to hear you're getting along, and adding to the collection. :) What knives are you looking for?
 
I find myself buying more custom folders these days, although I'm still a Spydie freak from way back.
I suspect you'd like a VECP 2.0 which has a 3.5" blade, IIRC. I like the Grayman Dua in S30V; I have a recently-acquired Jim Burke in CPM154 and a Three Sisters Forge Beast in M390.
In Spyderco, I particularly enjoy the PM2, Gayle Bradley, the TUFF in 3v. And yes, I like my Umnumzaan and Sebenzas.
Good luck to you in your recovery process.
Sonny
 
The custom knives I am looking for are from John W. Smith, his "tactical" style folders especially the SD-3 series with the 4.5" blade. Also a Kasper or two from Pat Crawford would be nice.
 
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