Sensory Overload - Are there just too many knives out there?

It sure can be said there is a knife for just about everyone.. just a matter of finding it!
Since my tastes are rather limited it saves on looking around .

 

One trick I learned many years ago is that if a knife catches my fancy and I find myself wanting it, I hold off at least a month, and often a few months. But usually within a month, I realize I don’t really want the knife. That’s saved me a LOT in money and unwanted knives.

It also helps that, for many years now, the knives I’ve settled on are from only three preferred knife brands...Victorinox, Spyderco and CRK. And I honestly don’t buy knives often, and for two of those brands, I already have everything I need or plan to buy. I can go years without pulling the trigger on a new knife, and IMO, it makes me appreciate and enjoy the ones I do buy a lot more. But it took some trial and error before I arrived at that point and realized what I really like.

Jim

 

There’s too many knives and I want them all!

 

This is heresy and I demand that you recant lest we burn you!

More seriously, we're very lucky that our hobby has such an amazing diversity of options, but it does mean that we have to exercise a fair amount of restraint.

Personally, I allow myself a few impulse buys, but I largely make a list of models that I'm interested in and hold off for a month or two before buying them. Often, I find that the longer I wait the less I want that, particular knife and so I tuck it away and maybe I'll snag one eventually if it goes on sale, but I'll likely just skip it if I can beat the initial lust.

 

There is no such thing as too much diversity ! Geez, be thankful for it. Back in my days, we had to make ourself a knife with an old nail or a piece of automotive bodywork. And we loved it ! Now, if your problem is the ability to choose among this Christmas feast of knives... yes, this requires some learning and/or restraining.

 

I solved the problem by not having an Instagram account. Sometimes it pays to keep things simple.

n2s

 

Three years of buying sated my appetite. I have two more on order coming in, then that’s it. I went overboard.

 

The phrase “too many knives” doesn’t exist to me. I’m thrilled for the huge variety we get to choose from.

 

It is as easy as this. No media apps on the phone, the only 12 FB friends I have are old Navy squadron guys. Like me, they rarely post anything.

If I want a knife, I can narrow the selections down to a really small window by shopping purposefully.

 

I’m gonna assume that you’re not married lol

 

I use a similar method as James Y. If I see something here in the EDC thread or the Knife Exchange as an example, I put it on a list. Over weeks and months I learn more about them and sometimes I decide I don't want them and remove them from the list. Sometimes I find a good deal or they're inexpensive so I just buy them. Sometimes it's a rare or nostalgic knife so I just buy them. That's my way of dealing with it because I don't need or want and can't afford all the knives.

There are knives that have been on the list for years. I've never been one to buy the newest knife so most are older, hard to find knives.

 

My tastes haven’t changed since I was 6 years old. So I bought the ones I needed to put together a couple of sets, now I’m done and happy. Same thing with guns. Now I just want to collect money in my bank account.

 

Before I saw the computer, I never would have imagined there would be so many knife makers on one planet. The number seems overwhelming, yet must be fueled by demand. We knuts cannot possibly account for it, but there they are, millions of economy, mid-price and super expensive knives of every shape and size. Where are they? Most aren't disposable. Is the world filling up with knives?

What was the question?

 

There are many, many knives, but after years of thinking way more than I should about the subject, I found that there are a relatively small number that I want, and a long list of them (currently 112) are too large, too expensive, too much one thing or not enough of another, for me to actually press the buy button.

It helps that I'm not a fan of Spydercos, or limited editions, I'm much more interested in blade geometry than steel flavor, I don't want a Sebenza, and my hard ceiling is $150. But all of those... fences, are the result of comparing my needs against my wants. If I could get reimbursed for the mental effort that went into clearly defining limits for myself for cash, I could probably afford all the knives I haven't bought.....

 

After being interested in knives for 60 some plus years I'm glad to see all the options. One of these days I'll surely find the perfect one. Until then I'll just keep lookin'. And buyin'.

 

There are a ton of knives, but most are just tiny aesthetic variations on a similar theme. Depending on what sort of diversity you’re after, aesthetic or functional, there’s either lots or very little.

 

Nice to look at but do really need it?
Collecting knives is kinda dumb cause for the most part none of it is going up in value.
Akin to collecting used Toyota Corollas...
Once you figure that out the rest is easy.