Small knife collections: Anyone else happy with theirs?

I found that after every downsize I was happier. After a really big downsize and now that my knife collection is only a handful of knives, I', actually happier. The few knives I kept, are all users, and they all get carried on a regular basis. No safe queens at all.

I find that the few knives I now have mean much more to me than when I had 50 of the things around, and they just sat in a box. Maybe the Marines have the right idea to borrow their motto; "The few, the proud, the users."
 
There are several (around 30-40) traditional folders in my collection the majority made by case that I never use or carry due to special edition or extremely sentimental. About 10 additional made by several companies that are edc rotates and a couple fixed blades I carry hunting/outdoors for different purposes. I may gift one or two of them at some point but probably never sell anything. And I say "too many" is a phrase that I can't use for guns, knives, or bullets in my house so I will continue to buy any of the above that looks nice or I feel I want at any given point


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I'm in the I'm only going to collect what I carry phase and I only carry a Buck 303 so I've started collecting Buck 303's. if I'm ever lucky enough to have one example of all the varieties produced I'll have 22 or so. A nice collection of users.
I think this is going to work out well for me. I still get to hunt down what I want but without the guilt of buying something that never gets used.


Clay
 
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I tell myself that I'm content having a small collection (dozen ish). But in reality I'd be happier if there were a dozen in the mail! Haha

My taste in knives has evolved to higher priced folders. Funding restricts my collection from growing a the moment, sure I could grab a couple cheaper ones but I'm saving for more substantial purchases.

I'm looking to add 1-2 users per year and I'm ok with that. For me I know I wouldn't enjoy having 50 in a box in my basement that never got use. So to the OP, yes I'm happy with my small collection and will slowly add to it.
 
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I own somewhere between 20 and 25 knives. I have 5 slipjoints, 3 (soon 4) fixed, 3 (soon 4) locking tactical folders, and the rest are fixed blades ranging from beaters to inexpensive customs stashed throughout the house as weapons.
 
I have a few or a number of fixed blade and folders. I'm now looking at sharpening kits, but time is the hardest challenge. Who had time to sharpen and keep the blades razor sharp or use them regularly. Maybe we should all be limited to one folder and one fixed blade. At this point we are required to sharpen, abuse and keep these and preserve them. It goes back to if you could only or only have one knife.
 
I'm at about a 15 or 20 knives, not including multi tools, axes and succ. All but two or three are users (or at least were at one point). They're tools to me, first and foremost, and I treat them as such. If somethings not getting used, it gets added to a toolbox, or drawer, or such, where it'll get pulled out for the occasional random task - can't tell you how many times I've opened a tool box and thought "so that's where that went"

Right now, I EDC either a Manix 2, Leek, or Gerber Crucial, depending on the day and situation. Have two fixed blades that stay in the truck, and will go on my belt or pack strap when I'm hiking, camping or such. The rest are all task or location specific for the most part (big fixie in the camp bag, on old EDC in the tank bag on the bike, etc...).

So I can't even really call what I have a "collection" per se. At least any more than I can the tools in my garage, shed, or truck.
 
It's funny, like on the news when they bust some guy and the media says he had an arsenal. Turns out he had three guns, a pellet rifle, and a box of ammo. The gun guys are always like " I got more than that bouncing around in my pickup." I'm sure that's how most people would regard our "small collections." I say I have a small collection, but I'm really only thinking folders. When I consider all the fixed blades, bayonets, and Multi tools it starts to add up quickly.
 
I'm at north of 100, all told. I only carry a few, but I'm super lazy when it comes to offloading things.

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marcinek said:
I might be wrong, but I think we are discussing collections that do not contain a large number of knives, not collections that only contain small knives.

Small knife collection vs small-knife collection. :D
Click to expand...

I have a small small knife collection which neatly encapsulates both. :D
 
Started off having a fairly good sized collection that consisted of knives I thought I'd like but didn't. Many of those were sub-$100 blades that got squirreled away in various trunks, bags, gifts.
Got into the higher production blades ($100-500). Again, got a bunch people claimed were awesome but I never grew to love. Sold off most of those so now I have 6 great high end production blades that see use.
 
I had close to 50 knives I had assembled over 15 years, and I dumped them all on a dealer I know for 10+ high-end autos and frame lock folders. I've been adding to that ever since.
 
Great discussion topic. My collection has been shrinking. Right now I am trying to decide which ones make the final cut. I have a large CF Seb. 21 (knife art) and a small wood inlay 21. One of those knives is with me almost every day. The small usually goes with me to work or into town, and the large is my go-to for home, weekends or trips out of town. I spend a lot of time in the outdoors and usually take the large with me there too. The large is probably the most useful knife to me. I had considered just keeping those two, but I feel dumb when I abuse my sabenzas, so I am now trying to decide which one of my chore knives is going to stick around. I like my benchmade cqc7. it is great for those days when I don't want to have to worry about messing up my nice knife, but it is a pain to try to slice with. I also have a pm2, sage 1, mini cqc7, and an older micrtech UDT. I really like those knives, but I don't ever use them. The mini is a pain to slice with, i always feel like i will snap the tip on the pm2, and the sage, well it is actually a wonderful knife with no real flaws in may mind, but i dont use it since i got my 21's. I have thought about selling them to fund an emerson mini commander, which would be a good utility knife for me. It also would replace my large 21 when I am in the outdoors. I fear loosing my L 21, and I inevitably end up using it a bit too hard and have had to send it back for repair a couple times.
 
I currently own four Emerson's I regularly carry a CQC-7V, a CQC-10, a SARK, and an EOTAC, I also carry a Shivworks clinch pick. Only other knives I own are either fixed blades for outdoor use or ones with sentimental value.
 
I love my inexpensive knives which consist of Opinel. Then I've got a few inexpensive Spyderco and Victorinox SAK I have in the EDC rotation. I've been rediscovering Buck folders and recently bought a Buck 110, Squire 501, and a Knight 505. I also have a small and large CR Sebenza. I've got a few small to mid size fixed blade knives of various makes but in all no more than 25 knives in my collection.

To answer the question if I am happy with my collection? I am very happy with my collection and feel blessed in having what I have on hand. It is a small reflection on how hard I've worked and am glade that Ia able to afford and utilize these tools.
 
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