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Starting a collection

S

Soloknifeguy

Joined
Jan 11, 2014
Messages
12
What would you guys say are some good knives to get a collection started? I already have a few Kershaws and one spyderco(delica 4) but other than those i dont really have any worth mentioning.
I'm looking for a knife with a blade under 3.5 inches long and below $250, so there are tons of options. Which is why i'm here for advice.
Thanks!:)

PS: Feel free to post pictures and tell of your own experience with any particular knife that you think would be suitable.
 
Soloknifeguy said:
What would you guys say are some good knives to get a collection started? I already have a few Kershaws and one spyderco(delica 4) but other than those i dont really have any worth mentioning.
I'm looking for a knife with a blade under 3.5 inches long and below $250, so there are tons of options. Which is why i'm here for advice.
Thanks!:)

PS: Feel free to post pictures and tell of your own experience with any particular knife that you think would be suitable.
Click to expand...


It has taken me more than a few years to determine what I want to collect. I had to figure out the difference between the knife I want to "collect" versus the own I want to EDC. For some reason a year ago I thought I would inventory my knives, and found I had way more than I thought. With no rhyme or reason as to the variety.
My two cents: download the PDF version of major knife catalogs. Find the ones that fit your criteria. And try to find a friend/store where you can handle your knives of choice. Otherwise you will be like me, selling knives you no longer care for on eBay. Good luck!
 
bisbob said:
It has taken me more than a few years to determine what I want to collect. I had to figure out the difference between the knife I want to "collect" versus the own I want to EDC. For some reason a year ago I thought I would inventory my knives, and found I had way more than I thought. With no rhyme or reason as to the variety.
My two cents: download the PDF version of major knife catalogs. Find the ones that fit your criteria. And try to find a friend/store where you can handle your knives of choice. Otherwise you will be like me, selling knives you no longer care for on eBay. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice bisbob! I recently just sent in for a free spyderco catalogue in the mail. As to going to a store and handling the knives, I will have to wait as I live in australia and cant buy any good knives in stores... but I am moving back to the usa in a couple of months so I will be able to check out the stores then.
Thanks for taking your time and replying to me:)
 
Are you looking for knives you'll use or just collect? If you want to use them, what for (opening boxes? hunting? food prep? camping?). Are you only looking for folders or also fixed blades? If you want something nice and unique, consider heading over to the knife makers areas in the exchange. There are some really nice short-run and one-off pieces around from time to time.
 
Chris Larrikin said:
Are you looking for knives you'll use or just collect? If you want to use them, what for (opening boxes? hunting? food prep? camping?). Are you only looking for folders or also fixed blades? If you want something nice and unique, consider heading over to the knife makers areas in the exchange. There are some really nice short-run and one-off pieces around from

I guess I am looking at both collecting and for use. But for right now I'm looking for a light use edc, opening boxes etc. Not really food prep or camping/hunting. I'm not really into fixed blades so definitely a folder. Thanks for the tip on the knife exchange area too, im new to blade forums and didn't know about that.
Click to expand...
 
Check out Zero Tolerence (Kershaw's high end brand) and Hogue. Both are made in the US and have plenty of nice offerings under $250.
 
Since by "collecting" you don't mean "safe queens" maybe another way of looking at your question would be, what are the "must have" knives at various price-points? That would make an interesting thread.

I'd list these as a starter to a collection:

Spyderco
- Delica
- Endura
- Sage 1
- Paramilitary 2
- Military
- Southard
Benchmade
- Griptillian
- 707
- 710
- 940
ESEE
- Izula
- 3
- 6
Victorinox
- Whatever grabs your fancy
ZT
- 200 or 300
Swamp Rat
- Pick one
 
addylo said:
Since by "collecting" you don't mean "safe queens" maybe another way of looking at your question would be, what are the "must have" knives at various price-points? That would make an interesting thread.

I'd list these as a starter to a collection:

Spyderco
- Delica
- Endura
- Sage 1
- Paramilitary 2
- Military
- Southard
Benchmade
- Griptillian
- 707
- 710
- 940
ESEE
- Izula
- 3
- 6
Victorinox
- Whatever grabs your fancy
ZT
- 200 or 300
Swamp Rat
- Pick one
Click to expand...

Thanks!
Awesome list, thank you for compiling it for me. I probably should have chosen my words better when I said collection. I don't have enough knives to actually have a collection, I'm still trying to get the essentials :/
 
honestly, something simple to do would be to check out the exchange to see what knives catch your eye and then you do your research on them. Something else that I did was watch some youtube reviewers here and there to get a good feel. It's hard to advise someone to collect something since people have different tastes.

Definitely expand more in the Spydercos since they do offer a lot of variety in terms of design, handle materials, blade steels and collaborations. Check out some Benchmades and ZTs of course. Cold Steels might have some nice offerings that you'll be interested in. Some CRKTs. If budget permits and you want to expand pass these big brands, look at some Brous Blades.
 
I have developed a tendency to pick for different blade steels, in folders that I find aesthetically, ergonomically and practically appealing.
 
Hairlesstwinkie said:
honestly, something simple to do would be to check out the exchange to see what knives catch your eye and then you do your research on them. Something else that I did was watch some youtube reviewers here and there to get a good feel. It's hard to advise someone to collect something since people have different tastes.

Definitely expand more in the Spydercos since they do offer a lot of variety in terms of design, handle materials, blade steels and collaborations. Check out some Benchmades and ZTs of course. Cold Steels might have some nice offerings that you'll be interested in. Some CRKTs. If budget permits and you want to expand pass these big brands, look at some Brous Blades.
Click to expand...

Wow! Those brous knives are fantastic, I thought they would be super expensive but that bionic seems quite affordable.
Thanks for the advice!
 
Noddy13 said:
I have developed a tendency to pick for different blade steels, in folders that I find aesthetically, ergonomically and practically appealing.
Click to expand...

Yeah the different blade steels are quite appealing. I pretty sure that the next knife I get will have s30v(subject to change)
 
There are different ways to start a collection.
A "motto" can help. i.e.: lockable, vs non lockable; natural handle materials or a special manmade material.
different types of steel. A knife-company or even a specific model. A desinger, country of origin...
If you go with "I buy what I like" it is rather going to be accumulating - which is fine too.
red mag
 
red mag said:
There are different ways to start a collection.
A "motto" can help. i.e.: lockable, vs non lockable; natural handle materials or a special manmade material.
different types of steel. A knife-company or even a specific model. A desinger, country of origin...
If you go with "I buy what I like" it is rather going to be accumulating - which is fine too.
red mag
Click to expand...

This is solid advice. You should think about what and why you want to collect first. I myself fall into the "I buy what I like" mentality which can be a lot of fun, but it gets to be crazy after a while. I'm starting to think I need to narrow my focus a bit..
 
red mag said:
There are different ways to start a collection.
A "motto" can help. i.e.: lockable, vs non lockable; natural handle materials or a special manmade material.
different types of steel. A knife-company or even a specific model. A desinger, country of origin...
If you go with "I buy what I like" it is rather going to be accumulating - which is fine too.
red mag
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I was going to tell you. I'm not much up on modern folders, but I can give you a couple things to chew on. A company called Great Eastern Cutlery makes slipjoint knives here in the US. They have a model numbered the No. 25, which is a small barlow pattern. Over in the traditional sub forum there is a thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/967564-GEC-25s-Gots-em

That's an example of collecting a specific pattern.

This is an example of collecting a manufacturer. Big collection, los of money.
http://spydercollector.wordpress.com

Small collection, somewhat less money.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/925285-My-Schrade-collection

You can go eclectic, you can find a theme, you can just buy what moves speaks to you. It's your hobby, do it your way. There are no right ways.

I personally stopped collecting/accumulating. I carry one knife now, and one knife only. I enjoy looking at everyone's connections and new knives, but I'm content with my one carry knife. Lots of ways to enjoy the hobby.
 
Thanks for all the awesome advice guys!
It has really got me thinking about all the different aspects of starting a knife collection.
 
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