Sticking to one knife maker?

DGI

DGI

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Sep 14, 2015
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Im relatively new to the knife addiction. A year ago my long time EDC was an Al Mar Auto Sere that I thought the world of. It had a worn finish, worn blade and was overall more than I ever needed in a daily knife. I decided one day that I would be extremely disappointing if I were to lose my Al Mar for whatever reason (carelessness mostly) so I decided I should buy something else and put the Al Mar away and carry it occasionally. I was excited to have the opportunity to try something new. I ended up with a Spyderco Paramilitary II and loved it from day one.

To make a long story short, it wasnt long before I wanted to buy my "ultimate knife" a Chris Reeve Sebenza. Well that day came and went and know I have a large 21 Tanto and two Tanto Umnumzaans.

Not one that'll leave well enough alone, in that time i've also branched out into other brands. Strider, Hinderer, Chaves, Emerson, ZT, Benchmade, Spyderco, Shirogorov, blah blah blah. Maybe i'm just overwhelmed with how much I've spent in the past year or maybe a part of me realizes that theres really only one question I keep asking myself. Do I need a knife that can do more than what a CRK is capable of? And also, what can a CRK NOT DO that anything else i've tried does?

Who else here has branched out in their knife collecting only to sell everything else off and stick to one knife maker? Im really tempted to put everything else up for sale and stick to 4-5 CRKs and a couple Spydercos for times I know I'll be tearing up my knife.

I dont know if I'm just venting or actually looking for a push in the right direction.
 
I always had lesser brands before I discovered CRK which was my first high end knife purchase. I ended up with a couple dozen. Then decided to sell some off and try the hinderer Xm-18 ( back when they were impossible to get ) and striders among others. Well, the 3 striders I had were complete lemons and I was nearly in tears that I sold some of my beloved CRK to purchase such junk. I did manage to acquire 14 hinderer a overall. NONE of them compared to CRK and I am now nearly exclusive CRK save for some Swiss Army knives and such. The only strider I have is an RC which has a different lockup than the junk smf and sng. I am down to 1 hinderer and that's it. I now have dozens and dozens of CRK and will
Never look back. Everyone loves a certain brand and CRK is mine. I have had little to no issues with any I had wether new or preowned and when I did they fixed them in a jiffy. Hinderer is a good company too and if not for CRK I would have lots of theirs. I am still waiting on return phone calls and emails from strider. How many years is it now...??? Smh.
CRK only for me. They make pretty much anything you could want and need.
 
I still purchase, own, and use other brands. I like to have them in my collection and I like to put them to use.

None my CRK's are the perfect knife for every job. Through my use, I discover aspects of each and every knife (brand) I would improve.

I will say however, that if I had to sell/giveaway every knife I owned... putting heirlooms aside, and value irrelevant, IMHO The CRK Sebenza large 21 CF would be the last one of mine to go.
 
I have been a Benchmade fan boy for the last 5 years. Before that I only had knives that cost $20, mostly swiss army. When I started with Benchmade I tried a lot different ones and sold many as they just weren't for me. I ended up primarily with 2 models that I have several of. Pretty much all the same, just different steels. In the last 6 months I got my first Sebenza and Para II at the same time. Both in S35VN which are my first knives in this steel. I love both of them, the Para II is more fun to play with, it is not the best carrying knife in pocket - thin and light, but a little oddly shaped. The small sebenza I just love, small, thin, light, great carry in pocket even with the clip attached, love it clipped in the pocket too. Fit and finish are perfect. My next knives will be Mnandi and a small insingo, then a large sebenza.

To answer your question I am glad I branched out. I have seen CRK since I got into knives, handled them, but it all changed once I owned one. I think I learned my lesson not to get too many of the exact same model. I do like having different steels for different reasons, and it is fun to have them in the same model to make be able to compare just the steel differences.
 
I started with a few other brands and, since they were my first, I still have them. Compared to the CRK they weren't that expensive and I would prefer to keep or maybe give to my kids. Now that I am into CRK there are enough different styles to keep me looking and I don't have the cash to branch out!
 
I have sold some other brands (Microtech, Benchmade) to buy another CRK. The only CRK I've ever sold was to buy another CRK. I now only buy CRK. I like Microtech, Benchmade, and others as well, but CRK knives are it for me.

I EDC an Umnumzaan for work, Large 21 Plain Jane Ladder Damascus for off-work EDC, and Large 21 Micarta Insingo for kitchen duty and general use when the awesome Insingo blade is needed.
 
One brand- no. However there are plenty of brands that I have tried and sold. I have more CRK knives than all other brands combined, but I do enjoy some variety in my collection. Now if CRK started to make slip joints I might change my mind!
 
I do not only buy CRK, but I do own all the CRK I am interested in. I have had a lot come in and leave, but I still have all my bases covered. Easily my favorite folding knife company. I am looking for other knives to try now, and am saving up to get a Les George, we'll see if I end up selling it to buy another Sebenza though, ha ha.
 
Guess it all depends on why you are collecting. Most people into "Collecting" are told it best to focus on one brand and even one model and they get every version of it. It also depends on if the goal is to sell a collection of "Mint" knives later. If your collecting is just fun to use knives you carry, then branch out and try anything to looks good. If you are collecting to make money down the road (not as much fun as using them in my mind) you should stay focused. Like only buy Unique Sebenza's or something. My stash of knives is full of different makers. I don't so much call it a collection but its the knives I have bought and used over the last 40 or so years. Some are like new, others are well used. Only newer models still have the box and papers.
 
The older I get the more I stick to the golden rule of "collect" and not sell/trade anymore.

Always regret getting rid of one to get another. Vicious cycle for sure.

Keep them all and save more $ for the next one.

No denying the splendor of CRK but there are so many out there to collect and enjoy no need to limit yourself to just one brand.
 
Although I have, and sometimes carry Becker; Murray Carter; Grayman; Winkler; and Kershaw, my largest number of knives, and biggest passion (fanaticism!) comes from Busse and Chris Reeve.
 
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It is good to experience other knives at both lower and higher price points so your opinions, good or bad, are well founded. Unless you are strictly a collector, a lot will end up back at CRK. The very pricey knives will sit in the safe, and the cheaper knives won't measure up. CRK occupies a niche of being "just slightly affordable", while still offering higher-end quality.

I have done my best to branch out, even bought a Cold Steel to check out the Tri-Ad, but other than a few Spydercos I keep, CRK seem to be the ones I like most. My Gayle Bradley gets some carry days, deservedly so. In the fixed-blade world I'm a Bark River guy, but it's CRK for folders.
 
I've always liked knives but CRK was my first high-end knife and need to have an intervention 32 CRKs later! My only other knife is a TA Davison. I have always liked Buck USA made knifes and started collecting some "medium" collectible ones. A
 
Sticking to Victorinox, Spyderco and Opinel.
Got rid of most of my Leatherman, Gerber, SOG, Kershaw, Albacete, Sollingen, Sheffield, Tekut, Ganzo etc.
 
Vaporstang said:
I've always liked knives but CRK was my first high-end knife and need to have an intervention 32 CRKs later! My only other knife is a TA Davison. I have always liked Buck USA made knifes and started collecting some "medium" collectible ones. A
Click to expand...

It certainly will not stop at 32..... Lol.
 
I find it boring to limit myself to one maker. There's too many good knives out there these days. Sure, CRK is a high quality knife, but there's plenty of others out there that deserve my money, even "lesser" ones, so they're called.
 
I appreciate many knife brands and makers out there. If there is something that strikes my fancy, I may pick it up. I almost always end up selling them and getting another CRK though. Haha...

I like to pick up custom shoppe Buck 110s though. They just feel so good in the hand. I can live with their poor fit and finish. I usually can never live with that.
 
For modern folders I'm in CRK exclusive club as well.
Traditionals and fixed blades still stay and grow in the collection. :D
 
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