Interesting question, and lots of great answers. I'll have to get pictures later my first thoughts:
1. GEC Northfield #82 Dixie Possum Skinner in elderberry jigged bone. Close to a perfect knife imo, a long clip and a full wharncliffe, both nice and thin and slicey, dyed and jigged bone covers, single spring. Not a small knife but carries well in the pocket and absolutely glides through most materials, the wharncliffe especially is a laser.
2. AG Russell Airweight Fruit Knife, made by Queen in collaboration with AG. It's from the Bill Howard days of Queen, probably my favorite production slipjoints (GEC might take the edge on fit and finish but Queen had some super distinctive and beautiful takes on many patterns, probably my favorites overall). It's the only pocket knife I have with a blade over 3", and I couldn't do without it as a food prep folder. Over 5" closed but weighs under 2oz, shockingly pocketable, ATS-34 steel, AG's classic coral rucarta, and I love swell-center patterns.
3. Case Peanut in yellow delrin and CV. Just a super iconic knife imo, it's a perfect size for a small knife (three fingers and a blade just over 2") and a nice serpentine frame. Couldn't be without a peanut!
4. Rough Ryder 30th anniversary teardrop jack. I would have to keep a Rough Ryder as an example of what cheap knives have to offer, and this is my favorite RR so far. I used to avoid them but these days I really respect the company, they really do pump out an incredible variety of knives that give you great value for your dollar. Very similar to Queen's 06 pattern which I absolutely love, nice jigged bone, overall an excellent pattern and a nice example of what Rough Ryder can offer.
5. Opinel #6 in olivewood or the Joker Antano NB74 for this spot, have to include a traditional from Europe and I don't have any old Sheffield stuff (and as far as materials and patterns go, much of the same ground gets covered by American traditionals, same with Germany) so France and Spain come to mind. Opinel and Joker both make some of my favorites, inexpensive and not amazing fit and finish but great patterns, generally thin and slicey blades, and natural materials are great. Flip a coin between these two
6. RoseCraft Loom Fixer. Gotta have a curved jack included and this is the best I own, really nice knife with a very useful blade shape
7. TBD, will figure this one out when I take pictures lol, but probably some pearl covers involved
I think this covers most of my bases. Serpentine patterns, a swell-center, an equal-end, single blade and multiple blades, natural and synthetic covers, brass and steel liners, carbon and stainless blades, mass produced vs small production. Really I'm just missing something high-end/custom, but I also can't collect those due to cost (the #82 is the most expensive knife I own, and probably will own for the foreseeable future).
I don’t have a group shot of them so I’ll post individual knives.
I found a better picture of the mini alpha.
