Variety is the spice of knife?

jmgruber

jmgruber

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2018
Messages
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Newer to knife collecting and want to ask a question as my collection grows.

My EDC knives
  • Benchmade mini grip sheepsfoot
  • Buck Gray Ghost Marksman
  • Spyderco Chaparral
  • Souther Grind Spider Monkey
Question - I have the opportunity to get a custom knife that, spec wise, is very similar to the Spider Monkey. Should I use/collect knives that are similar or branch out and try something different (FOMO)?

Thank you
 
Welcome to the forums!

There is no right or wrong answer on that question. Everyone does their own thing. I believe that variety is the spice of life and I would guess that most people tend to branch out and try different brands, steels, materials, etc. Just because the custom is similar to the Southern Grind (SG) doesn't mean you have to avoid it. If you like it, buy it. If the SG doesn't get any pocket time after you get the custom, you can always sell it later.
 
Are you excited because you're looking at the custom and thinking, "Wow, what a cool knife!"
Or are you excited because you're thinking, "Wow, what a great deal!"?

If the former, snap it up, if the latter I recommend you pass.
 
If you know what you like then stick to it, but I would recommend giving a traditional folder an honest try.
Try one at some point and do your best to give it a fair shake, maybe you'll like it maybe you wont but at least you know if they're for you to not

I say this when there are still lots of food things I will never try, but knives are different right :D
 
Hickory n steel said:
If you know what you like then stick to it, but I would recommend giving a traditional folder an honest try.
Try one at some point and do your best to give it a fair shake, maybe you'll like it maybe you wont but at least you know if they're for you to not

I say this when there are still lots of food things I will never try, but knives are different right :D
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This. try a good traditional "old timey" knife.
My knife buying decisions are tempered by what I call the "Neato" factor. If the knife pegs out my "Neatometer", I usually buy it.--KV
 
I try to branch out and not get too much that's redundant. But, it could be said that most people "collect" things that are similar in some respect, because they only buy what they like.
 
Customs are tough to like as you never know if it fits your hand or your fancy until it's too late, and the money's gone.
Spend easy for a few yrs....there are hundreds of great "almost new" knives in the Exchange that you can get for less than $200. I've been the route; slow WAY down.
If you have money to burn, get a CRK large or small Sebenza 21. Available for about $300...as new...and you can resell for nearly what you paid for it...
Probably the greatest knife in the world...IMO and a ton of other folks.
 
The thing about collecting knives is you like what you like. Some people have a "variety" of one knife if theybl like it enough. Some folks entire collection is one design over and over, others may feel once they have one, 2 is pointless(especially if its sheepsfoot :) ) I say, if you have what you need, get what you want.
 
jmgruber said:
Newer to knife collecting and want to ask a question as my collection grows.


Question - I have the opportunity to get a custom knife that, spec wise, is very similar to the Spider Monkey. Should I use/collect knives that are similar or branch out and try something different (FOMO)?

Thank you
Click to expand...

You do you. There is no right answer here, but I feel like the whole FOMO thing is stupid. You don't NEED every type of knife under the sun.

Personally my collection is all over the place, mostly cheap stuff, but I've been getting tuned in the last year.
 
Sonnydaze said:
Customs are tough to like as you never know if it fits your hand or your fancy until it's too late, and the money's gone.
Spend easy for a few yrs....there are hundreds of great "almost new" knives in the Exchange that you can get for less than $200. I've been the route; slow WAY down.
If you have money to burn, get a CRK large or small Sebenza 21. Available for about $300...as new...and you can resell for nearly what you paid for it...
Probably the greatest knife in the world...IMO and a ton of other folks.
Click to expand...

Echoing this. I'm pretty green to collecting as well and a sebenza will give you an appreciation for a precision tool. Carry the sebenza for a while and let yourself discover and appreciate the fine details. If you don't like it, as said, you can resell it for very little or no loss.
 
Thanks for all the answers everyone. It seems the consensus is get what you like and it should be a slip joint/traditional folder ;)
I will fill in some more details later. Currently leaning toward the custom.
 
Just do what you want. My collection has some redundancy (two 0770s, one CF one aluminum), 2 0470s (loved it so much I needed a backup!), 2 Pm2s (one standard, one m390)... At the end of the day they're all knives and they all cut and I could get by with less than the 30 or so I have. And I'll probably sell a few soon because I just don't carry them and I want everything to get used.

I really want to add a Hinderer to my collection, but that will be a while. Not interested in customs personally...i don't think I'd ever use one if I had it because of the cost!
 
On the one hand I just go where the wind blows and buy what I like (and can afford), but on the other hand I do resist buying a knife that's too similar to one I already own. I also don't buy duplicates, even if they vary in steel/scale color/etc.

Some of my best and worst knife-collecting choices have come out of just trying stuff. The good surprises are the ones I remember, and the knives I hold onto. The only way you'll know if you like owning two pretty similar knives is if you try it -- but if you're questioning it, I say trust your instincts and go for diversity over similarity. :thumbsup:
 
Try a bearing flipper. I love them. Personally, my next is an OTF automatic. I've never had an auto.
 
Do what ever you want. There is no right or wrong in choosing styles of knives. If you like it and are happy with that style I say go for it.
 
Been there and done that. Get what appeals to you. Keep in mind the size of knife you think you like when you choose. I have lots of knives that I purchased new and liked, but in a short time, I was looking for something else. It's a learning experience. It's fun if you like knives.

My fixed blades tend to be handmade knives now (about 50/50 actually) and my folders factory knives. But I go both ways. I just keep an eye on the wallet.

On fixed blades, pay attention to the general specs and how they relate to your preferences as you know them. I have purchased and when I get it, it is a lot smaller than I expected or vice versa. Doesn't mean I don't like the knife, it just wasn't exactly what I was expecting.
 
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K.O.D. said:
Try a bearing flipper. I love them. Personally, my next is an OTF automatic. I've never had an auto.
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The Marksman is a bearing flipper and it's very fun. The jimping on the side gets uncomfortable when extended use of the hammer grip.
 
Another factor in my decision is that I'm left handed, so the custom options are few and far between. The buying/trying/selling cycle isn't something I will be a part of in a large way since I'm not open to trying "right handed" knives at this point in my knife life.
 
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