What are your knife buying rules?

1. I don't buy any that I would never use.
2. I buy it if I have the cash, so no credit card.
3. I don't settle for a different version of the same model if it's on backorder.
 
Simple rule: Must not cost more than the cash I have in my pocket or (more important) must not cost so much my wife asks about it when the Visa bill arrives.
 
I am a guitar builder and respect the hell out of Japanese and American instruments. Same with blades. I am sure they (not Japanese or USA) are perfectly fine blades but I need some sort of filter. If its bigger than my ZT 550 for a folder I have no interest, even though i'd love a ZT 560 (thanks Spark). Other than that, game on.
 
It has to be a knife.

Made in the USA.

That's about it.

Moose
 
It has to be sexy!

junglegirl_w_knife.jpg
 
no serrations
no coating
no lockback
no assisted opening mechanism (springs, flipper, button, etc.)
 
My number one rule that I set a few years back when I started seriously collecting was a $100 maximum sales price (Not including shipping). My reasoning was that I'll NEVER buy a 'Safe Queen', and will EDC every knife that I buy. This was after buying and playing with a bunch of low/mid prices autos that I can't EDC legally. I figured that a $100 price limit was a good challange. So far, I've only broken that rule about three or four times, and not by much even then. That means that I don't currently own any CRKs, Striders, Hinderers, or other really high end knives. On the oher hand, the chase for quality knives within that limit has been alot of fun. I have dozens of knives that have street prices well into the mid $100s range that I've found used for under $100.

My other rules are that I only buy folders, I buy knives with a 4" blade or less, and in general I prefer plain blades to serrated or combo blades.
 
#1 for me is cash/trade only. Nothing stays on the credit card.
I no longer buy to accumulate/collect. I'd rather have a couple knives I really want over a bunch that never see daylight.
I'm not going on a waiting list.
Everything else is flexible.
 
Tip down
Not lock back
No black blade
Plain Edge only
Read and watch reviews first
Wait a day or two before you buy it
Look through the trade forums first
 
Knife buying rules? Blasphemy!!!!!!

But really.. I used to love serrations, now I stay away from them completely. Other than that, anything that catches my eye that I can picture a use for.
 
No serrations

Nothing that can't be left hand carried

Nothing that can't be left hand opened.

A design that I like.

Doesn't have to be one hand opener our pocket clip but if so see above tiles.
 
I like to do something different with each purchase, try not to have 2 knives with the samefunction; I often break that rule but only to try a new steel or grind. The rest of my preferences mirror everyone else,

No tanto
No serration
No pin construction
No recurve (except khuks)
No choil (I have a rat 5 and Manix 2 so, no more...)
Anywhere but China but not necessarily US

That's it I think.
 
I'm not very picky, if it catches my attention, I buy it. Most of my knives I buy via impulse buy, in fact, I'd say 4 of every 5 knives I buy are from seeing one for sale on the forums, knife selling sites or youtube and thinking "I want that" and then I buy it. Very rarely do I buy something premeditated.

In fact, I bought 3 knives this week, all impulse buys. (Hoback mini Kawaiken fixed blade one off, Spartan Enyo on knifeart, Brous Triple Threat folder)

Don't regret a single knife impulse purchase I've ever made.
 
(1) must be able to open and close one handed
(2) no serrations
(3) no zytel/frn handles (without liners)
(4) no rules against disassembly
(5) reputable manufacturer that stands behind their product

:thumbup:
 
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