What do you collect and why?

chanvic

chanvic

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Hi BF!

So, I've been on this forum for a little over a month. Bought some knives, met some great people and enjoy reading the posts. I'm curious what you guys/gals are collecting and why. I started over the summer and admittedly have gone maybe too fast too furious picking up 30 folders since July. I wish they were all high-ends and customs, but let's be realistic. I really don't have any rhyme or reason, just collecting based on what looks good and reviews from a handful of YouTubers. There are certain things I do look for in knives like blades under 3.5", wharnies/sheepsfoot, or anything with a milled ti scale. I am fascinated with Quietcarry and have the IQ and Drift already. Looking to add the Chase and WayPoint soon. I've seen people collect a variety of things from SAKs, traditional folders to every variation of a PM2. To each is own, but curious what gets you?

Thanks in advance for sharing! Pics are always welcomed. 😀
 
Not sure why I like knives but I do.
- I like 3" blades or smaller knives.
- I like Damascus blades.
- I like exotic woods/bone/mammoth scales. Also, full Ti scales.
- I like all blade shapes. I like slip joints, liner locks, button locks, and bolster locks. Frame locks not so much.
- I prefer thumbstuds or spydie holes over flippers. I like autos and OTFs.
 
It's changed several times over my time with knives, honestly. When I was very young I fancied myself a martial artist and ended up with a lot of mall ninja junk. Then I found Cold Steel and still had a lot of mall ninja, but a lot less junk.

Then I grew up a bit, worked as an EMT and was more interested in rescue knife kind of stuff.

Moved on from that and started buying tools to fill needs, real or perceived. Focused a lot more on exotic steels and cutting geometry.

After awhile I realized that I had filled any real needs a dozen times over and just started buying things that appealed to me and that's where I'm at right now.

I'm playing with fixed blade EDC at the moment, so spending a lot of time eyeing smallish fixed blades and I've been enjoying the trend of mixing the convenience of modern folders with the aesthetics and cutting performance of traditional, so I collect things like knives by Finch, the Lionsteel Gitano, eyeing some Pena X Series blades and even the Boker Plus Campfire.
 
I collect "budget" knives. To be honest, my real passion is sharpening steel on whetstones, and budget knives tend to use softer steels, so that is good for me. Also, I like to save my dollars for other things, so inexpensive is another bonus. I really appreciate the recent revolution in budget knives, high quality builds and low prices. My collection ranges from my recently purchased 99 cent Menards knife (made with "high quality 2Cr steel," as quoted on the packaging) to a $85 Ontario Rat 5 and Spyderco Delica in VG10. Most of my knives are quality budget buys including Civivi, Kizer, CJRB, Buck, Kershaw, QSP, etc. Last night I sharpened that Menards beater and the 2Cr blade is razor sharp. Gotta love that.
 
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Locutus D'Borg said:
Not sure why I like knives but I do.
- I like 3" blades or smaller knives.
- I like Damascus blades.
- I like exotic woods/bone/mammoth scales. Also, full Ti scales.
- I like all blade shapes. I like slip joints, liner locks, button locks, and bolster locks. Frame locks not so much.
- I prefer thumbstuds or spydie holes over flippers. I like autos and OTFs.
Click to expand...
Why discriminate, right?! I live in a state where OTFs are illegal. But apparently there's a bill that could change that. Not holding my breath, but have my fingers crossed.
 
I collect a little bit of everything -- folders, autos, balis, karambits & fixed blades.

Lots of Spydercos, Kershaws & ZTs; some CRKT, Fox, LIonSteel, Gerber, Microtech, Benchmade & Protech,; some cheaper brands like Artisan, Cold Steel, Buck, Hogue and SOG, a few from higher priced lines like Hinderer, Tighe, Randall, Olamic, Hom, BRS, Wilson and Shiro; plus a few customs.

Purchase prices vary from $50 to $550. Already spent $9k on 30 knives this year; average price just over $300.

Currently mostly trying to find "hard to find" knives to fill my collection but will buy something on impluse if the price is "right" and it interests me, like the "Pocket Chete" that I just placed a pre-order for.

Obviously, I just have too much time/$ on my hands and not enough sense to stop buying knives that I don't need or use. LOL! ;)
 
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I haven't added to my main collection in awhile, I used to collect custom hunting knives. Back in those days this meant steels like ATS34, polished micarta or woods such as ironwood, drop point polished blades by stock removal. I don't like the current fad of unfinished flats on blades. I've bought a few knives that were more tactical or outdoor type. I had a group of outdoor knives that I thought I might use but they were beyond the 5.5" limit of my state so I sold most of them, and then later on my state removed the 5.5" limit.
I also collect folding knives, but only ones that I actually carry and use. These days that is mostly Spyderco Manix 2, PM2 and Military, and almost all are sprints or exclusives. I don't have any of the highly sought after or valuable models.
 
I used to have a collection of balisongs and autos. Now I have only a couple of each. I don't really collect anything anymore; I accumulate. My "collection" is merely an accumulation of knives I use or might use or thought I'd use.
 
I seem to collect old, traditionals. From $5 to $50. Something that someone carried for and used. I like to clean them up and use them.
Then there is the accumulation. Recently I have purchased a few Al Mar mid-locks (hawk, falcon and eagle)
 
Greggy said:
I collect "budget" knives. To be honest, my real passion is sharpening steel on whetstones, and budget knives tend to use softer steels, so that is good for me. Also, I like to save my dollars for other things, so inexpensive is another bonus. I really appreciate the recent revolution in budget knives, high quality builds and low prices. My collection ranges from my recently purchased 99 cent Menards knife (made with "high quality 2Cr steel," as quoted on the packaging) to a $85 Ontario Rat 5 and Spyderco Delica in VG10. Most of my knives are quality budget buys including Civivi, Kizer, CJRB, Buck, Kershaw, QSP, etc. Last night I sharpened that Menards beater and the 2Cr blade is razor sharp. Gotta love that.
Click to expand...
There was a time, before I got into collecting, that I wanted to get better at sharpening with a whetstone. I've been sharpening my kitchen knives on my own and use a lansky. My buddy is like you and all about the sharpening and owns a KME and Worksharp. So he basically does most of my folders and that takes the guessing game out for me. But I could see sharpening with a whetstone more like an art form. Thanks for sharing!
 
sgt1372 said:
I collect a little bit of everything -- folders, autos, balis, karambits & fixed blades.

Lots of Spydercos, Kershaws & ZTs; some CRKT, Fox, LIonSteel, Gerber, Microtech, Benchmade & Protech,; some cheaper brands like Artisan, Cold Steel, Buck, Hogue and Sog, some knives from few higher priced lines like Hinderer, Tighe, Randall, Olamic, Hom, BRS, Wilson and Shiro; plus a few customs.

Purchase prices vary from $50 to $550. Already spent $9k on 30 knives this year; average price just over $300.

Currently mostly trying to find "hard to find" knives to fill my collection but will buy something on impluse if the price is "right" and it interests me, like the "Pocket Chete" that I just placed a pre-order for.

Obviously, I just have too much time/$ on my hands and not enough sense to stop buying knives that I don't need or use. LOL! ;)
Click to expand...
Same here. Except for having too much $ on my hands. 🤣 One day.
 
I collect orange knives because they are relatively easy to find after I lose them out in a pasture. I collect neck knives because I can open carry them in any weather wearing any clothing. I sort of collect serrated knives, mostly non-kitchen, because they are the best at cutting baling twine, which is what I cut most often.

I have more Benchmade knives than any other brand because that's the only brand that is carried by all the local stores that sell knives over $100, and lemons are very rare among Benchmades (unlike Spydercos). But I am frustrated by the fact that Benchmade sells very few orange knives, neck knives, and fully-serrated knives. I have two orange Griptilians that are excellent, one with custom serrations. The only Benchmade neck knife that I am aware of is the Follow-up, which is the 3rd worst neck knife I have ever had, mainly because it has the most uncomfortable handle that I have ever encountered, with jimping apparently done by a maniac. I kept the Follow-up because it is just so weird. The two worst neck knives were both Bark River Harpoon Neckers, which also have very uncomfortable handles and--worse yet--sheaths with zero retention; I exchanged the first for the second, then sold the second after giving up on ever getting any warranty service.
 
I don't collect specifically, but I have an inordinate number of Moki made knives and my collection is mostly blades under 3".
Moki because I like fit and finish - they do make knives for other companies and are very good at F&F. I'm not too concerned about steel after a certain point. Grind and heat treat mean a lot.
Under 3" because it is more practical for carry. All my knives are potential users.
 
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