What do you wish you had been doing from the start?

No way to do anything differently because trial and error is just that... it all worked out and I'm happy with my collection, but of course still eyeing the next one.
 
Halfneck said:
Wish I'd jumped into customs sooner. Spent a lot of money on less expensive production knives because I didn't want to spend it all on 1 custom knife.
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Part of the game there. You play with a bunch of stuff in various sizes, grinds and materials to figure out what you like and what you don't.

Then you find a maker you can work with and pull the trigger.

There's no simple way into this... or out of it.
 
ATJ999 said:
I would, but don't really want to bash any maker. But I spent over 1500 for each knife, bought two of the same model with different steels, handle material, etc. But the blade geometry was aweful, they felt cheap, action not good, etc.
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I consider that expensive. Then what did you do after you discovered you simply didn't like either knife? Return? Re-do something....?
 
Ruin the knives that you like IMMEDIATELY. As far as resale goes anyway.

Too many times I've had a knife that I liked, but sold to fund the next big thing. Then the next big thing is shit and now I've lost 40% in resale on the knife I had to begin with.

Whereas the knives that are scratched, dinged, refinished, etc. Never get sold because the "damage" hurts the value too much to bother.

View media item 1792
 
22-rimfire said:
I consider that expensive. Then what did you do after you discovered you simply didn't like either knife? Return? Re-do something....?
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They were semi customs, so no returns. I sold they for a big loss and moved on to other knives. After that I got some decent knives. Now I have my perfect assortment of knives!
 
Wish I could sharpen better but I've got T.L.E. for that :)
Other than that, enjoying the ride too. Addicted to knives!
BTW, I have always bought what I like not what's popular. Most of my knives are users not safe queens. Someone on BF said this once and it stuck with me.
"Use your knives folks. Otherwise they end up in someone's hands who doesn't care about knives or some flea market for someone else to use".
Exactly
 
Lapedog said:
I wish I hadn't left a box of knives at a friend's house so it wouldn't get lost in a move, which he then proceeded to sell to buy drugs.
/QUOTE]

I will assume that you have been repaid in one way or another...
Since you refer to him as a friend...you are either VERY forgiving...or the friendship is in past tense.
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Gaston444 said:
Yes the customer is always wrong, especially when steel micro-folds on thin cardboard on the first slice...

Which, to be fair, a low price Kershaw in non-CPM Chinese steel also did... Amazing to think a non-CPM steel can actually micro-fold immediately, just like CPM! I could not believe this was not a CPM exclusive on cardboard or soft wood for a single chop or a single slice... See the JDavis882 S35VN debacle for something even more remarkable, never equalled I think by any other gas station special:


RJ Martin does his own heat treat with the most precise machines available, following the steel manufacturer temperature specs to a standard most makers only dream about. All this did not save the basic material...

And the "user error" thing gets a little old, on knives that were used and sharpened hundreds of times over two years, failing every single time next to a Randall or a Lile that never did once, even with edges twice as thin.

Gaston
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If you meant to reply to me it would be courteous to use the "reply" button when posting. That way I can know wether I should disregard your post or search it for something relevant hidden in the scattered ramblings.

I really struggle with understanding most of what you post. Is English not your primary language?
 
I don't regret anything about my knife journey (it's what got me to where I am, knife-wise, and I like where I am), but since hindsight is 20/20:
  1. I wish I'd spaced out my purchases more. Those times when three knives arrived at once, while exciting, almost guaranteed that none of them would get the exploration and/or pocket time it deserved.
  2. In turn, I suspect that would have helped me figure out sooner that I'm a one-knife guy after that one knife -- the One -- rather than a collector. My collection is purely a byproduct of looking for the One.
 
I gave up looking for "the one" over a year ago even though I still sometimes think that way. With folders, I'm pretty settled. With fixed blades, I'm still in search mode. But.... BIG BUT....

I have slowed down the purchases of knives. As you said, no more 3 knife buys at one time. I make somewhat of an exception if I attend Blade. However, I have started dragging my feet on these decisions. The last knife show I attended, I walked out of there with 5 new knives. This can't continue. You know how many of those 5 knives that have actually cut something? Zero. This has to stop. The purchases must be spaced out more over time. And I also tend to be a one knife guy with diversions of interest, but I always seem to come back to what I was already comfortable with.
 
Lapedog said:
I wish I hadn't left a box of knives at a friend's house so it wouldn't get lost in a move, which he then proceeded to sell to buy drugs.


Oh well, live and learn.
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-Of all the *!#€'in 'Backstabbing'
things to do, (No real pun intended)
That's just plain Wrong.
...'with friends like that,'
we all know the rest.
-For me, I would have to agree
with some that several of my early
purchases were on the 'Low End'
side, however, I can still appreciate
some of those, even still.

Lapedog said:
I wish I hadn't left a box of knives at a friend's house so it wouldn't get lost in a move, which he then proceeded to sell to buy drugs.

Oh well, live and learn.
Click to expand...
 
Gaston444 said:
Yes the customer is always wrong, especially when steel micro-folds on thin cardboard on the first slice...

Which, to be fair, a low price Kershaw in non-CPM Chinese steel also did... Amazing to think a non-CPM steel can actually micro-fold immediately, just like CPM! I could not believe this was not a CPM exclusive on cardboard or soft wood for a single chop or a single slice... See the JDavis882 S35VN debacle for something even more remarkable, never equalled I think by any other gas station special:


RJ Martin does his own heat treat with the most precise machines available, following the steel manufacturer temperature specs to a standard most makers only dream about. All this did not save the basic material...

And the "user error" thing gets a little old, on knives that were used and sharpened hundreds of times over two years, failing every single time next to a Randall or a Lile that never did once, even with edges twice as thin.

Gaston
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I'm shocked that you've been a member of this forum for almost 3 years...
 
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RE:
What do you wish you had been doing from the start?

1. Don't waste time with dumb, and see it earlier for what it is (some simply can not be helped). My son keeps telling me, "Dad, You can't fix dumb". I keep trying (one of my great faults ...)
2. Realized how little folks who post on Youtube, etc. really understand what they are talking about, or care even to invest time to learn. (see one above)
3. A man without a knife, is useless (see 1 above).
4. Stay true to what I've always believed, geometry and ergonomics of use rule the tool (a knife is a tool first & foremost).
EDIT:
5. Everyone has an opinion, and that's o.k.
6. Almost forgot the golden rule
The more I learn, the less I know ... ;-)
 
I wish I had got/stayed sober after my DUI 9 years ago!

Imagine the knives and machinery I'd have today :p
 
I'm pretty happy with my journey (even though my wallet isn't). I've bought a few knives that I ended up not liking but I've gifted most of those to friends that ended up using the hell out of them. Even the ones I haven't given away yet were an educational experience.

My most recent learning experience was ordering an Endura from amazon and receiving a knock off instead. Instead of immediately sending it back for a refund I ordered from a different knife shop and then broke them both down to learn the differences.

Now I know what a huge difference in quality there is between the genuine Endura and the knock off, I learned the risks of buying certain brands from Amazon (although I did get a full refund with no hassles), and I discovered a retailer with good prices that's somewhat local so the shipping is fast. Win,win,win.
 
ATJ999 said:
... Now I have my perfect assortment of knives!
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Wish I could say that. I'm certainly comfortable with most of my choices over the last 3-4 years. But there always seems to be something new that catches my eye. I really wouldn't consider spending >$1000 on a knife for any reason, even if I won the lottery. Those kind of $'s go toward collector firearms.
 
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