What is the most valuable info you have learned since acquiring your knife sickness??

1) how to use a strop
2) how to size up a knife based on materials, size and shape
3) understand power in a knife
4) what size knives I like to use - which was very different than before I started collecting and really using knives
5) really understand the differences between a hand made knife, a semi-production knife and a production knife
6) I now have a great appreciation of a knife design and what it takes to make a knife whether it's totally hand made or just hand finished and sharpened.
 
I've learned - I'm still learning. It never ends. Just like my addictions never end. Guns, knives, flashlights, other misc toys, I meant other misc "necessary tools", etc., etc., ....
 
don1911 said:
I've learned - I'm still learning.
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This!

I've also learned that my tastes and needs are constantly changing. The EDC I needed as a student was different than what I needed when working construction, which was different than I needed in the office, etc. etc.

The knife I WANTED was/is often different then what I needed in any situation as well.

Basically, I've learned to save money. :D
 
Hackenslash said:
1. Never link a high limit credit card to your PayPal account.
2. Practice the following phrase to use on your spouse every time a new knife shows up in the mail "Oh Honey, it's just another little jack knife".
3. Buy what you like, not what people tell you you're supposed to like.
4. Sleep on any knife purchase over $100. Sleep twice on any knife purchase over $500. Get drunk before any knife purchase over $1000.
5. Carry and use your knives. There are no safe queens. Picture your wife handing over a safe full of pristine queens to her new husband after you've kicked the bucket.
6. If you want knife "X", don't waste your time and money compromising on knife ["Y" ~ ("X" - $)]. You'll still end up with "X" and "Y" and less $.
7. Learn how to maintain you knives. Tinkering and stropping is part of the fun.
8. Have fun because fun is the best thing to have.
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This... 100% agree!!!
 
- no steel is "the best steel", it all depends on your particular uses and needs
- heavy and thick folders may be and look cool, but they are in the pocket 99% of the time so they must be carry friendly - no liners are really needed for a strong folder if properly made
- do not hoard cheapos, choose wisely and pick the "inexpensive" classics (budget recommendations) that are time-proven
- don't judge a knife/brand by its looks, handle and use a knife before (Spyderco...)
- what works for you doesn't have to work for others (hand size, lock type, carry position...)
- big choppers are fun, but a hatchet or saw will process much faster and efficiently every time
- get that knife you want now if there's a risk of it being discontinued
- it's OK to have fondling knives/safe queens, especially if you already have more than "enough" users
 
The "sweet spot" in price range is subjective. Some will say $100+ and others will say under that. The value of a knife comes from it performing how you need it to when you need it to.
 
Lol, after 5 pages of reading and nearly 40 years of collecting, I would say learning how to sharpen. Eventually, they all get dull. And secondly, understand, the more you pay the less you get on a pure performance ratio.
 
rick melear said:
...the more you pay the less you get on a pure performance ratio.
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Good point, but I can't say I agree with the "less" part. I would definitely say that paying more does not mean better performance or durability. Better fit & finish, yes, but better performance? Not necessarily. Cook's Illustrated evaluates chef's knives every few years, and the Victoriox 8" chef's knife (Fibrox?) is consistently voted the best for performance vs. cost.

There is something to be said for having a custom knife made to your exact specs, but to me, it's all a matter of opinion.

~Chris
 
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Learn to sharpen your own knives. Hype is overrated and reality will leave you underwhelmed. Being a user knife means using it, otherwise it is for show not go. Upgradeitis is symptomatic of being a programmed consumer. At some point more just becomes redundant. My best cutting knives are usually reprofiled to fit my usage. Factory edge reviews are a joke at some point it has to be sharpened. The only good gauge on the usefulness of a knife is to use it, ideally for things you actually need a knife for. (Fuzz sticks aren't normal usage for me.)
 
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I have been suffering with knife sickness all of my 58 years. I just did not know it until recently.

The most valuable thing to me has been joining blade forums. It has helped look at knives more as tools and not just something that I am going to purchased because it looks cool. I am now much more critical as to what I spend my money on. I also appreciate the knives I own more than I used to.

I still need to get a few more cutting tools. Axe, saw and some sort of machete. Then I could live with what I own. Not that I would want to but, I could if I had to. Pretty happy with what I own right now.
 
I relearned that knives are only "stuff" and to not get too attached. Off loading many this year.
 
1) Every knife is a compromise between cutting performance, and resistance to, shall we say "knuckle-dragger activities" (I am one, so I can say this :rolleyes:).

2) The Internet is good for research, facts, figures, and opinions. But you never really know whether you like a knife or not, until you spend some time with it.
 
Learning how to sharpen.

Also, as much as I lovey super cool, expensive, fancy knives, my Pop's old beater can do everything my higher end knives do. Just needs touched up a little more.
 
Jhansenak47 said:
Hype is overrated and reality will leave you underwhelmed.
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This reminds me of my first s30v knife. I had really high expectations for the steel; though better than the good aus8 I had been using up to that point, it did not change my life in a meaningful way.
 
I've learned to accept that the last knife I purchase....isn't really the last knife.
 
If you like it, then get it. You can carry a $400+ knife for only that reason. Buy and use what makes you happy, and wipe that give mentality off at the welcome mat.
 
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