What is your grail knife and do you own it?

Everyone’s definition of “grail knife” is going to be different.

I won’t say yes or no, but I’m comfortable with what I have. If I come across something I can’t do without (who am I kidding, of course I can do without it) I’ll buy it.
 
My grail moves, and I define it from knife to knife;)

Probably the one I had always wanted and never thought I would spend "so much" money on is a CRK. I had coveted them for the last couple of decades.

When I went back to school to finish a degree I had put on the backburner for 17 or so years, my advisor told me that I should put a little reward for myself out there. The degree was, of course, the goal. However, having a little icing for a job well done was warranted and deserved.

I told myself that when I graduated, I was going to finally buy a CRK. Long story short, after 2 years of burning the midnight oil, I finished up in Oct of 2019. That November, I bought a large Inkosi from Spark's shop while traveling to Louisville to visit my mother in law. It's everything I hoped it would be.

Now, it did open the door to more expensive knives, and the pandemic putting a hault to any shooting hobbies I have had, I just started plunking 400, 500+ dollars down on cool knives instead of plastic fantastics. I adore my Microtechs. However, that plain Jane Inkosi is the knife I am most proud to own and carry.

But I'm still on the hunt for a new Grail. I just dont know what that is yet ;)
 
My grail knife was the Sebenza 21, I bought a brand new one, experienced it, and sold it to the next person wanting to experience it.
It was everything I expected it to be, it lived up to the hype.

I found the grail and passed it on to the next questing knight.
 
The OP asked an interesting question and my answer to what my grail knife is and if I own it would be, I don’t know? My EDC since last December has been a CRK Mnandi with ox elder inlays and S35v blade steel. I don’t really know if I would call it my “Grail” knife but it sure does check off all of the boxes for me. I can’t really say that there is another knife out there that I am craving to buy.
I think I would like one with a Damascus blade so maybe that is my grail knife? A CRK Mnandi with a nice Damascus blade and box elder inlays; I guess I will call that my grail knife.
 
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Well I don't have "a" grail knife.
My favorites are my Ontario RAT 1&2 and my Benchmade Buyout when I put titanium scales on it.
There is always a new knife catching my eye.....
What will be my future favorite ?
 
DavidABQ said:
The OP asked an interesting question and my answer to what my grail knife is and if I own it would be, I don’t know? My EDC since last December has been a CRK Mnandi with ox elder inlays and S35v blade steel. I don’t relly know if I would call it my “Grail” knife but it sure does check of all of the boxes for me. I can’t really say that there is another knife out there that I am craving to buy.
I think I would like one with a Damascus blade so maybe the is my grail knife? A CRK Mnandi with a nice damascus blade and box elder inlays; I guess I will call that my grail knife.
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Come on, David. Post a photo and show it off!
 
Northwoods Chicago jack in red sawcut bone.
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Spyderco Bifold (yeah I know someone in this thread has one).
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Spyderco Embassy
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Randall #16
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Randall #1
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The Northwoods were all vacuumed up years ago. I'm in Canada so switchblades are verboten, and for the Randall anyone who's got one at a gun show already knows the score. So all safely in my definition of grail. Also one of the Plaza Cutlery Halloween Sebenza's, exponentially more buyers that knives on that list.
 
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I am jealous of you guys. I have come to a point where I no longer have the lust for any knives that I didn't or don't have. I am not bagging because the most that I have spent on a single knife is $550, which is not much as compared to many people on this forum. I hope this is temporary because I honestly want this hobby of mine to continue.
 
Grail knife......? I've had the same BG-42 Sebenza for nearly 25 years now....
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A Randall 1-7 in stag for longer than that....Anybody remember when they cost just a bit under $250........
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If there was one knife I wanted and looked for but couldn't find for quite some time it would be the Marttiini Olympia.
Made in 1939 as a commemorative for the 1940 Helsinki Olympics that were canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, with polished butt cap, sallow root handle and engraved blade and bolster. I finally found one that was unused and in as new condition a while back.

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That Randle #16 brings up memories.
I ordered one for a friend and had his name put on it and we lost it kayaking in Big Sur when a set of rogue waves came in when we were in the wrong place at the wrong time. lots more to the story, but it is still there in big sur waiting for me to use a metal detector under water some day. Yeah, it’s gone, I know. sands shift and it’s probably in the hands of Davey Jones.
 
It seems like I come up with a new "grail" about every two years. Gil Hibben Double Shadow, Greg Lightfoot Full Contact Fighter, Direware Solo, Laconico Jasmine, Rassenti, most of them have been far above what I'm comfortable paying.

I heard an interesting perspective from a firearms enthusiast with a very stylish Fu Manchu. Unfortunately, I will have to paraphrase.

"Grail" implies that there is an end point, where once I have it, there will no longer be a need to collect.

It hit home, for me. I enjoy the experience of looking for the "grail", but I realize that finding that end state is not my goal. Though if I do find it, I will probably post pictures every day for the first week, then go silent for months at a time.

Some of this is also the fact that different tools are needed for different jobs. There may come a time when I have three to five knives that I use for everything, and the rest sit in a drawer, but that won't stop me from having a list of a dozen or so bookmarked links to things I'm trying to decide on buying.
 
Currawong said:
This custom by David Mary.
8.4 inch blade. Full height shallow convex grind. MagnaCut steel. Suretouch handles.
Pigsticker / hunting knife / camp knife.

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That thing looks phenomenal! My fixed blade grail is also a MagnuCut knife from David Mary. Maybe he needs a nickname? How about "Grail Maker"?
 
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