What makes you keep a knife?

Monofletch

Monofletch

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2010
Messages
10,179
I know a lot of you have a pile of knives in your collection. How do you decide to keep or sell/trade a knife? I get a feeling in the first few minutes if I like a knife or not. That usually is right on the $$$.

Just wondering.
 
Getting use out of it, mostly.

If I get a lot of use out of a knife, I generally hang onto it. If I end up leaving a knife in a drawer for a while, I usually end up selling it. Some knives I end up selling right away because they're too big / don't fit my hands, etc., and I know right away that they won't see any use. Others get used a bit, or carried a bunch, before I realise that they just spend too much time lying around.

Also, it helps if the knife is ugly. For some reason I tend to really get attached to knives that I think are ugly at first glance - don't really know why.
 
Monofletch said:
I know a lot of you have a pile of knives in your collection. How do you decide to keep or sell/trade a knife? I get a feeling in the first few minutes if I like a knife or not. That usually is right on the $$$.

Just wondering.
Click to expand...


I'm with you... every now and then I'll give one a second chance but honestly, it's like seeing a woman. 9/10 ones I've liked I didn't have to learn to like, it just was there from the start. Now granted it can grow or fade with use, but usually I know if I'll dig one right off the bat.
 
Monofletch said:
I know a lot of you have a pile of knives in your collection. How do you decide to keep or sell/trade a knife? I get a feeling in the first few minutes if I like a knife or not. That usually is right on the $$$.

Just wondering.
Click to expand...

I've learned that if I find the knife visually appealing, I want it and will keep it. If the knife has to grow on me, or I don't really like it when I see a picture of it, I won't actually like it that much, so I won't get it.

I recently went through my collection of knives and I got rid of some of my knives that I never carry; whether it's for one reason or another. My knives must have a good fondle factor, they must look classy/badass, they mustn't have blade play, they must have good ergos, and it must be a knife that I just really like. I don't make compromises when buying knives... I don't buy the $80 knife I kinda like, because I can't afford the $200 one that I really like.

About 95% of the knives I own, I love. The other 5% I am trying to get rid of, or I'm keeping them because they are sentimental. I never buy knives in hopes to sell them later. I buy them in hopes of keeping them forever and using them until they can no longer be used.
 
Dorito Monk said:
Also, it helps if the knife is ugly. For some reason I tend to really get attached to knives that I think are ugly at first glance - don't really know why.
Click to expand...

This is weird. I find myself doing the exact same thing. It happens most often with Spyderco (I want to say "of course" right here). I find that ugly knives usually have a good reason for being so awkward- or goofy-looking and it usually comes down to function and comfort; two elements that are at the top of my list when it comes to choosing a new knife. Some standouts include the Spyderco Dodo, Chokwe and Breeden Rescue, along with the Kershaw RAM and SOG Trident.

I typically think "Wow, that's ugly!" and of course it makes my must-try list. While researching the knife, I will either begin to appreciate its unique design and find it more appealing or I continue to be baffled by its appearance; either way will fuel my desire to own it. Then a strange thing happens: I get my hands on one, end up liking it and my view changes from one of revulsion to one of appreciation. After that, the knife simply isn't ugly any more.

Caveat: I'm talking conventionally ugly here. Things like "Anso" patterned G-10, flashy embellishments, and combo edges will always remain hideous to me. :p
 
If it is a safe queen for about a year and I need some $ it will go. Some knives have sentimental value and they stay.
 
I keep most of my knives, but if I get to looking at one and think to myself "Do I really need this one?", than it'll probably go. All of the others stay and collect dust......and grow in value sometimes. I just feel bad when I let one go and It's been in the family for awhile.
 
Generally speaking if I buy a knife I plan on keeping it but there are exceptions. Like the 2 Para's I used to own and sold back in January, other people valued them way more than I did.
 
I don't sell them. I have given plenty away to people who wanted/needed/ or liked a knife... I did trade one as part of a deal I was making, it was on me and I needed to work something out... had nothing to do with the blade which was part of that day's EDC...
 
I have a Large Sebbie right here on the lamp-table by my side...one foot from my hand. It has stood the test of time.
So CRK and PM2's have all of my loyalty.
 
I know my gun is far more powerful than my knife, but the knife is always close, very close. Besides try to buy ammo lately.
 
I'm still pretty new to knives, only been collecting and using just over a year. I still have to catch up on all the popular models with a high amount of utility. There's only one I sold, a SOG Slim Jim XL. Cool concept, but didn't like the ergonomics. Blade was a tad long for my purposes. I've bought a couple with the intention to give away. So far 2 Skylines, a Delica, and a Gerber STL 2.5, but other than that I like to keep mine. I guess it's because I don't make much money so I'm less inclined to buy a new one
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top