What patterns/brands do you collect and why?

G

george c

Joined
Jan 26, 2013
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Hi Folks,

Yes, back again with the questions.

Just posted a question about the Scagel Fruitport.

A few minutes ago I learned there's a reverse dog leg #56 (which looks neat). It seems that my buying is somewhat out of control; however, there are so many patterns that look so good.

I think most folks who collect anything tend to specialize unless there are unlimited monies. Stamp collectors may collect a county, flowers, and so on.

Back to knives. Do you collect a particular pattern because of the way it looks or because it's most useful? For instance, I use XXX pattern because I use the knife for XXX. I would imagine many patterns came about as an evolution, if you will, for a particular purpose. Some knives seem to have two blades that are similar in size or seemingly even the same. It would seem (yes, to this newcomer to knives) that the utility value of a knife would be more with different blades, though some may make a case for a heavily-used knife, that when one blade dulls you can switch to the other blade that is the same.

I've noticed many of you have extensive collections of a particular pattern and often wonder if you have "many" extensive collections.

I'm also fascinated by the folks who have used the same (single, one and only) knife for a million years.

Oh, well. Not sure I'm making much sense here.

Thanks for any comments that you all may care to make.

Regards,

George
 
First of all, I mostly collect traditionals, both folders and fixed blades. That's just how I roll.

I have accumulated a lot of trappers and stockmen because these are patterns that are both visually appealing and useful to me.

I have always hunted and been an outdoorsman, and worked around livestock. I live in the country. I'm not cowboying full time these days, but I like what I got used to in my younger days. I carried the same kind of knives the older men I worked with and hung around carried.

I have accumulated a lot of old Schrades and Schrade Waldens because my dad was a Schrade man and I like the designs, steel, grinds, and performance. They also hold a lot of nostalgic value for me. I like carrying the knives I saw growing up.

Recently I have picked up a few GEC's. I like how they are made.

But still, nothing quite trips my trigger like a vintage Schrade with that awesome, thinly ground carbon steel.

They just feel right.
 
I collect the original Schrade USA Old Timer knives. Why?

Well, my very first pocketknife ever was an Old Timer given to me by my grandfather. My father-in-law and my dad also carried Old Timers.
Everyone knows what an "Old Timer" is, and practically 'everyone' had an uncle, father, or grandfather who carried one, almost guaranteeing an certain level of interest among future collectors.
There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of variations so hopefully the collection will never run dry of new specimens.
They are affordable and commonly available. Doesn't seem like fun to 'collect' something that you can only afford one of, or that only come up for sale once in a lifetime.
They aren't made any longer, so although the list of variations is lengthy it is also finite. They aren't continually pumping out new "collectors editions" ad nauseam just to reel in new suckers, er I mean "collectors."

Hope that gives some insight. :)
 
I'm really liking the muskrat pattern. I grew up with a single clip blade knife. So for me the muskrat is almost like having 2 knives in one. On the Case Muskrats, I like the rounded bolsters and serpentine shape. And, they seem to be just a little bit different, a pattern that is just a little different than the norm than what most people carry and they don't have a number on them, they say muskrat or mini muskrat where the pattern number goes. Also, they seem to be an "in-between" type of knife. Kind of in-between a gentlemans knife and a larger hunting knife, especially with the mini-muskrat. You can pull it out in the office or in the woods and no one will think twice.
They seem meek and small, but when you put the mini next to the sodbuster, it's almost the same size though the sodbuster seems like a much bigger knife.
The mini rat is I beleive 3 5/8 inches closed and the regular muskrat is 3 7/8 inches closed, what I am finding for me to be the perfect pocket size.
 
I guess I've got a bunch of collections now but I typically look for a slim trapper handle knife. I've got a few from different brands but collect GEC mostly now. I started with single blade knives, but then needed 2 blades for different tasks. I bought different patterns to see what works for me and surprisingly, a bunch do. Eventually found I like trapper jacks or other jacks that will fill the same role of 2 knives for me. Pen knives do too but in a slimmer package. Since I only started collecting a few years ago, GEC was the newest company and was making high quality knives (imho) in different classic patterns that allowed me to try different patterns. I've gotten other brands to try knives that are similar to the GECs I like or were patterns I wanted to try that GEC doesn't/didn't make (yet).
 
I am amassing a bit of a Case 6232 / 62032 collection. I just love the combination of elegance and utility in the design of the 32 pattern plus the great Case bone.
 
Hard to answer this in some intelligent way. I'm also relatively new to the knife collecting/accumulating hobby, and have been winding down from the initial buying phase.

I don't buy knives with collecting in mind, nor rarity, nor for reselling at a profit. Most of the knives I've bought were with the intention that they would become potential carry and use knives. I don't focus on a particular pattern, and usually don't buy more than one of the same pattern (with a few exceptions) because I like trying out the different patterns and blade combos.

Brand-wise, in order of quantity, it's Case, GEC, Victorinox, and Buck.

I have a number of still new-in-box knives, but that's from buying too many knives in a particular size range, and ending up only carrying one or two out of perhaps 8 similar-sized knives.

My carry preferences have settled down to medium-sized knives in the 3 1/4" to 3 7/8" size, two or three blades, with the stockman pattern as my current favorite.

So as I fine tune exactly what kind of knife I like, I'm no longer in the "buy lots of knives" mode but now just working on enjoying carrying and using the ones that I have.
 
My favorite pattern seems to be the stockman, and I have a few of the large ones. They are not really for my pockets, as I have settled on the GEC 73/Remington 1173 style trapper, with the single blade; and the Tribal Spear/Zulu pattern for carry. The Charlows are pretty much the only knives I have doubles of (three single blade spears with ebony and soup bone, two double blades with antique yellow and ebony and a sheepsfoot with walnut). I have "a" peanut, which was a gift. I gave one to a member here for his father that was pretty rusted, and gave my SS one to my father for Christmas (he still has it, the washing machine did not eat it!).

Other than that, I have a mishmash of patterns that have caught my eye at shows and flea markets. About five utility/scout knives, some other trappers. It seems what I prefer to carry these days are single blade slipjoints, both jacks and trappers. I think I might have about thirty pieces of varying age/pattern/company in my collection, including EDC blades. It's about a third old, with the rest made in the past twenty years. I get whiplash pretty bad whenever I see some pocket worn bone on an old knife. I think I have Case, Schrade, Imperial, Camillus, Great Eastern, Tidioute, Northfield UNXLD, Boker, Voos/Vess?, Opinel, Schatt and Morgan, Queen, Menefee, Coats, Laconico, Standing Rock Cutlery, Remington (both original and Camillus), Winchester, John Primble Belknap. I have an Oeser on the way. I don't have a clear thought in mind when it comes to collecting, just an idea for using. Jigged bone worn down in a pocket is my favorite type of handle material. Any quality steel is fine, I have an aversion to 420HC, which is ridiculous, but I do.

As far as fixed blades go, I home right in on custom bushcraft blades. Puukkos really set the radar off, but I hate scandi grinds, figure that. I like my slicers, but I also like a little meat on the blade (no sharpened prybars here though). Flat grinds, with convex edges, are what I "grew up on" hanging around knife makers, so that's what I am used to. They work for me. Kepharts and bushcrafters are my favorite patterns, and I have found some great utility in the Kephart and pukko patterns. Any steels are fine, but I like A2 on these. I have Laconico, Gossman, Blind Horse, Hackman, J Neilson and a few others I am forgetting at the moment. Desert ironwood, cocobolo and osage orange rule the day. I like my choppers, but have found that 4" and less of a blade, matched with a small axe, are fine for the little trips my fat butt has been able to get out on (really just jaunts on my fathers property lately).

My father was right when he said the Glocks etc looked like boxes with triggers. They didn't have any of the style that an old wheel gun possesses. He was right. .22's, .410s and .20 gauge are fine with me, I don't have to show off shooting a big gun. I like airguns too. When it comes to axes, I got a few because it was the craze with the bushcraft crowd. I have a good Snow and Neally Hudson Bay that I bought from a buddy here, a GB that I got from another friend here, and a few Estwings.
 
I like stockmen (3-blade), Wharncliffe trappers (2-blade), and traditional lockers (1-blade), so have accumulated quite a few of each.

But the only pattern I collect is the GEC #53 Cuban Stockman. I like the blade selection, the lack of half-stops, and it's large "palette" for displaying beautiful cover materials, including many variations of stag, horn, bone, wood and acrylics. I currently have 39 variations, and continue to add to the collection as I find them.
Here are a few examples.

ElkCuban.jpg~original


IMG_0072-1.jpg~original


pumpkinpatch2.jpg~original


SW.jpg~original


TwilightCuban.jpg~original
 
I'm starting to collect mini-Toothpicks. Something about the pattern really gets me. I bought my first, a stag Case with two raindrop damascus blades, and it is superb in every way: tight as a drum, no gaps anywhere, very solid lock-up (no need for a lock on this one), and two sharp as Dickens blades. (I'll post photos when I have a chance).

I'm now looking for different scale materials in the mini versions. They are great for tucking in the watch pocket of Levis.

Or maybe I'll buy the Case damascus peanut and Muskrat and focus on damascus blades as my theme. So many choices.
 
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Traditional fixed blades. I have been collecting Bark River Knife & Tool knives with desert ironwood burl handles and mosaic pins for awhile now. The beautiful grain patterns in desert ironwood burl can be simply stunning. DIB is also a strong, durable wood with its own natural oils. It is a wood that doesn't need to be stabilized do to its natural qualities. It will darken with use but can be easily buffed back to its original finish.

Mike Stewart and his family of Craftsmen in Escanaba, MI. make an outstanding fixed blade knife. Mike's customer service is second to none in the industry. I've come to appreciate quality tools and old fashion customer service.



This is the majority of my DIB collection a few more have been added since this picture was taken.

Thanks for looking, Tom
 
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GEC and vintage Case are my brands.
As for pattern, I like a variety, but I apparently favor the Stockman and Jack knives.
I also lean toward jigged bone and stag.
 
Im not a traditional collector, but an admirer for sure.
I have a habit of getting into "kicks" where im obsessed with one design or pattern for a while.
First it was cold steel, i got a solid proof dvd when i was 15 that pulled me out of budk catalogs and into hard use quality knives. then i got into benchmade with exotic steels and higher quality control usa made with high prices.
Then i was ensnared in the web by spyderco this last few years and have a dozen of them. interested in new steels to try.
At one point the SOG fixed blade style caught me and it still often does, as does the randall custom style of the cold steel R1 military classic/ODA. I also sometimes find im a rare sheepsfoot/wharncliffe guy.
Ka- bar, the fighting utility fixed blade, is one of my favorites. i have a beater one that needs to be retired, and id like one just to have and admire its new and shiny condition. id get one of every color if i could.
The Kukri has fascinated me this month and id like to try 3 or 4 of those as well.

I find carbon fiber , cocobolo, and titanium irresistable, kinda like ironwood, which i dont have yet. i was going to order a block from a knife makers supply so i can pet it from time to time untill i can add it to a bowie.
 
I've recently become obsessed with collecting knives - don't even know where it all came from. I've been all over the place with different patters over the past few months. I do have a certain criteria which I have to abide by because of a lack of strength in my hands and fingers (RA). So, the knife has to be easy to hold and easy to open.

After many knife purchases and tons of great help from the members here, I am finally settling down on a few patterns that work for me. One pattern that has really caught my eye is the large toothpick. Not only is the 5" frame easy for me to get a good grip on, they are easy for me to open because of the leverage of such a long blade and long back sprint. Also they have quite a history which I am still learning which I find a lot of fun.

So for me, I am collecting large toothpicks right now, but I'm sure that will change somewhat in the future as I explore other patterns.

IMGK1286_DxO.jpg


IMGK1293_DxO.jpg


IMGK1301_DxO.jpg
 
I consider myself an accumulator rather than a collector. Being an accumulator leaves all options open without concentrating on a specific brand, pattern etc.
I do however gravitate to old American made med-large two blade jacks in bone or ebony. GEC is putting out some really nice, old style, jacks that really catch my eye as well.


The more I think about it I guess I do kinda collect jacks but anything else is fair game if it catches my eye.

98% of my accumulation is traditional.
 
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hmm ....
I'm all over the place on my traditional models. I do have far more multi-blades than single blades. I have a weakness for things that are BLUE and/or Stag. Very few woods.
 
I like thin carbon steel blades. Especially hollow ground sharp goodness. I buy and use whatever catches my eye and interest at the time. I have no hard and fast rules that dictate what I collect, though I tend to favor two blades on the same end around 3 5/8 to 3 7/8 closed.

I really like a full size trapper and stockman, also Barlows and other jacks seem to catch my attention. I don't like half stops and generally avoid knives with this feature though I have a few exceptions.
I prefer the inexpensive working patterns and brands, unique traditional folder like opinels, douk douks, mercators, and the like interest me.
I like wood handles and surprisingly Delrin, I work in an auto shop with a concrete floor and carrying bone handled knives makes me nervous about dropping them and cracking the bone on the floor.

I prefer lighter pull strength on my folders, case, Boker, and victorinox have it right.

I dislike too many blades on a folder like most congress patterns, stainless steel, overly thick blades, half stops, very strong springs, shallow nail nicks, and blades that don't taper towards the tip.

Most of my collection consists of yellow case cv, Boker tree brand, and USA made old timers, also a few opinels and many Swiss Army knives.

I don't have many safe queens, all my knives get used or have been used before, I don't have many pretty knives either, most of what I buy are inexpensive working knives.

Hope that gives you some insight as to what get my wheels turning.
 
I don't collect. I explore. I try different patterns, different blade combinations. Always searching.

I figure I really only need one knife. I just haven't discovered which one it is yet. I likely won't know which one I need until I try them all.

The knives in my possession are a result of my using them and comparing them, rather than of collecting them.
 
I am more of an accumulator then a collector. I have never had what I would call safe queens, always buying a knife with use and carry if needed in mind. However, lately I have been venturing into the collecting realm a little bit, but I don't have a knife I won't sharpen or use, however a few are pretty and have some collector interest, so I now own a few that I hate to use and scratch up, but it's going to be hard to just let them lay around without using, so they are in danger, while in my ownership.

I am likely to buy anything if it strikes my fancy, but if I don't see the practical use of it, I seldom buy.

Probably my all time favorite knife to look at, and handle is the big 2 bladed folding hunters, made by CASE mostly, but also Kabar, Old Timer, Etc, because when I was a kid, a friend of mine ended up with a used but nice OLD TIMER Folding Hunter, and I was hooked, and wanted one so bad, but they cost $8.00 new and that was a lofty sum for me to come up with, but I badgered my dad into finally agreeing to buy me one, however, he took me to a different hardware store, and I ended up with a Kabar folding Hunter instead, which was a better knife anyway and cost over $11.00 dollars (1970) at the time. It had good strong springs with a snap from &%$# and good steel. I carried it for a few years, before ending up with my first big lockblade (Buck 110) and a little later a Puma Game Warden which I carried for a long time. All of these knives were used very heavily due to my interest like hunting and also my work (farming) which required the use of a good knife usually several times a day.

Anyway, I do collect the large folding hunters, and also Trappers, 3 bladed Stockman, Large Bowies, Dozier fixed blades, Benchmade (large lockblades), and after reading some threads on here, I am getting back into 5 inch Toothpicks, mostly because I also remember a beloved old 5 inch Toothpick with a fish scaler/hook de-gorger second blade from my child hood, which I relied on a lot, before I got that first big kabar folding hunter.

I guess I love big knives for the most part, and in my younger years I usually always carried a big folder with around a 4 inch blade, and during my younger years when I used a knife a lot, day to day, I would also carry a three bladed stockman or sometimes a trapper but mostly the stockman. I used the stockman's sheepfoot blade a lot for stripping wire, etc, and the spry blade for cutting calves, mostly. The spry blade was perfect for cutting calves, because it stayed sharp, since I didn't use it for much else, and the rounded tip was safer if a calf jumped or moved in some way, during the process, that caught me off guard. The big folder got the brunt of the use, for cutting everything else.

Sorry, I got off on a tangent.
 
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