What was your "gateway" knife?

[Greyhulk]

Kershaw Skyline...but I returned because It was to small for my big hands..
Then I got my hands on a SPYDERCO PARAMILITARY-2 and I caught the bug..
Just received my 12th knife this month...

 

[JNewell]

1971 or 1972 - Buck 110, and I do still have that one! :thumbup:

 

[thaglyde]

Kershaw clash some how led me to my spydie fever.

 

[JustSomeGuy]

My first true EDC was a CRKT M16-13z. I got sick of getting the serrations hung up on anything I was trying to cut, and got fascinated by the Kershaw OD-1's opening flipper. I haven't carried the M16 in years now. I do keep it in my trinket box in my closet for sentimental reasons, though.

 

[tempfile]

Kamp King when I was 8 or 9 years old, it was also the first knife I ever cut myself with.

 

[Swoop03]

I guess I could say the blue tenacious, but that only started my spyderco addiction.
I've always loved knives as far back as I can remember. I remember having a chinese SAK ripoff when I was about 6 or so years old. I still have it somewhere here 14 years later. The knife that started my true collection though I think will have to be my SOG Twitch II with aluminum scales. It was also my first reason I had to get stitches...

 

[herisson]

At around 10, my godfather gifted me a german scout knife : a hunter with a small brass guard, Solingen steel blade (4" !!!) with sawback, antler handle and aluminium pommel. In those days, every man carried a pocket knife, at least in the countryside. But I'm still wondering why he opted for such a relatively bold knife for a boy instead of a small SAK which would've been totally traditional. Whatever, I fell in love with that knife and carried it whenever I could. I used it to build shelters in the woods, to whittle, saw planks, cut string, rope and cardboard and to make chopping contests with my friends. Very surprisingly, I never did any nonsense with this knife (although I did a lot of dumb s**t in those early years...). Since then, a knife has always belonged in my life. There have been many, there have been few, sometines none but never too long. Carrying and using a knife still makes me happy in a way very oddly similar to the joy I had with that Solingen scout knife.

 

[boobar]

Benchmade/Boguszewski 640 Mini-Spike back in 1997 when I was in college

 

[Saint Loke]

It all happend about a year ago.My gateway knife was a Kabar extreme D2 fighter. I bought a hedgehog leatherworks sheath for it, and then I was sold. Been a lot of knives since then.

 

[Mink]

Benchmade 705, before that never gave knives much thought.

 

[Moondrop]

In due time, you'll find yourself paying $700 for a balisong. You still have some sanity left.

It makes my brain hurt to even think about that. LOL
But I do find myself admiring some that are outside of my price range at the moment.

 

[Jakester]

Serrated Delica too! But John Young Chute and Bogie Cobra got me hooked on customs in 2004!

 

[Veracious Coyote]

It was about a year ago I purchased the Cold Steel Recon 1, my first quality knife. And it's led me on a journey to the Para 2 and Doug Ritter Grip.

 

[Sam Kimball]

I always had cheap swiss atmy knives when i was younger but the knife that started it all was the erber lmf2

 

[yotehunter422]

Benchmade aphid. Sold it quickly and moved on to a mini barrage. Then my bank account was never the same.

 

[spyderco lover]

Sog Aegis back in 2010. My first quality knife, was quickly followed up by a cold steel recon 1, kershaw skyline, spyderco tenacious and resilience, buck vantage pro, and benchmade 550 griptilian within 2 months. My poor wallet lol

 

[rpdknife]

I carried a SAK for a long time; a couple years ago I decided to get a locking knife, joined blade forums, and now have a collection when I was just looking for ONE new knife.

 

[fadugleman]

Buck Redpoint

 

[2jka]

My very first knife, ever, was a Schrade+ Clip Hanger 3. Odd little thing with a slip joint and a liner lock. I won that knife because I sold a good deal of popcorn back in the Cub Scouts. Boy, I used that thing irresponsible, but what else would you expect from an 8 to 10 tear old boy with a cool, new TOY. I have since grown up. My second knives were a Leatherman Wave (first style) and some funky junky Winchester knives that came in a gift pack. Bet you cant guess which on i still use today, some 10 years later. I guess I was a little spoiled but as far as I can remember knives I was always interested in knives ... That's not changing any time soon! And, thanks for reading!
P.S. The first knives that I was serious about were, in this order, Second Gen Leatherman Wave (lost), Kabar Becker Necker (still have and use), and a Second Gen Cold Steel AK-47 (broken). That was about 6 years ago...

 

[kjos]

The first "expensive" knife (or so I thought back then.. lol) was the Spyderco Endura 4 FFG. A few knives later I was buying a Small Sebenza 21 Insingo and totally justifying it. Meanwhile I'm trying to convince myself not to buy an Umnumzaan (it's inevitable though) and also a Curtiss F3. This progression has also all happened within a year.

And within this year, I've purchased the Spyderco Sharpmaker months ago, and just got the Wicked Edge. Oh boy.