When do you expect to stop buying knives? Why?

I also own more knives than I will ever reasonably use. I have my regulars and if one I really like gets banged up or lost, I would replace it if possible. SAKs come to mind in this case as I am more likely to choose something else with modern knives.

Price has slowly been going up. Size has been going down. I want to slow down but this year I have actually purchased as many as last year when my intent was to cut the number down by at least a third.

When do I expect to stop buying knives? Probably cold turkey only if I ever can't afford a knife. Like some other things, I would rather reduce the purchases than stop out right regardless of whether I need them or not.
 
Difficult to say but I think that after some time exploring designs and steels I am now starting to speed down a little bit
I am reducing my small collection to the knives I really use
I am still waiting for some new things but for the moment one in means one out
 
I will stop when I actually design & make my own. This idea is getting closer & closer the more I learn on my Haas machine. Got the designs & computer modeling down years ago.
 
I’m In a holding pattern. I’ve got a couple high end knives, but my niche is inexpensive but good value knives. Like $30-$80 range. My latest acquisition was a Bestech Swordfish for $52. I find myself carrying an Endura 4 more than anything these days. So I stay tuned in to the forum to see if I can score some value pieces. But I’ve slowed way down on my purchases.
 
It is just a fantastic time, maybe too much so.
New knives with new designs and steels come out every week, if not every day.
How can I stop now?

I thought I was done when I got Spyderco knives with super steels.
Then, I got into frame locks.
I thought I was done when I got custom knives.
Then, I got into traditionals.
What's next.....
 
I only have bought one knife in 2018, which was the Skaha 2 last week. My collection is the smallest it has been in years, it is my ZT 0301(2), Domino(2), and SAK cadet, now also the Skaha 2. For a long time I was looking for the "perfect" knife, and eventually realised that doesn't exist. There is no one knife does all. A knife is a knife. I eventually just came to the realisation I'm happy with what I own, every time the past 10 months I've looked at a new knife I've asked myself what will this knife bring me over what I currently own? The answer is always nothing, or a negligible improvement. Knives are tools, and a relatively small part of my life so I've been focusing on more important aspects.
 
I have also essentially stopped for reasons previously stated. They’re all sort of related:

-rekindling of other interests (firearms/gunsmithing & mtn biking) is consuming more of my time and discretionary funds.

-there’s very little left in my comfort zone ($200 and under) that interests me more than what I’ve already collected.

-the knives that currently interest me ($4-500 range) are beyond what I can justifiably afford at the time.
 
I have dramatically slowed down my purchases this year, as I am feeling I already have all the models/styles I like. The passion is still there tho.
 
I have sorted through my knives and seperated and pulled out duplicates of models I really like and bought an extra to have down the road ... but most of them the first will last me a lifetime so realising that I am starting to sell a few at a time ... and to sell those that I purchased that didn't fit my hand or the purpose I bought them for ..

And I can say I only have a few knives on my radar that I know as I am typing this ... that I want to buy for sure ...

And I am looking past many knives either because I have plenty that fill that role already ... and maybe I am a unicorn in this but I truely have found my personal point of diminishing returns ... I have tried some but I find the new "super steels" have reached a point that I see no need for in my uses and definately aren't worth the added price ... again this is just for me personally ...

So I will buy a few more ... and hope that a new knife will come out once in awhile that still makes me want it ... but it will take more than it used to ...

but I am looking at some modifications and at custom sheaths for some I use most now ... that may be my focus to personalize more of my knives rather than add new ones.
 
Even though I've gotten more selective on the knives I buy, the desire is still there. I know one day I won't have the desire to buy any more knives. When that time comes, it will be over. But that day is not today.
 
Like others, I now have considerably more knives than I really need and I’ve only got a few left that I really want, so the rate at which I’m buying is now falling off sharply. Also like others, I’m getting a lot more selective about what I buy, so the quality level of what I’m buying has gone up a good deal. I’m now buying blades mostly made of M390, 20CV, etc and brands like CRK, Olamic, Reate, etc. My budget doesn’t allow me to buy $200-$500 knives as often as I bought $100-$180 knives, so getting more selective is forcing my buying frequency down. After 2 or 3 more “gotta get one of those” medium-priced buys, my buying will trickle down to an occasional rare, expensive and luxury level treat for myself.

I think going to the November NYCKS will be the start of that occasional and rare luxury level treat phase for me, but I doubt I’ll ever totally stop buying knives. That sounds too much like “I’ll never drink again” and I’m too old to believe in fairy tales like that one at my age.
 
SharpieB said:
Besides the inevitable “dirt nap” answer that will be given, when will you stop buying knives/adding to your collection and why?

I have almost 100 quality knives that cover everything I could possibly ever need a blade for....I have multiple Machetes, Bowies, small fixed blade skinners, large fixed blade choppers, hard use 4” blades folders, small folders, flippers, traditionals, SAKs, Leatherman multis, etc... you name it.

I personally am near the end of my knife buying/collecting as.... a) I have too many really nice knives to use regularly in multiple lifetimes that should be used, and b) I am not a huge “Super Steel” guy. I don’t line up for the latest “best ever” steel when it is released. I LIKE 154CM, D2, M4, Elmax, XHP, S35VN, S30V and yep... even BD1. If it holds a good edge that lasts and can be sharpened on a standard Sharpmaker or field sharpener, I’m good. I’m not saying I won’t ever buy another knife (not likely), but on more of a “need vs. want” basis moving forward.

What say you? If you want to buy every colour/steel variant of your favourite knive model no matter how many they release, that’s cool too. :cool:
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My taste in knives becomes more specific with time so I am no longer buying every knife I think is cool looking.

Though I often end up buying multiples of designs I really love.

So since you don’t want the answer dirt nap when I am old and on death’s door step I will arrange with a knife vendor or custom maker and set up my credit card to auto purchase a knife two years later which by then I will be dead. Thus I will purchase a knife from beyond the grave.
 
Lapedog said:
So since you don’t want the answer dirt nap when I am old and on death’s door step I will arrange with a knife vendor or custom maker and set up my credit card to auto purchase a knife two years later which by then I will be dead. Thus I will purchase a knife from beyond the grave.
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Or possibly will yourself a Knife of the Month Club subscription?
 
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