Which knives do people have to have to call their collections complete?

Yes, the collection is never complete until you have every knife in the world. Muahahahah (evil laugh)
 
An SAK, a decent "EDC" folder(Mini-Grip, Endura, Blur, Rat 1, whatever), a fixed blade(Kabar USMC, Buck 119, etc), and a large chopper or machete. To me, THAT would constitute a small but complete collection for the average man. After that, a few other essentials might be added for specific needs-If the person is heavily into "bushcraft" or outdoors type stuff, I would add a Mora to the list. If they were into diving, a dive knife would be an essential part of a complete collection. If they spent a lot of time around/in salt water, I'd make sure there was an H-1 blade of some sort there. But beyond that, no specific brands or models are required as I see it, and IMO, you CERTAINLY have no need of pricy stuff like Sebbys, Hinderers, Busses, customs, etc. for a collection to be complete...though the collection might certainly be a lot nicer with them.
 
Buck 110-112
Spyderco pm2
Spyderco delica 4
Spyderco manix 2
Case stockman
Victorinox- any
Benchmade mini grip
Opinel- douk douk
Kabar usmc
I would like to believe that would be a good small collection.
 
No collection is complete without a Glock field knife.
There as to be at last one swiss army knife by Victorionox.
Now that said, I read it should also have one SAK by Wenger.
red mag
 
Now we're cooking! I expected to see a variety of responses with a few common themes. One thing most of us seem to be agreed upon is a SAK. Throw in an EDC folder, a utility fixed-blade (4"-6"), and chopper and we may have the basis of a complete if fledgling collection. One thing I expected to see more of is a decent Multitool. But even without it, I'd be comfortable recommending this list to a newbie looking to create a complete knife collection. Now, of course, the question becomes which knives to populate it with. That would largely depend on how much our newbie wants to spend. Which leads me to the next question.

Assume that a newbie came to you with the following list:

1) SAK
2) EDC Folder
3) Utility Fixed-Blade
4) Chopper

How much would a newbie need to spend to buy ONE knife in each of these categories that you would personally feel comfortable recommending? As far as a budget is concerned, let's break it into the following categories: low (less than $250.00), medium ($250-$500), and high (over $500.00).

GO!
 
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Hmmm. So nobody wants to give our new friend advice on how to create a small, complete knife collection? Here, let me give you a hand:

Low:

SAK: SAK Super Tinker, $20
EDC Folder: Ontario Rat-1, $28
Utility Fixed Blade: Ka-Bar Becker BK-16, $70
Chopper: Ontario RTAK-2, $90

Total: $208.00

Medium:

SAK: SAK Super Tinker, $20
EDC Folder: ZT 0350, $115
Utility Fixed-Blade: Scrap Yard SYKCO 511, $150 (with sheath)
Chopper: ESEE Junglas, $170

Total: $455.00

High:

SAK: SwissTool Spirit Multi-tool, $76
EDC Folder: Chris Reeve Large Plain Sebenza 21, $410
Utility Fixed Blade: Swamp Rat RatManDu, $200 (with sheath)
Chopper: Fehrman Extreme Judgement, $565 (with sheath)

Total: $1,251.00

How do those look? :)
 
Alright im gonna throw this out there in terms of EDC or fold knife collections I think the SOG twitch II I a must have. I don't think it completes anything but it is a great knife to have in your EDC rotations as I like to call it. Also its like only 40 bucks, but a super ecstatically pleasing knife!
 
bld522 said:
Now we're cooking! I expected to see a variety of responses with a few common themes. One thing most of us seem to be agreed upon is a SAK. Throw in an EDC folder, a utility fixed-blade (4"-6"), and chopper and we may have the basis of a complete if fledgling collection. One thing I expected to see more of is a decent Multitool.
Click to expand...

Those 4 categories are precisely what I suggested as well. The reason I didn't list a multitool cause, even though it has a blade, I don't consider it a "knife" per se, and if someone were asking about a complete KNIFE collection, I wouldn't suggest a multitool, a hatchet/axe, or a longsword, even though I personally would be interested in all of those.
 
I tend to put SAKs and Multi-tools in the same category. And adding a hatchet/axe definitely works for me. In fact, a collection based on the Nessmuk trinity system plus a SAK or Multi-tool would be an ideal way for just about any novice to start out IMO.

trio.jpg


Source: http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/racquette/nessmukbydale.html
 
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bld522 said:
Hmmm. So nobody wants to give our new friend advice on how to create a small, complete knife collection? Here, let me give you a hand:

Low:

SAK: SAK Super Tinker, $20
EDC Folder: Ontario Rat-1, $28
Utility Fixed Blade: Ka-Bar Becker BK-16, $70
Chopper: Ontario RTAK-2, $90

Total: $208.00
Click to expand...

Combine the SAK and EDC folder with a SAK Soldier. Replace the BK16 with a Mora. Replace the chopper with an MTech 151. You've probably not lost an ounce of quality and saved at least $100.
 
The knives I will need for my collection to be complete:

-Ka Bar Fighting Utility
-Buck 110
-Case Toothpick
 
A thin fixed blade with a scandi grind for carving, mora #1. An Inexpencive but proven folding knife, opnell, skyline, rat 1. And a fixed blade you can count on and is useable,becker, esse.
 
My list of wants increases every day:

-Inlaid sebenza
-Mnandi
-zaan
-Damascus inlay sebenza
-UG sebenzas
-William Henry
-TA davidson slipjoint
-Ray Laconico titanium flipper
-Southard
 
meanwhile said:
Combine the SAK and EDC folder with a SAK Soldier. Replace the BK16 with a Mora. Replace the chopper with an MTech 151. You've probably not lost an ounce of quality and saved at least $100.
Click to expand...

For someone on a really tight budget, that seems like a pretty good combination to me.
 
SAK- Vic Tinker or Spartan or...take your Vic pick
Folder - Ontario Rat 1
Utility Fixed - SYKCO 511, ESEE 4 or Becker BK17
Chopper - BK9, Junglas or Condor Boomslang
 
meanwhile said:
Combine the SAK and EDC folder with a SAK Soldier. Replace the BK16 with a Mora. Replace the chopper with an MTech 151. You've probably not lost an ounce of quality and saved at least $100.
Click to expand...

sounds like a good combination, but since the 151 is such a rip of the trailmaster I'd go with a condor kumunga or kukri, just a couple of bucks more
 
i would say they need at least one of everything, decent fixed blade: Nimvarus, small edc: mini grip, large tatical folder: contego, spring assist: barrage

not that they have to be benchmade of course but you get the point. just at least one of everything that they might need to go into their rotation
 
the usmc ka bar has such history, as does the buck 119 and 110 as you said. i thick every collenction needs a folder of each grind type, flat sabre and hollow, as do the fixed blades, and probably each configuration in stainless, carbon, and at least one serrated edge and one gut hook, and least one classy slip joint and one modern super tactical folder, and a large, medium, small and jumbo sized fixed blade for their many uses. possibly also your top favorite say three country manufacturers of origin. just my opinion
 
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