Why do you collect knives?

because I have had lots of guns and love working on them, so I think the knifes go hand and hand! as I also like to work on them as well and make sure both run smoothly, its a art in itself, photography is my only other habit so im guilty as charged:rolleyes:
 
Houlahound said:
I didn't realise until my cousin got competitive in motocross how physically demanding it is and how fit they are.

I was like big deal you sit on a motorised two wheel vehicle that does all the work - how hard could that be??

I was wrong, very wrong.
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I did a race one weekend and had classes that monday and fell asleep outside my teacher's office. I told her why I was so beat and she said "don't the bikes do all the work?" Yea...no.

And that was in the 2 stroke days, where you kept the throttle pinned and just kept shifting. I imagine the 4 strokes are easier to ride with their extra low end grunt and more power in general. At least thats what my bike sims seem like!

I miss riding though, but I'm 40 now, out of shape, and have a wife, kid, house, cars...and knives! I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a Gayle Bradley 2...
 
My grandfather was a big collector and low level maker when I was growing up, but unfortunately I inherited none of his blades. Grown up, I started in antiques and found myself a niche selling historic weaponry. I wanted to do some pieces myself, so I bought a cheap angle grinder and tried making reproductions from whatever old tool/scrap steel I could get my hands on. Learning quickly from my early mistakes, I ended up buying a cheap forge to make the most of the steel I could get my hands on and started churning out some really ugly knives. At this point I realized I had rediscovered my passion for knives and sold off many of my antiques to focus on slowly building my collection. I'm still pretty terrible at making knives, but thanks to BF I not only am getting better, but have also found the resources to expand my collection.
 
Mix of Boy Scouts and a boys fascination with weapons, I guess. Always had a pocket knife on me as a kid. Didn't think much of it. Even in school. (Had teachers ask to borrow it, different times indeed.) A couple years ago I went on a edc kick, trying to find the perfect knife. Which led me down a rabbit hole of big box store brands to more and more expensive knives. Now I have a collection of expensive knives I don't carry, and a couple of really expensive knives I do carry. I've got fixed blade survival knives, folders, an auto, military bayonets, a dagger made from human bone, and even a Total Recal (movie) branded push dagger. Sometimes a collection just happens.
 
In a world of throw away junk to buy, a good knife will last you a lifetime. It's one of the most useful tools a person could ever have. Some could be considered functional art. So many different steels, blade designs, fixed, folders, lock types, you get the idea. I'm at the point now I know what I like. I have one knife on the books now, really no plans to get anything else...for a while anyway.
 
Well, I really don’t know. Although I don’t really consider myself a collector, I’m more of a carrier and user.
 
i don’t see myself as a collector or maybe i am? it started as a kid going on a camping trip with my family, we mostly whittled sticks at the fire. i was sad my knife sucked so bad (got dull after the first day or so) and everyone else’s was awesome. granted i was 10.
then my teenage years, all my friends carried knives for “self defense” lol, teens don’t need a knife for defense, but anyways i carried a box cutter folder.
then i went into the marines, and in boot camp it’s almost a right of passage when your able to purchase your own knife. so i carried a knife my entire marine corps career, i’ve lost and bought so many cheap knives, i think i lost maybe 3 in afghanistan alone.

long story shorter, got out of the marines and didn’t carry a knife for 8 years while i went to school and whatever else i was involved with.

it wasn’t until a year ago i rekindled that flame and built up a small collection basically bandwagoning, got the bugout, stitch, ultratech, 940 osborne , spyderco’s.. you name it i had to have it. I noticed i wasn’t carrying a lot of them so i sold them and i’m in search for that perfect EDC so i can quit the addiction. i’ve finally settled on the Socom elite manual and auto, i bought them both and i’m selling the rest, except the bugout, i really love that thing.

so why do i collect? it’s a damn addiction and i love having cool shit .
 
I collect because collecting sounds better than just accumulating a bunch of knives :)
I am really not a collector, since I would have to stretch to come up with a theme to my buying. I am just an enthusiast who buys what appeals to me. But I am a dedicated enthusiast that has been at it since 5( and that was a long time ago).
 
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i never meant to accumulate knives, i use, then buy another and try it, sometimes i return to earlier knives and carry it for weeks, other times i gift away knives that don't suite my purposes, I'm coming to terms that i have too many and need to purchase another craftsman tool chest to store the additional pieces, but i always find myself looking "for that last one" i just got my afo 2, tr-5 and spartan ares, now im looking at bark river, adventurer 2, even though i have an sts 7.5 and a full sized socom coming --- i obviously have no shame lol, fml
 
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Wow, you guys are really amazing! 52 answers in only 2 days! This community is simply great! Thank you very much !
I find it extremely interesting to see your point of view on that topic and I wonder if another reason, rarely mentionned yet, could be some kind of nostalgia or even an honor (in a certain way) to carry or own a certain knife. Personally I feel some sort of pride when holding my Buck 119 since it is a legendary object with a great history. And this feeling, in a lighter form, accompanies me simply when I carry a knife: so could knives also be seen as symbols of a man of honor? As nostalgic status icons in the postmodern world ?
 
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Knifelvr97 said:
Personally I feel some sort of pride when holding my Buck 119
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Most definately don't underestimate the ancient power of symbolism and tradition. It is embedded in our genes and our spirit. We are currently living in a pretend world that I believe is crumbling. You will need to tap into the spirit of your ancestors thru symbols to survive what's coming.

You mentioned postmodernism, what's that? Sounds like bullshit. I think you have swallowed some lies.
 
Knifelvr97 said:
I find it extremely interesting to see your point of view on that topic and I wonder if another reason, rarely mentionned yet, could be some kind of nostalgia or even an honor (in a certain way) to carry or own a certain knife. Personally I feel some sort of pride when holding my Buck 119 since it is a legendary object with a great history. And this feeling, in a lighter form, accompanies me simply when I carry a knife: so could knives also be seen as symbols of a man of honor? As nostalgic status icons in the postmodern world ?
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I guess nostalgia and legend do play a part in some ways with me - I became interested in the Ka Bar 1217 knife after reading about it, currently I'm reading up on the MACV SOG knives (though I'll never be able to afford an original! :rolleyes:)
Nostalgia - I have one of my dad's knives and I still have and treasure my first SAK.
 
I work with computer hardware. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s working. But with a Knife there’s something self evident, universal and timeless about them. It’s sharp, it handles nice, it’s a great tool- It’s something easily recognizable by anyone on the planet who would need such a tool.
 
Lots of good comments in this thread.

I believe a man should always have a knife (utility, preparedness, etc.) and I think it’s whacko that inthe span of one or two generations that sentiment has largely disappeared from modern culture.

That doesn’t explain why I have a collection, however.

Life can (and frequently does) drop some major turds along the way. Gratification can be hard to find. Having a nice knife in my pocket (regardless of price) and several more at home is a small tangible gift to myself. Maybe I’m shallow, but it adds a tiny bit of validation to my life. There. I said it.

I just don’t quite have what it takes to collect vintage Ferrarris.
 
Many great points already that I don't need to reiterate. I come from an area where every man carries a knife, whether or not they have a collection, they always have one on them as an essential tool. As for my fascination with them, I honestly don't know, but they bring me enjoyment, and that's all that matters.

To the OP's concern about being considered a "weapon freak" and ways to defend his passion for knives against people with opinions that the carrying of knives is uncivilized, the answer I give is quite simple. Point out to them that throughout human history theirs is the viewpoint that would seem strange up until a generation or so ago, before which a knife was an essential tool used multiple times daily. That the edged tool, aside from perhaps the harnessing of fire, was one of the most essential innovations of prehistoric mankind, to the point that it certainly shaped our evolution to become the thinking creatures we are today. Therefore, one could come to the logical conclusion that without knives, there would likely be no civilization for them to consider us "weapon freaks" uncivilized within.
 
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