Your Knife Collection...

I am -constantly- buying, selling, and trading. My tastes change and my needs change, so my collection changes fairly frequently. I typically only have a rotation of 3-4 users and then I have the ones that I ended up not wanting to carry or use for this or that reason.

My strategy is to only buy and trade for knives that I'm pretty sure I might like, and wait patiently for a good deal so I don't lose money reselling or trading it. My budget has a lot of flex because the "right" knife is basically priceless, and I could easily justify a $300 knife if I know I'll carry and use it enough. I've yet to find one in that price range that sets my loins aflame, but I'm always looking and trying.

Currently, I carry a ProTech TR4.1, a ProTech Maple Burl Godfather, and a Kershaw-Emerson 4kxl. I paid less than $300 in total for all three, which is the true wonder of the exchange on this forum. Everything else is on the chopping block for now until I find a new need or a new desire.
 
About one year ago I started thinking about how I needed to change the way I collect knives. What has come out of this is a standard formula that I now use when considering the purchase of a new blade. All knife purchases fall within three use groups. Light, Medium, and Heavy Duty. The groups could just as easy be Dress, EDC, and Fixed, if you like.

The next step is to acquire ONE knife of each blade style in each group. In theory, I should only have three drop points, three clip points, etc. Because there are only about ten basic blade styles (or less, really), I should never exceed 30 knives. A new knife comes in, an old knife disappears. That is the idea anyway.

Blades received as gifts do not normally fall under the three knife limit rule so I am not stuck with some Gerber or Jarbenza as my heavy duty drop point. And, I still have some flexibility on purchases because I still allow myself sprint run/ limited edition knives, plus special purpose knives (rescue knife for 1st aid kit or SAK for bug out bag, etc.)

I am finding that I am enjoying the knife hobby more than ever but I am not as quick to buy the latest showcase beauty. I am paying more attention to the knife's ergonomics, F&F, and blade steel to see if it really is a better fit for me than what I already own.
 
Slauterhause said:
This sounds exactly like me, and what I've been wondering too. My collection is starting to overgrow it's allotted space. I do put the high value ones in the gun safe, but I'm still running out of space in my closet.

Fortunately, I'm a custom furniture maker. My plan (when I get some free time) is to build a storage cabinet specially designed (to fit in my existing closet system) for knives with drawers that are only 1” deep. I forget what the overall dimensions are, but I should be able to fit about 16, one inch drawers and a couple 2" drawers for fixed blades. On paper, it is supposed to hold ~400 blades, which should give me plenty of room to grow... [emoji48] I'll definitely document it when it's done.

I wish I had room for a rolling tool cabinet, it would make things so much easier...
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That sounds like a sweet storage option! Although having room for 400 knives might make me have some internal stress...
 
I buy what I want or need. But I also sell, trade, and gift knives regularly to keep the collection under 200 - that seems to be about the number of blades I can fit in the safes (with all the other stuff that's in those).
 
Your supposed to thin out the collection, no one told me this. Well I ain't about to start now, I've been accumulating knives for 40 years, I buy what I like, I don't buy junk, I especially like older Traditional's because they're typically cheaper around here and there's a large diversity of patterns and old companies that settled into making knives in the NEPA area.

I mostly store my knives in tackle and tool boxes, I carry most of my 300-400 knives at one time or another during the year, I have only a couple of safe queens ask the rest get used, not abused just used. :)
 
All my knives consolidate and get sold or traded into CRK.

My only others are a PM2, a M390 Ritter Grip, and an XM-18. And Busse.

I have reached my saturation point for lusting after knives, and now am only really interested in a few, PM2 in S110v, Gayle Bradley 2, and the spyderco Nirvana.

EDIT: Oh, and traditionals. I love traditionals and don't think I could reach a saturation point for them. I only have two right now (mammoth Indian River Jack and Tom's Choice sheepsfoot), but they are great, and I have a long list of knives to get.
 
I've been growing my folder collection of almost purely spydercos. I just love spydercos and decided i want to induce a collection value into them. I do have one non- spyderco folder, a William Henry Atlas, but that was a great exception i made because i fell in love with it at first sight and love using it.

I will usually never hesitate to jump on a spyderco that i like, even if i'm not sure i will use it. I know every spyderco adds immense value to my collection.

I've also been getting into nice fixed blades. 2 of them are pocket fixed blades with pocket clip sheaths to carry along with or instead of a folder. The other 2 are for going hiking and camping. 2 of my 4 fixed blades are handmade customs. I don't have much to say about my fixed blades except that i'll only get what i need. I probably will not grow this part of my collection as much as the folders.
 
I used to use a ledger and double-entry bookkeeping. Now, I "manage" the collection by using an Excel spreadsheet. My spreadsheet lists all my knives by Storage Location, Date Acquired, Date Received, Maker, Model, Price Paid, Tax Paid, Shipping Paid, Sheath present or not, Box Present, and special notes such as Year, Variations, etc.

The "Storage Location" refers to the cabinet, locker, display or Rubbermaid tub a particular blade now resides in. I have several boxes and tubs of blades that are waiting to be re-cataloged because for a long time I foolishly thought I could remember which box or tub had what in it. Oooops. As I have time, I go through those boxes correcting my foolishness. New knives are immediately entered into the spreadsheet and placed into the correct location.

As for the "what, when, why and how", re: purchasing a particular knife, I buy knives I like if there is money in the "knife fund". If the fund runs low before the next influx of green, and I see something I want, then I gotta wait or shift funds around in the old budget.

I funded some purchases by walking ditches picking up aluminum cans and scrap iron to sell. I get exercise, I get free money and the ditches around the farm stay cleaner. Any additional "extra knife funds required" issues are ameliorated by transferring money from my "Entertainment" line item, since buying a new knife is a form of entertainment. :o

So, based on the theory of "you get a lot more NOs than YESes", I'll ask a woman out and when she says "NO", I transfer the funds I would have spent on a date from "Entertainment" to "Knives". Rinse and repeat until the needed funds have been transfer. And when I get a "YES", well, it's time to get dressed up a little and hit the town. :D

I have been known to walk up to women and ask "Will you please tell me "NO"? and then smile and wait. When they say "No.", I'll say "Thank you." and turn to leave. Sometimes they ask why and I'll tell them. A few times, after telling them about why I asked, the conversation sways into "What type do you collect", etc. When I start listing them by type and number, I've had to mentally transfer the funds back into the "Entertainment" line when they ask if I'd show them my knives.:D Some women refuse to believe that ANY man would have 150+ bayonets ranging from the 1700s to present, much less hundreds of other kinds of knives and swords unless they see them. And I'm always willing to comply. :D:D:D
 
zzyzzogeton said:
I funded some purchases by walking ditches picking up aluminum cans and scrap iron to sell. I get exercise, I get free money and the ditches around the farm stay cleaner. Any additional "extra knife funds required" issues are ameliorated by transferring money from my "Entertainment" line item, since buying a new knife is a form of entertainment. :o

So, based on the theory of "you get a lot more NOs than YESes", I'll ask a woman out and when she says "NO", I transfer the funds I would have spent on a date from "Entertainment" to "Knives". Rinse and repeat until the needed funds have been transfer. And when I get a "YES", well, it's time to get dressed up a little and hit the town. :D

I have been known to walk up to women and ask "Will you please tell me "NO"? and then smile and wait. When they say "No.", I'll say "Thank you." and turn to leave. Sometimes they ask why and I'll tell them. A few times, after telling them about why I asked, the conversation sways into "What type do you collect", etc. When I start listing them by type and number, I've had to mentally transfer the funds back into the "Entertainment" line when they ask if I'd show them my knives.:D Some women refuse to believe that ANY man would have 150+ bayonets ranging from the 1700s to present, much less hundreds of other kinds of knives and swords unless they see them. And I'm always willing to comply. :D:D:D
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Genius. Pure genius.

BTW, Do you collect M7 bayonets?
 
Since getting a much better paying job (college grad as of May) I can now afford knives on a higher tier. I've got a cf large seb, an umnum, Socom delta, pimped my CKF Sukhoi, and am awaiting a Reate Valkyrie II. Now that my tastes have gotten much more expensive I plan on selling most things over than me LE zts and a couple of spydercos
 
The_KaramVit said:
I've been growing my folder collection of almost purely spydercos. I just love spydercos and decided i want to induce a collection value into them. I do have one non- spyderco folder, a William Henry Atlas, but that was a great exception i made because i fell in love with it at first sight and love using it.

I will usually never hesitate to jump on a spyderco that i like, even if i'm not sure i will use it. I know every spyderco adds immense value to my collection.

I've also been getting into nice fixed blades. 2 of them are pocket fixed blades with pocket clip sheaths to carry along with or instead of a folder. The other 2 are for going hiking and camping. 2 of my 4 fixed blades are handmade customs. I don't have much to say about my fixed blades except that i'll only get what i need. I probably will not grow this part of my collection as much as the folders.
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You might have just fueled a new obsession. Not only are those knives beautiful but my son is names Henry William. I'm already thinking about what I could sell to get the money to invest in one of those William Henry knives.
 
I've only been collecting for a couple years, but I do have some purchases that I regret. I realized I don't really like owning knives that I can't see myself using or that aren't unique or at least limited edition or that don't have some sentimental value.

As a result of this realization, I just sold a paramilitary 2 and spyderco Mule 13. I have a collection of 10-15 knives.
 
uberfastman said:
...
So my big question for discussion is, how do you manage your knife collection? Do you just let it grow? Do you set limits? Do you sell stuff a lot or trade? What are your collection goals?
...
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I did just let it grow, until it got to be where I really no longer want to add any new knives to it. So it seems to have reached a limit on its own. I haven't sold much. Gave a few away to friends. My only goals are to enjoy what I have for now.
 
My knife collection is small.
 
sabre cat said:
Genius. Pure genius.

BTW, Do you collect M7 bayonets?
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Yes and no. :D

Yes, I have collected several.

No - Not really into collecting the "clones" made by various companies for other countries.

Still looking to get a Colt German-made version and a Frazier made version, Those 2 would fill out my "US Military issued" M7 collection.

Currently concentrating on primarily "US used" socket bayonets from the 1800s. Have a few, but have several gaps. These are harder come by at prices that don't require I win the lottery.
 
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