How many knives do you own? Are you a collector or just addicted to buying knives?

[Shorttime]

I own between twenty and thirty, including a few poor decisions from years ago.

I would say I'm a collector and a knife addict, in equal parts. I have two or three that cut nothing but paper, or are semi-retired. These get used very lightly, but they still get use.

I have a few that were gifts, but the ones I buy are all purchased with intent to use and carry. There have been some over the years that I have wanted to keep as pristine as possible, but for me, much of the satisfaction of owning a knife comes with using it, understanding it's features, and the way those features work together to make a cutting tool.

 

[MaxFactor]

A collector has order and purpose to what he buys.
Maybe he buys every version of a specific pattern.
Maybe he buys every knife a certain company made within a certain time period.

Me, I'm not a collector. I'm more of an accumulator. I have no one knife type that I buy.

Well put.

By your account, I'm definitely an accumulator as well. Granted, I have more Spydercos than anything.

I use and carry all my knives, so I tend to buy and sell a lot. I basically give myself a few days to fondle a knife before I decide to actually use it (otherwise it can still be sold BNIB or LNIB). Then I'll carry it for a couple weeks and then decide whether or not it'll get sold. I've done this for the past few years and have had the opportunity handle probably over 100 modern production, mid-tech, and custom knives. All the while, I've only kept fewer than a dozen at a time. At the moment I only have eight knives. If I could afford it, I'd definitely have more, a lot more. The whole buy-sell process seems to keep my addiction satisfied though..

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

I haven't counted. Too many probably, too lazy to sell any, ordered another two days ago.

 

[K.O.D.]

I'm neither. 9 folders, most well loved, all used. I have a fixed blade that's only been used 3 times. Becker BK5 I won here, sharpened by Jerry Fisk. The day It came my ex-wife perfectly bifurcated a wolf spider with It. I backed away slowly until she sheathed It. It accidentally got packed and is in my storage pod. Once I'm well enough to be back in my own place, I'll have it again.

Anyway, since August 2015, I've only bought 2 knives. Those were very recently. A used Spyderco Domino, and a new Bailey mod 2 geek edition flipper. Both have already seen use.

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[buckfynn]

I am not sure how many knives I own but I know it is in the hundreds somewhere. I don't consider myself as a collector and tend to view myself as more of a knife hoarder. Ninty five percent of the knives I own have been used as one time or another.

 

[jc57]

I am a former addict, with somewhat over 100 knives to show for it. I am no longer adding to the accumulation/collection.

 

[22-rimfire]

I am not a knife addict regardless of how many knives I own. Nor am I a knife collector. I am and can be rather impulsive with my purchases though. To me, that makes things fun. If I am an addict to any thing, it's a "stuff addiction".

 

[GrReaper]

I only buy knives that I can use, although some of them I've never used. I'm too lazy to count 'em all and lost count after about 50. My best guess is that I have about 150 now. Inventorying them all would be a project for a rainy day.

 

[22-rimfire]

I'm not too lazy to count them, but the number really doesn't matter to me as long as I'm having fun. Hence, I have never counted my knives.

22 rimfire ammo or ammunition in general is a popular "how much do you have" topic due to the shortage. I have a lot, but I have never counted or inventoried it. It's there when I feel like shooting.

 

[rustysocket]

I have several hundred slip joints. More than I will ever carry or use. I keep notes about why or where I got them. Some were cheap. Some were very expensive . I don't need any more but I buy new or used ones all the time but only if there is something special that catches my eye. I'd like to say I'm a collector but I think really I'm just addicted to them. I also like small fixed blades made out of unique materials.

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[miltmaldo]

I don't know what I am , for me part of the fun is the hunt. The never ending search to find that next awesome knife. I probably only rotate about 5 or 6 of them out of the 60+ I own. I tell myself to get rid of the ones I don't carry but that usually never happens, I usually just end up trading them and then I'm back where I started.

What he said

 

[Wowbagger]

I have thought about how to answer this for a couple days. Now I got it :

How many knives do I have

The Chef would say that I have TOO MANY knives (that's how many).
I would say that I have "too many" knives :thumbup:.

I'm not a collector.
I'm not addicted to buying knives. I can stop any time.

What I am addicted to, or lets say what fascinates me are, cutting tools. All cutting tools; from drill bits to negative rake lathe tool bits (wider than 90° inclusive, speaking very generally) to pocket knives and woodworking saw teeth. If it has a sharp edge on it I want to know about it and fart around with it. Then I will probably attempt to put a mirror edge on it and then sit there and look at it as if mesmerized.

I have no non users that are mint. I have knives I don't use any more. I have never sold a knife once I bought it. To quote me when The Chef asks if it isn't time to get rid of some of my stuff in general :

"I wouldn't have bought the dambed thing if I didn't want it and want to keep it."

So that's me basically.

 

[Wowbagger]

I've bought ten in the last 2 months and sold five. I own 20 knives at present. My favorite fixed is my KA-BAR, folder is my benchmade mel pardue and my Blur. Favorite tactical at the moment is my emerson wave CQC. Favorite neck knife is the Schrade mini karambit.

bought ten in the last 2 months

I have no real idea how many I bought in the last month or two and don't want to think about it but it is probably some where between TOO MANY and "too many".

My favorite fixed is

Right now today it is the Cold Steel Mini Pendleton Hunter in 3V

My favorite . . . folder is

I was just thinking today how much I like the Spyderco Cricket though I hardly use it but when I do for specific tasks it is soooooo Cool ! But there is the Boker Zirconium Ceramic with Ti handles for just ogling because it is so futureistic material wise . . . the Ritter full size Grip in M390 because it never says "Nah I'm just not up to it" it is always sharp and ready and totally great to use. The Case Stag Trapper because it is so freekin' classic and great . . . I can't stop . . . there are so many I like for what they are (but I better stop because you people have them too and know what I would say about them).

Favorite tactical at the moment is my

Oh man I'm not so sure about "tactical" I do really like my Cold Steel Hold Out I. Is that tactical ?
Here it is after winning a battle with a cinnamon roll. I mean many of my other knives are just too small and once you let the roll see fear they can go crazy and get on top of you even if they know they will, in the end, be mortally wounded. When they see the Hold Out though they freeze in terror.

Favorite neck knife is the

I only own two and only carry one and that is the Cold Steel Super Edge. Tiny little thing. I put a parracord on it rather than the chain. Only ever wear it when bike commuting to work for dogs. Serious, on my back being eaten, attack . . . not to scare off bowsers.

Good thread. Thanks for starting it. Now I will go back and see what all everyone posted. But first maybe I will take just a quick look at some knife catalogs . . .

 

[CapitalizedLiving]

36 and 2.

 

[Ravenbrook]

I own 10 knives. Just about all of them have a purpose. I have a ZT0562 for a larger carry knife. I have two ZT0566CFM390 (Ok, so one doesn't have a true purpose other than to look good) that I'm going to have different scales on for different times to carry, a ZT0770CFM4 to carry when I have nicer pants on and don't want a bulkier knife in my pocket. I have a Spyderco Manix 2 LW S110V for camping/yard work, and a Spyderco Dragonfly G10 for when I'm really dressed up and want a knife to disappear in my pocket. Last of my EDC's is a LionSteel SR2-A that again is used for when I'm not wanting a big knife but wanting something that if I pull it out of my pocket in a public place people won't freak out. My last three aren't in my EDC rotation all that much, they are three Chris Reeve's. My large Sebenza with Box Elder Burl is made on my parents 55th wedding anniversary (today, the 24th is their 56th!). My two small Sebenzas are made on my parents birthdays. I carry them sometimes but not that often. So until I come up with another category to carry a knife for ME, or I find one to replace the current ones I have, I'll be sticking to just 10 knives. So I'm not sure you'd consider me a collector, and I'm sure I don't have a buying addiction (Thank Goodness!!!).

 

[22-rimfire]

I like trinkets. Knives are trinkets.

 

[JOELSM]

I'm an accumulator. I just enjoy knives - all different makers and styles. Last year I dicovered the Traditional sub-section of this forum, and that's opened up another door to my sickness. I've acquired ~ 10 GECs since last November with two 77 Northfields on order and two Beer Scouts on reserve.

One thing I really enjoy about owning so many knives is "rediscovering" knives purchased years ago. I recently pulled a "sprint run" Endura out of the drawer. "Wow....that's sweet....why haven't I been carrying this?" In the pocket it goes:thumbup:

 

[22-rimfire]

...One thing I really enjoy about owning so many knives is "rediscovering" knives purchased years ago.

That's why I don't sell off knives that aren't used. They represent a phase in my life or my thinking about knives in general. I like knives. I enjoy the historical aspect of my choices, because my preferences have changed over time. I too have been slowly accumulating GEC's. The #14 Boys knife is a superb little knife. A new #77 will probably find it's way into my pile. Like SAKs, GEC slip joints work very well if you find a size you like. I lean toward a two-blade #42 for recreational uses (woods) and my SAK for day to day stuff when I just want to have a knife available to me and the other tools are a bonus. The AO's or moderns get used for daily routine semi-urban life with the SAK.

 

[Cjwknives]

I got 56 and didn't consider myself a collector till I started buying customs... Which has been a very crazy/maddening/awesome experience. I know that number is gonna go up but I also have now been selling knives to make room for new ones. I only buy knives that I know I am gonna EDC though. I no longer have safe queens. If I don't think I will carry the knife and even use it then it is going to someone else.


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[Jedi22]

66 knives...I started collecting 2 months ago [emoji85]. Also sold or gave away most of my cheapos weeks ago.

2 weeks ago I couldn't decide which Chris reeve knife should be the first I ever purchase...I now have 4 including one that shares my birthdate


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