2 and 3 thousand dollar knives...

[JohnnyCache]

I always trip over the fact that if I use the thing I paid that much money for, it's probably going over a bridge or down a drain. I'd buy something like that as an investment/collector's item, though.

[Carpe Noctem]

JC,

I've used and carried $400+ knives on deployment to some pretty shitty places. Never lost or broke them. You just look after your tools, that's all. I think the main thing is that most people have it in their heads that knives are "throwaway" tools, and can't wrap their head around paying that much for something when they never have before.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess...

[mad_malk]

I always trip over the fact that if I use the thing I paid that much money for, it's probably going over a bridge or down a drain. I'd buy something like that as an investment/collector's item, though.

I can understadn that but i aproche knifes like guns,they are tools. better to spend a little extar on something i know is going to stand up and work when i need it. retention and maintince is my job. the tool doing what i need it to is it's job. some people like glock other like H&K both work well. then there are who knowes what brands.

Just my way of thinking on it.

[bricco]

Unique hand-made stuff from a talented smith can take a long time to create. I think my Sensei spent a year making this one :

http://home.comcast.net/~jeshern/bambootanto.htm

Your sensei is Hernandez? Holy crap! Have you checked this stuff?
http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=6220

[money]

Your sensei is Hernandez? Holy crap! Have you checked this stuff?
http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=6220

Yes. Actually, I've assisted him when he's smelted steel.

[Vorpal]

Unique hand-made stuff from a talented smith can take a long time to create. I think my Sensei spent a year making this one :

http://home.comcast.net/~jeshern/bambootanto.htm

Damn, my sensei can't make a decent sandwich.

[dirtyd79]

I always trip over the fact that if I use the thing I paid that much money for, it's probably going over a bridge or down a drain. I'd buy something like that as an investment/collector's item, though.

Same here. I'm into fishing and one of the first things you learn in that hobby is never take anything you're not prepared to lose or get messed up. I'm not about to spend 3 grand on something I'm gonna use to chop up bait. Occasionally I visit sites like the ruptured duck looking at old German WW2 stuff but I see that kind of stuff as more an antique for display rather than a use it everyday thing.
:car6:

[Dade_Murphy]

A note from a serious knife collector

I have been collecting knives since I was a young boy and I firmly believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There are people that pay thousands of dollars for rare Nazi officers knives, and some rare Japanese pieces have gone for a million or more. To most collectors, use of a precioius blade is barely considered.
I have a several knives for every possible purpose. I would only carry an extremely high end folder on special occasions like a wedding, funeral etc. You would be astonished how many knife afficianados are out there. I've been stopped by guys who can recognize and appreciate a blade just by the clip on my pocket. These forums are a bad place to get perspective... most people here would likely view a knife as a weapon or a tool, as opposed to fine artwork.
If your father is a true collector... first consider your budget, then consider his inclinations (what type of blades he likes), then decide whether it is something you would want him to keep with him most of the time or whether it is something he would put in a case. Either way, if he is a collector, he will appreciate the gift with the utmost sentiment.

[Crawfinski]

Money, I looked through your Sensei's gallery and those are some beautiful blades.

I'm one of those guys who admires knives and would have a very large collection of knives if I had way too much disposable income and a secret lair to store them in so that my wife would not find them. So, while I admire nice blades my "collection" is limited to a few folders and one interesting piece my wife picked up for me on a trip to Africa (I'll have to post an image of that in a little bit).

My limit is usually less than $100 for a knife that I'm going to carry regularly, but I usually shop around and make sure that it's at least from a somewhat reputable manufacturer. Anything more than $100 and my wife might start using them on me (The one I have my eye on now is a hissatsu folder).

For me, knives are tools that I use fairly regularly, with the off-chance that I "might" in a very crappy situation need to use one for self-defense purposes (and ONLY if someone else pulls a blade first). That has never happened and I pray it never does.

***decided to grab a pic of my blade while I was rambling on***



The humidity change from Mali to North America made the blade rust a little and I'm working on that. It's not the fanciest thing in the world, but I like it. She did well. I think she spent around $85 for it (which shocked me that she spent that much). This is one of those that sits on a shelf. It's my own little piece of Africa.

If I ever hit it rich and decide to invest in "artwork" it will be in nice antique-oriental weaponry.

[Dade_Murphy]

No disrespect intended, but wouldn't you engage your wife in your hobbies? You would likewise have to indulge her's. It's probably not of great importance to you, but it might set a benchmark in your relationship. Remember that you lead the way. If you can engage her in your quirky hobbies and can accept her's, you might find that you have a closer relationship. IMO

[Dade_Murphy]

After reading my German response... It sounds unfeeling. Basically you appreciate your gift, you like knives and you love your wife. Let her know that you like collecting knives until she understands that you would not want a secretness. She may get upset and tell you that you don't understand xthing that she also cherishes. From there you can get balance.

[Crawfinski]

I like collecting and I admire them, but it is by no meals a deal breaker :) Some of the above rhetoric was merely overemphasis. She doesn't mind the collecting, as long as it is within reason, but the $2000-$3000 knives upon which this thread was started are in no way within the bounds of my limits (even though I admire them greatly).

[Dade_Murphy]

I perhaps overemphasized as well. You are likely to be like most American knife enthusiats, just as I am. Anyway, some of my recomms. are SOG Nightvision ( with a small mod, grinding down the sticking point and polishing, just enough to keep it closed with gravity) is an exceptional blade for carrying. Faster than a switch and stronger (may require many hours of re-edging, but totally worth it).
Sorry for the man woman yada la. I am a serious collector and mod smith. If you have any questions>>> [email protected]>com

[Crawfinski]

Thanks Dade

I like SOG...right now I carry a Flash 2. It's been decent knife, but I've got my eyes open as always.