[HeresJohnny]

I'd been thinking about making a knife thread for a while, but I wasn't sure if anyone else on here had a passion for knife collecting like I do. But I figured you never know unless you try so here goes. When I was 9, my mother gave me a knife that belonged to my father. It was a Buck 110 and to me it was the absolutely most amazing thing I'd seen; the heft in hand, the solid engagement of the lock when it was opened, the beautiful wood inlays surrounded by brass end pieces and a blade that was, literally, hair splitting sharp. I carried it with me in my pocket despite it coming with a sheath designed for belts and I used it for a ton of things: whittling, fishing, hunting, you name it. At some point, I lost it and I was absolutely gutted not only because I loved it and it was a touchstone to my father, but also because it was super useful.

Decades later and I have dozens of knives. Maybe calling myself a collector is a bad term; more like an admirer. If I leave the house, there's a knife in my pocket, and if I forget one, it drives me nuts because I know I'm going to need it at some point during the day. I conceal carry, but I think carrying a knife is equally if not more important to me just because I know I'm going to use that knife every. single. day. So anyway, here it is: a thread where we talk about steel. I'll start with my most recent purchase, the Kershaw Iridium Launch. This knife is an auto version of the manual thumb stud deployment Iridium that came out a couple years ago. That knife got huge buzz not only for its sweet design, but its amazing price point, which is around $65. The D2 steel is just okay, and the knife is made in China, but the design is an absolutely knockout. Kershaw hit it out of the park with this one, so it only stood to reason they'd capitalize on that. The Launch Iridium is the same basic design, only now it has Magnacut steel, is made in America, and is an automatic, which, to most of you means a switchblade. Here's a video on it:




What knives do you own? Have you fallen down this rabbit hole like I did? Please share.

 

[J-Roderton]

I own a ton. Mostly slipjoints.

This one never leaves my pocket, though.

 

[Arkam]

I have a decent amount of knives. Basic folders, Automatics, balisongs, Swiss Armies and fixed blades (skinning, tanto*, survival)

I too ALWAYS have a blade on me (unless the area prohibits). I even have a sexy little CRKT that I carry when in a suit. Looks like a pen in the pocket.

If this thread is blades in general, I also collect functional swords (aka high carbon). Have a 6 katana, a bastard sword, two rapiers and a few "zombie killer" type ones that just seemed fun.

 

[Spiders]

Just remember guys, no ninja swords.

 

[Arkam]

Just remember guys, no ninja swords.

 

[quickwhips]

I had a bunch of knife when I was a kid /teen. I am starting to get some more now as I've been teaching kids how to use a pocket knife in scouts.

 

[Arkam]

One of my all-time favorite knives is the Cold Steel Broken Skull. They are the perfect everyday pocket knife. Good steel, Cold Steel lock up, G-10 handles, thin profile, SUPER LITE and a big enough blade to work for self defense. I bought 4 of them in different colors (surprisingly never black) And back when I was getting them, they were super cheap. Paid $40-60 each. They stopped making them and replaced with cheaper made knife, the Range Boss.

 

[HeresJohnny]

One of my all-time favorite knives is the Cold Steel Broken Skull. They are the perfect everyday pocket knife. Good steel, Cold Steel lock up, G-10 handles, thin profile, SUPER LITE and a big enough blade to work for self defense. I bought 4 of them in different colors (surprisingly never black) And back when I was getting them, they were super cheap. Paid $40-60 each. They stopped making them and replaced with cheaper made knife, the Range Boss.

I like that a lot. Its design and blade profile reminds me a Buck 110

 

[HeresJohnny]

A knife of mine that gets a TON of carry time is the Spyderco Delica 4. Nothing special, Japanese VG10 steel but the way Spyderco made the scales fit the hand is brilliant and there's a perfect amount of jimping that gives it an amazing feel in the hand. I have the blue scale model and I just love it. The only thing I'd really change is the pocket clip, which is pretty long given the knife's smaller frame. It's a hell of a value though; I think I paid like $85 for it and even though it's been outclassed by newer offerings I would never get rid of it.

 

[HeresJohnny]

Here's a great write up on different knife steels, their strengths and their weaknesses.

https://www.bladehq.com/blog/knife-steel-guide?srsltid=AfmBOopENAjQrvfpcS9tUCE0j0cxvtJvQrz1V29mEtdC1w0sPZobbpSU

 

[Asmonius]

Don't we already have a British thread?

 

[HeresJohnny]

Ok so let's discuss the mighty Bugout:



Put simply, it's been a huge hit for Benchmade, but it isn't without its detractors. For starters, the lack of any real kind of liner bothers (some) people. Also the S30v is merely good when it comes to super steels. But here's the thing: I have carried one for several years and I love how light the knife is. I haven't babied mine either; in fact I've beaten the shit out of it, and it still holds an edge well and there's been no issue at all with the structural integrity of the knife. I have the OG blue one and it's been a good purchase IMO. Now, there has been quite a lot of brouhaha over this Ozark Trail Bugout knockoff that, in many people's opinions, bests the $150+ Bugout for a paltry $10:



I get the argument; after all you could buy 15 of these Ozarks for 1 Bugout. What's your take on this?

 

[J-Roderton]

Never could justify spending Benchmade money.

 

[Arkam]

Ok so let's discuss the mighty Bugout:



Put simply, it's been a huge hit for Benchmade, but it isn't without its detractors. For starters, the lack of any real kind of liner bothers (some) people. Also the S30v is merely good when it comes to super steels. But here's the thing: I have carried one for several years and I love how light the knife is. I haven't babied mine either; in fact I've beaten the shit out of it, and it still holds an edge well and there's been no issue at all with the structural integrity of the knife. I have the OG blue one and it's been a good purchase IMO. Now, there has been quite a lot of brouhaha over this Ozark Trail Bugout knockoff that, in many people's opinions, bests the $150+ Bugout for a paltry $10:



I get the argument; after all you could buy 15 of these Ozarks for 1 Bugout. What's your take on this?

There is a place for cheap blades. If I am going to keep it in a kitchen drawer or a tacklebox, its gonna be $25 or less. Sometimes these knives are solid, sometimes they are pieces of shit.

But there is a tangible difference between a nice blade and a cheap one. I have a few Benchmade and you can feel the quality. But I think a better comparison is my two Spyderco. One is a $60 Made is China one and the other is a $275 USA made one....and the difference is glaring! MUCH better steel, better scales, better built. BUT the cheaper one works just as well for most use cases.

If you can afford higher end knives, get them. If you cant, there are a lot of solid cost effective options. Sure they wont last as long, but thats ok, they are likely MUCH cheaper. So just buy another one.

Only thing I dont recommend going cheap on are automatics. ESPECIALLY OTF automatics. Just get a micortech. You will likely waste money getting a lesser brand.