I’m just happy to see someone actually carrying a knife. Expensive or not, it’s just awesome to be a knife person and it’s awesome to see other knife people
I’m in the same category as you Small Time EDC, I’m new to all this but am budget minded to all this considering I have bigger priorities. I do enjoy the high end stuff but am satisfied with budget knives as well. Plenty of channels that cover both.
I feel it's not as big of a deal to punch up. We should give people some leeway when they busting balls when it comes to going after the likes of Jim Skelton. Nothing against him, but when there are people on this planet living in hell holes like Syria and Venezuela, we can grow some thick skin.
@@JohnFrumFromAmerica How's the action on the Thistle. I've been looking at that one for a while. I think I'd like the blade shape and the unique variation of the button lock. Does it have PB washers?
My knife rules: 1. Be an ambassador. 2. Don't be a knife jerk. 3. Don't be a knife asshole. 4. Keep 'em sharp and they won't get dull. 5. Buy what you love. 6. Don't write off a type of knife without trying it.
I've watched outpost76, LTK, cedric&ada for a while. One thing I've learned is we are talked into higher and higher prices steel. For the most part there's not that much difference.
Funny enough, I notice the most difference when sharpening. And I really like to sharpen M390 Yes, it takes longer, but it feels smoother. For performance, geometry of the blade makes far more difference.
154CM is the highest high-end I aspire to own and it works like a dream. The whole knife shaming thing is bs if you really know knives. Ive had buddies who had Gerbers and Kershaws n shit and Ive fixed them up for them, made sheaths etc. No shame
This could be the best knife related info I’ve watched. Thanks and I’m newbie, at 54 thank goodness I went thru this with watches from my mid 20s till abt 45. The only thing I would add is; if the knife u really want is outta ur price range, hold on, save up. Don’t get that something that’s close but isn’t ur grail, ur gonna end up up buying the grail anyway(if it’s a production run) ...been there done that with watches
I agree 100%, I would also add, if it’s out of your price range don’t think “I should sell all my knives and get a Sebenza!”. Like you stated save up, you will appreciate it WAY more. And still will have all your Kershaws to beat up😂
Great vid. Wanted to drop into the comments and share a bit of an anecdote that I think is relevant about my leaving and coming back to the knife community. I was pretty significantly involved in all the forums, insta, etc. for several years. But I’d watch people gatekeep and belittle new people constantly. I would try to be someone that tried to counteract that as best I could because as a lefty and being someone who is the opposite of a tacticool dude bro I always felt like I didn’t quite fit into the community at the time when the community was a lottttt of tacticool dude bros and gatekeeping snobs, for lack of a better term. So eventually I got tired of how the community was to the point I sold my collection, kept a Para 3, and walked away from the community. Fast forward a couple of years and I logged back into my knife insta just to see what was up and ended up buying a couple of knives. Decided to poke around a bit and found that the community had totally changed, and for the better. I definitely have come back to a more accepting, broad, and helpful community with people making content that I think is more relatable and welcoming to everyone. Anyway, all that to say, be nice to new people joining the community and being a gatekeeper helps no one and, such as in my case, can push even the most ingrained community member to leave said community.
I like this style of talk every once in awhile. A once a month type "guidance" talk, a Q&A or the like. I think it brings a month to a close feel to it. As always, love the channel, love the knives and what "Slicey Dicey" brings to them table.
Totally agree , been collecting for over 40 years , all started back in the day with a twist lock and a buck 110 in Alaska had to sharpen it every other week but I loved those two knives , the natural evolution and appreciation of the constant upgrading had me at this point a dedicated safe for folders and fixed blades that use to cost $75,100,150 and are now on in the thousands o very close to it in e-bay and dedicated knife auction houses , I have a special esteem for all of my vintage MOD, lone wolf and microtech vero beach production line, black jack , bench made , Chris’s reeves and spyserco just to mention a few ,but don’t take me wrong I have daily grinders that are in my weekly - monthly edc rotation , surprisingly I find my self returning to a affordable favorite for the last 4-5 years , a spiderco resilience made in China 🤷🏻♂️ love the knife specially when it comes to food prep when camping with my kids . Go figure .😬😂😂😂💪🏼💪🏼
My most expensive knife is either my Massdrop Keen or My Gayle Bradley 2. I think the budget knife scene is good enough for that to be the only thing for one to buy. It's come to a point where I just think most designs should have a budget version. Because the budget knives can still be GREAT.
@@PoetFisherman yeah, you can get a Nitro-v Ferrum forge design for 90 bucks. M390 for 100. Fantastic , high quality designer collaborations for around 50! Simply an incredible time for knives.
I do not understand why people feel the need to rain on someone else’s parade when clearly that person is getting joy from their method of the knife hobby. Everyone seeks out knives for different reasons and just because someone doesn’t have the same usage or passion as you, that does not give you justification to ruin their experience.
I agree with your steel snob comments, but for me I just like to sharpen them and see what they can do. K390, M4, etc are impressive and fun to test them out. To be honest though, when it comes to actual use I'm the same as everyone else.
I started my real knife collection with Ontario Rat 1 after owning some tac forces and Mtechs. Then a bunch of kershaws, crkts, steel wills, opinel, byrds, bokers.....eventually got into spydercos. I have about 40 knives, and i appreciate the journey through all the knives I've bought.
Hi I've been into knives just over a nd im in alotof knife group and im a budget knife guy i expected knife shaming but these people are some of the coolest and most helpful people I've encountered
Great video! Although I was wondering about the vitriol towards cologne, until I realized you were talking about clones. That makes a lot more sense lol! I think you covered everything quite nicely, well thought out!
Mr. Dicey, as a 17 year old collector this video was exactly what I was in need of. Ive been struggling with the Pokémon phase and have lost a paycheck or two, but have since aquired a solid base (PM2, 940, Malibu, sprint, etc.) Im just glad im doing it now while im not paying grown man bills and asking for approval from the ol’ ball and chain 😂
I have a Shiro, Rockstead, Chris Reeve and on down... and I enjoy carrying the cheaper CRKT’s, inexpensive models of Kershaw and Ganzos just as much. Buy and carry what YOU like. You wanna collect M-Techs? Have at it!
I definitely agree with "don't overpay for sprint runs". I'm pretty fond of Great Eastern Cutlery knives, but their low production volume and very, er... enthusiastic customer base has made them nearly impossible to get. And of course, they end up on eBay for minimum double MSRP that same day. From my perspective, I like the knives, but I don't like them enough to camp the new arrivals page, only to get cart sniped and see them all sell out in less than 20 seconds (I'm not exaggerating on that one). And while they're great knives... they're absolutely not worth what they end up on eBay for. Paying those prices only feeds the market, and I've got better things to do.
I thought I'd try to get a 74 mustang because I liked the looks and to see what the GEC hype is about. Needless to say I now see the GEC buying madness and will just get a less popular model that's in stock somewhere lol
@@dustinkelley7932 Why some models stick around for years and others go in seconds baffles me. There are some great ones out there as long as you're not too picky for a particular style.
I've worked a lot in manufacturing and when it comes to supply and demand I prefer the integrity of a company that takes the "we are at maximum production capacity and life is good because that's a good problem to have" philosophy over what I usually see of the "must cut corners and push people and machines past what's reasonable to meet demand" approach. I'll wait for a good product.
I have worked a lot in manufacturing as well, most of my life was spent in factories and machine shops. I laugh everytime I hear the American made thing. It pains me to say American pride isn't what it used to be or should be. In most places all management cares about is numbers and all most workers care about is a pay check. How good the product is doesn't seem to be very important. And I mean larger companies, not small family run stuff.
@@mariannehalpern5488 Forgive me for not knowing who you are but I googled you. You are one of the small companies I was talking about. I would consider protech to be another one. Small companies that started out doing customs and stuff then grew but are still small enough to know all your employees are not what I am talking about. I am talking about large corporations that pump out millions of units. I have worked for places and heck I will name names, Tecumseh Products in Michigan that could just care less. Once we pulled comressors off the line because they were bad, I mean like two or three skids of them. 3 hours later they were getting put back on the line because management told someone to do it. We said those are bad, why are running them? Our answer was "that is why we have a warranty department"! They wanted to hit their numbers and they didn't care how they did it. And workers are not much better sometimes. They will break equipment or sabatoge parts out of spite or to get breaks. And these things I have seen in many large factories. My point is where something is made isn't always an indication of how good it might be. 40 years ago maybe, but not anymore. Small places like you still take pride in what they do and care about what people think. Other larger companies, not so much as long as they are making money.
@@biteme263 We are a fairly new knife brand. I am just so proud to be 100% USA manufactured in MA of all states. Our materials and suppliers are also USA made right down to the screws.
I like this type of video, this is really interesting, especially for someone like me who just started seriously collecting about 6 months ago. When you said don't be a steel snob, I looked over my collection & had to ask myself, "Am I actually a steel snob? I might be!" But then I realized that I bought all those knives because I love their look, craftsmanship, & ergos first, & the high-end steel second. I'd be lying if I said the steel doesn't matter at all, but I asked myself, if they were all 8CR13MOV, would I still want to own/carry them? And the answer was yes in every case. Whew! So I feel like that might actually beat least one good question we can ask ourselves to determine how much we really want a knife: If it had a "lower-end" steel, would I still want to own/carry it?" Anyway, you other points are all salient as well, & I'm glad I watched this & agreed with everything you said, LOL. Keep it up, man! 😃
I’m sorry Slicey Dicey, but I have to do this to you. FIRST!! I hope that some message of not gatekeeping is put in there. Because financial gatekeeping is not fun. I gave my best friend a para 3 and a sharpening system because he couldn’t afford it, and I saw his collection, and even though it has cheap knives, they’re not that bad! He has case backlocks, a Walmart flipper knife, and even his grandfather’s BUCK 112! For his birthday next year I’m sending that baby to Buck to shine it up.
Everyone needs a buddy like Shaked T! My PM2 was given to me by a great guy, and it was the beginning of my modest collection. But it was the quality, and the honest “you need a good blade buddy, take this one.” And it meant more to me than he knows. I paid it forward recently myself with a custom Endura to a good friend. You are a gentleman and a scholar sir!
Dude, Urban Gentry is one of my top 3 channela for watches for sure! I stopped the vid just to tip my hat after a minute to give proper cheers! Mind you, I am a sub-100$ casio guy all day long, but I love and download his channel for great content! Thanks for the cross channel cheers, I'm way more a knife guy, but that shows us how much we are all alike! *clink*
In the very beginning of being new to the collecting/hobbyist side knives, there were a few $150-$200 knives I instantly bought when the came back in stock in fear of not being able to get one. I very quickly came to find out they just happened to be out of stock when I discovered them and that they’ve been in production for many years and will continue to be for years to come with many options as well. When you have what I like to call the “niche gene”, which triggers that need to learn and obtain everything when you into something new. It can make it hard to avoid getting caught up in the hype and excitement. Love videos like this and a pretty impressive one take straight through!
I got into buying and collecting knives around 2014. I still have yet to sell a knife. My collection is like the universe - ever expanding. That being said, I got two rules and two rules only: Don't be rude to other people and collect whatever tickles my fancy.
Made a lot of sense , I used to think g10 was going backwards into cheap but I love n some of my favorites are in g10 and are just as quality as some of my "higher end" knives.
I'm proud of my budget knife collection. There are some truly awesome budget knives, and I get great joy seeing how wonderfully engineered and built inexpensive knives can get. But ya, early on I was buying knives doing the Pokemon thing. I have a bunch of knives I shouldn't have bought. But in the past year I have been more careful with my selections. Great video!
Thank you. I’m not an experienced at collector. You, Shabazz and Metal Complex all help me learn a lot. Where I’m now at, is understanding that my paw size and use differ as do what brings me joy. At first I thought I had to love what others do. But I see now I really like thumb studs, and not flippers. Just a personal choice, no judgement on either. I’m not a tactical knife fighter, so .xx quicker opening doesn’t come into play. I also don’t carry my knives that are under 3.5 blade length, 4.0 is even better. That is just a size to paw ratio that works for me. Rule number x, find what works for you, and be ok with it. I discovered this by seeing what I actually carry, not what I wish I carried. As to copy cat theory, in writing I like, “There are only five stories ever written, Shakespeare wrote them all, and did it better than the rest of us.”
I'm not attached to one little thing but I am attached to one knife. It's my benchmade crooked river that my grandparents got me for Christmas 3-4 years ago. It was my first high end knife apart from my balisongs and one of the few knives that I've never even thought of selling/trading
I'm with you on number 7! Steel snobs are interesting people. If I'm going to get a knife to take care of my daily tasks I don't mind what steel it is as long as it cuts! If it can't cut through tape/paper then there's a problem.😉 Great vid!🍻🍻
Don’t buy a knife you don’t like just because people say it’s a knife “everyone should own”. If you don’t like it, there is probably a reason for it, and owning one probably won’t make you like it.
Good one. Whenever people ask this on the forums, it's like they're missing the point. It's the wrong question. Everyone should start with what appeals to them and go from there. What noobs can do is peruse, find what what catches their eye, and then ask for opinions on quality of those. Maybe they've chosen a lemon but there's a better one that would scratch the same itch. That's a better use of community opinions than "tell me what I must own to do this right."
I bought a 940, and immediately decided I had to play Pokémon. Discovered there’s over 40 versions of it been done all these years. 😬 So it changed to just collecting all of Warren Osborne’s collaboration knifes with Benchmade. Of course many of those are discontinued and rarely surface on any secondary market. 😬 So I’m right there with you regarding playing Pokémon. It can get overwhelming and impossible and supremely expensive! Not something to do at the very beginning of getting into knifes. You don’t have the experience and your expectations can make you quite naïve.
Yea, I liked it. More of like just a conversation about what everyone here is interested in. I guess the funny thing is, there are mistakes and mishaps even in something as simple as collecting, or knife collecting in this case. So bravo Bryan, well done.
Wow Brian that was a very enjoyable vid. Many of those things were common sense but it’s ALWAYS good to be reminded. Some were things I hadn’t really thought about. Thanks for being honest and sharing your insights.
Great video. I didn't think that I was a steel snob until I got a PM-2 in in K-390. That is an amazing steel. The TRMs kinda fell off my radar. Thanx for the reminder. Here;s my list. (Diclaimer_ I don't get paid to do videos.) PM-2, RAT-1,AD-10 &15, SW Modus and Cutjack, SOG Terminus in D2, BM Osborm in M390, several Kershaws, several Cold Steels. I also purchased a Bugout without holding it. BIg mistake! I really dislike itl The one thing that I think that you should have mentioned was, it at all possible, hold the knife .Because I buy most of mine online, this does not happen very often. I was able to hold the BM Osborn and the Hogue EX-05 when I was at Smokey Mountain Knife Works That's why I purchased them. Thanx again for a great video.
As far as the "generating hype" or "false scarcity" issue, I agree with what you said except in the case of Grimsmo Knives. The Norseman originally sold for $650 or so, but now a bare bones version is almost $950 with shipping if you get selected for the buyers choice. Its the same knife, same steel, no extra details, so it doesnt make sense to me that the price went up by almost 50%
Agree. No shaming. I can imagine a VERY nice collection of $20 knives (and I DO buy inexpensive knives, for peace of mind EDC). I don’t use a bunch of mine, either. I DO enjoy them, A LOT, but more for their unique qualities. They will be around for somebody else to enjoy in 20 years, and if I ever want to sell any, they will bring top dollar. One way I justify spending so much money on them is that they are an investment. They retain most of their value, and sometimes appreciate, if we take good care of them.
I have 3 knives that suit me and where I live. Cheap in North America, I had them sent to me in Asia. Very happy with the money I saved as it allows me to buy a few other items I need. And people complained about them - my reaction - my money, my knives, my pocket.
Great topic video!! I have found the variety of knives to be the most fun in collecting now. So many great designs and uses to try out. I kinda like the "air quotes" as it drives that message home!! Thanks for sharing and have a great week! Happy Veterans Day!
Eirony of your comment about cpm154 on an $800+ blade is everything I’m interested in at that level tends to come in 154 or rwl34... I think largely because at that point the “how good of a hand finish can it get matters more than edge retention or whatever.No ones using a Pena custom front flipper to break down cardboard boxes in a warehouse all day anyway.
I _used_ to think I was a steel snob, but the more exposed I become to the broader IKC, I realize there are orders of magnitude of greater snobbery out there! Oh, I do have a few folders with fancy steels, but I'll also buy something in 8Cr13MoV... provided I like the design and it's priced well. I might not turn to the latter when I have a ton of cardboard to break down though.
This is a great video and so on point. Thanks for posting this! I'll admit it, I've done one of two of these, though mostly when I started collecting. It's always better to be kind. We especially need more kindness online. Also, 100% about not griping about small, US companies that can only produce small runs of production knives. I've grumbled about missing a drop, but some people lose their mind and go on huge temper trantrums. Calm down, it's just a knife.
I carried a Kershaw Cryo with 8CR for a long time, and was perfectly happy with it, it's a great knife... until I started learning about steels. Now I won't carry it, and I miss it sometimes.
The Pokémon lesson is a hard one to learn. I hit the brakes at 11 Para3s and I know there are folks out there who are way deeper than that... but whats worst, I looked at my collection and there were 7 PM2 and 4 Shaman as well. I'd recommend anyone to find a platform they like and buy a basic model, then if you really love it, treat yourself to a sprint or two, buy cut yourself off before the compulsion to buy sprints takes over. 2 is my preference for models I truly enjoy and want to have around forever, 3 is my max.
I think it's good to do a reality check on how much you actually use your knives so that when you see a cool fun one you like but it's in 8Cr or something (looking at you, CRKT) you can say, "Yeah, not what I want, yet how much use is this knife really going to see?" Because if you've got dozens of knives, yet aren't a guy with robust regular knife needs, it probably isn't going to get used a lot, so the steel won't really matter much.
Hard but welcomed truths, I only wished that I had, had a knife collecting sherpa's wisdom bestowed upon me when I first blindly drove into the murky depths of knife collecting. Thank you for the reality check on where my collection is headed and what I'm comfortable with, I talk myself off the ledge of the new hotness more and more lately...it has actually made me more appreciative of my carefully curated collection. The thrill of the hunt is half of the fun!
I started almost binge-buying knives when I decided to start a small collection. Well, tbh, I wanted another decent hunting knife or two but got carried away. Within (I think) 18 months or so, I had 30+ knives of all different styles and steels and locking systems. I haven't bought a new knife in around 18 months because I'm happy with what I have now and the majority of them are knives I have or will use at some point. I've also got some weird knives that serve no purpose other than to have someone ask, "why was that made?" The only advice I'd have for a new collector is, try not to fall into the pattern I did when I started watching a heap of YT channels. I ended up buying knives just so I could test them and compare them in-hand. For example, I have a few Hultifors and Moraknivs that are for all intents and purposes, the same knife. But I wanted to play with them. But hey, if that satisfies your geek side (it did for me), go for it.
I do actually notice how quickly my blades dull, but only because I generally know how sharp I keep them. I notice that the 20CV on my Hinderer stays sharper for longer than the D2 on my Elementum or the 440c on my Leatherman. It has rarely ever been essential for my knife to stay sharp for a crazy long time, it's just a nice bonus. The only issue I ever have with blade steels are rust/corrosion. I sweat a lot, and even though I'm very much landlocked, it's still very humid where I live. I don't tend to think about it until I see or feel the rust. I've started staying away from things that aren't stainless just as a personal preference, and I honestly got annoyed enough to where I got a Quiet Carry Waypoint in Vanax so I know for a fact that I'll have a knife that won't ever rust or corrode. I'm a steel snob when it comes to myself. If it's anyone else, I'll tell them the pros and cons of steels, but I'll never shame them for any of their choices. I'm part of another community known as The Whisk(e)y Tribe and rule #1 is: The best whiskey is the whiskey you like to drink, the way you like to drink it. That core concept has kept our community essentially snob free, and I always bring that mentality to any other hobby/community I get into. Banter is always allowed, obviously, but it's usually pretty easy to tell when someone is just kidding around and when someone is trying to put you down for the whiskey you like, the way you're drinking it; i.e. the knife you like, the blade steels, how cheap or expensive it is, etc. TL;DR: Just because I can notice differences in material used doesn't mean I would criticize or put down others for using things I wouldn't/don't. Each person has different things they find valuable. The only thing I ever try to offer is information and knowledge to allow whoever asks for it better ability to make the decision for themselves. I think that's part of what communities like these are for. They're for comradery and exchange of information and ideas. I agree wholeheartedly with basically everything you said here, just my point of view. I use my expensive knives, and I use my cheaper knives. Some days I use my knives hard, some days I don't use them at all (besides some fidgeting). I'm glad to see so many people in the comments agreeing and contributing to the positive aspects of this community. Slight tangent here; I like the EpicSnuggleBunny approach, where I use all of my knives because when it comes time to make room in the bank account or for other knives, the safe queens are always the first to go. I may not have the bank account that he has XD, but it's how I approach my knife purchases. If I'm not going to use it, I'm probably not going to buy it. If I had to sell one knife out of the ones that I own, it would be the Medford Praetorian T. I never use it, so it has less value to me than most of my other knives. Also, it's easily the most expensive knife I have, so that coupled with the rarity of its use means that it's gone if I ever decide to sell some of my collection.
Great video. May I suggest #12 Plan out your storage system. I literally have knives all over the house, with one large Spyder Pack to hold them. Drives my wife nuts. Found my 0707 next to the toaster this morning.
Hey Bryan! I've been watching for for years now. I know you aren't a huge fan of fixed blades, but I have one I think might change your mind. It's called the Bradford Guardian 3s. Mine is in 3d OD green micarta and M390. It is very easy to carry as an edc. If you'd like, I can ship it to you and you can try it out for yourself for as long as you'd like. It uses a horizontal carry, leather sheath and is super comfy for a fixed blade. Anyways, thanks for the video, always enjoy watching your content.
I also love the philosophy videos. Thanks!!! Agreed with all your points. Especially: ‘it’s just a knife’ I might add don’t listen to others to find your own thing. lol thanks again, love your videos.
Personally I'm not necessarily even interested in the must-have knives. I just want whatever excites me at a given point in time. If that's something the knife community deems forgettable, then why should I care? Most people seem to hate Opinels or at least find them boring, but the cheap AF walnut-handled No.6 remains a favourite of mine (a well-oiled piece of walnut is a thing of beauty). The Kizer Envoy was mostly ignored, but I find the faux-bolsters form the perfect middle ground between unobtrusiveness and flair. I like it enough to have carried it as my default EDC for a year now. On the other hand, a beloved knife like the 940 doesn't tempt me one bit. To each their own.
Since there are few knife dealers around here to put hands on knives, Portland Oregon, buying and selling is a way to try knives for the cost of mailing. Those that stick are great. And yes there a buttload of manufacturers here but most don’t do retail kershaw ZT I’m talking to you....
8Cr13MoV is an awesome steel. Try changing you edge geometry, behind the edge thickness, and edge grit before worrying about the steel. As long as the steel has been heat treated for use as a knife blade, you should be fine. Most knives used for work, like utility knives and box cutters, are 420J2 or 1095, if you are lucky M2. They have edge angles at or less than 15° and are thin.
I'm an edc guy. I absolutely love budget knives for edc (100 or below). Don't get me wrong. Id love to walk around with a Lunar Landing in my pocket. I just dont have 600 bucks for one.
Right on the nail head with the pm2 sprint runs . I really wish retailer would limit it to one per person so many guys buy 2 then sell one to pay for both .
I remember when 440C got a bad rep from ignorant companies using ignorant heat treats. It was actually cheaper to put on a better edge than over-tempering the 440C at a higher temperature and making them too soft out of fear from broken tips. I make knives, but I'm not replacing a broken tip, it is a knife not a pry bar. A chipped edge I'll fix, but not a broken tip.
I'm probably guilty of steel snobbery. I do believe that at certain price points certain specs should be expected. That would be my biggest gripe with the Grimsmo Norseman, that a $900 knife has an RWL34 blade (or CPM 154 nowadays). Awesome knives, incredible action, vanilla steel. I may not be able to tell the difference, but at that price I would want something better.
Thanks for the video. I have "collected" for 35 years. Never buy a knife you can't bring yourself to use because that one you think is going to resell will tank in price for sure. If it won't cut, it's not a knife, it might have the shape of a knife but if you can't cut with it it's just metal sculpture. The handle is more important than you think when you are new to the hobby, it's the user interface. No such thing as a good excuse for a knife, take responsibility for your choices and be proud of your collection...don't buy things you are immediately ashamed of. There's lot's more to learn but it gets to boring for anyone. " Real" knife people are generous with their knowledge and usually their time. They usually want to show their treasures and not hide or sell them. If it's not a known dealer and they go hard on the selling rather than the sharing, it's a giant red flag.
Good vid Bryan. I'm a little bit of a Pokémon collector. I don't want every knife, but I do want something from every brand. Just to be well rounded and experience their differences. Until recently my entire collection (about 40 knives) was of knives costing $70 or less. I now can appreciate the better quality of some more expensive knives. Not sure that I would if I didn't have the budget knives first. I agree with you, no knife or collection shaming. You never know what the collector's end game is. Later!
Interestingly, the entertainment with the knife thing is, no different than collecting anything else, and may use art collecting or and antique collecting as it's archetype, perhaps. We create a little thought world fashioned of our desires, likes, dislikes, based on agreements borrowed from others, or sometimes (rarely) uniquely our own. We defend that turf or seek the comfort of like-thinkers. It's just an exercise in being human in a small niche universe. If we substitute knives for something else the behavior would be little different. I suppose I can afford to sound jaded as I've been "involved" for many decades. 😁. Let's have fun, and thanks for keeping it real, Slicey! 👍🗡️👍 After all, it's only Stuff!
So many times this. Everybody just getting into high-end knives, or any tools, really, needs to know this. Generally speaking, unlesss you find some of the early 80s, SA made stuff, CRs don't make a great (read: unique, special, interesting) collection anyway, and the money could have gotten you much more, whether you're looking for users, or safe-queens for that's sweet, sweet instagram clout.
I have carried all type and dollar value knives. To me I'm very happy just find another person that carries a knife. I also think it's my job to get people into knives so I give out 15-20 knives per year to friends and family. Same with watches
I hate knife shaming, I personally can't afford a lot of high end knives, so the few I do have I'm proud of!
I’m just happy to see someone actually carrying a knife. Expensive or not, it’s just awesome to be a knife person and it’s awesome to see other knife people
I’m in the same category as you Small Time EDC, I’m new to all this but am budget minded to all this considering I have bigger priorities. I do enjoy the high end stuff but am satisfied with budget knives as well. Plenty of channels that cover both.
I feel it's not as big of a deal to punch up. We should give people some leeway when they busting balls when it comes to going after the likes of Jim Skelton. Nothing against him, but when there are people on this planet living in hell holes like Syria and Venezuela, we can grow some thick skin.
One of my favorite knives at the moment is a 15$ kershaw Thistle. Honestly like it better than my zt550
@@JohnFrumFromAmerica How's the action on the Thistle. I've been looking at that one for a while. I think I'd like the blade shape and the unique variation of the button lock. Does it have PB washers?
BRO... you just wrote the Ten Commandments for Knife Enthusiasts. Sooo much truth and good advice in this video!👌🏼💯
My knife rules:
1. Be an ambassador.
2. Don't be a knife jerk.
3. Don't be a knife asshole.
4. Keep 'em sharp and they won't get dull.
5. Buy what you love.
6. Don't write off a type of knife without trying it.
Good rules!!
I've watched outpost76, LTK, cedric&ada for a while. One thing I've learned is we are talked into higher and higher prices steel. For the most part there's not that much difference.
Funny enough, I notice the most difference when sharpening. And I really like to sharpen M390 Yes, it takes longer, but it feels smoother. For performance, geometry of the blade makes far more difference.
@@etherealicer for EDC I really like how these companies have go near to more hollow grinds and thinner edges.
154CM is the highest high-end I aspire to own and it works like a dream. The whole knife shaming thing is bs if you really know knives.
Ive had buddies who had Gerbers and Kershaws n shit and Ive fixed them up for them, made sheaths etc. No shame
This could be the best knife related info I’ve watched. Thanks and I’m newbie, at 54 thank goodness I went thru this with watches from my mid 20s till abt 45. The only thing I would add is; if the knife u really want is outta ur price range, hold on, save up. Don’t get that something that’s close but isn’t ur grail, ur gonna end up up buying the grail anyway(if it’s a production run) ...been there done that with watches
I agree 100%, I would also add, if it’s out of your price range don’t think “I should sell all my knives and get a Sebenza!”. Like you stated save up, you will appreciate it WAY more. And still will have all your Kershaws to beat up😂
Truth
I was way into watches.
Now I’m over to the world of knives. So I totally know what you mean.
Great vid. Wanted to drop into the comments and share a bit of an anecdote that I think is relevant about my leaving and coming back to the knife community.
I was pretty significantly involved in all the forums, insta, etc. for several years. But I’d watch people gatekeep and belittle new people constantly. I would try to be someone that tried to counteract that as best I could because as a lefty and being someone who is the opposite of a tacticool dude bro I always felt like I didn’t quite fit into the community at the time when the community was a lottttt of tacticool dude bros and gatekeeping snobs, for lack of a better term. So eventually I got tired of how the community was to the point I sold my collection, kept a Para 3, and walked away from the community.
Fast forward a couple of years and I logged back into my knife insta just to see what was up and ended up buying a couple of knives. Decided to poke around a bit and found that the community had totally changed, and for the better. I definitely have come back to a more accepting, broad, and helpful community with people making content that I think is more relatable and welcoming to everyone.
Anyway, all that to say, be nice to new people joining the community and being a gatekeeper helps no one and, such as in my case, can push even the most ingrained community member to leave said community.
A lot of your list of “donts” also work for life in general. I like it!
I’ve got a 400 dollar d2 and titanium knife from Brouse blades a well done d2 heat treat with good finish won’t rust and holds a solid edge .
I like this style of talk every once in awhile. A once a month type "guidance" talk, a Q&A or the like. I think it brings a month to a close feel to it.
As always, love the channel, love the knives and what "Slicey Dicey" brings to them table.
AMEN man. I love knives and I have 3 kids and not much money. The best knife is the one you have in your pocket when u need it. Grate work
Totally agree , been collecting for over 40 years , all started back in the day with a twist lock and a buck 110 in Alaska had to sharpen it every other week but I loved those two knives , the natural evolution and appreciation of the constant upgrading had me at this point a dedicated safe for folders and fixed blades that use to cost $75,100,150 and are now on in the thousands o very close to it in e-bay and dedicated knife auction houses , I have a special esteem for all of my vintage MOD, lone wolf and microtech vero beach production line, black jack , bench made , Chris’s reeves and spyserco just to mention a few ,but don’t take me wrong I have daily grinders that are in my weekly - monthly edc rotation , surprisingly I find my self returning to a affordable favorite for the last 4-5 years , a spiderco resilience made in China 🤷🏻♂️ love the knife specially when it comes to food prep when camping with my kids . Go figure .😬😂😂😂💪🏼💪🏼
My most expensive knife is either my Massdrop Keen or My Gayle Bradley 2. I think the budget knife scene is good enough for that to be the only thing for one to buy. It's come to a point where I just think most designs should have a budget version. Because the budget knives can still be GREAT.
Amen to this. The 'budget' knife market is pulsing with innovation and increasing quality.
@@PoetFisherman yeah, you can get a Nitro-v Ferrum forge design for 90 bucks. M390 for 100. Fantastic , high quality designer collaborations for around 50! Simply an incredible time for knives.
Man thank you for sticking up for us less fortunate ones that just love knives and can't afford the expensive ones
I do not understand why people feel the need to rain on someone else’s parade when clearly that person is getting joy from their method of the knife hobby. Everyone seeks out knives for different reasons and just because someone doesn’t have the same usage or passion as you, that does not give you justification to ruin their experience.
I agree with your steel snob comments, but for me I just like to sharpen them and see what they can do. K390, M4, etc are impressive and fun to test them out. To be honest though, when it comes to actual use I'm the same as everyone else.
I started my real knife collection with Ontario Rat 1 after owning some tac forces and Mtechs. Then a bunch of kershaws, crkts, steel wills, opinel, byrds, bokers.....eventually got into spydercos. I have about 40 knives, and i appreciate the journey through all the knives I've bought.
Thanks for doing this type of content man. I mean everyone loves a knife review but this is the real stuff we all need to hear. So thanks
I enjoy it when you do videos like this. It's a nice break from the regular routine.
Absolutely loved this video. Very positive, very welcoming, and very wholesome. Great advice all along.
Really good points about panic buying, FOMO and feeding trolls. Thanks for this excellent video Bryan!
Hi I've been into knives just over a nd im in alotof knife group and im a budget knife guy i expected knife shaming but these people are some of the coolest and most helpful people I've encountered
People should not be afraid of learning how to sharpen their knives and exprimenting with a couple of inexpensive systems
Great video! Although I was wondering about the vitriol towards cologne, until I realized you were talking about clones. That makes a lot more sense lol! I think you covered everything quite nicely, well thought out!
Mr. Dicey, as a 17 year old collector this video was exactly what I was in need of. Ive been struggling with the Pokémon phase and have lost a paycheck or two, but have since aquired a solid base (PM2, 940, Malibu, sprint, etc.)
Im just glad im doing it now while im not paying grown man bills and asking for approval from the ol’ ball and chain 😂
You may not ever get that far if you keep up that kind of attitude...lol.
Just find an ol’ ball and chain that collects knives! They are out there!
I have a Shiro, Rockstead, Chris Reeve and on down... and I enjoy carrying the cheaper CRKT’s, inexpensive models of Kershaw and Ganzos just as much. Buy and carry what YOU like. You wanna collect M-Techs? Have at it!
I definitely agree with "don't overpay for sprint runs". I'm pretty fond of Great Eastern Cutlery knives, but their low production volume and very, er... enthusiastic customer base has made them nearly impossible to get. And of course, they end up on eBay for minimum double MSRP that same day. From my perspective, I like the knives, but I don't like them enough to camp the new arrivals page, only to get cart sniped and see them all sell out in less than 20 seconds (I'm not exaggerating on that one). And while they're great knives... they're absolutely not worth what they end up on eBay for. Paying those prices only feeds the market, and I've got better things to do.
I thought I'd try to get a 74 mustang because I liked the looks and to see what the GEC hype is about. Needless to say I now see the GEC buying madness and will just get a less popular model that's in stock somewhere lol
@@dustinkelley7932 Why some models stick around for years and others go in seconds baffles me. There are some great ones out there as long as you're not too picky for a particular style.
I've worked a lot in manufacturing and when it comes to supply and demand I prefer the integrity of a company that takes the "we are at maximum production capacity and life is good because that's a good problem to have" philosophy over what I usually see of the "must cut corners and push people and machines past what's reasonable to meet demand" approach. I'll wait for a good product.
I have worked a lot in manufacturing as well, most of my life was spent in factories and machine shops. I laugh everytime I hear the American made thing. It pains me to say American pride isn't what it used to be or should be. In most places all management cares about is numbers and all most workers care about is a pay check. How good the product is doesn't seem to be very important. And I mean larger companies, not small family run stuff.
Immidiatly microtech vs zt came to mind. Solid comment!
@@biteme263 We take Made in USA very seriously :)
@@mariannehalpern5488 Forgive me for not knowing who you are but I googled you. You are one of the small companies I was talking about. I would consider protech to be another one. Small companies that started out doing customs and stuff then grew but are still small enough to know all your employees are not what I am talking about. I am talking about large corporations that pump out millions of units. I have worked for places and heck I will name names, Tecumseh Products in Michigan that could just care less. Once we pulled comressors off the line because they were bad, I mean like two or three skids of them. 3 hours later they were getting put back on the line because management told someone to do it. We said those are bad, why are running them? Our answer was "that is why we have a warranty department"! They wanted to hit their numbers and they didn't care how they did it. And workers are not much better sometimes. They will break equipment or sabatoge parts out of spite or to get breaks. And these things I have seen in many large factories. My point is where something is made isn't always an indication of how good it might be. 40 years ago maybe, but not anymore. Small places like you still take pride in what they do and care about what people think. Other larger companies, not so much as long as they are making money.
@@biteme263 We are a fairly new knife brand. I am just so proud to be 100% USA manufactured in MA of all states. Our materials and suppliers are also USA made right down to the screws.
Great video SD. Love the wisdom shared here. I like the way you show the knives in an actual jeans pocket. Thanks.
I like this type of video, this is really interesting, especially for someone like me who just started seriously collecting about 6 months ago.
When you said don't be a steel snob, I looked over my collection & had to ask myself, "Am I actually a steel snob? I might be!" But then I realized that I bought all those knives because I love their look, craftsmanship, & ergos first, & the high-end steel second. I'd be lying if I said the steel doesn't matter at all, but I asked myself, if they were all 8CR13MOV, would I still want to own/carry them? And the answer was yes in every case. Whew!
So I feel like that might actually beat least one good question we can ask ourselves to determine how much we really want a knife: If it had a "lower-end" steel, would I still want to own/carry it?"
Anyway, you other points are all salient as well, & I'm glad I watched this & agreed with everything you said, LOL.
Keep it up, man! 😃
I’m sorry Slicey Dicey, but I have to do this to you. FIRST!! I hope that some message of not gatekeeping is put in there. Because financial gatekeeping is not fun.
I gave my best friend a para 3 and a sharpening system because he couldn’t afford it, and I saw his collection, and even though it has cheap knives, they’re not that bad! He has case backlocks, a Walmart flipper knife, and even his grandfather’s BUCK 112! For his birthday next year I’m sending that baby to Buck to shine it up.
Everyone needs a buddy like Shaked T! My PM2 was given to me by a great guy, and it was the beginning of my modest collection. But it was the quality, and the honest “you need a good blade buddy, take this one.” And it meant more to me than he knows. I paid it forward recently myself with a custom Endura to a good friend.
You are a gentleman and a scholar sir!
Nothing like a classic BUCK...way to pay it forward! And someday your friend may do the same for someone else!
Dude, Urban Gentry is one of my top 3 channela for watches for sure! I stopped the vid just to tip my hat after a minute to give proper cheers! Mind you, I am a sub-100$ casio guy all day long, but I love and download his channel for great content! Thanks for the cross channel cheers, I'm way more a knife guy, but that shows us how much we are all alike! *clink*
In the very beginning of being new to the collecting/hobbyist side knives, there were a few $150-$200 knives I instantly bought when the came back in stock in fear of not being able to get one. I very quickly came to find out they just happened to be out of stock when I discovered them and that they’ve been in production for many years and will continue to be for years to come with many options as well. When you have what I like to call the “niche gene”, which triggers that need to learn and obtain everything when you into something new. It can make it hard to avoid getting caught up in the hype and excitement. Love videos like this and a pretty impressive one take straight through!
I only have a couple colognes and my wife likes the way they smell so I will keep them.
I got into buying and collecting knives around 2014. I still have yet to sell a knife. My collection is like the universe - ever expanding. That being said, I got two rules and two rules only: Don't be rude to other people and collect whatever tickles my fancy.
Your preference does not have to be the same as someone else’s. There likes and comfort in spending doesn’t have to be yours. Your collect is yours.
Made a lot of sense , I used to think g10 was going backwards into cheap but I love n some of my favorites are in g10 and are just as quality as some of my "higher end" knives.
I’m new to the community. This helps a lot! You are very good at talking at the camera. I’d watch more like this.
I'm proud of my budget knife collection. There are some truly awesome budget knives, and I get great joy seeing how wonderfully engineered and built inexpensive knives can get.
But ya, early on I was buying knives doing the Pokemon thing. I have a bunch of knives I shouldn't have bought. But in the past year I have been more careful with my selections.
Great video!
Thank you. I’m not an experienced at collector. You, Shabazz and Metal Complex all help me learn a lot. Where I’m now at, is understanding that my paw size and use differ as do what brings me joy. At first I thought I had to love what others do. But I see now I really like thumb studs, and not flippers. Just a personal choice, no judgement on either. I’m not a tactical knife fighter, so .xx quicker opening doesn’t come into play. I also don’t carry my knives that are under 3.5 blade length, 4.0 is even better. That is just a size to paw ratio that works for me. Rule number x, find what works for you, and be ok with it. I discovered this by seeing what I actually carry, not what I wish I carried.
As to copy cat theory, in writing I like, “There are only five stories ever written, Shakespeare wrote them all, and did it better than the rest of us.”
I'm not attached to one little thing but I am attached to one knife. It's my benchmade crooked river that my grandparents got me for Christmas 3-4 years ago. It was my first high end knife apart from my balisongs and one of the few knives that I've never even thought of selling/trading
I'm with you on number 7! Steel snobs are interesting people. If I'm going to get a knife to take care of my daily tasks I don't mind what steel it is as long as it cuts! If it can't cut through tape/paper then there's a problem.😉
Great vid!🍻🍻
On the other hand; when defining a collection....say deployment types, or lock types. Or maybe steel types, makes collecting interesting.....
I enjoy these "philosophy" videos. Good list. Thanks
Really enjoy these type of laid-back videos just talking about the hobby and community in general. Keep up the great work on the videos!
Agree 100% on your knife shaming point!!! Steel snobs suck!!! Great video Bryan!!!
I absolutely love fixed blades, and folders.
Thanks for vid; I like this change-up format.
Don’t buy a knife you don’t like just because people say it’s a knife “everyone should own”. If you don’t like it, there is probably a reason for it, and owning one probably won’t make you like it.
Good one. Whenever people ask this on the forums, it's like they're missing the point. It's the wrong question. Everyone should start with what appeals to them and go from there. What noobs can do is peruse, find what what catches their eye, and then ask for opinions on quality of those. Maybe they've chosen a lemon but there's a better one that would scratch the same itch. That's a better use of community opinions than "tell me what I must own to do this right."
"You're opening Amazon packages just like the rest of us" - this line made the whole video gold.
I just found your channel and as soon as you mentioned TGV, I subscribed. love watch’s and knives!!
I bought a 940, and immediately decided I had to play Pokémon. Discovered there’s over 40 versions of it been done all these years. 😬 So it changed to just collecting all of Warren Osborne’s collaboration knifes with Benchmade. Of course many of those are discontinued and rarely surface on any secondary market. 😬 So I’m right there with you regarding playing Pokémon. It can get overwhelming and impossible and supremely expensive! Not something to do at the very beginning of getting into knifes. You don’t have the experience and your expectations can make you quite naïve.
Yea, I liked it. More of like just a conversation about what everyone here is interested in. I guess the funny thing is, there are mistakes and mishaps even in something as simple as collecting, or knife collecting in this case. So bravo Bryan, well done.
Wow Brian that was a very enjoyable vid. Many of those things were common sense but it’s ALWAYS good to be reminded. Some were things I hadn’t really thought about. Thanks for being honest and sharing your insights.
Great video. I didn't think that I was a steel snob until I got a PM-2 in in K-390. That is an amazing steel. The TRMs kinda fell off my radar. Thanx for the reminder. Here;s my list. (Diclaimer_ I don't get paid to do videos.) PM-2, RAT-1,AD-10 &15, SW Modus and Cutjack, SOG Terminus in D2, BM Osborm in M390, several Kershaws, several Cold Steels. I also purchased a Bugout without holding it. BIg mistake! I really dislike itl The one thing that I think that you should have mentioned was, it at all possible, hold the knife .Because I buy most of mine online, this does not happen very often. I was able to hold the BM Osborn and the Hogue EX-05 when I was at Smokey Mountain Knife Works That's why I purchased them. Thanx again for a great video.
As far as the "generating hype" or "false scarcity" issue, I agree with what you said except in the case of Grimsmo Knives. The Norseman originally sold for $650 or so, but now a bare bones version is almost $950 with shipping if you get selected for the buyers choice. Its the same knife, same steel, no extra details, so it doesnt make sense to me that the price went up by almost 50%
Agree. No shaming. I can imagine a VERY nice collection of $20 knives (and I DO buy inexpensive knives, for peace of mind EDC). I don’t use a bunch of mine, either. I DO enjoy them, A LOT, but more for their unique qualities. They will be around for somebody else to enjoy in 20 years, and if I ever want to sell any, they will bring top dollar. One way I justify spending so much money on them is that they are an investment. They retain most of their value, and sometimes appreciate, if we take good care of them.
I have 3 knives that suit me and where I live. Cheap in North America, I had them sent to me in Asia. Very happy with the money I saved as it allows me to buy a few other items I need. And people complained about them - my reaction - my money, my knives, my pocket.
I whole heartedly agree, I prefer American made knives but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t buy knives from other countries.
Bestechs makes not only great, but afordable knives.
Great topic video!! I have found the variety of knives to be the most fun in collecting now. So many great designs and uses to try out. I kinda like the "air quotes" as it drives that message home!! Thanks for sharing and have a great week! Happy Veterans Day!
Eirony of your comment about cpm154 on an $800+ blade is everything I’m interested in at that level tends to come in 154 or rwl34... I think largely because at that point the “how good of a hand finish can it get matters more than edge retention or whatever.No ones using a Pena custom front flipper to break down cardboard boxes in a warehouse all day anyway.
I _used_ to think I was a steel snob, but the more exposed I become to the broader IKC, I realize there are orders of magnitude of greater snobbery out there! Oh, I do have a few folders with fancy steels, but I'll also buy something in 8Cr13MoV... provided I like the design and it's priced well. I might not turn to the latter when I have a ton of cardboard to break down though.
I love TwoSun knives and a lot of them are D2 and 14c28n, I love them. Thank you for the goodness.😊
Two of my favorite knives in my collection are Twosun's. TS 162 in D2. And, TS 127 in 14C28N. Awesomeness! under $45 each.
Great video, great channel. Keep up the good work. Thanks. 👍
This is a great video and so on point. Thanks for posting this! I'll admit it, I've done one of two of these, though mostly when I started collecting. It's always better to be kind. We especially need more kindness online. Also, 100% about not griping about small, US companies that can only produce small runs of production knives. I've grumbled about missing a drop, but some people lose their mind and go on huge temper trantrums. Calm down, it's just a knife.
I carried a Kershaw Cryo with 8CR for a long time, and was perfectly happy with it, it's a great knife... until I started learning about steels. Now I won't carry it, and I miss it sometimes.
Nicely said and down, all great points. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
The Pokémon lesson is a hard one to learn. I hit the brakes at 11 Para3s and I know there are folks out there who are way deeper than that... but whats worst, I looked at my collection and there were 7 PM2 and 4 Shaman as well.
I'd recommend anyone to find a platform they like and buy a basic model, then if you really love it, treat yourself to a sprint or two, buy cut yourself off before the compulsion to buy sprints takes over. 2 is my preference for models I truly enjoy and want to have around forever, 3 is my max.
I think it's good to do a reality check on how much you actually use your knives so that when you see a cool fun one you like but it's in 8Cr or something (looking at you, CRKT) you can say, "Yeah, not what I want, yet how much use is this knife really going to see?" Because if you've got dozens of knives, yet aren't a guy with robust regular knife needs, it probably isn't going to get used a lot, so the steel won't really matter much.
So much wisdom in that video... Just subscribed based on it
Hard but welcomed truths, I only wished that I had, had a knife collecting sherpa's wisdom bestowed upon me when I first blindly drove into the murky depths of knife collecting.
Thank you for the reality check on where my collection is headed and what I'm comfortable with, I talk myself off the ledge of the new hotness more and more lately...it has actually made me more appreciative of my carefully curated collection. The thrill of the hunt is half of the fun!
The copy thing you said about is redolent in the archery community. There's only so many ways you can sling an arrow
I started almost binge-buying knives when I decided to start a small collection. Well, tbh, I wanted another decent hunting knife or two but got carried away. Within (I think) 18 months or so, I had 30+ knives of all different styles and steels and locking systems. I haven't bought a new knife in around 18 months because I'm happy with what I have now and the majority of them are knives I have or will use at some point. I've also got some weird knives that serve no purpose other than to have someone ask, "why was that made?"
The only advice I'd have for a new collector is, try not to fall into the pattern I did when I started watching a heap of YT channels. I ended up buying knives just so I could test them and compare them in-hand. For example, I have a few Hultifors and Moraknivs that are for all intents and purposes, the same knife. But I wanted to play with them.
But hey, if that satisfies your geek side (it did for me), go for it.
I do actually notice how quickly my blades dull, but only because I generally know how sharp I keep them. I notice that the 20CV on my Hinderer stays sharper for longer than the D2 on my Elementum or the 440c on my Leatherman. It has rarely ever been essential for my knife to stay sharp for a crazy long time, it's just a nice bonus. The only issue I ever have with blade steels are rust/corrosion. I sweat a lot, and even though I'm very much landlocked, it's still very humid where I live. I don't tend to think about it until I see or feel the rust. I've started staying away from things that aren't stainless just as a personal preference, and I honestly got annoyed enough to where I got a Quiet Carry Waypoint in Vanax so I know for a fact that I'll have a knife that won't ever rust or corrode. I'm a steel snob when it comes to myself. If it's anyone else, I'll tell them the pros and cons of steels, but I'll never shame them for any of their choices. I'm part of another community known as The Whisk(e)y Tribe and rule #1 is: The best whiskey is the whiskey you like to drink, the way you like to drink it. That core concept has kept our community essentially snob free, and I always bring that mentality to any other hobby/community I get into. Banter is always allowed, obviously, but it's usually pretty easy to tell when someone is just kidding around and when someone is trying to put you down for the whiskey you like, the way you're drinking it; i.e. the knife you like, the blade steels, how cheap or expensive it is, etc.
TL;DR: Just because I can notice differences in material used doesn't mean I would criticize or put down others for using things I wouldn't/don't. Each person has different things they find valuable. The only thing I ever try to offer is information and knowledge to allow whoever asks for it better ability to make the decision for themselves. I think that's part of what communities like these are for. They're for comradery and exchange of information and ideas.
I agree wholeheartedly with basically everything you said here, just my point of view. I use my expensive knives, and I use my cheaper knives. Some days I use my knives hard, some days I don't use them at all (besides some fidgeting). I'm glad to see so many people in the comments agreeing and contributing to the positive aspects of this community.
Slight tangent here; I like the EpicSnuggleBunny approach, where I use all of my knives because when it comes time to make room in the bank account or for other knives, the safe queens are always the first to go. I may not have the bank account that he has XD, but it's how I approach my knife purchases. If I'm not going to use it, I'm probably not going to buy it. If I had to sell one knife out of the ones that I own, it would be the Medford Praetorian T. I never use it, so it has less value to me than most of my other knives. Also, it's easily the most expensive knife I have, so that coupled with the rarity of its use means that it's gone if I ever decide to sell some of my collection.
Great video. May I suggest #12
Plan out your storage system. I literally have knives all over the house, with one large Spyder Pack to hold them. Drives my wife nuts. Found my 0707 next to the toaster this morning.
Hey Bryan! I've been watching for for years now. I know you aren't a huge fan of fixed blades, but I have one I think might change your mind. It's called the Bradford Guardian 3s. Mine is in 3d OD green micarta and M390. It is very easy to carry as an edc. If you'd like, I can ship it to you and you can try it out for yourself for as long as you'd like. It uses a horizontal carry, leather sheath and is super comfy for a fixed blade. Anyways, thanks for the video, always enjoy watching your content.
I also love the philosophy videos. Thanks!!! Agreed with all your points. Especially: ‘it’s just a knife’ I might add don’t listen to others to find your own thing. lol thanks again, love your videos.
Personally I'm not necessarily even interested in the must-have knives. I just want whatever excites me at a given point in time. If that's something the knife community deems forgettable, then why should I care? Most people seem to hate Opinels or at least find them boring, but the cheap AF walnut-handled No.6 remains a favourite of mine (a well-oiled piece of walnut is a thing of beauty).
The Kizer Envoy was mostly ignored, but I find the faux-bolsters form the perfect middle ground between unobtrusiveness and flair. I like it enough to have carried it as my default EDC for a year now.
On the other hand, a beloved knife like the 940 doesn't tempt me one bit. To each their own.
Since there are few knife dealers around here to put hands on knives, Portland Oregon, buying and selling is a way to try knives for the cost of mailing. Those that stick are great. And yes there a buttload of manufacturers here but most don’t do retail kershaw ZT I’m talking to you....
Good video! Life lessons as well as knife advice.
8Cr13MoV is an awesome steel. Try changing you edge geometry, behind the edge thickness, and edge grit before worrying about the steel. As long as the steel has been heat treated for use as a knife blade, you should be fine. Most knives used for work, like utility knives and box cutters, are 420J2 or 1095, if you are lucky M2. They have edge angles at or less than 15° and are thin.
Great video ! Thanks for all you do Brother!!!
I'm an edc guy. I absolutely love budget knives for edc (100 or below). Don't get me wrong. Id love to walk around with a Lunar Landing in my pocket. I just dont have 600 bucks for one.
Right on the nail head with the pm2 sprint runs . I really wish retailer would limit it to one per person so many guys buy 2 then sell one to pay for both .
I remember when 440C got a bad rep from ignorant companies using ignorant heat treats. It was actually cheaper to put on a better edge than over-tempering the 440C at a higher temperature and making them too soft out of fear from broken tips. I make knives, but I'm not replacing a broken tip, it is a knife not a pry bar. A chipped edge I'll fix, but not a broken tip.
I'm probably guilty of steel snobbery. I do believe that at certain price points certain specs should be expected. That would be my biggest gripe with the Grimsmo Norseman, that a $900 knife has an RWL34 blade (or CPM 154 nowadays). Awesome knives, incredible action, vanilla steel. I may not be able to tell the difference, but at that price I would want something better.
Great content needed to be said
If I weren't already subscribed this would have done it. Well thought out and delivered.
How boring would it be if we all had the same collection?? Enjoy viewing all the diversity and collect what you can afford that makes you happy!
Rookie here...appreciate the advice 👊😎
Good advice Slicey.
Rules for knife guys:
1-10. Care Less
These are good rules.
This could definitely apply to life in general.
Haha!! Well put Slicey! Great video Brother.
Thanks for the video. I have "collected" for 35 years. Never buy a knife you can't bring yourself to use because that one you think is going to resell will tank in price for sure. If it won't cut, it's not a knife, it might have the shape of a knife but if you can't cut with it it's just metal sculpture. The handle is more important than you think when you are new to the hobby, it's the user interface. No such thing as a good excuse for a knife, take responsibility for your choices and be proud of your collection...don't buy things you are immediately ashamed of. There's lot's more to learn but it gets to boring for anyone.
" Real" knife people are generous with their knowledge and usually their time. They usually want to show their treasures and not hide or sell them. If it's not a known dealer and they go hard on the selling rather than the sharing, it's a giant red flag.
Good vid Bryan. I'm a little bit of a Pokémon collector. I don't want every knife, but I do want something from every brand. Just to be well rounded and experience their differences. Until recently my entire collection (about 40 knives) was of knives costing $70 or less. I now can appreciate the better quality of some more expensive knives. Not sure that I would if I didn't have the budget knives first. I agree with you, no knife or collection shaming. You never know what the collector's end game is. Later!
I started by deployment types, then lock types, then steels, then......crud. I have a problem.
Lol. I think we all do!
Collector's Manifesto 👍🙂 topic well covered, thanks for the video Bryan 😀👌
Interestingly, the entertainment with the knife thing is, no different than collecting anything else, and may use art collecting or and antique collecting as it's archetype, perhaps. We create a little thought world fashioned of our desires, likes, dislikes, based on agreements borrowed from others, or sometimes (rarely) uniquely our own. We defend that turf or seek the comfort of like-thinkers. It's just an exercise in being human in a small niche universe. If we substitute knives for something else the behavior would be little different. I suppose I can afford to sound jaded as I've been "involved" for many decades. 😁. Let's have fun, and thanks for keeping it real, Slicey! 👍🗡️👍
After all, it's only Stuff!
Great job. Agree with all these points.
I’m not paying $300 and above for any kind knife. You can get real enjoyment out of a $50-$150 knife
Don’t go broke trying to show off your knives! While a CRK collection would make for a sweet IG post is it really worth it to you?
So many times this. Everybody just getting into high-end knives, or any tools, really, needs to know this.
Generally speaking, unlesss you find some of the early 80s, SA made stuff, CRs don't make a great (read: unique, special, interesting) collection anyway, and the money could have gotten you much more, whether you're looking for users, or safe-queens for that's sweet, sweet instagram clout.
I have carried all type and dollar value knives. To me I'm very happy just find another person that carries a knife. I also think it's my job to get people into knives so I give out 15-20 knives per year to friends and family. Same with watches