What makes you buy a new knife?

[kbuzbee]

Just curious...

I've found I've become more "picky" when paying for something new.

Like MOST people on this forum, I'd say I will never NEED a new knife. I still BUY knives though so I got to thinking "Why?"

There are several things... First is a steel I haven't tried (or REALLY like - like CPM-M4 currently) like S110V.

Second would be it makes MOST of my most desirable traits:
BBL, FFG, G10/CF, low ride wire clip, 3-3.5"

I understand the desire for more affordable knives. If I BEAT my knives more, I might be there. But, mostly, my knives see pretty gentle use. I just like to see something new and cool in my pocket (it's a disease, really :D )

But I was wondering, what drives your purchase??

Ken

[Joshua J.]

New steel will get me to buy knives I normally wouldn't. Which is sometimes a good thing (that's how I got my first Military), and sometimes not.

I'm up to 50+ knives in my collection and running out of space, so the criteria for purchasing has tightened up a lot in the past year. If there's one or two things I don't like about the handle or blade it's a no go.
If the knife does nearly everything right, and/or is different enough from anything I already have, then I'll go for it.

[Domino]

Well as of now it is kind of hard for me to be TOO picky, as there are so many models I still want to buy, and I am just getting into collecting Spydercos. There will be a point where I draw the line, or atleast cut down on spending rates, but for now, as my collection is expanding, there really isn't too much I look for. I tend to just look at the overall looks, and stop thinking so much of the steel and such, as we all know Spydercos are made with top notch materials anyway, so I think we can easily treat ourselves to good-looking, and definitely functional knives!

I can also agree though, having something new and awesome riding in your pocket just makes you feel all fuzzy inside, and I do think that's where some of my purchases come from.

Cool question though! Thanks for asking!

[catamount]

The following will virtually guarantee my purchasing a :spyder: for myself:

full flat grind
blade longer than 3"
VG-10, S30V or "better" steel
G-10, textured CF, or peel ply CF scales
reversible tip-up (or 4-way) clip
back, caged ball, or compression lock

[elpidi0526]

What makes me buy a new knife?

One word, two syllables: impulsiveness

[BuffaloBill]

in somewhat of an order:

legality in my state is #1 i dont buy a knife to just look at it, if i wish to carry it on any particular day. i want to be doing so legally (i dont need that type of mess)

blade steel

and lastly blade design (shape and grind)

handle material, color and the knife design as a whole play a tiny role in what i'd buy.

cost too obviously i think my limit on a knife is somewhere around $120 USD or so

[alexcue]

Well i agree with BuffaloBill

legality is very important. I tend to stay with the smaller knives. I love folders since my first Buck Knife.

I've always been a Formula 1 Race fan, so the exotics just do it for me.

Carbon fiber, is one of the materials that i look for. Lightweight composites are next

Second would be the blade steel. The more rare or "edgy" the better. Currently i like the ZDP.

Third is shape, as it has to be practical.

Last is Collector value, As some would just be nice to own.

[jabba359]

What makes me buy a new knife?

One word, two syllables: impulsiveness

Ummm, make that four syllables. :D

[The Deacon]

Depends. As a collector, I'll buy things that fit into my collection. When it comes to users, I'm a lot more critical.

My basic criteria for a knife I intend to carry are a Spyderhole opener, front lock, plain edge, usable 50/50 choil and a clip which can be removed without leaving anything but screw holes. Things like bolster and scale handles, the Spyderhole being 14mm or larger, the blade being full flat ground, and the lockbar not being disfigured by a Boye dent, are all "gravy".

Handle material is of minor importance. I can't, for example, see myself ever carrying a Spyderco G-10 handled knife. However, if handle material is the only negative, it's easy enough to cure. Most of the Spydercos I carry have had their handles changed in some way.

When it comes to blades, thin is better than thick, I want a knife, not a hatchet, so 4mm blades are off the table for me. I prefer the blade as clean and simple as possible. Swedge grinds, beveled or notched spines, cutouts in the blade other than the Spyderhole, and writing other than the tang stamp are all turn offs for me. So are concave blade profiles. Hawkbill, reverse S, and recurved blades may have a place in my collection, but not in my pocket.

Steel, on the other hand, is a non-issue. The "worst" of the steels Spyderco has used over the years holds an edge sufficiently well for my purposes. I really cannot work up any enthusiasm for yet another high priced monochromatic grey metal. The only steel that would really get me excited is one Spyderco seems to have little interest in using, namely Odin's Eye Damasteel. But even that would have to be in just the right knife.

[elpidi0526]

Ummm, make that four syllables. :D

One word, three syllables: eagle eye

[BuffaloBill]

One word, three syllables: eagle eye

well even as you typed it its 2 words.

but who's counting

[buglerbilly]

I'm nuts, obsessive and addicted to Spyderco's BUT not only Spydies......

Regards,

BRIAN

[elpidi0526]

well even as you typed it its 2 words.

but who's counting

Two words, twenty-seven syllables: thanks!!

[bh49]

I didn't choose any above.
The most important for me is overall design. Knife must be appealing to me. Second test for knife is ergos.
Steel is less important: any steel, which Spyderco uses are sufficient for my needs. I am not crazy about ZDP189 or S90V. For me it is just additional cost.
S30V is great, as well as VG10. I can live with 154CM or AU8.
I love leaf shaped, FFG blades, finger choils, low riding wire clips, micarta, wood,
but I love plenty of knives without some of these features.

[roguesoul]

Spydercoism.
Accidentally cutting yourself somehow becomes normal.
Loss of interest in other knives.
Justification that it's a "good" investment.
Better steal, handle material, lock, clip, washers, color, blade shape, handle size, blade size, tip up, tip down, slipit, no clip, this insert and that insert.
You'll know when it becomes an illness.

[JD Spydo]

No disrespect intended at all but I didn't vote in your poll. I'm not saying that your poll is no good because maybe it's perfect for some of the other brothers and sisters here in Spyderville. But my personal knife buying is very complex and a lot of factors go into my decision making process. And I can't just put down one or 2 reasons that would cause me to be prompted to make a purchase of a new Spyderco knife or any other Spyderco product.

Now I do some collecting as well as being an avid user of Spyderco and a few other high end blades. But I use at least half the knives I own for various purposes. 90% of all the knives I own at this time are made by Spyderco. Now there were 3 selections on your poll that are applicable to my main motivation for buying knives. The blade steel is a high priority for me. The handle materials are vitally important for whatever task I anticipate using a blade for. The geometry, architecture and overall design scheme is usually my final deciding factor after all my other bases are covered. That's one reason I like Spyderco so well is because they take their blade steels, handle materials and complex designs very seriously.

First of all one of my all time favorite Spyders is the C-44 Big Dyad. The Dyad for the benefit of many of you newcomers is their full sized, double bladed folding knife with one sheepsfoot fully serrated Spyderedge blade and it also has one very well designed plain edge, clip point blade. That knife in my opinion truly epitomizes what Spyderco is all about. You literally have the best of both Spyder-Worlds. Spyderco is known for their serrated blades. Truly some of the best on the planet. And their plain edged blades are carefully designed for function and reliability.

I've been a person obsessed with quality all my life. I don't own a massive amount of material items and I'm not what you would call a wealthy person. But what I do own is all quality. Whether it be my clothing, the truck I drive, the tools I use in my day to day work, and all of life's other essentials. Quality is what I live for. I am not a rip-mart herd animal and that's mainly why Spyderco truly appeals to me at the highest level of my appreciation for quality cutlery and well engineered tools of all types.

I hope that sheds some light on what motivates me to buy, select and pursue any Spyderco model that I might want to own or already own. If it's got Spyderco's name on it you can be assured I'll check it out. And by the way their sharpening equipment is top notch as well.

[spyderHS08]

boredom...lol. i think thats one of my main problems to buying knives. I get bored of the ones I have. So I get new ones, then it gives me a break from my old ones and then I can come back to em and its like theyre new again! :D

also if theyre new models that catch my eye

[yablanowitz]

It's 176 miles to the nearest Spyderco dealer, so trying before I buy is pretty much out. That leaves me with buying just to try, which means the knife has to have a maximum of one glaring deficiency, such as stainless handle, tip up only, reinforced tip, UGly color (that's ugly with a capital ug if you don't already know), etc. Two or more things that really annoy me and it will just have to wait until I drive to Amarillo (about once a year) to have a chance. Apart from that, if it looks like it might be a good fit for something I do, I'll buy it. Which is probably why I have about 600 knives I seldom use.

[araneae]

A compulsion for a variety of things sharp and well designed and limited only by my income as my self control is slipping away... :rolleyes:

I think that's what makes me buy a new knife.

[kbuzbee]

Thanks folks! A lot of great responses, as I expected!

Cool question though! Thanks for asking!

You're very kind.

No disrespect intended at all but I didn't vote in your poll. I'm not saying that your poll is no good because maybe it's perfect for some of the other brothers and sisters here in Spyderville. But my personal knife buying is very complex and a lot of factors go into my decision making process. And I can't just put down one or 2 reasons that would cause me to be prompted to make a purchase of a new Spyderco knife or any other Spyderco product.

I understand your point, JD. I'm sure what you say is true for many/most but I was trying to isolate a few of the elements that go into that decision. Like you, in the end, it IS the overall design that moves me in one direction or the other.

It was exactly this complexity that led me to phrase the picks generically. Blade shape and grind rather than leaf and FFG. It was the element, not the specific choice. And it's why I set it up for multiple choices. Combinations of these elements comprise this complexity.

But I find I do evaluate each of the elements I listed independently except the last one, I don't buy knives to collect. I have bought one or two with that in mind but have since sold them.

And, respectfully, I think you do that too. Maybe not the same way I've come to do it, but in your own way. But perhaps I left out elements you use? I tried to include everything I could think of.

In the end, the knife is more than the sum of these elements. I get that. But it still composed of them.

... That leaves me with buying just to try, which means the knife has to have a maximum of one glaring deficiency, such as stainless handle, tip up only, reinforced tip, UGly color (that's ugly with a capital ug if you don't already know), etc. Two or more things that really annoy me and it will just have to wait

I hear you. Back (mid, front, whatever) locks are one for me. I now have 47 back lock Spydercos and I NEVER carry ANY of them. I guess I'm just slow but I kept thinking it wasn't a deal breaker for me. But, real world, it seems to be, so now I just don't buy any. The one in that range that's killing me right now is the Stretch II. I LOVE that knife. But it's a back lock and I know I won't ever carry it... Such a pity. But at least I know (or am figuring it out? :D ).

New steel will get me to buy knives I normally wouldn't. Which is sometimes a good thing (that's how I got my first Military), and sometimes not.

Me too. All Sal has to do to get me to buy a new knife is put some new exotic steel in it. I like Milies but honestly, they are too big for what I usually need (and like to carry). It's not a legal or NKP thing. I just prefer Para sized blades. But I keep buying Milies because Sal keeps releasing new steels on them. Issue these same steels in a Para and they'll get a lot more use, from me.

Again, many thanks!

Ken