Evolution of a knife addict

[opusxpn]

When I started with knives it was all about how the knife looked. Then I started looking at locks and slipjoints, as time passed the edge and sharpening was important. Later ergonomics and steel composition. Materials used on construction, blade grinds and manufacturer now are some things I look at. In the past I would be crazy to purchase a small blade but after getting my first ladybug I appreciated a small knife and how well it worked. Now I can appreciate and use any size blade but it took me years to come to this point and still learning every day new things. Spyderco made a great contribution to what I know and I thank them for that. When did things started to click for you?

[xceptnl]

Spyderco made a great contribution to what I know and I thank them for that. When did things started to click for you?

Spyderco also made it click for me. I think it was the Delica or Manix 2 that really opened my eyes to an affordable, high quality knife done right! These forums and the wealth of knowledge shared amongst users, collectors, and basically knife lovers has continued to open my eyes to new ways of thinking about sharp and how to get there. The value of this free wealth of information is unable to be quantified.

Side note, I converted a knife guy to a Spyderco knife guy earlier this month. I gifted him my Resilience and he has since purchased a Sharpmaker, diamond rods, UF rods, and an Endura for his significant other. Yesterday I showed him my new love (a hawkbill Ladybug) to which he responded, "it wasn't until Spyderco that I realized even small knives like this can be produced with terrific quality." He hit the nail on the head. I have owned a ladybug for only a few days and already I can't see anything taking it's place. Need to rename that my ladybug pocket!

[All-R-Crazy]

I'm with you at first it was looks then I got a spyderco and then it was about performance and now it's about the steel. (I'm trying to try all of the well known steels.

[oneunder]

I wanted a nice pocket knife and I bought a Sage 1 after having read good posts about it. It all started when I opened it the first time and heard it click. I was amazed by the quality of the object, how we'll it cut, how smooth and precise it opened and closed. Then I bought a Military, and a Delica, and a Dragonfly, and a PM2, and many others, from many brands. I bought knives that I would never use only because they featured a steel, a lock, a blade shape that I did not have yet. I also started an addiction to flashlights, same pattern But it all started with Spyderco.

[bh49]

I always loved knives, but didn't carry until the day, about 20 years ago, when one of our suppliers gifted me key-chain knife for Christmas. I found it useful and carried for few years and than decided to get SAK. I bought Traveler: a blade, scissors, small file, bottle and can openers, flat and Phillips screw driver and corkscrew. I loved it and carried about 10 years. Next upgrade was a Leatherman, which I never carried. It is in my car. But looking for Leatherman I spotted Gerber. Within a month I bought two Gerbers and researching steels found Bladeforums. I never carried Gerbers. One of them was sold right away. Another was too good-looking, so I couldn't bring myself to put scratches on it. Also I already bought Emerson Traveler. At that time the company was making three inexpensive models in Seki. All with oval hole. That was my first CE blade. Shortly after that my first Spyderco: Sharpmaker arrived. Emerson was replaced with 551 Griptilian.
Browsing BF I learned about S30V supersteel and existence of $40 Native @ walmart. So I got the knife just out of curiosity to see what is S30V. My second Spyderco was Kopa Cocobolo. This knife brought me to the Forum and got me hooked on Spyderco.
Within next few month Griptilian was gone, Native moved to a glove compartment and I tried Delicas PE and SE, FRN and SS. After that was Adventura. And finally I settle on C83 Persian and Caly3. Both are good-looking knives, which I appreciate. Both had PE, VG10 blades. Useful and easy to maintain. Few years later Caly3 was replaced with Caly3.5. Still carry C83 and Caly3.5. Still love good looking knives. Native5 was added to my main EDC group and it is my most used knife now. I added WE S&F to my sharpening tools, so wear resistant steels is not a problem. I tried several knives, which didn't stick. The only knife, beside Spyderco, which I carry on regular basis is Moki Glory. At this time I own about 70-80 Spydercos, one Moki, one ZT0561 and Ontario Retribution. I still strongly prefer stainless steel blades. Currently I do not own any carbon steel blades.

[sal]

Thanx Opus,

I belive that knife "Edge-U-cation" is similar for many. Once the interest says "peel back the onion", it's almost like grade school, higher grades, etc. The more one learns, the more one (afi's) learns there is so much more to learn and so many areas of inteerst that can be delved into. Me too.

sal

[opusxpn]

Thanx Opus,

I belive that knife "Edge-U-cation" is similar for many. Once the interest says "peel back the onion", it's almost like grade school, higher grades, etc. The more one learns, the more one (afi's) learns there is so much more to learn and so many areas of inteerst that can be delved into. Me too.

sal

It sure is, once you get the passion going you are always hungry for more. Thank you sir.

[spidey138]

First Post: I have been using/collecting knives since I was a boy and grandpa gave me an old Barlow knife. I used knives and multi tools in the Army every day throughout my career, and to me they were merely what a prepared soldier always had on them. Now as life moves forward and I can afford more of a variety of knives and trinkets, I find myself amassing knives of all sorts. From super tough hard use knives to slim aesthetically pleasing styles. It’s a sickness……and there is no cure.....only temporary relief between purchases.

[jvarn81]

It’s a sickness……and there is no cure.....only temporary relief between purchases.

Well said. :D