Endgame Collections

[dehory]

Anecdotally, it seems like more than a few experienced KKFers are either getting out of the game or reaching the end of their collecting phase. I'm deeply curious where people find themselves (and their knife collections) after they manage to climb out of the rabbit hole.

If you're one of those enlightened few who have known the sweet sickness of knife addiction and somehow cut back down to an essential core collection, show us what the other side looks like!

I'm inclined to think that it won't be all Viennese, Melburnian, and Occitanian heavy hitters. Maybe some under the radar gems? Unexpectedly low brow guilty pleasures?

This thread will probably die a quick death since the people who have the really interesting collections understandably tend to keep their cards close to their chest, but I'm hoping that the spirit of "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" might be able to prevail...

 

[Jovidah]

My collection is modest by any means; nothing really fancy or expensive, yet I still feel like I'm close to finished...

Main thing is that I basically have something I like in just about any style, length and profile and any further improvement is difficult without substantial investments that would still only yield very marginal diminishing returns. So I'd rather invest that in other things. I'd benefit more from spending the money on ingredients or upgrading other aspects of my kitchen.

A large factor is that I've largely finished the exploration of my preferences.... and I'm lucky that my tastes aren't particularly extravagant. I prefer lasers over workhorses...

 

[OkayMode]

I’ll admit I had a moment recently when I grabbed the 180 Tanuki and a Munetoshi I bought for my girlfriend as her first nice knives, and really really enjoyed using them.

There are just a handful of the big name Western makers that I’d like to try and then I’m happy pivoting most of my efforts towards mastering associated maintenance and polishing skills, and maybe even giving knife making a punt at some point.

 

[Choppin]

I'm not a big collector, I like to keep a small selection that I get to use and maintain, and whenever I buy something I try to sell another to keep the collection under 20 knives or so. I've started in 2017 and been through a few different phases:

2017-2019: started with Toyama and went on to hunt Shigs and Katos. Gathered a nice small collection, all of the knives saw use at home. Probably the time I spent the most energy, time and $ on knives.

2020-2021: I was working a lot and didn't have time to use my knives much. Was also a bit tired of the whole collecting thing. Decided to sell all the Shigs and Katos and keep the Toyamas and other more practical knives (Tsourkan, etc).

2022: Decided to get back in the game, but focused on trying different things and not really looking for rare / collectable items. 270 gyutos, large nakiri and cleavers, yanagi, new makers, etc. My most active year in terms of number of knives bought.

2023: I'm in the process of reducing my collection again and keeping around a dozen knives. Still buying new stuff from time to time but less frequent. My most expensive knife is a Gesshin Ittetsu 270 gyuto (˜$600). Then I have a Toyama 240 ironclad gyuto (˜$450) and an old Gengetsu (˜$400). The other knives are all under $250, several under US$100. I recently started buying from KnifeJapan, old monosteel knives and Sabatier-style vintage carbon - I found a sweet spot for me in terms of price/fun ratio.

Nowadays I'm more focused on maintaining what I currently have, including thinning / geometry projects, restoring old knives, rehandling and making handles myself. And trying to keep investments low as I'm prioritizing other hobbies (travel and woodworking mostly).

 

[user 37848]

I want to close in on my endgame in terms of collecting. I have 13 knives. I told myself 10 or under. Over 10 and it feels like I have too much of a rotation. Especially as a home cook. My only goal as a collector was to own a honyaki. Now that I have that, I feel content. I do enjoy grinding, shaping and now polishing, so I’ll always keep a cheap project knife as part of my 10.

 

[instantramen]

As a home cook, I realized that having over 8 knives was impractical for me since I couldn't enjoy (or properly display) each one as much as I should given how often I cook and my storage space. I'm trying to whittle down my collection to knives that are special to me, or ones that I really enjoy using with less of an emphasis on knives that are hyped or in-trend among knife circles. For example, I commonly reach for an Ashi I purchased in-person from their workshop over my impulse-buy Maboroshi and Tetsujin metal flow (both of which are now in the BST, hint hint).

The one maker I did kind of collect was Takeda, as I have a NAS 210 and an AS 240. The pair looks really nice together, and it was the one knife type that I enjoyed enough to join the hunt for another. Others I'll likely never get rid of include my Kobayashi SG2 240 laser and Mazaki 240 KU workhorse. I would say these four comprise my core collection at this point.

On the other hand, I have a side collection of four special use knives that I'm currently trying to achieve a similar balance with: these include my two yo-handle knives (honesuki and ashi 180mm), deba, and kagekiyo B1 suji. Just trying to figure out where a yanagi would fit in...

 

[Heckel7302]

I'm close to endgame. Two more on the list, one in the works.

Started off January 2021 with my first Japanese knife. I'm a curator by nature and work, so I set out to make a list of Japanese knives I wanted to have, styles, finishes, regions, steels etc trying to cover as many bases as possible in the fewest number of knives. I ended up with 11 Japanese knives. Collection was complete about a year ago and haven't had any urge to add any more Japanese made knives since.

March of 2021 I wanted to get more into working on thinning and knife geometry. Basically really liked spending time on stones, but wasn't comfortable using my expensive Japanese knives for that, so started scouting ebay for good deals on vintage western knives. That became the next list. Ended up with a couple dozen and have since pared that down to 18 or so. I've covered every maker and style I wanted and haven't bought one in 18 months. Also built up a set of synthetic stone that I'm happy with.

May 2022 I started getting into polishing, and therefore jnats. ethompson gave me a taste and I was hooked. Set out to curate another list. Just got the last stone on the list a couple weeks ago and think I'm pretty set now, not much desire to own any more (13 is enough, right?).

January 2023 I set out to curate a small western maker list, one maker per country. Came up with a list of nine makers. Obtained six, one is being made, still on the hunt for two more (you can probably guess what they are).

I've thought about what my knife buying habit looks like after finishing the small western list. I think likely I'll move to a one in, one out stage, probably western makers.

 

[ReiHamono]

It can never be enough!

I desire the best most rare highest quality possible!

 

[ian]

Personally, my endgame collection is a few cheaper knives, plus some that I’ve made from blanks. I used all the money made from selling fancy knives to buy shop equipment, so now I have none left.

 

[WildBoar]

In the last few years I sold a Catchside/ Thomas, a Martell, a Mareko and a Rader. I think that is pretty good downsizing, as my collection is whittled down to only about seven(ty) or eight(y) now.

 

[mc2442]

I just counted, and including paring (4) and petty/bunka/short gyutos (8) I have 28 out on the counter. While I have drifted more toward mid-weight knives over the years I have lasers and a couple of work horses when the need or desire is there. I still have some tucked away, though I am trying to pare things down in this regard and evaluating the knives I keep on how much I use them vs. just like to own them. I hope my will power does not lead to stockpiling knives again as I am a much better buyer than seller. Eventually I hope to get to the one in one out thing, but I doubt I will fully lose the urge to try new things.

 

[Matt Jacobs]

My endgame is less about maker and more about being part of the creative process of a custom/semi-custom knife. For example I have a particular handle material combo I have been working towards with my customs. I also have a maker that I have multiple styles from. All that said my endgame wont be complete until i have a Kamon...

 

[Krakorak]

Interesting thread,fun to read! I think it would be fun as well to have such a thread regarding natural stones (as far as I can remember there is none yet), there I would probably have more to contribute than here (as a home cook who has owned or still owns a couple of rarer knives - Billipp, Y.Ikeda AS, etc. - but always kept the number of knives in a reasonable range where everything was used, so around 10...And always preferred performance or simply how the particular knife suits to me over rarity,maker's reputation etc.)

 

[NameAlreadyTaken]

I think you know when you’ve got to your end game. For me, it was when I used my first Kipp. As a home cook, it’s all about smiles per cut for me, and I still have the dumbest grin on my face when using it. Performance wise I doubt I’ll ever be able to find or afford anything better, and it’s the most comfortable and balanced knife I’ve ever held.
I thought endgame for me would be a large collection, but it turns out it’s just a few…. And a Kipp

 

[pewe]

Very interesting here.
My curiosity is actually closed.
And yet I always discover gaps that suddenly jump out at me. One knife still on my list. And then endgame - I hope .

 

[dehory]

My collection is modest by any means; nothing really fancy or expensive, yet I still feel like I'm close to finished...

Main thing is that I basically have something I like in just about any style, length and profile and any further improvement is difficult without substantial investments that would still only yield very marginal diminishing returns.

Personally, my endgame collection is a few cheaper knives

my collection is whittled down to only about seven(ty) or eight(y) now.

Much as I get a thrill from seeing a collection stacked with custom handled Comet and Nine honyakis (please post in this thread too, you guys!), I find it just as fascinating seeing where people who've spent a while reading/writing/thinking about (and using) knives end up landing when their collection has coalesced to the essentials. Which knives/makers are your daily drivers/favourites?

As a home cook, I realized that having over 8 knives was impractical for me since I couldn't enjoy (or properly display) each one as much as I should given how often I cook and my storage space. I'm trying to whittle down my collection to knives that are special to me, or ones that I really enjoy using with less of an emphasis on knives that are hyped or in-trend among knife circles.

I think you know when you’ve got to your end game. For me, it was when I used my first Kipp. As a home cook, it’s all about smiles per cut for me, and I still have the dumbest grin on my face when using it.

I think this distills why this is such an interesting topic to me. On the one hand, I think after trying a lot of knives and being less impressionable, there could be a natural shift to value function over form in a more clear-eyed way. But when you start to discern your own preferences and pay less attention to what gets the most hype, the emotion and sentiment you personally feel around your knives maybe also at the same time starts to be the most important factor rather than how they cut per se. (That said, I defy anyone not to have a big grin on their face when cutting with a Kipp for the first time.)

 

[blokey]

I could just have what I have now and be very happy, but you know…

 

[cantdecidewhichone]

I've had the privilege of owning some of the best from the industry including Kamon (5), Yanick (2), Evan (2), Halcyon (2), Bidinger (2), Hyde (2), Adonis (2), SteeleWorks, Fingal, Isasmejan, Comet, Karys, Shir, Newham, Xerxes, Black Lotus, Spare, Fujiyama, Tetsujin, Takada no Hamono, and Nakagawa.

Some I still have, many have been released back into the wild. My IG has photos and videos of the collection.

In the end, I have about a dozen left that I'm keeping because they are my customs. The Comet, Yanick Halcyons and a couple of Kamons were really difficult to part ways with, but there's some sentimental value for me of owning a knife that was created for me specifically.

What remains are by no means the best cutters or most rare. I sold what has been stored for several months. I look forward to the new customs on the way. Something is always brewing out there, and the bladesmiths are always finding new ways to do things.

My "endgame" is not a set of specific knives, but rather the moment where I can feel like I can finally move on and find the next expensive hobby to spend my money on. Let's all pray it's not watches, boats and/or cars.

 

[ian]

Much as I get a thrill from seeing a collection stacked with custom handled Comet and Nine honyakis (please post in this thread too, you guys!), I find it just as fascinating seeing where people who've spent a while reading/writing/thinking about (and using) knives end up landing when their collection has coalesced to the essentials. Which knives/makers are your daily drivers/favourites?

I think you missed something in @WildBoar's post.

Now I use a CCK 1301 and a bunch of my own project knives.

 

[dehory]

I think you missed something in @WildBoar's post.

 

[Scott]

Even though knife collecting and trying is a rather enjoyable hobby, I realised I should probably be a bit more financially responsible. That is not to say I don't have expensive knives as most my collection is on the higher end of price ranges. I just thought I shouldn't splurge so often and immediately on a piece that grabs my eye. For the person who purchased the Milan from Strata, I thank you, as I had nearly caved. The off-knife will appeal to me, but I think I am more interested in customs and will probably practice one in one out in those cases.

That said, were the higher-end pieces always better than the more available ones? I don't think so, as I've enjoyed a few less expensive knives and sometimes been disappointed by knives of quite high praise. But the pieces I kept, I really enjoy them for a variety of reasons, ranging from their aesthetics, performance, rarity and time I invested to be able to acquire them.

I do recognise that this perspective was possible after I tried a decent variety of a wide range, which I am grateful for and appreciative of those who made it possible for me to try them. I have diverged a bit into a great set of boards and stones, the latter of which I prefer to not read too much on for my own sake.

I'll probably post my collection here/in its own thread when I receive the rest back from rehandling.

 

[gentiscid]

Most of the admins/founders here are either retired hobbyists/collectors or present/retired smiths or retailers.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

I wasn't going to chime in on this thread as I'm not sure I'm at "end game" yet. At least not as I define it. But, since there's been quite a varied response, why not?

My story may not be fully end game so much as the closing days of my experimental journey. Whatever the case, I do know my interest in new knives has dramatically decreased this year.

For me, the very first thing that needed to happen was increasing my freehand sharpening skills and gaining confidence in thinning. Before I bought any Japanese or nicer western knives, I bought new stones. Shapton Glass 500, 2k, and 4k supplemented my Nortons and Arkansas. I started by thinning and experimenting my Wusthof Gourmet's and other ubiquitous German knives I had. Once satisfied, I bought a Yaxell Dragon Fire 8" gyuto that quickly led to a Tsunehisa 210 gyuto and 165 nakiri, both in ginsan. And the fuse was lit...

I did a lot of experimenting over two or three years. I tried a variety of sizes, shapes, and steels in pursuit of understanding my preferences. While I'd long been using a western 8" chef knife of some variant, I'd always liked thinner and lighter knives and had an affection for shorter knives. But, I played with a broad variety. In short order I went from stainless only to predominantly carbon (mono or iron clad). I went hard into 165-180ish knives but then back out to 210's and mid-weights with a distinct affliction for Sanjo knives. All of that to find myself back to 165-180ish, thinner, lighter knives and a bent for nakiri.

I've owned a few customs/one-offs from just a few makers but nothing even approaching what so many here have. I found myself fond of Matt of @MSicardCutlery and his work became my focus for that type of thing. All five knives I have from Matt are unique. He's made variants and multiples of the petty we came up with, but mine is the first. Matt's performance first philosophy, approachable prices, and easy demeanor suit me right down to the ground and I just sort of stopped being serious about pursuing anyone else.

Collecting makers isn't my thing and I don't have the disposable income to drop on many of the popular offerings. For that matter, there's a couple of the most popular makers that I wouldn't own if you gifted their knives to me, but I probably shouldn't get into that. I do still marvel at lot of the work out there and celebrate and promote it, I just know I'm not really pursuing it.

The truth is, this line up right here, has really put a damper on my knife buying:

The Moritaka on the far right is the most expensive knife up there with the rest of them being under $100. Nothing I've used, regardless of price, when taken on a whole, has outperformed these knives. I went through a lot of stuff to find these guys but now that I have, I'm pretty damn content. Excellent grinds, steel that is easy to maintain but holds up, function over form, and some of them from nearly unheard of smiths in the country-side of Japan. I don't fret over these knives. I don't care if they get scratched or marred or a touch of orange pops up. I care about the geometry and the edges.

I'll still grab knives here and there for sure and there's a couple I have my eye on but for the foreseeable future, aggressive acquisitions are over.

I did a lot of experimenting to learn what I already knew.

 

[spaceconvoy]

My 'collection' is complete. Seems almost silly to call it that because they're all very modest factory made knives. The fanciest is a Sukenari ginsan

I've found that I have very particular ideas about the proper weight, balance, profile, and grind of my knives. Except my CCK cleaver, I've modified them all - new handles on two, cut down the handle on another, complete regrind and reprofile on one, and even lopped off an inch from one of the tips

I've also found I'm not particular about steel. Having one really nicely ht'd fine grain steel is enough for me, the rest I finish on specific lower grit stones to optimize edge holding for each steel

Focused now on my collection of mid grit naturals, which is far more interesting to me at this point

 

[henkle]

I don't have the financial means to consider myself a collector, but I have 11 knives now. I prefer function over form and none of my knives are >$225 US. But the other day I realized I have all the different kinds and shapes I need, and really love all the ones I still have. While I've not tried a high-end knife I can't imagine that they would cut better than some of the ones I have. Still, I felt a little sad that I was really having to dig deep to find a reason to buy some more.

 

[esoo]

I've spent a lot of time this year thinking about where I want my collection to go, and I'm very near endgame. In fact, I could probably endgame my collection with what I have (and even sell a few).

I do have a custom on order, and thinking of ordering one more to fill in a gap, but this is more for variety that true need.

 

[fatboylim]

I started in 2016 and have only recently added to my collection after 5 years! The gap was a good cleaver style Japanese steel knife.

So if there were a spectrum of knife buying, for me it runs between "experiencing" the knife cutting and "collecting" (visually appealing or exceptionally hard/delicate knives e.g. Honyaki)

I am 90% experiencer with 10% collector. And it statistically shows in my knife rotation. My Ikeda/Oni Ittetsu Yo honyaki is my draw queen.

With this in mind, early on I enjoyed buying and trying different knife makers, shapes, weights, grinds, types, distal tapers, finishes, constructions, balances, hardness, brittleness ... the list goes on. The Discovery phase of what is good for me.

What this forum did for me was allow me to buy and sell so many different types of knives to a community of people also willing to experiment with what was good for each of us. And guess what, it works so well as our tastes are so individual. Thank you KKF. I hope I contributed back in sharing my experiences.

So, my recent 5 year rotation was the culmination of trial upon trial of so many great knives. I found what worked for me. Since then I have 6 knives in my permanent rotation used daily or at minimum weekly. And for 5 years I rotated in and out 10 knives to keep my 6 knife block in full compliment.

The only knife that didn't rotate was the cleaver. As of yesterday, I have now upgraded my $7 1970s cleaver to a Kiri cleaver. Longer term review to follow.

So happily I only add interesting knife shapes that fill gaps in my rotation. Those needs are fewer and farther between purchases. I admit, I might swap a lazer honyaki gyuto for a slicer. But I don't slice that much!

Today my 6 knife rotation is
1. 240 gyuto for rock chopping and slicing.
2. 210 lazer tough Gyuto for hard veg like sweet potato and winter squash.
3. 180 Nakiri/180 gyuto for my vegetarian wife. This blade has never touched meat. And it so fun to use.
4. 150mm yanagiba for my chicken butcher and fine protein slicing.
5. Paring knife for all things fruit and decorative fine cutting.
6. Cleaver for side smashing garlic and all round power chopping.

So there you have it. Slowing down but still adapting my tastes.

It also helps that many of these knives are a pinnacle of experience for me. Each time I use them I am reminded of there specific purpose and how much they fit that purpose for me!

To give you all hope, I just received 2 Kiri Cleavers and my cheaper chinese cleaver is now lonely. So even a 5 year hiatus can find new forms.

KKF can help us experiment further through knowledge/experience and BST!

Happy journeys!

 

[fatboylim]

I forgot to mention, one area I have decided on is I now love the convenience of stainless clad carbon core knives and low rusting steals! So I'm now leaning to convenience in use rather than ease of thinning! Kurouchi is also preferred if iron clad.

Hence also the cleaver upgrade to Kiri cleavers with Aogami Super and Aogami #2 clad in stainless.

Half my rotation is stainless or low reactivity!

 

[stringer]

Here is what currently lives in the drawer at home.

HSC Gyuto
Forgecraft Slicer
Tosa Nakiri
HSC Petty
Hyde Petty
HSC Paring

Here is the work kit nowadays

 

[fortheloveofmoar]

Here is what currently lives in the drawer at home.

HSC Gyuto
Forgecraft Slicer
Tosa Nakiri
HSC Petty
Hyde Petty
HSC Paring

View attachment 270956

Here is the work kit nowadays

View attachment 270957

Do you have a favorite maker? It’s kinda hard to tell