How do you collect?

[fortheloveofmoar]

Alright ya'll. most of us I think have come to terms that we are addicted collectors. For those of you who are still in denial. Be honest... do you really need more than one Gyuto?

Anyways.. the question is: how do you collect?

In all my "hobbies" I've come to the realization that I am a "hit list guy" I like to collect one thing from each maker. I very rarely duplicate makers (shout out to kipp have a work pony and pick dup a hook grind and I don't think I can bring myself to give up either).
I think my rational Is that I just want to see what everyone has to offer. I also, shamefully, admit it's kind of a check box thing, like I got a Kipp, HF, Yanick, etc. (I'm trying hard to break out of this mindset, but it's definitely there).

Calling it out now... I know there will be some people who have bidginer, bidinger, bidinger, bidinger. and then... there will be Kamon, kamon. etc.

 

[Tethien]

I’m almost the same as I like to know what makers have to offer but nowdays I’m liking to fine tune the knives myself so I don’t need the best knives but just ones with good potential. I still can’t resist a good expensive now and then

 

[SwampDonkey]

I am kinda the opposite where I find a maker that I like, and then I like to see their interpretations of different knife styles. Some maker's specialties happen to transfer better to different lengths or styles as well. Certainly not something I do with every maker and I don't usually keep multiples but the below I've tried multiple of:

Shindo x 4
Makoto Kurosaki x 3 (bought my mom one so it technically counts as it's always what I reach for over there)
Kochi x 3
Shiro Kamo x 3
Munetoshi x 2
Watoyama x 2 (1 Wat Pro 1 Toyama)
Y. Kato x2
Kei Kobayashi x2
Mazaki x2

 

[M1k3]

Need more than one? Hard to argue with facts.

 

[ethompson]

I buy what I like and only keep what I use most. If I have something and it doesn't get pulled from the drawer at least every other week it'll get released.

 

[Dan-]

I look for one favored knife per category. The problem is I haven’t managed to put up for sale any of the ones that don’t make the cut.

 

[chefwp]

I'm only a few years into this 'collection.' The way it went for me was largely driven by usage. Eventually, when I first got a Takada nakiri to replace a fine Shiro Kamo nakiri I was releasing, it was such a surprising game changer I sort of became obsessed about adding a Takada gyuto or two to the fold. This happened at a bad time market-wise as Takadas were very hard to find in stock. I finally did manage to add both a 210 and 240 and my suspicions were confirmed, the fit and feel, the cutting performance, and the edge retention all came together and suddenly I became very content with what I currently have. I still check BST and my favorite retailers, but I'm hardly ever tempted anymore by much. I have added a few things since and I still enjoy using the variety of things I have in my collection, I don't just use the Takadas, but my desire to add additional things has really ebbed. Maybe 'collector' is not the best term for someone like me, but I'm not what suits better, I do have sh!t ton (metric) of knives...

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

"How do you collect?"

1. Okay Matt, here's what I'm thinking... (@MSicardCutlery)

2. Howdy Michael... (Knife Japan)

3. Other stuff.

 

[jacobwilder5]

I buy what I like and only keep what I use most.

This ^

 

[Tekkz]

I like trying different things. Steels, makers, profiles, grinds, countries of origin, etc. Trying new things is fun!

 

[OyakoDont]

I am frequently tempted to “try” knives, but I think I do a pretty good job of resisting them. Now what gets me is sentimental value added on top of the knife. If I’ve interacted with the maker in some capacity it really shifts the needle towards buying. I saw it somewhere else here on the forum, but I’m more interested in buying the story of the maker and helping their journey rather than buying incremental performance.

 

[Delat]

My wife yesterday: “You have any knives coming?”
Me: “Yes”
Her: “Are they getting here by Christmas?”
Me: “Probably not”
Her: “Well buy one so I don’t have to go shopping for you dammit.”

Sigh. Guess I’ll go check out DCI and see if anything catches my eye.

I’m a terrible collector.

 

[Jovidah]

I never intended to become a collector and I still tdon't really consider myself one... though I guess at this point the amount of knives qualifies me as such. It happened basically because it was the only way to properly develop my preferences and try all the different flavors. So for the last couple of years was always to try knives that were mostly different from eachother. Different lengths, different steels, different blade construction (mono carbon, mono stianless, iron clad, sanmai, stainless clad sanmai etc), different weights, heights, grinds, profiles, etc.
Though not exactly the most affordable project it has been effective in narrowing down my preferences in a way that you can't really do without being able to try different things over a longer period.

 

[Brian Weekley]

Pretty much anything I want.

 

[brimmergj]

I never intended to become a collector and I still tdon't really consider myself one... though I guess at this point the amount of knives qualifies me as such. It happened basically because it was the only way to properly develop my preferences and try all the different flavors. So for the last couple of years was always to try knives that were mostly different from eachother. Different lengths, different steels, different blade construction (mono carbon, mono stianless, iron clad, sanmai, stainless clad sanmai etc), different weights, heights, grinds, profiles, etc.
Though not exactly the most affordable project it has been effective in narrowing down my preferences in a way that you can't really do without being able to try different things over a longer period.

I'm in the same boat. Trying a bunch of stuff to figure out what I like. It's been about 4 years and I'm finally feeling confident about my preferences.
One of my issues is all of my knives are different enough from one another that I can't seem to let any of them go, so I keep adding more, different knives and continuing the cycle of insanity

 

[Jovidah]

I'm in the same boat. Trying a bunch of stuff to figure out what I like. It's been about 4 years and I'm finally feeling confident about my preferences.
One of my issues is all of my knives are different enough from one another that I can't seem to let any of them go, so I keep adding more, different knives and continuing the cycle of insanity

I have the exact same problem actually. There's a few knives I'm not necessarily using much but I'm hanging on to them because of their distinctiveness within the lineup. So far I've only sold one when there's several that honestly deserve to be sold.

 

[BillHanna]

Pretty much anything I want.

This guy knifes.

 

[esoo]

For me, knives are tools. I get anxiety if I have too many of them sitting idle, so I have a small group (around 6).

The process has basically been - buy some knives. Then buy a new knife. The new one either bumps an existing, or it gets sold. Repeat.

I'm currently at a point where I can look at a knife and be pretty sure before buying that it won't bump anything. Conquering FOMO has helped. So I'm pretty static at the moment. As they would say, I've nearly approached endgame.

 

[WildBoar]

I don't understand the concept collecting.

I may somehow accumulate knives, but I definitely do not collect them

 

[Heckel7302]

I'm definitely a box ticker. I like to create a curated list then tick them off. First was Japanese, then vintage, then jnats, now small western makers (almost done).

 

[fortheloveofmoar]

For me, knives are tools. I get anxiety if I have too many of them sitting idle, so I have a small group (around 6).

The process has basically been - buy some knives. Then buy a new knife. The new one either bumps an existing, or it gets sold. Repeat.

I'm currently at a point where I can look at a knife and be pretty sure before buying that it won't bump anything. Conquering FOMO has helped. So I'm pretty static at the moment. As they would say, I've nearly approached endgame.

True story…. Trying to keep it to a “minimal” collection but yes…. Fomo gets me harrrddd. Also have a hard time letting things go

 

[esoo]

True story…. Trying to keep it to a “minimal” collection but yes…. Fomo gets me harrrddd. Also have a hard time letting things go

I went through a lot of knives to overcome fomo. Being a lefty helps with FOMO as I've bought enough knives that were righty biased I've gotten tired of that.

 

[SwampDonkey]

I'd hang on to fewer if BST wasn't slow right now. Need more new blood that isn't chasing $700+ western makers!

On that note, aside from BST and Reddit/discord. Am I missing any other good places to list used knives?

 

[jacobwilder5]

I'd hang on to fewer if BST wasn't slow right now. Need more new blood that isn't chasing $700+ western makers!

On that note, aside from BST and Reddit/discord. Am I missing any other good places to list used knives?

Facebook gets some decent action. Just be wary of potential scammers. The "Chef's knives - Buy, Sell, Trade, Discuss" one is pretty active.

 

[fortheloveofmoar]

I'd hang on to fewer if BST wasn't slow right now. Need more new blood that isn't chasing $700+ western makers!

Guilty as charged…….