Very true, Tom.

Tom is wise.

Yeah', a regular wise guy!

Thought I would save you the trouble of saying it. ............................

I agree Tom, when I was growing up all I remember was Case, Uncle Henrey, Buck, Old Timer and a few other knives geared towards hunters, fisherman, and blue collar workers. They werent fancy and were just made to cut and we actually used the heck out them.

Now it seems like its almost a status symbol for people to have expensive knives and they really dont use them. Just like $300.00 Yeti coolers when a simple $50.00 cooler would do the same thing. Usually younger folks with money buy them and show them off and take pictures of them posting them on facebook, instagram and the forums. The knives are usually brand new and never even cut an apple.

I like some expensive knives and have a few. I actually like to carry and use them. I still would like to get a Chris Reeves Umnumzaam but really cant justify paying almost $450.00. I do have some nice Benchmades, ZT, Hinderers, and Emersons that will fit the bill.

For MOST people, a simple Buck 110 folder or Buck 119 fixed blade will be all they would ever need. Yes, I have some more expensive knives as well, but that doesn't take anything away from the Bucks or other good companies that are relatively inexpensive. Even Survivorman Les Stroud commented that the Buck 119 he was using was a "very good knife" when he was in Alaska I believe.

I have a Buck 102 hunting knife which is slimmer and lighter than a 119. Very good blade. I also have 3 antique Buck 110 folders, two 110 50th anniversary knives and a much loved 110 automatic. And a few other Bucks like a Kalinga, Nighthawk and some folders. Buck was my usual choice until I ran into Bussekin.

I have a few from Buck, more from Cold Steel, Gerber, SOG, Mora, Fallkniven, and many more lesser brands. I bought them all because they appealed to me for one reason or another. Howqever, I believe the Busses are the strongest/toughest knives, though much more expensive.

Uh BC, I have an Umnumzaam. NO I DID NOT pay that for it. SEVERAL years ago I traded a Titanium Pat Crawford Shark for it to a dog in California. I also had the Mini shark. HE had the Umnumzaan AND a small classic 2000 Sebenza with Black Micarta inlays. He wanted to see the Crawford blades and I wanted to see the Chris Reeve knives. We wound up swapping.

I also have several Case traditional folders that Patty has bought me over the years. I have yellow handled ones, red, blue, black, jigged bone and also at least one stag. I don't really trust (myself) with conventional slip joints any more, hence the only kind I buy any more are lock blades of one sort or another.

I have ZT, Emerson, Spyderco, Chris Reeve, Benchmade and some other "Off Broadway" brands.

With just a quick count (without pulling all them out of the various bags, pouches "Kits" and such I have I counted 185 of HIGH QUALITY and regular old 5 dollar knives I've picked in various places and been given.

JUST my good ones, ZT CR, Emerson, Spyderco, Scrapyard, GTI, Kershaw, totals almost 5 figures (NOT counting the cents places)! Man, didn't realize I had that much invested. Hope Patty never finds out...

Folders can be a dangerous rabbit hole to go into. I remember having a para2, griptilian and a SAK. I was all set with those...and then the folder bug bit!

I have about 20 now and god knows how many have come and gone! If I have time later I'll take a pic and post them up. I'm happy with what I have now...all good folders and a nice variety.

I actually have quite a few folders, though the most expensive are my Cold Steel Voyagers.

I agree PK, that Busse are probably the strongest fixed blades out there, but any blade thats 1/4" thick is going to be pretty [censored] strong. Unfortunately, a 1/4" knife has no practical daily use at all, but folders are just more practical for every day tasks IMO.

I got some higher end folders, but I have quite a few cheaper ones like Kershaw that I carry on me daily. I dont even know how many folders I have, but I'm sure its probably around 30 -50 range.

All I know for sure is that I have W A Y more folders (well all knives actually) than I actually need and could use in my rapidly dwindling remaining years on this planet. But hey, everybody gotta have something.