KNIFE COLLECTOR FROM THE NORTHWOODS

I find myself with certain 'categories' of collecting as I venture further into this hobby.  One is what we might call the 'mini knife'.  I now have several.  One highly rated one from a well-known brand is the Smith and Wesson Beji Folding Knife .  This time I allowed myself an exception and purchased it at full price, although that's not saying a lot since it is quite affordable.  It retails under $30.  

 When I purchased the Camillus Griddy at Menards (see previous post review), I remember being surprised that it didn't seem to be offered elsewhere, and its presence on the internet was minimal.  Then, the other night, when I purchased the Buck Exert at Walmart (on clearance, it was originally produced in 2021), and did some online searching for reviews and such, I was surprised again to see it referred to as a "Walmart Exclusive".  I guess it never occurred to me that major knife brands would produce exclusive models for big box store chains like Menards and Walmart .  But they do.  Apparently Swiss Tech is another exclusive made just for Walmart. Likewise, two models of the Old Timer brand are made exclusively for the Brass Pro Shops ( Old Timer 152OT & 72OT  in 2019, along with a Buck fixed blade knife).  

 I was curious as to what the most popular folding pocket knives were today, and ran across this list on Amazon.  Turns out I have a few of them in my new collection. They include well-known brands and lesser known ones. You might find it interesting.   https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Pocket-Knives-Folding-Knives/zgbs/hi/553232  The knives I now have from this list.... FUNBRO Small Pocket Knife - #1  [Note: Several other companies make virtually identical models that are also best sellers.] Victorinox Swiss Army Knife TINKER model - #33 [Note: Various models of the SAK are in this list.]  BARRYSAIL Mini Key Chain Knife - #49 [I will review this in a post soon.] HIGONOKAMI Japanese Folder - #76   OLD TIMER 24OT Splinter Carvin' Knife - #98 [I will review this in a post soon.] Other popular, well-known brands that occur in the list include: Kershaw, Civivi, Spyderco, Buck, Gerber, SOG. Some up-and-coming brands on Amazon, some of which I ha...

This is my first KERSHAW knife , albeit not one of their higher end models which can cost over $300 to $400 (e.g. the Livewire Rervese Tanto, or the Launch 21). Their premium line is the Zero Tolerance. Again, in this case, a Walmart clearance find.  On the Kershaw site it retails for over $70, but my purchase was $23.50.  On Amazon you can still find one for just under $30 on discount.  Turns out this model is officially discontinued, and any you might find will be the limit of the available stock. This may explain the steep discounts online. It was introduced in 2019, so it appears to have had a comparatively short run of only about 6 years. An AI overview states, regarding the discontinuance: 

As I collect knives, especially ones I want to carry for EDC, certain traits and characteristics are surfacing that I find important.  For example, a lot of folders utilize the thumb stud .  I don't mind this method, and have knives that utilize them effectively, but find that more than not it feels like it snags on the inside of my pants.  The flipper , on the other hand, is a smooth lever on the edge of the knife, rather than the side of the blade.  This method usually employs the addition of a kind of assisted opening, which the knives I own with a finger flipper often have.  The Camillus Wedge , while having a finger flipper without the aid of an assisted opening mechanism still opens with minimal effort.  The Wedge comes in a small size, which while not in the 'mini' category, rides effortlessly in my pocket with the aid of the pocket clip and is large enough to feel as if it can handle most average work.  

 I often add to my collection by seeking out clearance items at local stores.  Walmart, surprisingly, offers numerous finds (of which I will write about in another post or two).  Today I found one at Dunham's Sports.  This knife also fills another category in my collection: discontinued knives.  As far as I can tell this particular Cuttin' Horse model is not longer made or marketed.  You can still find Cuttin' Horse S & W knives (e.g.: the S & W CKMAR Cuttin' Horse Hawkbill Knife with Marlin Spike at Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-CKMAR-Cuttin-Hawkbill/dp/B000UV05VS). This particular knife can be found often on eBay sites and is sometimes noted as a "Seat Belt Cutter".  Although listed as having a lockback, it is clear a liner lock.  It is also listed as a knife produced by Taylor Brands , the manufacturer of S & W knives, as well as Schrade and Old Timer.