Pendulum Swing
I am back to my roots as a knife collector
My knife collecting pendulum has swung yet again, slowly but surely.
It occurred to me that I am back to my roots as a knife collector. It all started out with fixed-blade knives; that is where the fascination was germinated and cultivated and where it flourished.
My collection as a boy was almost all made up of the cheap kind of “survival” knives that I could get my hands on, with the 1980s Gerber BMF as my grail. But then YouTube came along, and with it, hours of watching reviewers one-hand open and close modern folders and waxing poetic about concepts of EDC or everyday carry.
I believed that I couldn’t carry a belt knife all the time (legally I could, but to be socially acceptable, it was out of the question), but folders I can carry all the time, every day. So my love of increasingly pricey folders began to grow. And grow.
But (for now) I believe I have reached “peak folder,” and my love of fixed blades has again come to the fore.
I have most of the folders I want, save for a few grail-type examples (like anything made by Charles Marlowe or Miguel Barbudo), and even in the realm of fixed blades, I am becoming more and more selective and drawn in by custom-made knives.
That is largely a function of meeting the makers and discussing their work with them. None of this means there is love lost with folders; it just means my irresponsible drive to have them all has thankfully evaporated, and I am saving my funds for the most compelling folders and exploring fewer but better fixed-blade knives.
Does this mean I am maturing? Maybe.
But I’d rather think it is the pendulum of my knife collecting swinging slower and wider, where it's becoming less about keeping up with the Jones and really being true to the roots of my knife obsession.
But to quote my teenage daughter, “It’s probably not that deep.”
Knife Junkie Out.
Nick Bachtel, N.M. Bachtel Forging Company: The Knife Junkie Podcast (Episode 563)
On Episode 563 of The Knife Junkie Podcast, Bob hosts custom knifemaker Nick Bachtel, who's making waves in the industry with his unique blend of historical techniques and modern craftsmanship.
Bachtel, who runs the N.M. Bachtel Forging Company, stands out for his use of traditional methods like coal forging and techniques dating back to the California Gold Rush era.
With eight years of experience, Bachtel creates everything from practical hunting knives to ornate Bowie knives with bronze sheaths, each piece showcasing his commitment to old-world quality.
He's particularly known for his mirror-polished finishes and exclusive use of high-carbon steel, believing that knives should both serve their purpose and tell a story through use.
Find Nick's work at bachtelforgingcompany.com or follow him on Instagram (@bachtelforgingcompany) and YouTube (@bachtelforgingcompany) to see his creative process in action.
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nice one!