Selecting the Correct Knife

There are two major reasons for buying a knife: personal use, or a collection. The right choice differs for each.

Knives for use

When purchasing a knife to use, there are some basic guidelines to follow. Be sure you buy the right tool for the job: don't buy a dagger to clear brush, a kitchen knife is not the best boot knife, and a kukri will not double as a utility hunter.

There are knives designed specifically for most tasks, and some knives are good multi-use tools. Camp knives are very useful in the field - with one knife you can build shelter, chop kindling, prepare game and handle many other outdoor duties. A medium-sized hunter or sportsman covers basic cutting, preparing game, light chopping and self-defense.

Combat-type knives are usually designed as weapons of offense and defense - slashing and stabbing. In a pinch a combat knife can serve other purposes, but in general a good "weapon" knife has a solo purpose. There are utility knives that can serve in a combat situation as a last resort. Long knives and swords can be both weapons and utilitarian tools - heat treat, blade and handle length and shape dictate the optimal use.

Knives for collections

As for buying a knife for collectible purposes: buy what you like first, and worry about realizing a profit second. (More on that in Knife Collecting and My Perception.)