IMPORTANT NOTICE
If you happen to be a knife collector, Merry Christmas! This guide is directed at helping someone who is looking to buy a gift FOR YOU, not necessarily YOU. Continuing to read may spoil any surprise, and Christmas morning might lose its magic. If you were the type of child who sneakily peeked under Mom and Dad’s bed early, then feel free to continue reading. Otherwise, please share this with anyone who might be shopping for you!
Tips for Shopping for a Knife Collector
For many knife collectors (myself included), asking for “a knife” when prompted for Christmas gift ideas seems like the easy solution.
However, there are a few challenges with this approach. Firstly, it’s not just about receiving a knife; it’s about getting the right knife. We are a selective bunch, so simply picking a knife randomly might not be well-received, or might not even be used. Secondly, knife enthusiasts have a different perspective on what “affordable” means. For example, describing $160 as an “accessible price point” is not uncommon in our world. Lastly, the knife community is vast, and navigating its intricacies involves understanding a lot of industry lingo.
But don’t worry. This guide is here to assist you. By the time you finish reading, you’ll have all the knowledge you need to shop for even the most discerning knife enthusiast who seems to have everything. The goal is to help you find the best gifts for knife enthusiasts and ensure that they have a joyful Christmas.
The Easier Option: Knife Accessories
If there’s one thing that knife aficionados can’t seem to have enough of, it’s tools to maintain their knives. This makes accessories a great option for Christmas gifts, with items available at various price points, from a $9 TORX bit set to a $900 sharpener. Below are some specific examples.
Lubricants: Products like Benchmade Blue Lube, Tuf-Glide, and different weights of KPL are excellent gifts for knife enthusiasts, especially those with numerous folders. Carrying a knife for an extended period can cause it to become gummed up, and it needs to be re-lubricated to keep it running smoothly after cleaning. Most lubricants are also very affordable, usually costing less than $20.
Sharpeners: Acquiring a really good sharpener took me an embarrassingly long time. As knife enthusiasts, we are familiar with the feeling of buying a new knife while our collection of dull knives looks back at us disapprovingly. If your knife lover doesn’t have a good sharpener, it’s an easy way to breathe new life into their collection. I personally recommend the Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener and the Spyderco Sharpmaker. Both are excellent choices. If you’re feeling a bit more extravagant, consider the Work Sharp Precision Adjust series, as well as sharpeners from KME, Edge Pro, and Wicked Edge.
Storage: A knife storage system is something most knife enthusiasts put off getting until the lack of storage becomes a significant issue. In my case, it was when my collection became so heavy that the drawer in my dresser wouldn’t stay closed, and my children started getting curious. I now have a few knife carry cases. Regardless of the size of your knife lover’s collection, a way to store multiple knives is a safe bet. There are various fabric cases from different brands, as well as Pelican cases with inserts designed to hold knives. I am currently interested in the Vault Case Co. Locking Case because it includes a built-in lock to keep little fingers out!
Tools: Whether they’d like to admit it or not, all knife collectors have encountered at least one T6 mishap. I would bet that most of us have come across at least one knife that we couldn’t disassemble due to a lack of tools. In short, every knife enthusiast should have a driver set, and for those who do, a backup set is a good idea. There are various knife maintenance tool kits at Blade HQ, and any of them would be appreciated by your knife lover. You can opt for a simple set from Wiha or Kershaw, or explore more sophisticated options from Benchmade or Knafs. In fact, Knafs even offers the Loaded Tool Burrito, which is an all-in-one knife maintenance package!
Knife-Adjacent Gear: Does your knife enthusiast have a multi-tool? If not, consider getting them the new Leatherman ARC! What about a ferro rod? Check out Exotac’s lineup! Do they carry a flashlight? Take a look at Olight! If they don’t have an axe, now is a good opportunity for you to rectify that! Do they have an old wallet that needs replacing? Get them a stylish minimalist metal wallet like the Chaves Ti Fold! You could also consider a Tactile Turn pen, a small pair of Knipex pliers, a challenge coin from their favorite brand/maker, and more. There’s a whole world of gear that knife lovers collect apart from knives, and they are generally less particular about it.
The Challenging Option: A Knife
In the previous section, I provided links to numerous products that any knife enthusiast would be delighted to receive. Let me emphasize once more: it will be easier for you to shop for gifts from the options listed. However, if you are determined to select a knife, I fully support your decision, and I’m here to assist you. Unfortunately, I don’t have a comprehensive list of foolproof choices. Every knife enthusiast has unique tastes and collections.
My first suggestion is to simply ask them. Instead of directly inquiring, “What knife do you want for Christmas?” if you want to keep it a surprise, begin with a knife you saw or heard about elsewhere. The less you know about knives, the better. Feel free to use any of these lines:
- I saw a police officer at the store today, and he had a knife with a butterfly engraved on it. Why would a cop carry a knife with a butterfly? Would you?
- Remember that scene in John Wick where the British dude talks about “the finest cutlery freshly stoned?” What was that cutlery? Do you have any?
- Why would Crocodile Dundee carry such a huge knife? Why do you carry a smaller one?
Any question along these lines, along with some follow-up questions, will help you gather the information you need. A knife enthusiast who has an interested audience will share more than a vegan who does CrossFit and invests in crypto. On a side note, having a loved one take an interest in their hobby is the Christmas wish of every enthusiast, regardless of the subject!
Another option is to ask them to show you their knife collection. They will be more than happy to do so. Study their knives until they all start to look alike. This might seem like a problem, but it actually works to your advantage. If they have a dozen knives with 3” blades and black handles, go to BladeHQ.com, filter by blade length and handle color, and choose one that looks slightly different from the others in their collection, and you’ve found a winner!
My next suggestion requires access to their computer. A quick look at their search history can reveal what they’ve been searching for online, which can help you determine the specific knife they are interested in. If you can access their Blade HQ account, they probably have something in their wish list. You can take note of it, or even share it with yourself. If they are aware a knife is on the way, they can also share it with you.
If neither of these options is viable, think new. I don’t even know how many knives I have, but I do know that most of my knives are at least a few years old. Look for items released in 2023 to increase the chances of finding something they don’t have. You can find these on the Blade HQ New Arrivals page or other categories sorted by newest.
Best Wishes!
I hope this guide was helpful. If you are still feeling overwhelmed, feel free to email me directly at [email protected] with any questions you may have. I will respond to all inquiries until the Next-Day Air shipping deadline for Christmas delivery. As mentioned earlier, my goal is to ensure that every knife lover has a joyful Christmas, so I am here to assist you.
Good luck and happy shopping for knives! If you find yourself becoming enamored with knives during your search (it’s highly contagious), we look forward to seeing you back here very soon!
