Edge retention, corrosion resistance, sharpening difficulty for popular knife steels.
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Quality folding knifeSpyderco Paramilitary 2, Benchmade 940, and Chris Reeve Sebenza are the three folders people keep and don't replace. Buy once, buy right.
Display case / shadow boxA wood-and-glass display case with a felt liner keeps dust off and lets you actually see the collection. Measure your longest blade before ordering.
Sharpening stones (1000/6000)King KW-65 and Shapton Pro are the two whetstone systems people actually use long-term. A 1000-grit for reprofiling; 6000 for finishing.
Fixed-blade hunting knifeA quality fixed blade (Buck 119, ESEE 4, Mora Garberg) with a full-tang handle and leather sheath holds its value and ages well.
Mineral oil / honing oilA few drops of food-grade mineral oil on your stone prevents metal from loading into the abrasive. The cheap gallon jug at the hardware store is fine.
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