The Knife Collection He Lost at Gunpoint, and What He Is Buying Next
The photo was a flat-lay of a collection that no longer exists. The poster explained that the picture surfaced in his memories, from a period when he was drinking and using, and that around eight months ago he was robbed at gunpoint for nearly everything he owned. Only one knife survived, a Microtech Ultratech, and only because it was away for repair at the time.
What followed was less an identification thread than a rebuilding plan. He was never impressed with the Microtech, and his shortlist showed it: a Kershaw Livewire, a Guardian Tactical Recon, and a Pro-Tech Godfather on the outside. That is a coherent set for someone who wants an out-the-side automatic but no longer wants to pay Microtech money for one.
The comments supplied the part of the market he had missed. Axial's Shift and Core Edge's Pulsar, Delta and Echo were recommended as the value end of the out-the-side category, with the Maxace Neptune and Medusa called out as good buys when they can be found. For out-the-front models, the Godfather was still the pick. One reply made a simpler argument for leaving automatics entirely, naming the Para 3, and another pointed at the new Buck 110 Slim in MagnaCut as the next purchase.
The thread also illustrated how fast taste moves while you are out of the hobby. Eight months is enough for a few model lines to be discontinued and for the secondary market to reprice everything the poster used to own. Anyone returning after a gap faces the same problem: the knives you remember are either gone, twice the price, or replaced by a version with a different steel and a different factory.
The honest takeaway is that starting over is an opportunity rather than a loss. Without a collection to fill gaps in, the sensible move is two knives: one automatic in the $150 to $250 range from the value brands the thread named, and one straightforward manual folder that takes abuse. Buy those first, carry them for a month, and only then start rebuilding around what actually gets used. Confirm current pricing and availability before ordering, since several of the models named here move in and out of stock quickly.