"Connoisseur"? You're too kind. No, I'm much the same way. I buy knives cause they look nice, also for the purpose of whatever I may actually need a knife for. Personally I'd prefer to larger fixed blades, but again, I'm not really the type to carry them just to leave them on my mantle. I am not a violent man, but I would like to be seen as a practical one. My first knife was a Scorpion brand that I picked up at a hardware store. Even cut myself cause I was playing around with it. I'd like to get myself one of those fancy corporate knives, but their brands tack on at least $100 bucks for something that I typically use to cut tape or trim my nails.