Are You Serious?

Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones

Joined
Oct 28, 2006
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A member mentioned “Big Time Collectors” in a recent thread, even stated how many he thought there may be on this BF customs forum.
Les, responded asking “what’s a big time collector”? I was anxiously awaiting responses as I felt it may generate some good discussion, however none appeared.

As “big time” is sort of an ambiguous term, I will change it to “serious collector” for sake of discussion.

I consider myself a serious collector if for no other reason than the amount of time and effort I dedicate to it.

• So what in your opinion is a serious collector?

• Does the custom knife community need serious collectors?

• And perhaps even more interesting, what is a serious maker?

• Do you consider yourself a “serious” collector or maker?

As always, thank you in advance for your views, opinions and participation.
 
I am sure it is all relative. A person might not make it into any future "Great Collectors" books, but if their knife collection values more than other key living items (like their car or their 401K), then you could consider that person pretty serious.
 
I agree Chuck in that Don could be the poster person for serious collectors. Another who comes to mind would be Phil Lobred.

I don't think quality and/or quantity of knives in a collection necessarily makes a collector serious.

Still another who comes to mind for me is Larry Bailey. Larry has been collecting custom knives for MANY years and carries his superb hunter collection in the beautiful walnut display cases to shows all over. He also produces the Ohio Classic Knife Show. Pretty serious, and to the benefit of many collectors and makers.
 
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Kevin Jones said:
• So what in your opinion is a serious collector?

Anyone who devotes a serious percentage of their time and abilities to the knife loving community at large

• Does the custom knife community need serious collectors?

Desperately

• And perhaps even more interesting, what is a serious maker?


Same answer basically - Any Maker (Fisk for instance) who devotes a serious percentage of their time and abilities to the knife loving community at large

• Do you consider yourself a “serious” collector or maker?

Honestly, not yet, I'm trying to get there but I see that as being another 2 years or so before I would really see myself as a serious maker. I have to many fundamental skills that I'm still working on

As always, thank you in advance for your views, opinions and participation.
Click to expand...

Answered above in red, this is actually a very thought provoking conversation and one that my wife and I have had several times.
 
Last week I finished up the second part of a 3 part article on what makes custom knives appreciate in value.

In there I use the term "Super Collector". This term is directly related to the amount of money this type of collector spends. A lot!

I asked the question what is a "Big Time" collector to find out what people on this forum thought the definition would be. As Kevin pointed out no one posted an answer.

In lieu of a "Big Time" collector I like the idea of a "serious collector". This is not so tied to the amount of money spent as it is the amount of time is spent with regards to custom knives.

Kevin, point out that Larry Bailey is a big time collector. Im sure everyone would agree. Just as Kevin Jones is a big time collector. Our forum is filled with them.

How about STeven, Roger P, Keith Montgomery, TKC, Peter Gill, JParanee, Betzner and others. They contribute their knowledge as much as their money to custom knives. As odd as it sounds I consider myself a "serious collector."

Those who either make for, sell to, provide the shows, provide the articles and provide the places to discuss custom knives. All contribute to the "Serious Collector".

Thank you to all of you who share the seriousness of my hobby/business.
 
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Actually, it is pretty funny where a serious collector might turn up. I know of one gentleman in the hills of S.C. I have had the privilege of viewing his collection and would guestimate .5 Million for the collection.
 
Truth be told the term 'Big Time Collector' is almost derogatory. No one who would be in this exclusive category would acknowledge (approvingly) this stature.

Yes, serious, is a better term, but even this term has it's minor challenges: It almost forsakes the value of fun. But, I am glad you labeled it as such. Anyone who participates regularly would agree. I'd like to think I'm one--maybe not so much in my collection, but in my participation and output.

I am well aware of serious collectors who are out there and don't participate. The money they spend would make our heads spin. eenoriver's example is one, and I know of many more.

Coop
 
I consider myself a serious collector, because I take my collecting seriously, but I am not a big time collector. I have the inclination to become one, but not the finances.

The industry needs the big time collectors. They are the ones that are willing and able to invest in the top knives. Without them there would not be near as large a market for really high priced knives.

Any maker that takes his profession seriously, and continues to strive to improve his/her work, is a serious maker. They don't have to make $5000.00 and up knives to be in that category.
 
The amount of time and mental energy one devotes to either the making or collecting of knives, to me, defines how serious one is about the art of knives. How much one invests in knives has much less relevance, in my opinion.

I would give you Lorien as an example of someone who is very serious about knives. His own threads let us know that his monetary input into knives is minimal - but the energy and time he spends on this forum makes him a serious collector, in my opinion. He strives for the knowledge, while some who are much less serious tend to strive only for the dollar sign.

I think Les is right-on with his comments, which distinguish between "bigtime" and "serious".

EDIT: I guess I am a serious collector, since I think I spend an INORDINATE amount of time having to do with knives.
 
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Great thread Kevin - :thumbup:

I hope to become a serious maker some day?:)
Until then I will just remain hardcore.:rolleyes:

Todd


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I don't know how serious I am at collecting but I am an avid collector and have been at it for well over thirty years. My tastes have come and gone over the years but I still enjoy very much the 'hunt and chase' for fine blades, whether I find them 'pre-owned' or order them from my favorite makers.

I have never bought anything with the sole desire of just turning it for a quick profit, which I see many so-called 'collectors' do....I would never put the time, effort and $$$'s into such an endeavor unless it was for business or I didn't have anything better to do. :rolleyes:
 
I don't think that the monetary amount of a collection determines the seriousness of the collector. A rich man can spend millions buying what most custom knife enthusiasts (makers AND collectors) "trash" knives (I saw a show about lottery winners and one guy bought basically the Frost cutlery catalog) or a collector through due dilligence can carefully buy a piece or two and trade those out and improve his collection. Who's more serious? I say the man that makes careful decisions regarding his collection.

I'd say the custom knife community needs serious people for expertise (as long as they don't become pendantic) and as examples of how a collection can be driven but there's nothing wrong with people that buy what they like and pick up a knife or twenty that catch their eye. I go back to umpiring as an example, there's a place for a guy that isn't that great an umpire but enjoys umpiring children's games and there's a place for a guy that goes to camps and works college ball, two totally different mind sets for two totally different environments.

I feel that the community at large considers makers that advance the craft serious. I don't know that the community at large would consider me a serious maker, I know my family and friends do because they see first hand how much time and energy I devote to the craft. There's a young man that I'm teaching to make knives, he's only completed a few knives so far but to buy the tooling and materials to make knives he sold his truck and walks 12 miles round trip to work lugging his lunch and a big bag full of knife related stuff to work on during his down time at work. How serious a maker would you consider him? How serious do you think he takes knifemaking?
 
I suggest one who exerts their time and effort can make as great or perhaps a greater impact on the custom knife community as one who just buys.

Are the collectors who only collect one maker and have perhaps over a quarter million dollars of that maker's knives considered serious collectors? I imagine they are to the makers they collect. ;) :D

When I approached a collector in regard to possibly joining the CKCA, his response was he didn’t really get into the whole custom knife thing, he just liked a particular maker’s knives.
 
I see a very definite division in the type of collectors in the knife world, particularly customs.
First, people who love knives but have limited resources....they buy what they like but have to save up and only buy a few pieces a year.
Secondly, avid collectors who spend a lot of time and money buying (and selling) knives, but again, have limited resources and that is a big restraint in their hobby/OC.
Lastly, there are those with virtually unlimited funds, they buy whatever they like and and their collections continue to grow, irregardless of whether they sell some of their stuff or not.

All of these people fit together into the knife buying public, which includes me.
We all love knives..........It is a pretty cool hobby!!!!
 
I see a very definite division in the type of collectors in the knife world, particularly customs.
First, people who love knives but have limited resources....they buy what they like but have to save up and only buy a few pieces a year.
Secondly, avid collectors who spend a lot of time and money buying (and selling) knives, but again, have limited resources and that is a big restraint in their hobby/OC.
Lastly, there are those with virtually unlimited funds, they buy whatever they like and and their collections continue to grow, irregardless of whether they sell some of their stuff or not.
As time goes on, everyone refines their tastes and directions change

All of these people fit together into the knife buying public, which includes me.
We all love knives..........It is a pretty cool hobby!!!!
 
Will Leavitt said:
I don't think that the monetary amount of a collection determines the seriousness of the collector. A rich man can spend millions buying what most custom knife enthusiasts (makers AND collectors) "trash" knives (I saw a show about lottery winners and one guy bought basically the Frost cutlery catalog) or a collector through due dilligence can carefully buy a piece or two and trade those out and improve his collection. Who's more serious? I say the man that makes careful decisions regarding his collection.

I'd say the custom knife community needs serious people for expertise (as long as they don't become pendantic) and as examples of how a collection can be driven but there's nothing wrong with people that buy what they like and pick up a knife or twenty that catch their eye. I go back to umpiring as an example, there's a place for a guy that isn't that great an umpire but enjoys umpiring children's games and there's a place for a guy that goes to camps and works college ball, two totally different mind sets for two totally different environments.

I feel that the community at large considers makers that advance the craft serious. I don't know that the community at large would consider me a serious maker, I know my family and friends do because they see first hand how much time and energy I devote to the craft. There's a young man that I'm teaching to make knives, he's only completed a few knives so far but to buy the tooling and materials to make knives he sold his truck and walks 12 miles round trip to work lugging his lunch and a big bag full of knife related stuff to work on during his down time at work. How serious a maker would you consider him? How serious do you think he takes knifemaking?
Click to expand...

Good points Will.
I don't think we can anymore base a maker's seriousness on the knives he makes than we can base a collector's seriousness on the money he spends.

We see newer makers who are quite serious and others who are well known and whose knives and HIGHLY sought after who don't seem to take it so seriously.

Part time/full time status has little to do with it, however I expect a full time maker had better be serious if that's where his/her income comes from. ;)

When addressing seriousness among makers, some have spent their whole careers promoting and pushing the custom knife industry forward in additional to their making knives.
 
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Yes I am, and I'm totally miffed that Les forgot me.

Need proof? Well, I only declined Warenski's "Gem Of The Orient" when my accountants advised me that I would have to sell my Spydercos. Besides, I holding out for King Tut.

I may be down to eating cabbage soup now, but after that inauguration of hope and change and bailouts, who among us is not hyped about soaring personal wealth and collector status.

ken
 
Kevin Jones said:
Good points Will.
I don't think we can anymore base a maker's seriousness on the knives he makes than we can base a collector's seriousness on the money he spends.

We see newer makers who are quite serious and others who are well known and whose knives and HIGHLY sought after who don't seem to take it so seriously.

Part time/full time status has little to do with it, however I expect a full time maker had better be serious if that's where his/her income comes from. ;)

When addressing seriousness among makers, some have spent their whole careers promoting and pushing the custom knife industry forward in additional to their making knives.
Click to expand...

Kevin,

But is that being a serious maker or just trying to become famous or very well known?
It has been said in THIS thread that some SERIOUS collectors are not that well known?
Why does a maker have to be famous or push the market to make a great knife? Or to be taken seriously?

I do know what your saying there - THE CREAM ALWAYS RISES TO THE TOP - :D
I know there are probably some serious makers out there, that are NOT that well known?
And they probably may like it that way?

For the ones that have pushed the market, it probably would NOT be the same if they had NOT done so..... :thumbup:

Todd



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Well, my friends, I have said this before but will say this again
for the sake of this thread: I consider myself a very serious
collector, constantly building my vast private collection of modern
custom knives throughout the pages of my six (so far) books.

And not like it is the case in many other great collections, mine is
open to the public anywhere in the world, to leasurely enjoy in the
comfort of their homes..... :)

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
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