Kevin, casual collectors, by your definition can be found at knife shows spending "stupid" money on knives...merely because they have the money to do so. Some people, because they see or hear of them spending a lot of money on knives would take them to be "Serious Collectors." They may eventually become "Serious Collectors."
I agree.
I know with myself when I first started collecting I was a casual collector. I changed to a "serious collector" when I found I was buying crap, mostly because I didn't know what I was looking at.
Typical of many if not most collectors.
Every show out there has tables full of knives that will only appeal to the "casual collector" primarily because they really don't know what they are looking at.
Kevin, it is the casual and more serious collectors who primarily move the custom knife market forward. While it is certainly advantageous to have the big time collectors spending a lot of money. More times than not that spending is focused on just a few makers, i.e. you and Jerry Fisk knives.
I agree, the community needs a balance of both.
While you spend a lot of money on custom knives, because it is so focused does it really do as much good, for the custom knife market as for example someone who spends an equal amount of money over the entire market? Lets face it, Jerry Fisk would still be one of the premier knife makers in the world whether you bought his knives or not. Not that Jerry isn't grateful for your support. But lets face it, Jerry did most of the "heavy lifting" before you were even interested in custom knives. ?? Often times, especially for those looking for a return on their investment it is the smarter move to buy from a maker with an established performance record like Jerry. Than to wade through the hundreds of new makers who show up each year. Yours is an excellent strategy that has bode well for many collectors in the past and will for generations of collectors to come.
How much money I spend and who I spend it with has nothing to do with my seriousness as a collector. As I said in my opening post, I consider myself serious because of the time and effort I put into the custom knife community. Though you contend that my purchases do little, I believe the time and effort I put into the cumunity does more.
Not that is has anything to do with the subject at hand (and I don't understand why you bring it up), but when or where have I EVER said I had anything to do with Jerry's success? As a matter of fact, I have always credited him with any success I have enjoyed in my collecting.
Are you a serious collector...yes you are. But no more or less serious than someone like TKC...just a different collecting focus.
As you stated in your first post "seriousness is not so tied to money spend", I agree and also suggest nor is it tied to any specific collecting focus. And unlike some, I'm by no means arrogant enough to state I'm more or less of anything than TKC or anyone else.
TKC, don't be shocked...you are a serious collector. You put a lot of time, energy and thought into your purchases. Because you do put so much time into the "homework" of your purchases you and collectors like you are moving the market forward.
2Knife
First, define investment. Are you looking for a particular ROI, if so what percentage?
Speaking for myself, I do as much as I can to eliminate the 'Risk"...however you will never eliminate all of it. Probably the best way to eliminate or minimize risk today is the same as it has always been....Information/Intelligence. The technology of today goes a long way to minimizing risk.
Like you, I also agree with "Sage of Tennessee"
