Collecting Knives

T. Erdelyi

T. Erdelyi

Joined
Feb 3, 2001
Messages
32,359
I remember when collecting knives was more than who has the most expensive high end tactical folders, or who spent $2000 on a custom blade and rig,(not that they don't have a place in a collectors Inventory)
What I see is a lot of younger people with extra money getting into the newer tacticals, and missing out on the fun of collecting Case Trappers or Winchesters, or the older Schrades, does anyone remember Keen Kutter, Remington, or the old Shapleigh Hardware knives.

Everyones entitled to collect what makes em' happy and apparently High Tech is in, but that's only perhaps in the last 20-25 years of manufacturing, there is 300+ years of history out there, and you don't hear much about it anymore.

Am I just getting old, and the New Guards are taking over? Should I just stand down and let the machine grind the start of this hobby into oblivion, or am I obligated to bring an old hobbie to the front lines of a new generation.

Anyone else feel the same way or am I all alone, wait what,s that I hear, is that the rallying cry of my Brothers, or just my lonely echo, bouncing of of deaf ears.

(Kinda makes ya wanna raise a flag and sing the Star Spangled Banner, don't it?):D
 
To each his or her own.
At least they are getting into the hobby.I've been into it for so long I can't remember what drew me into it.
Went through the "techno" phase a few times.Still like some,but not all technical knives.
If we have a concerted effort we can sway everybody towards our beloved"slips".I know I have converted a few members of B.A.K.C.A.
Happy campers all.:)
I personally do not like a lot of tacticals the makers are making now,but I still have a few.Not a lot,but a few.
Randy
 
The first objective of the game is to enjoy your hobby. So buy whatever interests you. Over time you will be surprised to discover the emergence of a nice presentable collection. You like what you like, and sooner or later your collection will start to take on a definite appearance.

Just becuse you went out and bought a couple of case knives, does not mean that you should now go after the rest of their product line. You simply bought the knives because they attracted your attention. Perhaps you do like Case, or perhaps you like the knife pattern, the scales, or simply the period. You don't know why you bought the knife you just know that you like it, so just buy some more that you like and perhaps you will begin to notice a pattern.

n2s
 
I've been collecting knives for about 15 yrs.I was always interested in easy opening folders.Like most people I started with factory knives and then graduated to custom.I was getting expensive folders like Barry Davis,Kalsa,C.M.Dake,J.D.Smith,even a Michael Walker.Then I had 2 kids.Now I'm buying a lot less custom knives and more quality factory ones.
 
Mad Hungarian:

Tactical folders are huge because they "intersect" the interests of so many people: collectors, users, self-defense aficionados, the paranoid, the large number of people that think that anything tactical is cool. No other knife segment appeals to so many people.

It's natural that new knife collectors will be attracted by what's hot right now. Nifrand is right: the more people drawn to the hobby, the better. Those who stick with it are likely to expand to other areas. I've only recently started buying knives after I read an issue of Tactical Knives. My first buys were large, medium-quality tactical folders. I've kept the best ones (BM Griptilian and TSEK), gotten rid of the rest, and moved on to nice small fixed blades (my second Dozier, a Whittler, is on order) and small utility folders (a Kershaw Double-Cross and small Case Texas Toothpick are also on the way).

miguel
 
There are tens of thousands of people that collect every kind of knife under the sun. The old time favorites such as slipjoints, bowies and military knives are going just as strong as they ever did. You should see the size of some of the knife clubs dedicated to these styles of knives.

A person should collect what they like. What kind of knife that is really doesn't matter, just so long as we are happy with the knives that we have chosen to collect. That is what makes it fun.
 
I don't collect them, but I do have an old Keen Kutter from my grandmother's house. The blades have a dark patina on them and that knife has been used as a thrower in a good number of Mumbledy Peg games. Still sitting in my drawer at home. I like it a lot actually.
 
I don't know if I'm a collector or not. I'm a guy with alot of knives. I have had some of theses knives since I was 7 or 8 years old. None of them are particularly special. All of them are used (except some of my bayonets). Most of the good ones people who know me well have bought me. Some of the rarer\cooler ones (like a late 1950's stag handled KNOX auto)were given to me by people who know I'm 'into knives'. I currently own about 50 pieces, not counting Made in China crap I've been given over the years. I have 4 more pieces coming in this week :).

So, am I a collector?

Come to think of it....probably not.

I'm just a guy who has always appreciated any style of knife that is well made-from the smallest penknife to the largest sword. I buy what I like (if I can afford it heheh) and usually for no real reason other than that.

The two knives that mean the most to me are an old Old Timer small 3 bladed slipjoint, and my first real knife purchase-Victorinox Champion(?)from 1971 that my Dad ordered for me for $13 from Ireland as I remember it. They aren't worth much to anyone else but me. And my daily carry-Spyderco C41 Native, is another not very 'impressive' knife that does what I ask it and never asks for anything back but a quickie sharpen.

Am I a collector? Naw...But I got some cool stuff....

Mongrel
 
Mongrel: you are a knife person.There are millions like you in the world.Plus you DO have cool stuff.
miguel-SF:good to see you are branching out.
Robb:after the family obligations are done you will be known in the knife world as a "hitter" or high end collector.If you have the ones you got early you are hooked.Nice pieces from those makers.
 
Give me 5 years or so and I might begin to feel like a "collector". Right now, I buy what I like, period. No deliberate attempts to standardize on styles, makers, etc. I lack the knowledge to know why I like something--a knife either "grabs" me or I can live without it. To me, that is not "collector" behavior, but it's not something that I lose sleep over.
 
T. Erdelyi, Yes I celebrate the diversity
of many kinds and styles of knives. In fact
the out of the ordinary and historical is
what I look for. I'm 48 though.

-Rebus
 
Of all the knives I own, my favorite collection is my Swiss Army Knives. They're not custom-made or high-dollar but they are just too neat and interesting for me to pass up.
Maybe I'm abit of a gadget freak?

Good luck,
Allen.
 
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