Collecting Method?

[JD Mandrell]

I admit for years, I was all over the map in collecting with little rhyme or reason, but the last year or so I have started to get much more focused on certain knives.

Buck 301's
Buck 110's
Benchmade Griptilians (hey, gotta have something to collect when traditionals are scarce!)

 

[knifeswapper]

Until you get the what figured out just be sure to take it slow and steady. When it does come to you, the worst feeling is having a house full of knives that don't trip your trigger anymore [that you bought retail].

You are already on the right track by asking around. Be sure to shop around when you know what you are looking for and get the best available value for your dollar. Given the same amount of money spent, it is always nicer to have a 25 knife collection than a 20 knife collection.

Mike Latham
CollectorKnives.Net

 

[pappy1959]

12345

 

[A.P.F.]

As Chris mentioned, I too have been all over the map in my collecting. Most of my collecting has been Buck and Spyderco, but I have now decided to concentrate on Case slips. Because I have such a wandering eye, I changed my avatar to remind myself at each post, to maintain my focus. So far, I am choosing to collect a particular handle style, rather than a pattern.

Will I pass up a two dot 110? Not likely.

 

[Trent Rock]

I really like these threads :thumbup:
Interesting to see the other methodologies/obsessions/addictions

How did you start collecting?
What do you collect?
Do you collect by pattern or by maker?
When did you start with customs?

I started when I was 9 years old and I got my Camillus Cub Scout knife
Had a lull for a while
Couldn't afford to add to my gun collection anymore
Most knives are cheaper than guns
Bought a forged throwin' hatchet from a mountain man guy in Creede, Co
Hopped on EBAY one day (about 13 months ago) to buy another hatchet for throwing
Stumbled upon Bladeforums.com
"Discovered" the world of knife collecting
Became a part time knife junky

I mostly collect anything old, cheap and American that I can use and, ideally, has the potential for capital appreciation
Companies I have never heard of before===>
Like Yale, Southington Cutlery, Luxrite, and Cardinal Cutlery
Finding out about the company (or who actually MADE the knife) and the date range (if possible) is the fun part for me
I also like the old ads and catalog listings
I have a fondness for Western Boulder, CO knives because I like the history of the company and the employees in Colorado

85% of the stuff I will buy...I will probably never use
But..They look cool in my cases, hopefully they will go up in value, the ladies like the knives, and I do go camping a lot and like taking a different knife every time
And if I ever need to test a sausage or castrate a piglet===>I am SET

I have some sub obsessions
I always have my eye out for the silver Stag-O-Matic Imperial knives

I bet you don't know anyone who collects Pastor Aleman's, Burns Bread Knives AND Luxrites
My EDC's are 80's- 90's Bucklites

I like knives with fullers
I DON'T like fixed blade knives with plastic pommels
Always good to have a knife that can cut off the balls off a piglet
A knife you had to send away Price Albert tobbaca labels to get?
How about a cheap, Solingen, 60's hunting knife?
A Tl-29 electricians knife?
Maybe a cheap 70's "automatic" Rizzuto knife sold in Tijuana
You gotta get one of those!!...

Nostalgia plays a big part in my collecting
If it brings back my youth or days gone by or reminds me of a knife my uncle had......:thumbup:
I think I have "re-bought" just about every knife I have lost/got stolen in my life

Don't forget about collecting an ERA===>
WWII
The Nam
Civil War
Pre Civil War
Post Civil War
1863-1864
Operation Just Cause
The 1970's seem good to Randall collectors

NO customs YET
I'm at that stage
I know some of the names now
Never thought I would spend 100+ bucks on a knife
It's getting close
I can feel it
Need to hit those lotto numbers this Saturday....

I'm still waiting for someone to tell me EXACTLY how one uses a sausage tester to test sausages

 

[navihawk]

Old. Old and cheap, and in good enough condition to be useful.

 

[timsclips]

Main interest is Camillus and Camillus made for other brands. Comes up to quite a long list.

 

[neeman]

That's a heck of an offer. I can't think of two guys that I'd rather have that drink with in Eretz Yisroel than you and Neeman! :thumbup:

But...I'll have to give some thought to part of that offer though. I do have some Ren-Wax at home and if I drink to excess at least I don't have to worry about my wife's absconding with my collection. (She'd just roll her eyes up after a few minutes and leave 'em on the table. )

I have plenty of single malts...

This is going to be one hell of a trip....

 

[Blues]

I have plenty of single malts...

This is going to be one hell of a trip....

Good thing I'm a bourbon (and beer) drinker.

 

[Bob W]

How did you start collecting?

When I was a kid I used to lose everything, including several pocketknives. So I became paranoid about losing knives, stopped carrying one, and started hoarding them in a safe location. A couple of years with this method and the knives began to accumulate...

What do you collect? Do you collect by pattern or by maker?

I started off with anything and everything. Traditional, modern, fixed blades, folders, bayonets, khukris, interesting designs, natural materials...
I've since created sub-collections of Schrade-USA Old Timers and vintage Bruckmann pocketknives. I still buy anything and everything though. Variety and experiencing new designs are key to continued accumulation enjoyment.

When did you start with customs?

Fairly recently, maybe ten years ago at the most. Started with an Anza made to my specs, and most other customs have been purchased from the For Sale By Maker forum section. Fixed blades only so far; I find that custom folders do not match my budget well...

You are already on the right track by asking around. Be sure to shop around when you know what you are looking for and get the best available value for your dollar. Given the same amount of money spent, it is always nicer to have a 25 knife collection than a 20 knife collection.

Excellent advice. I'm a sucker for closeouts, sales, and discontinued models.

I tried collecting by pattern but found it too limiting. I enjoy well made knives regardless of who makes them, so collecting by maker doesn't work for me. So I buy a little bit of everything, have a bunch of knives, and enjoy them.

Fantastic philosophy!

I do understand the drive some have to stay loyal to a maker, pattern, or even scale material, I was just never afflicted with that particular fever. If a knife is aesthetically pleasing or unique (Barry Wood's folders for example) and well made then they arouse my interest. I like variety and my accumulation (rather than collection) shows that. I have slipjoints and tacticals, traditional fixed blades and non-traditional, even a few that border on being art knives. I buy expensive knives but I will also pick up a cheapie like the Cold Steel Kuda.

Sounds just like my buying habits!

 

[old*cowboy]

I have 2 obsessions with knife collecting. My first love is the Fight'n Rooster knives. I collect the older ones that are tang stamped Frank Buster Cutlery, and a few of the celebrated stamps. I prefer the ones that have some particular message on the blade, but have several that just have fight'n rooster logo. As I stated I have 2 obsessions. The second is pretty much anything else I like. I hase Case, Queen, Hen and Rooster, Boker, German Bull, Buck, Schrade, and lots of older knives. When I learn to do pictures on here I will show my favorite knife of any. It is very old, in great shape, real nice green swirl skin. Only marking on it is Beststeel Guaranteed. For some reason it jumps out at me any time I see it. So I guess I am like so many in the world. I am a knife collecting whore. I will take anything.