- Joined
- Jan 7, 2000
- Messages
- 817
This was my 3rd year to attend Blade. I have only been into custom knives for about 4 years now, and I still get totally overwhelmed by what I see when I walk in that show.
First, I want to say that this show reinforces what I love about custom knives. I was able to deal and talk with many amazing makers. Custom knives is as much about the person behind the knife as it is the knife itself.
Now, what I really want to ramble on about....
This year, I attended a semminar by Bob Neal and Les Robertson about custom knife collecting. At the semminar, I bought Les's book to read on the airplane. The semminar was very informative with an interactive atmosphere to let people ask questions as well as listen.
When I got on the plane and started reading the book. I was really shocked, but am not sure why. What shocked me was none of it was anything that was a big secret in the custom world. I was reflecting on my own growth in knife collecting while reflecting on Les's lessons. I realized that I was at the stage Les was describing in the majority of his book. I was doing homework. I was buying what I liked while checking to see if what I liked was worthy of investment. I had also learned a lot of those lessons the hard way.
The two previous Blade Shows, I had bought probably 10-12+ knives at each show. Some cheap, some not so cheap. However, 6 months later, I wasn't happy with all of those knives. I ended up selling them off because they didn't fit anywhere in my collection. They really didn't have a lot of specail meaning to me. And in the long run, I lost money.
This year, I bought 4 knives. A couple secured before the show to make sure I was getting what I wanted. All 4 knives fit into my collection and the direction of my collecting ways perfectly. All 4 knives are from makers with a very very strong secondary market and extremely high quality knives. I have no plans to ever sell any of them, but I know if circumstances force it, this will not be a situation where I lose cash.
Reading Les's book, I realized that the lessons were not secretive. I realized it was lessons every collector eventually learns, and quite often the hard way. Reading that book was a great eye opener. While I was already experienced in the majority of those lessons, it gave me those lessons in words I can see and understand to help pass along to others.
I also had a run in with a custom maker that was not a pleasant situation. It left a bad taste in my mouth and had my pretty upset. Shortly after, I had the oppertunity to deal with Kit Carson. Kit is an exceptional maker and friend. While that sour situation had me frustrated, Kit's friendship and honesty as a maker made my weekend. I had already picked up an order from Mike Obenauf, and the oppertunity to deal with makers of that caliber made my weekend well worth it. Had I not been able to pick up a knife the next day, I still would have left happy. It's all about the friendships. I learned no matter how good the quality of the knives, there are too many good makers who are honorable and trustworthy to waste time dealing with prick.
JR
First, I want to say that this show reinforces what I love about custom knives. I was able to deal and talk with many amazing makers. Custom knives is as much about the person behind the knife as it is the knife itself.
Now, what I really want to ramble on about....
This year, I attended a semminar by Bob Neal and Les Robertson about custom knife collecting. At the semminar, I bought Les's book to read on the airplane. The semminar was very informative with an interactive atmosphere to let people ask questions as well as listen.
When I got on the plane and started reading the book. I was really shocked, but am not sure why. What shocked me was none of it was anything that was a big secret in the custom world. I was reflecting on my own growth in knife collecting while reflecting on Les's lessons. I realized that I was at the stage Les was describing in the majority of his book. I was doing homework. I was buying what I liked while checking to see if what I liked was worthy of investment. I had also learned a lot of those lessons the hard way.
The two previous Blade Shows, I had bought probably 10-12+ knives at each show. Some cheap, some not so cheap. However, 6 months later, I wasn't happy with all of those knives. I ended up selling them off because they didn't fit anywhere in my collection. They really didn't have a lot of specail meaning to me. And in the long run, I lost money.
This year, I bought 4 knives. A couple secured before the show to make sure I was getting what I wanted. All 4 knives fit into my collection and the direction of my collecting ways perfectly. All 4 knives are from makers with a very very strong secondary market and extremely high quality knives. I have no plans to ever sell any of them, but I know if circumstances force it, this will not be a situation where I lose cash.
Reading Les's book, I realized that the lessons were not secretive. I realized it was lessons every collector eventually learns, and quite often the hard way. Reading that book was a great eye opener. While I was already experienced in the majority of those lessons, it gave me those lessons in words I can see and understand to help pass along to others.
I also had a run in with a custom maker that was not a pleasant situation. It left a bad taste in my mouth and had my pretty upset. Shortly after, I had the oppertunity to deal with Kit Carson. Kit is an exceptional maker and friend. While that sour situation had me frustrated, Kit's friendship and honesty as a maker made my weekend. I had already picked up an order from Mike Obenauf, and the oppertunity to deal with makers of that caliber made my weekend well worth it. Had I not been able to pick up a knife the next day, I still would have left happy. It's all about the friendships. I learned no matter how good the quality of the knives, there are too many good makers who are honorable and trustworthy to waste time dealing with prick.
JR
The main thing I've stuck with is buying from makers I beleive to be honorable, this is almost more important to me than the knife. Btw that Carson guy always makes my day when ever I deal with him as well.
I really like this thread.
Gotta go fluff my pillow so all my knives don't settle into one place. Kevin
