Bobby Branton
Moderator
- Joined
- Dec 12, 1998
- Messages
- 2,976
From my 25 plus years of collecting it would seem that you basically have an hierarchy as far as the different types of collectible knives or knives that someone will collect. I will try to contain this to fixed blades for now, but the same scenario can apply to folders.
Throwing knives (the red haired step child of the knife world)
field grade hunting knives, utility knives, boot knives or combat style knives
presentation grade hunting or utility knives
presentation grade boot knives
presentation grade fighters and bowies
Most people do not want to spend a lot of money on a custom throwing knife, except for the guy who is an avid thrower and wants a knife that will not break and will hold up to the rigors of throwing.
Field grade knives are usually entry level knives with a working or using finish and begs to be used and are usually lower priced due to less frills unless made by a popular maker.
Presentation grade hunters and utility knives are normally where people start their serious collecting because of the style, nicer finish and upgraded handle materials. Some people will start off using these knives due to the moderate price which is not that bad and the pride of ownership when out at the hunting camp.
As their collecting becomes a little more obsessive and they become more educated about the different makers, they may begin seeking out the top makers in this category. This is where you really have to do your home work.
After purchasing a few presentation hunters and utility knives from these top makers, you start noticing the other upscale knives and you begin getting the taste for the more stylish boot knives, fighters and bowies. This is where you really have to do your home work unless you simply buy what you like. This will be debated as long as there are collectors buying knives.
I guess my point is that most collectors will eventually gravitate from the low end field grade knives and presentation hunters to the bigger fighters and bowies. Making this move is where you begin to really see if you made a good investment. I do not believe there is one person that owns a Loveless, Johnson or Moran dropped point hunter who would not sell it in a heart beat to buy a boot knife or fighter from these makers if were not a huge price difference.
Not every maker is going to be the next Loveless, Herron, Warenski, Moran etc. If the guy or gal is doing nice work, and continues to innovate, give them a chance. Time will be the judge as to whether or not you made a wise investment. When you are upgrading your collection, you win some and you lose some. I think just like the stock market, you will always do better in the long run. If you are in a hurry to sell one knife to fund another, you will probably lose money. The times that I've lost the most money was when I had the hots for my grail knife of the week or I just flat out need the cash. You just can not pick winners all the time. There are simply to many variables involved. You can only educate yourself to minimize the losses and move on. It is all part of the learning curve.
If you believe in the maker and their work is excellent, you may be the one who gets in on the ground floor and you may be the one who helps the maker become the next big super star.
Enjoy the hobby and support the makers who work the long hours to make you that special knife. I hope my ramblings made sense.
BB
Les, After I bought my first two Loveless hunters for $500.00 each from Bob in 1984, I was offered a Loveless Big bear sub hilt for $2,200.00. I shook in my boots at the price. I only wish I would have met your guy. The price for those $500.00 hunters were scary enough.
Throwing knives (the red haired step child of the knife world)
field grade hunting knives, utility knives, boot knives or combat style knives
presentation grade hunting or utility knives
presentation grade boot knives
presentation grade fighters and bowies
Most people do not want to spend a lot of money on a custom throwing knife, except for the guy who is an avid thrower and wants a knife that will not break and will hold up to the rigors of throwing.
Field grade knives are usually entry level knives with a working or using finish and begs to be used and are usually lower priced due to less frills unless made by a popular maker.
Presentation grade hunters and utility knives are normally where people start their serious collecting because of the style, nicer finish and upgraded handle materials. Some people will start off using these knives due to the moderate price which is not that bad and the pride of ownership when out at the hunting camp.
As their collecting becomes a little more obsessive and they become more educated about the different makers, they may begin seeking out the top makers in this category. This is where you really have to do your home work.
After purchasing a few presentation hunters and utility knives from these top makers, you start noticing the other upscale knives and you begin getting the taste for the more stylish boot knives, fighters and bowies. This is where you really have to do your home work unless you simply buy what you like. This will be debated as long as there are collectors buying knives.
I guess my point is that most collectors will eventually gravitate from the low end field grade knives and presentation hunters to the bigger fighters and bowies. Making this move is where you begin to really see if you made a good investment. I do not believe there is one person that owns a Loveless, Johnson or Moran dropped point hunter who would not sell it in a heart beat to buy a boot knife or fighter from these makers if were not a huge price difference.
Not every maker is going to be the next Loveless, Herron, Warenski, Moran etc. If the guy or gal is doing nice work, and continues to innovate, give them a chance. Time will be the judge as to whether or not you made a wise investment. When you are upgrading your collection, you win some and you lose some. I think just like the stock market, you will always do better in the long run. If you are in a hurry to sell one knife to fund another, you will probably lose money. The times that I've lost the most money was when I had the hots for my grail knife of the week or I just flat out need the cash. You just can not pick winners all the time. There are simply to many variables involved. You can only educate yourself to minimize the losses and move on. It is all part of the learning curve.
If you believe in the maker and their work is excellent, you may be the one who gets in on the ground floor and you may be the one who helps the maker become the next big super star.
Enjoy the hobby and support the makers who work the long hours to make you that special knife. I hope my ramblings made sense.
BB
Les, After I bought my first two Loveless hunters for $500.00 each from Bob in 1984, I was offered a Loveless Big bear sub hilt for $2,200.00. I shook in my boots at the price. I only wish I would have met your guy. The price for those $500.00 hunters were scary enough.
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