dating Js knives???

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
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I've asked a few of my collector and maker friends this query.

I really like how makers like Hancock and Foster mark their blades,

"20 Ms 07" To display both the year and it being a knife made after receiving their Master stamp.

I have been thinking about marking my Js knives in a similar fashion, but wonder if people think this would seem pretentious. Is it a form reserved for the ranks of Ms???

One collector told me he questioned even using the Js stamp. Personally, I feel I worked way too hard for it not to use it. I do not feel it will hurt the value of my knives in the future, but then again, I have been wrong before!

Thoughts?

Thanks! :)
 
I wish every MS dated their knives. If you follow certain makers close enough you can generally get the point where you can look at a knife and tell within a year or so when it was made. But then you never know for sure.

Now as far as should a JS date their knives or should that be reserved for MS? As good as your knives are, do what you like. ;) :D
 
Another alternative is to do like Jay Hendrickson does (and Bill Moran used to do) and stamp the year and steel type on the back of the sheath. That would at least save you a bit of money because you could use individual number stamps and not have to buy a new blade stamp every year.
 
Sheaths get lost. I'd stamp the knives. Wish more makers did. Been saying that for a while. Short sentences today. Don't know why.

Roger
 
I marked my JS knives the same way. 20 JS 0_. Remember that a collector will like this more than you. If you have a knife that doesn't sell and you put it in a drawer and bring it out next year, you may have to field questions about why it's an "old" knife.

I shamelessly stole the idea from Tim Hancock, so he deserved all the credit for the idea, but I think it gives the knife a traceable history and years from now, it will help to document your progress as a maker.
 
Dating the MS knives is certainly a good idea, I like to see it. JS knives being dated is less important for me, a lot of makers transition within a few years (2-4), so you can date a knife reasonably well from just the JS stamp.

Why different preferences between JS and MS? The JS is a transitional phase and as mentioned above is documented. The MS phase is potentially much longer!

Stephen
 
I'm an oddball, but I am reluctant to agree. Like Burt alluded to, there is a stigma of 'old knife' attached to a piece as soon as there is a date on it and it's not current.

I've seen older AKI pieces marked as such, and they just lost all the appeal to me with a ten-yr-old date. I dunno why.

Then again, 2007 JS may be a very good year for Nick Wheeler. Like a fine vintage wine.... ;)

Just another opinion that even I'm not convinced is right.

Coop
 
FWIW, I've heard Les say that it's more likely to make the knife less valuable in the future. I have to agree. There is a certain stigma to an old knife. But as a sought after maker with low output, Nick, I'm sure you wouldn't have any problems selling your knives as they're made, nor collectors wanting them.

But in general, for most makers, I think it's a bad idea. The maker that doesn't sell out at every show or have a long waiting list I think will have some problems trying to sell a knife marked 2007 in 2009, and his collectors will have the same problem when they try to resell.
 
I don't think there's a stigma attached to an "old" knife as long as it's pristine and the design is attractive.

With this said, I also don't care one way or another. I want a receipt that details the year the knife was made and the materials anyway, as well as the price paid. I don't care if the date is on the blade. I do care for the JS stamp and it does impact resell value a lot.
 
Joss said:
I don't think there's a stigma attached to an "old" knife as long as it's pristine and the design is attractive.
Click to expand...

We agree here Joss. Age means nothing to me as long as it's in new condition.

I have Fisk Boot Knife and silver sheath that is 9 years old and is still absolutely mint. The fact that the piece has survived that long and is still immaculate just makes it worth more to me.
 
In theory, there is usually only a 2 or 3 year period during which the JS stamp is used, so dating the knife is pretty easy. Do whatever floats your boat.
 
I think dating only makes sense if you have a really long-term view. Paperwork gets lost, the knife ends up in storage after the owner dies, and decades from now when someone stumbles upon it, the date will still be there.
 
ptgdvc said:
In theory, there is usually only a 2 or 3 year period during which the JS stamp is used, so dating the knife is pretty easy. Do whatever floats your boat.
Click to expand...
Unless you are like me in that I will probably stay a JS indefinitely assuming I can pass in the first place in '08 or '09:D
 
Nick,

I think you should send me a pair of your nice big fighters; one marked with the year and "JS", the other just with the "JS". I'll compare the two and let you know which looks better, then I'll add both to my collection. Being very generous, I won't even charge you for the opinion! :D
 
RogerP said:
Sheaths get lost. I'd stamp the knives. Wish more makers did. Been saying that for a while. Short sentences today. Don't know why.

Roger
Click to expand...

I can guess, Roger
must have eaten sushi
and speak in haiku
 
Knives that are considered "old or older" in most cases will considered inferior to the current makers price. Subsequently they should be worth less. Whether this is true or not is not the issue. It is a fact that a large sector of the knife buying public do not like having a date on their knife.

Dating a knives will hurt more often then help your collectors trade or sell their knives in the after market. Speaking as some who lives in that market, seldom will you pay for an older knife what you will pay for a new knife. There are exceptions...but very few.

However, as Peter said, they are your blades so do whatever floats your boat.

George Herron kept logs of every knife he sold, style, materials, cost and when it was made. The he put a serial number on the knife. Whenever you needed some info you called Miss Barbara and she gave you the history of the knife.

Most makers, will never build as many knives as George did over a 40 year period.

WWG
 
Is part of your statement predicated on makers improving materials and skills as they progress in time, or does that not matter in your estimation?

In other words, if a maker used micarta and nickel silver on a knife with somewhat uneven grinds and a hazy mirror finish 10 years ago, and now only uses ivory and stainless, does crisp grinds on an immaculate finish, obviously the "new" work is more desireable, but what if the work 10 years ago is every bit as good as current work?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Hi STeven,

Excellent points. yes particular materials will date a knife rather quickly. Ivory micarta that turned yellow. Nickel Silver (especially on stock removal knives), Stainless steel frames on tactical folders, etc.

As well, different locks and steels will give away a knife age. On the tactical side it started with the death of 400C, now ATS-34 is dying a slow death. Steel of choice right now is S30V, with CPM-154 gaining some inroads.

However, many makers will have a run of 20 years where the work for the most part is of a very good quality. If they utilize newer materials consistently this will age their knives a little. However, nothing compares to dating a knife like dating a knife.

WWG
 
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