How do you build your collections?

[2Dead]

I started out with different patterns and then handle covers to see what I liked. If I liked a pattern, I tended to buy similar patterns and in different handle materials. If I'm not sure about a pattern, I'd buy one with a handle material I already liked.

I found I like trapper jack patterns, different types of trappers, as well as single spring pen knife patterns so I've got a bunch of those. For other patterns, I try to stick to either jack for a do it all type pocket knife, or a single blade for specific tasks.

 

[fot0]

One knife at a time. They just seem to replicate like bunnies! No additional work necessary.

 

[Markesharp]

I gotta laugh a bit when I think of so many folks on this forum trying their best to not label their collection as a collection. Okay... an "accumulation" of knives
It's like it's not cool or something to be referred to as a "collector". I think whether you use them or not, if you have quite a few of these things, you are a collector. You likely have many more than what you need, and you either use them, don't use them, display them, don't display them,... or maybe a combination of all the above. It's all good.....
I personally really enjoy my "Man Gadget Collection"... and don't mind one bit admitting that it's a collection, and therefore I am a collector

I also have to laugh at how my own "Pocket Knife Collection" has branched out to become my self titled "Man Gadget Collection", and that now the new title somehow personally allows me to diversify even more.... Can't ya just smell the testosterone in the air with all these manly "Man Gadgets"!... lol!
Whatever course you take with your knife and possibly other gadget collection (aka accumulations)... hope you all enjoy it

Yep, that pretty much sums up my knife collaboration (notice I didn't say collection ).

For the most part I like to try out the traditional knives that have that just seem to call out to me, and it doesn't matter if they are old or new. If I want it bad enough, chances are I will buy it. That's just me.

I really like this thread BTW, I didn't think it would get off the ground so to speak when it was first posted.

Happy hunting and enjoy!

 

[Hammer67]

I dont really have a deliberate "collection" of any knid. I just have a lot of knives. And there are certain makers I've become partial to, who produce excellent quality knives that aren't too absurdly expensive. Certain patterns, like trappers and Barlows also call to me, so that's what I tend to have more of. Same with fixed blades - I tend to gravitate to the classic patterns.

 

[redcanoe]

I started out collecting Buck 112s.Then got into 532s. Recently I got interested in the older 300 series . Of course early Buck 300 series knives were manufactured by Schrade and Camillus so I don't know how far I will go with this . Mind you this is not a very big collection by any means.About 30 pieces at the present time.
Just traded for a curio cabinet and find it much more enjoyable than rummaging around in a drawer to find one.

 

[kamagong]

I gotta laugh a bit when I think of so many folks on this forum trying their best to not label their collection as a collection. Okay... an "accumulation" of knives
It's like it's not cool or something to be referred to as a "collector". I think whether you use them or not, if you have quite a few of these things, you are a collector. You likely have many more than what you need, and you either use them, don't use them, display them, don't display them,... or maybe a combination of all the above. It's all good.....
I personally really enjoy my "Man Gadget Collection"... and don't mind one bit admitting that it's a collection, and therefore I am a collector

I also have to laugh at how my own "Pocket Knife Collection" has branched out to become my self titled "Man Gadget Collection", and that now the new title somehow personally allows me to diversify even more.... Can't ya just smell the testosterone in the air with all these manly "Man Gadgets"!... lol!
Whatever course you take with your knife and possibly other gadget collection (aka accumulations)... hope you all enjoy it

Coolness has nothing to do with it. The term collection implies a certain focus, that the collector consciously made the effort to buy knives. Sometimes the collections have a theme, many times they don't.

I am an accumulator. I have more than enough knives to last me ten lifetimes. But that's not because I actively sought to build up a collection. I like knives, and occasionally I'll buy one. If you do this long enough you'll eventually find yourself with a bunch of them.

- Christian

 

[quattromori]

The term collection implies a certain focus, that the collector consciously made the effort to buy knives. Sometimes the collections have a theme, many times they don't.

- Christian

This is the way I see it as well. Collecting is not a matter of numbers.
Not that I collect anything myself. I'm genetically impaired to have that focus. And I only own (and want) a handful of knives.

Fausto

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

"Some collectors are generalists with very broad criteria for inclusion, while others focus on a subtopic within their area of interest. Some collectors accumulate arbitrarily many objects that meet the thematic and quality requirements of their collection, others —called completists —aim to acquire all items in a well-defined set that can in principle be completed, and others seek a limited number of items per category."

One example would be someone collecting knives (any knife that they want to add in), very general overall, but a collector he/she is.

Another may collect only traditional knives, a bit more focussed.

Maybe another seeks out brand B Barlows, and only from their X series, being very focussed.

All in all, collectors.... Oops, I meant, accumulators

All good, in any case, us collectors can certainly get along with the accumulators

 

[knarfeng]

It's like it's not cool or something to be referred to as a "collector". I think whether you use them or not, if you have quite a few of these things, you are a collector.

Coolness has nothing to do with it. The term collection implies a certain focus, that the collector consciously made the effort to buy knives. Sometimes the collections have a theme, many times they don't.

I am an accumulator. I have more than enough knives to last me ten lifetimes. But that's not because I actively sought to build up a collection. I like knives, and occasionally I'll buy one. If you do this long enough you'll eventually find yourself with a bunch of them.

- Christian

I'm going to expand on Christian's response. And like him, I don't think coolness has anything to do with how the terms are used.

IMO, a "collector" has a focus and buys knives that specifically meet the parameters of that focus. It may be "all Case knives made in 1993". It could be "pearl handled knives". But there is a specific organization and focus to what he buys.

IMO there are a lot of folks who have "a lot of knives", but who don't have "a collection".

But, at the end of the day, it's all just words. And if a fella has 5 random knives and wants to call them "his collection", it's fine by me.

 

[jc57]

I was working on a more wordy response, but Frank nailed it for me.

"Collecting" is not only the behavior of acquiring lots of things. That could also define a hoarder or compulsive shopper. It is the intent behind it, and the person's own definition of the behavior that are the differentiating factors.

I acknowledge that I am an actual knife collector. I even pay money to be a member of a manufacturer's Collector's Club, and have an ID card for it my wallet. So I am a even a card-carrying collector. My focus is rather vague, though, and has rotated through a few stages as I went along. However, you could say that my focus is: "those Case brand slipjoint knives that I found visually and functionally appealing at a price point I was willing to pay, along with a few others from other vendors whose design appealed to me." A more narrow focus has never materialized, but I figure I have maybe 20 to 30 more years of life ahead of me so who knows.

 

[sitflyer]

Not really how/where you acquire them, but how do you target them? Did you aim for examples of a certain style, like Barlows, or manufacturer-specific, all styles? Or maybe some of both? Do you collect only vintage, or current production?

A

Collecting knives began for me as a teenager. I would but a new one when I could save up enough money to afford the one that caught my eye in the hardware store display at that time. Those knives were all users for fishing and whatever else they were needed for. I had maybe ten knives by age 18. Then I went for quite a few years without buying any knives, the ones I had served my needs, and working as a cook, my pocket knife was only needed for opening boxes, sacks of flour, and other chores that I didn't want to subject my working knives to. In my 30's to 40's years it became more of a hobby. Picking up a new and interesting model based on design features, materials, or some clever engineering feature. There was no rhyme or reason to it, but the collection grew slowly and steadily. I had neighbors and co-workers who knew I was a bit of a knife knut, would give me knives that they had that had belonged to relatives, or that they had and didn't want in the house because they had other concerns, like children, or the simple fact that they knew they would never need a large sheath knife with their lifestyle. The collection grew...
After discovering the forum, I started hanging out in the Buck sub-forum, and re-discovered a fondness for the 112. This was when I developed a nostalgic drive to collect one pattern, nostalgic for me because the 112 was the first real knife that I remembered saving up for, and the first one I owned went over the side of the Coast Guard cutter I was stationed on at that time. So I started picking up Buck 112's, different models from the progression of changes that it knife went through in its development through the years. At the same timeframe I began picking up a few 110's as well. I started becoming aware of how many different kinds of collectors there are around these parts. I think there are as many ways to be a collector as there are people who collect, but there are some folks who dedicate themselves to one brand, one model, one pattern etc. Some folks who like a particular manufacturer will try to get as many different models and materials as possible. Some folks like the scattershot style of collecting, grabbing whatever catches their fancy at the time. It's all about what interests you, do you want to collect many different types of knives, or are you interested in a specialized type of collection with an eye towards a complete showing of a particular type, model, manufacturer, year/era, or pattern style? The possibilities are endless where you can take it.

PS, there are collectors who build displays to travel and exhibit at shows, there are in home showcased diplays, there are collections stored in all manner of ways, and a record book is a most valuable tool to consider right from the get go.

 

[lonls]

My knife collection grows much to my Wife's chagrin... ;8^) I have well over a hundred knives. Also... what Frank says... "Whatever happens to interest me most when I have money to buy a knife". I also like to try knives from other countries. I started with a couple of laguiole knives around 2000. I have many Moras and Opinels. Most of my EDC knives from the mid 1970s to 2003 were all Victorinox SAKs. I bought a Conaz knife in Italy in 2005... I also have close to 50 different Case knives (my favorite pattern is their Wharnecliff Mini Trapper. I have 5 of those, not counting the ones I have given to others.
My focus these days are knives made by GEC. I love the quality and variety of patterns of GEC knives, especially the #48 improved trappers and KSF Madison barlows. That said all of my knives have been carried and sharpened by me. I only save the packaging for my GEC knives. I buy them because I like them, not as an investment.

 

[baffone]

I began with industrial fighters.....but now collect also camp knife (only Busse).
The last year i buyed only custom knife.
My dreams are a Loveless, a Kressler, a S.R. Johnson.....
All my knives, eccept one, are fixed

 

[digitalurbancamo]

I'm going to expand on Christian's response. And like him, I don't think coolness has anything to do with how the terms are used.

IMO, a "collector" has a focus and buys knives that specifically meet the parameters of that focus. It may be "all Case knives made in 1993". It could be "pearl handled knives". But there is a specific organization and focus to what he buys.

IMO there are a lot of folks who have "a lot of knives", but who don't have "a collection".

But, at the end of the day, it's all just words. And if a fella has 5 random knives and wants to call them "his collection", it's fine by me.

+1 :thumbup:

 

[mley1]

I sorta go through phases. I started using knives when I was a kid, and went through quite a few. Most of them were Schrades of some sort. Then when I got a bit older I went on a Buck craze, cause I was doing a lot of hunting. So, I had a bunch of Buck 110's and 119's. Then came my Case phase. I bought, and still have, a bunch of Case knives of various kinds. Then a few years ago I got into modern folding knives and got some Kershaw's, ZT's, Benchmades, and Spyderco's. I still have a few of those with the high dollar steels. Now, I'm back into the traditional stage. I've picked up a few Barlow's, several Schrades and some of their Scrimshaws, and some Boker's from Germany with carbon steel. I've gotten to where I enjoy using carbon steel a lot more now. Carbon is easier to sharpen, maintain, and gets extremely sharp easily. So, most of the modern knives sit in my safe now, while I carry Schrades and my Cases or Bokers with the carbon steel. It seems that after using some of the super steels I've come to realize that our grandfathers had it right when they pulled out their old carbon bladed knives. I like them a lot.

 

[Ray5118]

Somewhere in the middle of a large accumulation of traditional & modern folders with a few fixed blades throw in is
A case knife collection that suffered from a loss of focus
But its just plain interesting and fun

You build a collection by being focused, unless the collection is .... everything you feel like buying at the moment

 

[hunterjrg]

Whatever happens to interest me most when I have money to buy a knife.

Same with me.
I don't consider myself a collector as I tend to use everything I buy.

 

[300Bucks]

I bought one here and I bought one there. I carried them for work and hunting. Then I came up with the great idea I would fix a display box for my office wall. Then I decided I would just buy and fill up my display with one maker. Then I saw a article about the Buck area on Blade Forum. Then I saw there was a Buck Collectors Club and joined. Then I realized my office box had grown to a shoe box full at home also. Then after more time I thought you know I have a dang lot of knives. That was several years ago and I still am in the dang lot area. But I have slowed down and focused on one model of one maker. Gave up the idea of getting everyone ever made and each new years model. I became a sinner and had an affair with TL -29s a while but I was fickle and went back home. Luckily the old models took me back. So I say pick a couple of kinds you really like and buy some of them and one day you will just "know" what you need to do. 300