How do you collect traditionals?

S

SOUTHERN WOODS

Joined
Nov 17, 2011
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174
Does anyone focus on one certain make (company) or do you just collect by model?

My traditional collection is limited to Case but I'd like to start looking more into GEC, Robeson, or other companies that use carbon steel. Are there any other makes worth checking out? I hate to end up with a mixed collection because I think it would devalue it but then again I'd love to branch out.
 
Whatever catches my fancy, it used to be old out of business slippies, but now I've taken more interest in high quality new knives like GEC.
 
I don't collect them, I just like them and use them. If I were to collect it would be customs that I like, no particular maker or pattern...a little variety is nice.
 
I would not worry about the value. I have a bunch of nice old Case XX's, the T.Bose/Case yearly collaborations, etc., but, I am impressed with the GEC knives, especially the special order Charlows. I have ordered two of them in the past week and they are high quality knives. I just buy a knife I really like, don't worry if it fits in or not.;)
 
CJZ said:
Whatever catches my fancy, it used to be old out of business slippies, but now I've taken more interest in high quality new knives like GEC.
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This, along with SAKs and knives from my childhood like USA Schrades. GEC is nice too...a modern day, retro classic kinda thing.
 
I guess if you had a complete lineup of every model from a particular series that may increase the value to somebody looking to buy a "complete" series. However I wouldn't compare a knife collection to a baseball card collection for instance. Each piece stands on its own, I guess is what I mean. Of course I may be completely off base as I am more of an accumulator than a collector.

I have lots of different tastes. I purchase what I fancy. Things that remind me of something, a memory, a friend , a particular steel.... or I just have to have it.
 
I like exploring the offerings of long gone cutleries, a wide variety available in many different pricepoints and markings. I also like to concentrate on several specific patterns by a certain maker. There can also be a wide variety in those single maker patterns. So maybe I have several collections. Value? Collect slabbed certified gold coins. Or put money in a good mutual fund. Knives, generally speaking, are not good investments.
 
I just got started and only own about 14 traditionals so far (not counting SAKs). Most of my buys up to now have been all GEC and Case. My last purchase was a Northwoods.

I've decided to focus on Barlows and razor points for a while just to establish a direction for the collection. Most of the knives I've gathered so far have been mid-range in price (i.e. $50-$100). I'd like to start picking up a few lower-end brands to see how they hold up but I'd prefer not to throw money at cheap Chinese junk. My biggest challenge is figuring out which brands to buy and which to avoid.
 
SOUTHERN WOODS said:
I think it would devalue it
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I do not understand where you are coming from.
I do not think of knives as an investment.
And I do not buy knives planning to put them in a safe untouched, hoping that someday I can cash them in for more than I paid.

Im sure someone here can explain what the word collector, and investor, have to do with each other, but Im not that guy.

I suggest you buy what puts a smile on your face, with disposable income and no hopes of return, other than personal enjoyment.

As far as what brands to buy, maybe watch this thread, http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...uot-Traditional-Knife-quot-are-ya-totin-today and see what catches your fancy.
 
I don't have many either, maybe 40 or so, but the ones I choose to buy are a bit nicer, old or new. Not for investment, just for use, fun and the historical angle mainly.
 
I've got my first traditional on order, so I can't exactly comment on how I collect them, but as for my overall experience:

I don't have a collection. I have one good folder: a large sebenza. I've had others; lots of others. (Well, not by forum standards hah), but I sell what I don't favor, and I've sold those I like but can't justify to myself owning more the than one pricey knife (loved the SnG for example), at least not ATM.
 
Most things sheepsfoot hold an interest for me and I like congress patterns (probably because of the sheepsfoot blades). I also have a soft spot for case cv peanuts, which are the knives I probably carry the most.

Paul
 
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Codger_64 said:
I like exploring the offerings of long gone cutleries, a wide variety available in many different pricepoints and markings. I also like to concentrate on several specific patterns by a certain maker. There can also be a wide variety in those single maker patterns. So maybe I have several collections. Value? Collect slabbed certified gold coins. Or put money in a good mutual fund. Knives, generally speaking, are not good investments.
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Exactly. Well said Codger. :thumbup:

If I like it and have the extra money, I buy it. I have a few Case and Buck traditional folders and have recently purchased some nice GEC traditionals.
 
I had a collection of traditional knives before I knew I was collecting and it was a collection. Relax and buy what you like and it will happen.
 
Like many others, I collect what appeals to me. I've never been naïve enough to think I would ever come remotely close to getting back what I put into them.

However, I hope in some way, that my humble accumulation helps to preserve a little of the history that is slowly slipping away. My collection reminds me of a time when people built things by hand, and not on some computer automated assembly line. The workers took pride in their skill of actually crafting something, not just pushing a button on a big machine to do the same task.

An added benefit of collecting knives are the knife friends I have collected at the same time. That is the true value of my collection :)
 
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