How Many Of Us Collect Knives Too?

ddavelarsen

ddavelarsen

Joined
Dec 7, 2000
Messages
5,179
When it comes down to it, I started making knives because I couldn't afford to buy those beautiful creations in the gun magazines... I'd dream and wish and finally one day took a big file at work and started grinding it down on a rough grinder during my breaks.

I do have a couple of knives I've made - they're old ones - but my knife collection has blossomed over the years. I guess I have a couple hundred various knives, ranging from two-cent Christmas stocking stuffers from my kids to what you see below.

These are I guess kind of the highlights of my collection and by a collector's standard rather mild. But I love em all.

The Randall I actually ordered, and got it a couple years ago. It was my first "good" knife and I'm inordinately proud of it. :)

The stag folder is by Howard Clark and has a JS stamp and the number "01" on the tang. I often wonder what the number means, but it's even better to have such an early knife from this fantastic Iowa maker.

Anyone else collect and care to share their favorites?
 

Attachments

  • collectioncopy.jpg
    collectioncopy.jpg
    50.6 KB · Views: 108
I got into making knives for 2 main reasons. 1) to learn more about knives. And 2) to make knives to sell so I can buy the knvies I want. So far I have sold 1 knife, and that money went to buying christmas presents :) But I hope this summer to maybe get into the selling to buy cycle. Anyways, I collect military/fighting blades. So far my collection is a whopping 1 knife, but I like the knife I have. It is a KaBar short. The finish on this knife is very nice.
 
I had one heck of a lot more knives, before I got into knifemaking. I sold most of them 20 years ago to help finance equipment.
Got a couple of Randalls that i've had for 25 years or so, and some other odds and ends. Nothing serious. :(
 
Here is a few
1- Ken Largin
2-?
3-mine
4-Billy Whatson
5-Gaxz
6-D. R. Good
7-Fox
8-mine
9 Pal


Sorry about the photo just a quick one.
The wife is yellin for me to get ready
so we can leave











some1.jpg
:rolleyes:
 
Dave, maybe the JS stands for Journeyman Smith and the "01" means it's his first knife made as a Journeyman Smith?

I think I'm an oddball in the knife making business. I don't collect em at all and seldom use knives other than in the kitchen or the shop. I do enjoy looking at knives and handling them and appreciating quality craftsmanship but just never felt the need to own a bunch of them.
 
Michael, I like your suggestion better than any I've been able to devise. :D I may try to get a good pic of the knife one of these days and ask him about it. But he's quite busy, declined my offer to visit him once. :)

Sylvester, that's a nice collection. I like your friction folder and the #2 friction folder, which really got me pumping...that's a special knife isn't it? One of the NT guys make that? I was pretty proud of myself, spotted the DR Good right off.

Crayola, I traded a knife I made for that Osborne, so maybe that's an angle you can work too. I haven't made a lot of knives but so far the money from sold ones has provided little more than gratification and some more belts... I make way less than minimum wage when I sell one. :eek: The plumber make a lot more off me when he comes!

I'm not making knives because of the money or fame ( :D ), and so far they're not adding to my own knife collection. But the longer I do it the more important knife making becomes to me. In a couple weeks I'll finish up the gift set I'm working on and with any luck you'll see what I mean! It sure is gratifying to make something beautiful out of raw stock. I understand perfectly what Michael is talking about.

Dave
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top