It's all for the hobby... Who agrees that options are never a bad thing?

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

This site is great and I am honoured to share info with such knowledgeable collectors!

That being said I am considering taking on a large and ongoing responsibility by creating a super-organized Schrade info "data-base" and "Group" at another site "iKnifeCollector". ( http://www.iknifecollector.com/ ) I really like the "Ning" sites because they are really easy to use and personalize and offer chat etc.

My goal is not to drain members from this fine site and I will stay here as well long-term but I am inspired by Spark's and Larry's work and am thinking I could set up something a bit different. I need a project and this sounds fun!

I envision a single thread on every Schrade model and no double-posts! lol
As the group leader I would move new threads to the correct old ones and bump them again to avoid this. I see a concise and in-depth data-base as a result.
Users could search every Schrade model and bingo! Production dates, variations, pictures, construction info, trivia... everything imaginable about that pattern.

I think people would join my Group if it was worthwhile but there would be no "competition" with this site. I believe there is room for more Schrade-sites and no losers as a result. I would continue to "cross-plug" BladeForums as a must-join resource as well.

While this info is indeed already scattered around the web, there is no "one-stop-shopping" with all Schrade info neatly organized at your fingertips.

What do you guys think? Would you join if I do the work? Am I a "traitor" to Spark to even think of it?

Testing the waters... Cheers!

 

[6.0stroker]

Not trying to be rude BUT there is always someone that has to reinvent the wheel. I believe that if folks get a paid membership that the info is all there AND easily accessed ( now I am sure that this site has a fair amount of $$$ to keep it up and running) Paid membership is an option not a demand to ME you usually get what you pay for.:foot: It is a free county ( so far:foot but not real sure how lrv and Codger among others will feel (thats their decision).


"MY" .02 worth and that may be high

 

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

Not trying to be rude BUT there is always someone that has to reinvent the wheel. I believe that if folks get a paid membership that the info is all there AND easily accessed ( now I am sure that this site has a fair amount of $$$ to keep it up and running) Paid membership is an option not a demand to ME you usually get what you pay for.:foot: It is a free county ( so far:foot but not real sure how lrv and Codger among others will feel (thats their decision).


"MY" .02 worth and that may be high

I appreciate your honest feedback. I have strong personal values around the free and easy access to information and education to everyone world-wide regardless of income, beliefs, colour of skin, whatever... and regardless of subject matter whether it be learning how to rebuild and engine or when Schrade introduced the 7-OT. I feel very strongly that education should be freely shared in a perfect society and I walk-this-talk in all areas of my life. Spark can choose to charge what he likes as is his right. I do not not think less of him (or of BladeForums) because he does. It is a matter of personal choice and personal Freedoms. We all gotta eat... I totally respect his approach and successes. (I do hate the "Whine and Cheese" though, just me.)

I asked here first to get precisely this type of frank feedback you offered. I am not going to start a "this site should be free" movement. I do not believe that. This site is great just as it is. I will continue to encourage people to become Gold Members because you do get a good-bang-for-your-buck here but that's where my support of this site ends and my personal values begin. I will be upgrading my membership here in a week or so. I believe offering a free place for all Schrade info is a noble and fun cause but then again maybe I'm a "pinko-commie-peacenik" lol.

I just have some free quality "wheels" I'd like to share, not reinvent any.

My heart is filled with good intentions only. Please respect that people if you do feel a need to flame me lol. Go ahead though! Speak your mind! I can take it! Cheers!

p.s. is Larry's site http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/ redundant too and of no value? (rhetorical) No, it rocks!!! Is he being mean to poor Spark? Again, I would say no. Does it cost Spark more to run this site than it costs Larry to run his? I dunno but I doubt it. Is this a significant income source for Spark? Based on fees and #s of paid members I suspect it is. Good for him! Great to work at a job you love! Personally I also think Larry is a noble S.O.B. for not charging a penny for his hard work and I don't see these views as conflicting. It's a personal choice. No "right way" to do it. There is no meta-narrative (for all you fellow post-modernists out there lol).

 

[tongueriver]

Go for it! No such thing as too much information. I just hope that the info doesn't get spread too thinly in too many places. BladeForums and AllAboutPocketKnives and SchradesRUS are certainly all great places to visit. I, for one, wish that there was a more user-friendly way to sell some of my knives. An attempt has been made to create a subforum for Schrade folks to buy and sell on BladeForums, but apparently there has not been the numbers required to get it off the ground with Spark. Traditional knives have always been my interest, and it just now dawning on me that kindred spirits are actually statistically a pretty small group. "Modern" knives outsell the stuff we are interested in maybe 20 to 1? 50 to 1, 1000 to 1?

 

[6.0stroker]

No ill will here:thumbup: "A man's gotta stand by his convictions"
But do know that lrv had to hall mark "his" pics/scans to keep others from using them to benifit $$$. I very much apprecite that there is a passion to dig and freely give of ones time and talent. History is priceless and "LOST" if not documented and passed to the coming generations:thumbup:!!

But on a side not when you find utopia let us all know so we can join in

 

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

Go for it! No such thing as too much information. I just hope that the info doesn't get spread too thinly in too many places. BladeForums and AllAboutPocketKnives and SchradesRUS are certainly all great places to visit. I, for one, wish that there was a more user-friendly way to sell some of my knives. An attempt has been made to create a subforum for Schrade folks to buy and sell on BladeForums, but apparently there has not been the numbers required to get it off the ground with Spark. Traditional knives have always been my interest, and it just now dawning on me that kindred spirits are actually statistically a pretty small group. "Modern" knives outsell the stuff we are interested in maybe 20 to 1? 50 to 1, 1000 to 1?

Thanks for your feedback.

Young collectors tell me I'm a dinosaur who likes old knives too sometimes. Current knives are backed by huge marketing campaigns and of course that influences buyers. Long term I see USA Schrade becoming more and more of a "patriotic" way of collecting and that has big appeal to many. I think we are safe in thinking our collections will appreciate in value. We are not a dying breed I do not believe.

The modern folding "tactical"s are to me very ugly and seem centred around "Boy, that's a scary knife!!! ooooooo!" and being cheaply made for the most part but once again, that's just me. I didn't like Schrade or anyone else from the mid-nineties on like I love the old blades. "The Bear Paw" is indeed The Ultimate Lock-Back! Well built, quality materials, well designed (better than Puma Prince etc. with it's pocket-catching sharp blade corner when closed). It is a great classic knife! I am sure the next generation will come to see this in their own time.

Thanks again for your honest feedback.

 

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

No ill will here:thumbup: "A man's gotta stand by his convictions"
But do know that lrv had to hall mark "his" pics/scans to keep others from using them to benifit $$$. I very much apprecite that there is a passion to dig and freely give of ones time and talent. History is priceless and "LOST" if not documented and passed to the coming generations:thumbup:!!

But on a side not when you find utopia let us all know so we can join in

Yeah, I'm a cynical idealist. What can I say? I still think Utopia is a worthy and possible goal lol

Thanks again.

I'm pretty good with graphics too! I know how to watermark etc. that's easy. My photo-manipulation skills are always increasing. I would have been choked too if I put in a whole lot of free work and then others just leached bucks off it. The watermark is necessary evil these days. Sad but true.

 

[rprocter]

Dave TTM, a site dedicated to an organized and accurate review of every Schrade pattern is a big undertaking but would certainly be used and helpful to many. as far as i know this Schrade subforum in BF is the most authoratative site for Schrade info., but it is scattered among a great many posts and it takes some practice here to get efficient at searching.
i see no conflict at all and encourage you to go ahead if this is one of your passions. it would be an additional help to all Schrade collectors, esp those who are just starting out.
roland

 

[lrv]

Dave,
Go for it.
As others have said "Never enough info out there."
If I can help in any way let me know.
You will find, like lots of hobbies, time gets consumed and there seems never to be enough.
There is a good reason I don't have chat and blog on my site.
I don't charge for anything and It costs me very little $$ on an annual basis to maintain my 2 domains, about 1 months cable bill.
I gladly accept material donations for the sites and so far they have come without charge.
We collectors love sharing, teaching.
I have tried to protect those donations with the watermark and "hallmark" simply to prevent folks copying the material and profiting from my friends.
I've seen people selling copies of scanned material (that really bothers me) and I just hope they didn't get it from our site.
I just hope I can keep adding to the site for many more years. I've got tons of my own scanned material yet to clean and display.
Like my web site, any advice I may give is free.


Larry

 

[thawk]

Dave:

You have my blessing. I already belong to that site. You would have a lot of fun, and gain a lot of knowledge in the process.

Hal

 

[Trent Rock]

Go for it Dave!!!
Every Schrade has it's OWN post??
Man...You will be a very busy guy!!!!

I like iKC for some of the features
Like personal blog pages,galleries and chat
For the REAL information===>
I always rely on BF
A lot more members is the reason why, I suspect...

It's weird going to other sites were they SOLEY use tang stamps as a method of dating
I want to scream at them...READ THE KNIFE!!!
Unless one stumbles into BRL's forum===>
Most people will still rely exclusively on tang stamps for dating

Get the group going!!
I can post some pics of my OT's

I was thinking of doing a Western Cutlery group
But, I just started a Knife Photography Group
and I want to get that one running smoothly 1st

I too am a firm beliver in free information
I am amazed at how many hits my "Knife History" Flickr page gets
I get alot of hits on teh Western bi-furcated tang patent
I guess anyone who gets an old Western knife
That has the patent # stamped on it Googles the # right away...

 

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

Dave TTM, a site dedicated to an organized and accurate review of every Schrade pattern is a big undertaking but would certainly be used and helpful to many. as far as i know this Schrade subforum in BF is the most authoratative site for Schrade info., but it is scattered among a great many posts and it takes some practice here to get efficient at searching.
i see no conflict at all and encourage you to go ahead if this is one of your passions. it would be an additional help to all Schrade collectors, esp those who are just starting out.
roland

Thanks for your input Roland. I know it's a massive undertaking. Schrade made tons of knives. That's why I am testing it here and in my own mind before I commit. I agree the info is here but scattered among many threads and sometimes the title of the thread may not get you the "hit" you need and you miss out. I think just the model # for thread title is perfect and complete and easily searchable. I would begin with all the Uncle Henry's, say, because that's a relatively short list and then the Old Timers and finally open stock and "limited editions". Every journey begins with a single step...

 

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

Dave,
Go for it.
As others have said "Never enough info out there."
If I can help in any way let me know.
You will find, like lots of hobbies, time gets consumed and there seems never to be enough.
There is a good reason I don't have chat and blog on my site.
I don't charge for anything and It costs me very little $$ on an annual basis to maintain my 2 domains, about 1 months cable bill.
I gladly accept material donations for the sites and so far they have come without charge.
We collectors love sharing, teaching.
I have tried to protect those donations with the watermark and "hallmark" simply to prevent folks copying the material and profiting from my friends.
I've seen people selling copies of scanned material (that really bothers me) and I just hope they didn't get it from our site.
I just hope I can keep adding to the site for many more years. I've got tons of my own scanned material yet to clean and display.
Like my web site, any advice I may give is free.


Larry

Thanks Larry. I need to keep busy and I love Schrade. I'm thinking it would be a labour of love and not "hard work". I figured with today's good printers dishonest people would indeed re-print your material and sell it as Schrade originals if you didn't water-mark them. I totally get where you are coming from I think. Respect!!!

 

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

Dave:

You have my blessing. I already belong to that site. You would have a lot of fun, and gain a lot of knowledge in the process.

Hal

Thanks Hal. Scott (runs iKC) seems pretty cool indeed and it is a sure way for me to learn about knives, the internet, dust off my management skills etc etc just as you mentioned. It is a large opportunity for personal growth as I see it. I think I would have good fun on the journey and hopefully share much knowledge.

 

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

Go for it Dave!!!
Every Schrade has it's OWN post??
Man...You will be a very busy guy!!!!

I like iKC for some of the features
Like personal blog pages,galleries and chat
For the REAL information===>
I always rely on BF
A lot more members is the reason why, I suspect...

It's weird going to other sites were they SOLEY use tang stamps as a method of dating
I want to scream at them...READ THE KNIFE!!!
Unless one stumbles into BRL's forum===>
Most people will still rely exclusively on tang stamps for dating

Get the group going!!
I can post some pics of my OT's

I was thinking of doing a Western Cutlery group
But, I just started a Knife Photography Group
and I want to get that one running smoothly 1st

I too am a firm beliver in free information
I am amazed at how many hits my "Knife History" Flickr page gets
I get alot of hits on teh Western bi-furcated tang patent
I guess anyone who gets an old Western knife
That has the patent # stamped on it Googles the # right away...

Your knife-photo-group fledgling efforts were also very inspiring to me Trent. I think that's a great area to expand into if you are a collector. I make no promises as to when I would have every Schrade done but maybe 5 years from now I may indeed have achieved that. Scott at iKC wanted me to "get it going" too but out of respect for Spark and the fine members here I felt I should run this thread a bit first. I am working on my format etc for each profile and when I have my first one done I will indeed open group there as long as the majority of Schrade collectors here won't hate me for it. I'm not looking to "piss anyone off". Search engines can be finicky that's one of my personal frustrations. This site will flourish I believe regardless because it encompasses such a wide range of knife info. I wanted a Schrade-Collector bible to live by when I started collecting and there isn't one. For me writing and offering it for free is more appealing than a "book deal". I have all I need.

 

[Larry303]

Dave, I've always admired Codgers posts <and thats hardly any secret> because of the painstaking research he carries out methodically and presented with little emotional attachment..just the absolute verified and rechecked facts as you would expect of someone who prveviously worked in Patent Registrations.
Having done all the pre- work he would then submit to this forum under his "rants" theme which was anything but....and then it would evolve from input from others...but I rarely found I could do anything except add photos of the knives I happened to posess to support and verify his research...
We can all learn from him as I regard him as"" a one off" who was meticulous in his 'even handling' of disputes or even mis understandings as to what he was in fact presenting...and I never saw him "shoot from the hip""".
If you inject these attributes to a proposed off site why not start a thread as Jackie has,that has now had some 19,000 viewings/contributions on "latest Schrade"...then it could operate similar to what you propose and still be under this umbrella and compliment the enormous resource site here simply by searching rather than take attention away?....between Larry's site, BF Schrade, and All About Pocket Knives which I always read and is a great site/resource< I just dont personally contribute but that is my decision>...I believe we are already pretty well catered for but we can all contribute and make it greater even by giving Larry Vickery even more support.....
I would also like to make the point that when I show Larry's photocopy's of knives both here and elsewhere it is with his full support and agreement in furthering Schrade knowledge particularly in my neck of the wood in Australia and I send out masses of photos of knives to anyone that emails me there or direct them to Larry's site.....Larry actually sent me 2 CD's of all the Schrade Flyers which I could easily print however I always show his watermark on anything I hand out in acknowledgement and respect for his work. I do also have a large number of original flyers myself courtesy of Herman Williams and a few others which I could easily photostat however Larry's site is "THe Schrade Resource Site" as far as I'm concerned and will never be emulated...IMO... It's a point I thought was important for me to make.
Good luck Dave in any endeavours you pursue..if its Schrade related you can bet I'll read it... Hoo Roo

 

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

Dave, I've always admired Codgers posts <and thats hardly any secret> because of the painstaking research he carries out methodically and presented with little emotional attachment..just the absolute verified and rechecked facts as you would expect of someone who prveviously worked in Patent Registrations.
Having done all the pre- work he would then submit to this forum under his "rants" theme which was anything but....and then it would evolve from input from others...but I rarely found I could do anything except add photos of the knives I happened to posess to support and verify his research...
We can all learn from him as I regard him as"" a one off" who was meticulous in his 'even handling' of disputes or even mis understandings as to what he was in fact presenting...and I never saw him "shoot from the hip""".
If you inject these attributes to a proposed off site why not start a thread as Jackie has,that has now had some 19,000 viewings/contributions on "latest Schrade"...then it could operate similar to what you propose and still be under this umbrella and compliment the enormous resource site here simply by searching rather than take attention away?....between Larry's site, BF Schrade, and All About Pocket Knives which I always read and is a great site/resource< I just dont personally contribute but that is my decision>...I believe we are already pretty well catered for but we can all contribute and make it greater even by giving Larry Vickery even more support.....
I would also like to make the point that when I show Larry's photocopy's of knives both here and elsewhere it is with his full support and agreement in furthering Schrade knowledge particularly in my neck of the wood in Australia and I send out masses of photos of knives to anyone that emails me there or direct them to Larry's site.....Larry actually sent me 2 CD's of all the Schrade Flyers which I could easily print however I always show his watermark on anything I hand out in acknowledgement and respect for his work. I do also have a large number of original flyers myself courtesy of Herman Williams and a few others which I could easily photostat however Larry's site is "THe Schrade Resource Site" as far as I'm concerned and will never be emulated...IMO... It's a point I thought was important for me to make.
Good luck Dave in any endeavours you pursue..if its Schrade related you can bet I'll read it... Hoo Roo

Thanks for your well considered feedback Larry. Larry V's site is indeed a master-piece. That, AAPK, and BladeForums are the Schrade "holy-trinity" of collector info right now I agree. I know I have huge shoes to fill on this path but only difficult things are worth trying in the end. That's how we grow. Thanks for your support!