Knife collecting a niche market ?

J

jonbutcheraxis

Joined
Oct 27, 2005
Messages
177
As a member of several other forums reflecting my interests, among them knives, watches, guitars and amps, I must say the BF Sales Forum pages are some of the most active I've ever seen, seriously brisk traffic and activity! It surprises me because I always thought of the knife collecting hobby as a fairly niche market and by definition relatively small. The only other comparison I can think of in terms of fast paced activity are the wristwatch forums, where a watch can be posted and sold literally within minutes.
Has this been your experience too ?
 
Not only that, but I've been active in various forums since the dawn of the Internet and BF ranks near the top when it comes to having a majority of the members who are mature and astute. I guess knife collecting attracts some of the better humans.
 
Naw...there's only about 100 of us but we buy and sell 75 knives a day. [emoji56]
 
It pretty much is a niche market.

Hanging out at a knife centered website, it's easy to think we are more than what we are. Bu the simple truth is, we are maybe 1% of the public at large. To most people, a knife is something they need to make dinner, and they just get whatever cheep stamped out items hanging on a hook at the local discount store or grocery store. If they need a knife for home projects or work, they just use a replaceable blade utility knife. The idea of spending big money is an odd notion except to us on this and similar web sites.
 
EyeDog said:
Naw...there's only about 100 of us but we buy and sell 75 knives a day. [emoji56]
Click to expand...

A lie, sir. I never received more than three in my mailbox in any one day...
So, THERE!

Well, maybe some of you buy and sell 75 a day. I can't really know for sure...
My apologies to the "hundred" of y'all.
 
I am also into watches and guitars. My experience has been its not so much the actual market but the specific forums that for some reason have higher amounts of activity in buying and selling. I find the forums with a younger membership average will be more rabid when buying selling and trading. Young people have less patience and the chase is a huge part of the hobby. As you get older you mellow crowds on like vintage gear forums or higher end watch forums more time and care is taken and patience pays off. Bladeforums I feel has it all. And I think the reason why we see such heavy traffic is just because the membership is very high in numbers for a knife forum and the age range very broad. Many knife forums are a niche market based on its membership. One forums is more adult orientated. Another is focused more on making knives. The next is more of a members only club. Bladeforums seems to be the everymans broad brush stroke forum where anyone and everyone within reason is welcome. When you appeal to large audience a large audience will develop. The BST reflects those numbers I believe.
 
I didn't get any knives today. But I did receive a new toaster, after using the same one for as long as I can remember. Never really thought it would make such a difference to get a new toaster, since that one worked okay up until it didn't. It actually makes a difference.
 
Pretty much agree with everything you said, but that kinda proves my point; for a market so small the activity in the selling/ trading forum is off the hook! Only at the watch forum WatchuSeek do I see that kind of sales activity.

jackknife said:
It pretty much is a niche market.

Hanging out at a knife centered website, it's easy to think we are more than what we are. Bu the simple truth is, we are maybe 1% of the public at large. To most people, a knife is something they need to make dinner, and they just get whatever cheep stamped out items hanging on a hook at the local discount store or grocery store. If they need a knife for home projects or work, they just use a replaceable blade utility knife. The idea of spending big money is an odd notion except to us on this and similar web sites.
Click to expand...
 
I frequent a few car performance forums and those are full of elitism and ignorance. One of the big reasons I've become such a regular here is the quality of the conversation. I'm sure that's a primary reason why BF has been so successful. Major props to Spark and the mods.
 
Yea, this place has so much traffic...or activity anyways. It's hard to keep up. The only place ive seen anywhere near as much are the Something Awful Forums (which is literally Whine & Cheese on steroids).

I really like this place so far.

Edit: let me add: props to the mods.
 
BluegrassBrian said:
Not only that, but I've been active in various forums since the dawn of the Internet and BF ranks near the top when it comes to having a majority of the members who are mature and astute. I guess knife collecting attracts some of the better humans.
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Wait... Are you sure we are on the same site?

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I'd say it depends on which sub-forum you are on in the Knife Exchange. Stuff in the Knife Maker's Market doesn't always move as fast but if an ESEE goes up in the individual sales thread, *POOF!* it's gone!

BladeFourms has definitely allowed me to fine tune what I was looking for and is a great resource for new or used knives. Also, I'm trying to be good and not buy a knife every week.
 
orezona said:
Wait... Are you sure we are on the same site?

---

I'd say it depends on which sub-forum you are on in the Knife Exchange. Stuff in the Knife Maker's Market doesn't always move as fast but if an ESEE goes up in the individual sales thread, *POOF!* it's gone!

BladeFourms has definitely allowed me to fine tune what I was looking for and is a great resource for new or used knives. Also, I'm trying to be good and not buy a knife every week.
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Yeah yeah I know.. but comparatively speaking.
 
Knife collecting isn't really such a small niche market. I started when I was 8 y.o. (60+ years ago). Life member of the National Knife Collectors Assoc. (not that that matters any more). It is still one of the largest collector markets around (except maybe stamps and coins) mostly male dominated (need more women collectors). There are dozens of knife (and sword) collector sites; some with outstandingly knowledgeable folks (other not so much). I'll be around until they put me 6 feet under (or so senile that I won't be allowed sharp pointy things :-)
Rich
 
RedLynx said:
I didn't get any knives today. But I did receive a new toaster, after using the same one for as long as I can remember. Never really thought it would make such a difference to get a new toaster, since that one worked okay up until it didn't. It actually makes a difference.
Click to expand...

Wait for it.... Wait for it.... POP!
So how long till you start collecting toasters? Induction heated, cf inlays, 10 slot, pivoting, Self buttering crumb recycling models now available... ;)
 
I think it's the diversity that keeps this forum so appealing. Those trouble makers who might foul an otherwise decent forum, find their audience here, in a specific forum, or two.

We have a huge range of available "communities" within this place, that there's a place for everyone. There's the "elitism" of the specific manufacturers forums, where fanboys can fly their flags, there's Whine and Cheese, where the attention seekers can get their fill, and get their just deserts. There's the "Front Porch" crowd over in Traditionals, there are the Professionals in the Custom forums. The Intellectuals like to hang out in Political. Even a place for the young-uns over in the Balisong forum!:D

Of course, these are just stereotypes and do not universally apply. :p I find I hang out in different forums, depending on my mood, and interests at the time.

There's a place for every kind of knife appreciator here, and you'll see those who never cross over to other areas, but that is what keeps us civil.

Kudos to those who are universally pleasant, wherever they hang out. I appreciate the hard work the Moderators do to keep folks aware of the rules. I also appreciate EVERYONE who contributes to this place, in a constructive and civil way.

I stated this somewhere else recently. This place is my home, when I'm not with my immediate friends or family.
 
It is a niche market, but in all honesty, pretty much the entire niche gravitates to these forums. It's a mix of factors, I think. You have plenty of knowledgable people on literally anything to do with blades. You wanna know about a steel composition, a steel's edge holding properties, what knives are good around water, what kinda machete is optimal for a certain environment? You can find that info here. Wanting suggestions for good knives at a certain price range, in a certain size range, for US made knives, for knives of a specific color? You can find that info here. See a knife you like at some local shop, and want to know what people think about it, how it holds up in use? You can bet someone here has used one, and can tell you to buy or stay away. Even if you're wanting to ask about some other sort of blade than a knife, we have an axe/hatchet/hawk forum here, a sword forum, a knife throwing forum, you can get info about machetes or speciality knife types like autos or balis... Then, aside from stuff like that, you also have all the official presence here. You can come to this one site, and find forums, moderated and frequented by company employees(not even just customer service people either, you have guys like A.G. Russell and Sal Glesser post here too) for a huge number of knife companies. Then, in addition to those, you ALSO have boards with people selling knives, knife maker forums(and you can also usually find someone to make knife related accoutrements, like sheathes and handle scales), requests for a custom knife...

Basically, no matter WHAT you are looking for, if it involves blades, you can find it here.
 
Daniel Dorn said:
I think it's the diversity that keeps this forum so appealing. Those trouble makers who might foul an otherwise decent forum, find their audience here, in a specific forum, or two.

We have a huge range of available "communities" within this place, that there's a place for everyone. There's the "elitism" of the specific manufacturers forums, where fanboys can fly their flags, there's Whine and Cheese, where the attention seekers can get their fill, and get their just deserts. There's the "Front Porch" crowd over in Traditionals, there are the Professionals in the Custom forums. The Intellectuals like to hang out in Political. Even a place for the young-uns over in the Balisong forum!:D

Of course, these are just stereotypes and do not universally apply. :p I find I hang out in different forums, depending on my mood, and interests at the time.

There's a place for every kind of knife appreciator here, and you'll see those who never cross over to other areas, but that is what keeps us civil.

Kudos to those who are universally pleasant, wherever they hang out. I appreciate the hard work the Moderators do to keep folks aware of the rules. I also appreciate EVERYONE who contributes to this place, in a constructive and civil way.

I stated this somewhere else recently. This place is my home, when I'm not with my immediate friends or family.
Click to expand...

:thumbup:
 
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