Garth
If you are dedicating a room to that I guess there are many considerations - security vs. accessibility, mobility of the collection, storage vs display, condition control e.g. dust, humidity and also the theme / decor of the room etc. If nothing satisfies you then perhaps you will require all custom.
I don't display mine but my storage considerations are:
- security
- easily organized e.g. by size, manufacturer, etc.
- versatility - storage that can accommodate new arrivals in the correct place without complete repacking
- expandability - add storage space easily as the collection expands
- any and every knife easily accessible
- eliminate any wear & tear from storage (e.g. stacking them in a pile)
- condition control e.g. dust and humidity, ability to store while oiled / lubricated
- mobility - moving subsets of the collection and the entire collection easily and quickly
So I use tool chests and Pelican cases as they meet all my requirements.
I leave open spaces every so often to accommodate the new arrivals. Shallow drawers for knives and deep drawers for sheaths, lubricants and sharpening items.
I can get to any knife I want immediately but I can also move a subset, drag the chopper chest to the chopping tree in the backyard, or grab a pelican case that goes in the hold of a plane, or load the entire collection relatively quickly onto a truck. I have other Pelican cases that are configured for road trips with knives, flashlights, batteries and other useful items.
They can be stacked and expanded, or if the collection shrinks, they can be still used to store other things like tools, etc (as opposed to custom knife specific displays).
They can be locked, can be moved or can be bolted down.
But of course none of that is decor display quality with a spouse approval rating. Better for basements, garages etc.
Here are mine:
WOW
