Most collectable knife?

T

TheFighter88

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Aug 13, 2006
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So I was sitting here thinking about my next knife purchase, and I got to wondering, "which knives are the most collected?"

Now, I know we all have are modern-day production collections - Busse, Fallkniven, Barkies, Bucks, etc and our relatively-modern-day customs - Randalls, Doziers, CRK, etc... but what about the older "classic"/historic production or custom knives?

Off the top of my head, I'm thinking Gerber MKII is at the top of the list, but this is new territory to me.

So, what do you think is the most collected "classic" knife?
 
In terms of dollar amount? Scagels, Ruanas, older Randalls, Lovelesses (not necessarily in that order). Considering that I've seen some of them sell for upwards of $30,000, the MKII isn't even in the ballpark.

I wouldn't know about "most collectible" in terms of volume.
 
I believe Case is by far the most collected knife, in terms of numbers of collectors and numbers of knives in collections. "All roads lead to Case"- most serious knife collectors will end up collecting Case knives, if they continue to collect over a long period of time.

It's science. :p

It's happened to me.
 
Among the modern type knives (not the traditional slip-joints) I think it's by far Spyderco, then Benchmade.
 
Stupid me... I forgot all about Case... they probably would be the most collected. I know it's probably a sin to say it, but I've never really "loved" a Case... yes, I know, shame on me... :rolleyes:
 
Knives with blades........................................

and some kind of handle!!!!
 
Not all that keen on slippies although I have a few (mostly SAK's & Remingtons). I just checked my knife cabinet and found one (1) Case knife. Quality is superb so I can understand why they're collected but my tastes are more eclectic.
 
I agree that Case is a target for many collectors, given that it has been around for generations. Same goes for a lot of the 'older' makers that are time tested. To narrow it down though, my pick is military knives, whether they were US issue or just widely used in service. This includes Randall's, Original EK, as well as the following styles: US MK II, US M3, V-42, M1905, and many more. Values generally hold or go up, and interest is generally strong. I would also watch Chris Reeve and Busse as being good long-term collectible knives. Just my opinion....

Edit to add: I left off well known custom makers. I won't mention any by name, but there are some custom makers who make exceptional, beautiful knives, both folders and fixed blade, that make for good collectibles.

As a test I went to an auction site and did a search of finished auctions that ended at over $750. It's unscientific, but I think the results do tell us something. Among those finished auctions for knives sold for more than $750, there were Randalls, SOGs (Vietnam era military-used), M3 Trench knives (US WWII), Busses, Fairbairn Sykes (British WWII), as well as Wostenholm, Ruana, Terzuola, William Henry, and more custom makers.

If you narrow the search to knives actually sold for $1500 or more, you are seeing knives from Loveless and Moran, still a few Randalls, and even a couple of old folders like a Remington Bullet.

For me it's fun to speculate on which custom maker(s) that is 'up and coming' or at least still affordable, is going to be the sought after knife even 20 or 30 years from now...
 
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moonwilson said:
I believe Case is by far the most collected knife, in terms of numbers of collectors and numbers of knives in collections. "All roads lead to Case"- most serious knife collectors will end up collecting Case knives, if they continue to collect over a long period of time.

It's science. :p

It's happened to me.
Click to expand...

I have the same problem, about a year ago I went looking for a small case knife to live in the watch pocket of my jeans. A year latter I’ve got enough for all the pockets on all my pants.
 
In terms of cash-

1) Real American Bowie Knives(1830's-1840's) and the newer San Fran stuff.

2) Early English Bowie knives

3) Certain handmakers

4) Military Knives

5) A few older brands (Rodgers, Case and related brands, older Marbles, and Remington).

That being said, putting your money into knives is a fools game most of the time. Tastes change, collectors die, etc....

Buy what You Like.......:).
 
agree that Case is a target for many collectors, given that it has been around for generations.
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Contrarily, I believe that Case targets collectors (no negative connotation implied)- with the countless variations and limited editions that they put out.

That said, I believe Frost (and other no-name Pakistani and Chinese import) knives are probably the most collected. Think about all the folks who buy all sorts of various Frosts on QVC, Flea Markets, Gunshows, etc... and consider themselves collectors. They often times aren't laying out big bucks, but there sure is a lot of them.

Follow that with Case.
 
The Older Illinois made(IIRC) EK Knives. Military design fighting knives. Sometimes you can find them and they come with a Patch, and an Instruction manual, Kind if similar to a short Applegate/Farbairn/Sykes Fighting with Dagger Manual, all in one Box. Very Nice collectable IMHO. Especially since not made anymore.
 
Actually I thought you where asking What you yourself should/could add to YOUR collection as a "Collectible". Not what the average Nascar watcher collects, what seems this thread has turned into. You can get all kinds of Case XX or Kbars with all kinds of thing written on them, from the Case XX Johnny Cash, or John wanyne "Duke" knife to the Kbar laughable "Operation Iraqi Freedom".
 
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