No custom knife - does that make me half-a-collector?

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
Messages
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I feel like I am standing in a Knife Anonymous meeting and openly confessing that I don't have a single custom made knife to my name.

Does this "crime" make me a less-than-authentic collector? I know my passion for the hobby has not dimmed a single watt.

Not having a custom knife at present can be attributed to the money factor. I have told myself time and again that half the fun is saving up for a real good one.

So for the time being, I shall sit at the back of the classroom while the rest of the big boys show off their hardware. :D :D
 
Golok,I don't think you have to own a custom tobe classified as a collector.A collection is something you put together for yourself to enjoy.
How and what is your choice but does not change the fact that you are a collector.(IMO)I think you hit the nail on the head with the word passion.
 
Custom knife collecting is just one subset of the larger realm of knife collecting and/or using.

And don't you have a custom made khukuri or two from HI? Few custom knives are as "hand made" as those particular pieces.

I don't think many of the folks who participate here in this forum or custom knife collecting in general look down upon those who haven't yet ventured into the custom knife arena. (Truth to tell, many factory knives command very large prices amongst collectors if that's to be used as a barometer.)
 
It wasn't that long ago I didn't even know custom knives existed (1998) and couldn't have named a custom knife maker if you put a gun to my head. Magazines, shows and BFC made be more educated and more interested in custom knives and I bought my first one in Feb. 2000. I was on Chat last night and one of the guys has bought more custom knives in the last four months than I own total, but does that make me less passionate about knives than him? No, it just means that he has more disposable income than I do. We still share a common interest and we can discuss his purchases and learn something from each other. I think more important than being a collector is to become an expert on custom knives. Les Robertson keeps telling folks to, "Do your Homework", I agree. The more you know when the time comes that you have the funds to buy a custom you'll probably choose more wisely than the guy with the cash and less information.

The more time I spend involved with the whole custom knife thing the less it has to do with the knives and more to do with the people, the makers, the dealers and the collectors. They're what make being a Knifenut great.
 
A lot of folks collect knives that are not classified as custom and many of them are SERIOUS collectors. Case, Randall and Remington are just a few of the non-custom collectables that come to mind.

As has often been said here on the forums, the main thing is to collect what you like. :)
 
Custom knives are just a very small subset of the market. We get a somewhat distorted view of collecting from knife magazines since they focus primarily on the latest and greatest. No surprise there, since that is where there advertising dollars are coming from.

There are many more dollars and far more history associated with non-custom knives. Period Bowie knives, Japanese Swords, Western Swords and Militaria, Civil War edge weapons, other Ethnic knives, high end knives made by surgical knife makers, factory display/presentation knives/swords, Antiquarian Relics, and countless other subcatagories carry far greater numbers of collectors. Virtually every large, and many not-so-large museams across the world has a display of edge weapons, and few of these are "custom" knives (at least not of the kind made during the last 40 years). The best of these items are simply priceless and there are many million dollar plus examples. How much would you pay for Napoleon's sword or King Tut's dagger?

Not only are custom knives a relatively small area of collecting, but I suspect that the vast majority of edge weapons collectors do not even have an appreciation of these knives. To them currently made knives lack any real historical significants, they are relatively stale and are simply not "antiques" in any qualifiable way. To them "custom" knives are users not collectibles; and by the way what would you use them for?

Everyone collects different things. There is plenty of room to build an outstanding collection in any area. Just focus on building a collection to tell a story and go for it.

N2S
 
Ask yourself this question:
"Am I having fun?"
If the answer is "Yes" you've got nothing to worry about.
:D
 
I've been collecting and reading about knives for maybe 23 years and I have amassed a fair collection of BM's, MT's, Spyders, SOG's, Al Mars, CRKT's, Bucks, Pumas, Gerbers and what not. Living where I do I have not had easy access to customs and now that I do, thanks to the net, I find myself having a hard time deciding what to get. It will probably a Dozier or a Blackwood or a Greco or....?

Nevertheless I don't feelless like a collector than most here - I certainly spend a lot of time (too much!) reading about and researching knives and materials, production and handmade both. Also, buying handmade knives is of course a matter of budget as well.

Regards Jan
 
I can tell you this, once you do get started in the world of custom knives you are going to be spoiled for the production ones. That is, if you are anything like me. I have not done more than look at a production knife in over a year now.

It has been the people as much as the knives that have made customs the only thing that I am interested in now.
 
Wow!!!!! from the first days in the world of knife collecting to approx. 14 months later......I started with buying LOTS of Florida clone crap and then started to really learn from the many folks here. I started to move into production knives, but still all auto. Then after much education here on BFC, my tastes grew into folders. Now I was a pure higher end production folder collector and got my very first custom thru a trade.
Now, I just got my second, a Brad Duncan gentleman's folder with very beautiful MOP. My tastes have changed, I have traded or chucked every clone, I am just really NOW starting to form my TRUE collection and as of this writing it is very small, but brings me GREAT happiness. My tastes remain in the "tactical type" knives but now it's folders, fixed, nexkers and even looking at my very first bali. ( If I swing, I will get cut:eek: )
So, I have only two customs, just a few hi-end productions, I lust for one of each, but I am having the BALL of my life and it just does not get any better than this unless I won the lottery!!!!!!wolf
 
Hey Golok,

We've met a couple of times and it seemed we always parted feeling a little richer for the stimulating discussions and opinions. Heck, we don't care if all you haven't got any knives at all as long as you bring your passion for knives along.

Besides, while custom-made knives can be a wonderful thing they are to me a lesser experience than meeting and talking with the people who make, use, and enjoy them.

Yeah, and your HI Ang Khola is a genuine handmade knife - ain't no power hammers used at the BirGorkha facility in Nepal.

Andrew
 
"Collecting" is collecting.., and I do think the continuum spans quite a range. Thirty years ago I probably had maybe 35 knives??? I considered the term "Collector" a negative statement because I did use all my knives. Does anyone need even 35 knives??? I seriously doubt it..., but I do think Stumpy hit home in mentioning "passion".

For those of us that exchange information and friendship in this domain.., I doubt there are many that can afford everything they want in "Knifeville".

Some of the addiction is certainly just social.., and we follow, defend, and hopefully can buy some of the knives we like from our favorite makers.

One of the things I've truly enjoyed in many years of searching out knives I like.., is simply the people involved, which is a very cool thing!!!~~> In "The Big Picture"..., probably more important than the knives we love.

So Golok...yes...you are a "Collector" :) ...sorry...no current cure listed on the AMA website :cool: !



"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
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