Thoughts about collectible knives...

^ or how about actual Marbles brand knives, foreign made of inexpensive materials, or those made by Camillus-nothing really wrong with their manufacture, but they are sold as Marbles but not made by Marbles
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trying to trip up my black-and-white philosophy with Gray Area instances? :D

Well here goes... regarding Marbles-brand knives that aren't really Marbles:

To a casual knife buyer (like myself) or knife user, those knives would have only whatever value was evident by the materials and workmanship. They might have additional market interest because of the name (as in "I always wanted a Marbles' but could never afford a 'real' one.) That doesn't mean they have any additional value though.

But to a serious collector of antique Marbles' knives, they probably have no value whatsoever. In fact they might even take offense to receiving one as a gift.

I don't collect Marbles' knives, but that's how I feel about the current-production OldTimers. To me, they'd be worth more if they didn't say OldTimer. If they were unmarked, they might make OK junker user knives. But since they're marked with the "Old Timer" logo, I find them insulting and shameless.

Since you asked,
-Bob
 
Bob -- can people add patina to things? Yikes. I didn't know that. Do you know how to distinquish a fake patina then?

Earl -- I have worthless artifacts from my youth that I value over things of monetary worth...this is exactly what I am trying to get at as far as the 'heart' of collecting. :).
 
people use stuff like mustard and vinegar to put a patina on carbon steel blades to prevent rust
 
Bob -- can people add patina to things? Yikes. I didn't know that.
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It's relatively easy to add "age" to a modern product using various methods that I only slightly understand and have never tried. It can be done to woodwork, art, documents, knives, cloth, etc.

Do you know how to distinquish a fake patina then?
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Only if it's really obvious. If I were interested in buying/selling/collecting rare antique knives, I would need to become an expert at it.

-Bob
 
Ask 3 people for a piece of string and you'll likely get 3 different things to tie your bundle.
Much like your question.
Knife collections vary as much as people.
Definations vary as well.
So do the standards of the collector.

Is deceit more common with collectable knives?
I honestly don't know.
There are people that go through great pains to make fakes/counterfits of antique knives. Talanted enough to make 'legit' knives, but there is some attraction in the forgeries.

Just like a few broken knives attract more attention than the thousands that don't break, fakes/forgeries/counterfits attract more attention than run of the mill antiques.

Let's hope I haven't muddied BobW's water any further...his first post was a good one.
I highly recommend Bernard Levine's sticky thread "Immunize yourself against fakes" at the top of the list in his sub forum.
 
Thank you Ebb,

I can see that fakes are of great concern to knife collector's.

I was talking to my mom about my antique maze. My deceased father held collectibles in so many different areas. His first love was railroad memorvilla. My dad loved the past and the historical relevance of items. My grandfather being a carpenter caused my dad to apprecriate the workmanship that went into items as well. I love this about my dad and I learn more about my father by preserving and learning about his collection. It is quite an 'intrinsic blessing' to me and this is the 'true' value to me in the knives or any other antiquity that I possess.

The fact that my family were friends with dealers back in the days, probably makes me quite niave when it comes to dishonesty in collecting.

I lived in a house that looked like a museum growing up. I can't remember a single piece of modern furniture, except in our basement that we turned into an entertainment room, since the crush velvet couches and chandeliers didn't leave as much comfort in lounging as modern pieces. This is common for Indiana though I believe. In California it is rare to see homes like I grew up in (antique tools hung in display, etc.).

I view the suggested monetary value of an item along with the history -- more so than caring about making profit as this is not my bussiness and my family loved antiques as a family hobby that preserves culture and embraces history. It brought people together as our friends were collectors and we'd dine and share new pieces, celebrate holidays together, etc. So there wasn't a great deal of dishonesty in collecting when I was young in my personal experiences.

There is definately a wealth of knowledge on this website. I apprecriate this and everyone's input. :)
 
You'll find a good honest bunch here.
As with every barrel there can be a rotten apple, but here they will be outed and known.
See the Good, Bad & Ugly subforum for that.
Now we do have our share of opinionated folks, the steel snobs, the fanboys, the backyard knifetesters, the purists and on and on.
But as a whole, a good honest bunch.
:D
 
How can you know your fake Nazi knife is of good quality if you don't know anything about knives...especially considering you stubborness to accept it as a fake when a well known expert such Mr. Levine tells who, when, why it is fake?

How can you grow up in a "museum" type surrounding of antique collections and not know a fake patina can be given to anything?

Something smells funny and it isn't vinegar.
 
daddy'scollection said:
I can see that fakes are of great concern to knife collector's.

There is definately a wealth of knowledge on this website. I apprecriate this and everyone's input. :)
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Not only fake knives but fake people. Nothing chaps our hides more than those that come aboard and assume that most people here are gullible. Blade Forums has some very intelligent members (i.e. Inspector Gig) and they trust their gut instincts, can see past the BS and know when someone is laying the groundwork for their dishonest endeavors.;)
 
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