Total money value of entire collection?

K

koolstof

Joined
Sep 21, 2002
Messages
249
I love high-end blades, just holding them brings me satisfaction. But quality costs a lot (especially true for knifes, if you study the matter you will find out that you must be willing to pay quite a few bucks). My collection is starting to grow real valuable, when you use money to express the value. I only purchase high quality blades and although I seldomly use them, I admire them in stead ;-), I expect them to be in top shape and ready for use.

Outsiders of the "knifeworld" often think I'm crazy or a military freak to spend that much on different knifes. I'm actually very placid and peacefull and will not use a knife unless there is no other way, I won't produce my knife unless I'm planning to use it for real. I try to carry my knifes discretely, in order to surprize potential opponents and to increase the shock-effect.

To be short: I think I'm knife-crazy for the rest of my life, it's such a basic, uncomlex tool with extended possibilities, almost never fails to be ready for action, is silent, can do a lot of (tissue) damage, and often the knifes are very easy on the eyes. When you note the fine details and craftmanship, it makes you realize that you have a unique tool that carries an extended use-potential. What's more, most people are not into knifes and can't appreciate their inherent qualities, when you realize you actually DO appreciate the qualities of a unique, well crafted tool is really satisfying and makes up the high price.

MY ACTUAL QUESTIONS REGARD THE VALUE, SIZE, AGE AND USE of the knife collection: how much is your entire knife collection WORTH, along with all the trimmings worth, expressed in money. And HOW LONG have you been collecting knifes. Do you actually frequently use the entire collection?

I personnaly think that when a knife is accidently somewhat damaged, you are prone to use it more intensivly. So an accident does not need to be a disaster, you can see it as an opportunity too, now the blade gets a chance to really prove what it is worth and show what jobs it can handle...

Any tips or corrections to my way of thinking are more than welcome :-)
 
Well, I have only a few blades right now, but I would say mine is still worth quite a bit in $.

Darrel Ralph 3" EDC

Tom Mayo Large Hawkbill TNT

Brad Duncan Sharpfusion Whiplash

Spyderco Massad Ayoob

S&W FL1

So just with those top three, well over a grand.

Then there is what they are worth to me, which is higher than that.

And then there is there worth to anyone else that is interested in them, which varies from person to person.
 
My collection consists of 6 pieces, prices range from 100 US bucks to 200 US bucks. Total value equals 820 USD (about same number in Euro). My collection is very young, oldest knife is not even half a year old. I carry them in a rotation system and try to avoid heavy use to safeguard the blades integrity. But when it needs to be done, then I go in to heavy use, I admit I'm anxious to wear out or damage or, god forbid, lose the knife but I'm trying to overcome that fear and allow myself to actually use my tools when needed. My plans are to extend my collection, primarily "carry-able" folders, high end quality (prepared to make sacrifices to pay for the quality knifes).

This is really a hobby that consumes you, you can study, acquire different sharpening techniquees and experiment with them (when you deem it fit, use lowcost knives, in that way you can train your dexterity and muscle memory. I myself use the kitchen knifes of my mother, both high carbon and stainless ;-) Mty mother appreciates my efforts and doesn't seem to mind (or notice... *grin*) when I messed up. Admirring the blades, just holding them. Caring for them, lubing and coating and regular cleaning. Finding out wich blades should be your next (I regulary check the moderatly priced "SPECIALS" at www.knifecenter.com (excellent, transparent, huge and depandable store suited for the most demanding knife lover) and www.1sks.com (no experience with them but I hear they too have a solid reputation. I bought my Spyderco VG-10 Howard Viele full serrated as a knifecenter-SPECIAL (dicount of about 100USD!!! actual price: 80 USD for superb knife. So the Specials are well worth regular attention.

Two notes on the Spyderco Howard Viele (newer type featering VG-10) full serrated (SpyderEdge):

1) If you learn to hold the knife properly you actually are in for more control then you'd think, hold the knife in vertical position, use the index-choil in the handle, place the thumb on the blade grooves (improves control greatly) and apply pressure on that thumb, like that it will press the rear of the handle to your hand and virtually lock it into place. The handle proves to both beautifull and ergonomical at the same time. The Howard Viele from Spyderco is rather costly but is worth every dime, it has a genlemens appearance and keeps a low profile when exposed but still boast real tool qualities and allows itself to be use regulary.

2) I own the serrated Viele from Spyderco (most recent VG-10 model): however it struck me with surprise to find that only one side of the actual blade carries the bevelled serrations, the other side is plain and blank, almost naked... I wanted to make sure that this blade make-up is normal... Who can help? Maybe good old trustworthy SAL from Spyderco ;-) He seems to be constanly eager to help.


Thanks for your attention and sharp greetings!
 
When talking about value of collection, we are talking between a couple of bucks and more than 100 G (yep, $100,000). Some people I know even have a collection close to 1 million dollar. It's perfectly common and they keep buying as long as there's something to buy :D

Mine is around $10,000 - $15,000 (value when I bought them).

Use all of them ? Nope. I just use some for my working knives. Some are destined to work and some are destined as slacker. I wish I were the second category....
 
My collection consists of 6 pieces, prices range from 100 US bucks to 200 US bucks. Total value equals 820 USD (about same number in Euro). My collection is very young, oldest knife is not even half a year old. I carry them in a rotation system and try to avoid heavy use to safeguard the blades integrity. But when it needs to be done, then I go in to heavy use, I admit I'm anxious to wear out or damage or, god forbid, lose the knife but I'm trying to overcome that fear and allow myself to actually use my tools when needed. My plans are to extend my collection, primarily "carry-able" folders, high end quality (prepared to make sacrifices to pay for the quality knifes).

This is really a hobby that consumes you, you can study, acquire different sharpening techniquees and experiment with them (when you deem it fit, use lowcost knives, in that way you can train your dexterity and muscle memory. I myself use the kitchen knifes of my mother, both high carbon and stainless ;-) Mty mother appreciates my efforts and doesn't seem to mind (or notice... *grin*) when I messed up. Admirring the blades, just holding them. Caring for them, lubing and coating and regular cleaning. Finding out wich blades should be your next (I regulary check the moderatly priced "SPECIALS" at www.knifecenter.com (excellent, transparent, huge and depandable store suited for the most demanding knife lover) and www.1sks.com (no experience with them but I hear they too have a solid reputation. I bought my Spyderco VG-10 Howard Viele full serrated as a knifecenter-SPECIAL (dicount of about 100USD!!! actual price: 80 USD for superb knife. So the Specials are well worth regular attention. There is always the chance that the cheaply offered specials will be replaced with newer, upgraded knifes who perform better but to avoid that I follow closely "the word on the street" in forums. And if my SPECIAL-priced knifes has a younger, upgraded counterpart... the evolution in knifemaking is quite constant, I think and needs close monitoring, you cannot avoid that your blades one day will be pushed aside by higher quality blades. That evolution however does not mean that your high end blade will suddenly lose its origenal qualities. Collectiong knifes seems a hobby in perpetual movement, you cannot ever step back and claim you have the ultimate collection, exactly that need for vigilance makes it a great hobby and me personally see the actual purchase of a quality knife as the end-product of a lot of study and research and last but not least ditermening the demands of use your future blade should respond to.

Two notes on the Spyderco Howard Viele (newer type featering VG-10) full serrated (SpyderEdge):

1) If you learn to hold the knife properly you actually are in for more control then you'd think, hold the knife in vertical position, use the index-choil in the handle, place the thumb on the blade grooves (improves control greatly) and apply pressure on that thumb, like that it will press the rear of the handle to your hand and virtually lock it into place. The handle proves to both beautifull and ergonomical at the same time. The Howard Viele from Spyderco is rather costly but is worth every dime, it has a genlemens appearance and keeps a low profile when exposed but still boast real tool qualities and allows itself to be use regulary.

2) I own the serrated Viele from Spyderco (most recent VG-10 model): however it struck me with surprise to find that only one side of the actual blade carries the bevelled serrations, the other side is plain and blank, almost naked... I wanted to make sure that this blade make-up is normal... Who can help? Maybe good old trustworthy SAL from Spyderco ;-) He seems to be constanly eager to help.


Thanks for your attention and sharp greetings!
As always, any critics/comments/thoughts/considderations are highly appreciated. If you feel the need to guid me or correct me, go right ahead, I can take critic ;-)
 
Koolstuf- that is the only way that you can really do serrations. Dont know much abour the why, but every serrated knife that I have ever owned is that way.
 
Assorted old slipjoints, all excellent, to mint condition, $1,500 to $2,500.

Assorted One Hand, Tactical/Utility folders, $2,000+

Customs, $400

Look on my wifes face as she reads this over my shoulder?

Priceless.

:D
 
Haha, you nasty, secretive bastard. However it is true that most of the public even has the slightest clue where the fun is in collectioning knives. That's why I keep my hobby to myself and rarely expose my collection, people get funny ideas about something they don't understand. What's more, I do not feel I should go into their critics, because they are nearly always recognizable on their lack of actual knowledge and background information, I think in order to be capable of judging, you have to be able to form well-educated critics. And after all, if I do not harm anybody with my hobby (and I don't, I resent violence) there is nothing wrong with it... Sure it consumes cold hard cash that could be used otherwise but you get a lot in return, I also think that a well-kept knife holds it money-value, not to mention it's subjective, emotional value :-) So if you can't tell anything possitive regarding all sorts of knives, then please do not say a word, do us both a favor (I'm deaf for critics that aren't covered by knowledge, well educated critics are more then welcome and actually essential to broaden my perception of the knife world and last but not least, to help me chose a knife wich meets the inherent flaws of every blade with my specific demands of a particular blade, when the two meet up, you have made an outstanding purchase that is more than its money worth.

Yeah, I sound like a schoolteacher, please ignore that, I do not mean to :-)
 
Nasty, secretive bastard? Hey, I resemble that remark! :)

I really haven't totalled up my collection's value(kinda scared to, to be honest), but it's several thousand. I mainly collect ABS knives, and have several Mastersmith bowies, and you know those dont go cheap! Someday, I'm going to try to take a picture of my whole collection, but I dont think I can get them all into one pic. :)
 
Danbo and others, the pics of your collection are welcome or even only the ones you love most...

Thanks for the kind reactions, knife-lovers prove to be gentle, polite people ;-)
 
My antique slipjoints - $13,000
Custom tactical folders - $2,000
Custom fixed blades - $1,000
Misc - $2,000

These totals are all approximate. I started seriously collecting about 8 years ago. Although they all started out as at least occasional mild users, my users now are only about 6 knives.
 
Originally posted by BurkStar
My antique slipjoints - $13,000
Custom tactical folders - $2,000
Custom fixed blades - $1,000
Misc - $2,000
Click to expand...

Hey BS is that an accurate guess, cause I know a lot of my old/antique slip joints are only worth $20 and $50 a piece and figuring an average of $35 I guess they're worth a lot more than I know. The Tacticals I bought in stores or over the internet, so they were easier to keep track of $ spent, and I only own 2 Customs, so that was a no brainer.

I'm currently trying to put together an inventory of some kind for myself and for insurance, I was wondering BS, if you used anything to keep track of your collection, or is it all in your :)?

I probably should make thread out of that last question alone.

:D :D
 
I have over a Dozen balisongs mostly BM's
I'd say they cost me about 1,500
Good size collection for me being only 18.
 
I feel like my still modest collection will turn into a wide, broad assembly of the different quality blades, at least, this is my aim. That's also why I'm reluctant to buy a knife as I need to be really convinced of its qualities and want to verify wether this is actually look for in a knife. Evaluating the inherent trade-off, for me the key-element to knife collectioning. If there was such thing as a perfect knife, collectioning would not be the same.
 
My "collection" is still small and pathetic. Doesn't even break the $250 mark yet (unless you go by MSRP). I need more money!
 
i do not really think of the dollar value of my collection. i prefer to concentrate on the enjoyment i get from them. if you really want to know, i am sure it runs well into the thousands. i, as a rule never spend more than $300 on a knife that i will actually use. i also do not purchase too many knives that i do not intend to use.

i really just wanted to take this opportunity to state, i never think of my knives as weapons. i use them for cutting objects. not people or even animals. i feal that even considering that you are carrying an item that can be used as a weapon is very likely to get you into a position you will regret. if i was backed into a corner by a guy i was certain will kill me, as a last resort i may draw my blade. however, i am not in the mind set that "i am carrying a weapon".
most "bad guys" carry stuff that can not be defended against by a knife anyways. so why even think of knives for anything other than cutting objects. i doubt most good chefs are thinking "gee, what a great weapon i am weilding"! on the other hand, i would never say that practicing martial arts or weapons arts is bad. but when one leaves the dojo, what is tought there should stay there. self defense is totally out of my mind, untill if and when someone may threaten my life. the best self defense is to be passive. this is just my personal philosphy i am sharing with y'all. i am not trying to force my ideas on anyone.



thank you,
holdanedge.
 
I'm at about $3500 or so. My collection is mostly tac folders, but I do have a few nice slip joints.
Matt
 
do we include our Henckels Professional Kitchen Knives too? :D

heh total paid-for value of my folder collection clocks in at.. hmm.. probably about $1200-$1500US
 
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