Total money value of entire collection?

I have to admitt I'm planning to buy a real topclass knife and I'm prepared to pay the due price. But I know this much, a knife that exceeds 250 USD will age on a shelf, resting in a substantial protective coating. It will have no need to withstand anything but my admirring look. The risk is just to great, a knife of such a prize should be in perfect condition and only be used when there is no other option. And when I say I will cherish a knife of that exceptional quality, I do mean I will try to make sure that it holds its exceptional condition. Just the knowledge that I own a specimen like that does the trick for me, sporadically allowing another trustee to carefully expect the knife (hopefully he/she will second your awe of the fine craftmanship... If not, you just blame him/her to be ignorant... In this way you can maintain your idolization of your o so precious blade. You just can't lose if you watch out :-))))
 
Originally posted by koolstof
...I know this much, a knife that exceeds 250 USD will age on a shelf, resting in a substantial protective coating. It will have no need to withstand anything but my admirring look. The risk is just to great, a knife of such a prize should be in perfect condition and only be used when there is no other option...
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koolstof, I used to feel the same way, but to buy something and not use it is not within me.

I remember my first custom, I spent $275 on it, I gazed at that knife, I polished it, I shave off almost all my hair, and developed more than enough scars. Then I'd wipe it down, wrap it up and proudly place it back in the box with the paperwork and original packing.

I was Happy:) but I also knew something was missing:confused: .

Finally it dawned on me:eek: someone toiled over this piece of steel, not to sit in a box but to make it's owner happy:) , and maybe do some work. I mean after all, don't we keep saying it's a tool?

Aren't tools meant to be used?

I can understand and appreciate the beauty of an art knife or an exqusitely made custom,(or even some top quality production stuff, William Henry, Cris Reeves, Emerson, just to name a few) but a Stratavarious is much more beautiful, and appreciated, when it's played by talented hands. Much the same way a quality custom Tac Folder, is better appreciated by a soldier or an LEO.

So koolstof I beg you for the sake of the knife, and the maker, USE THAT $250 KNIFE!

I'm sure in time you'll take it down and use it, and I'm sure Burkstar would agree the knife means more, when you put more of a memory to it than just looking at it on a shelf, than again this is only my two cents worth.
 
yeah, I can understand that only approriate usage allow to fully appreciate a knife. I will do my utmost to find out what my knife is REALLY worth, but I don't believe that I can ever loose my reserves towards intense use (unless I find my blade to be involuntary damaged by accident, once it has lost it's impecable state it doesn't seem to matter how perfect it is ;-) however I will always try to bring out the full potential any knife holds. A knife-lover never seems to be quite sure of what he looses or what he gains, not in the least of the highly subjective and personal demands each individual demands to meet it's future use. The more you know, I think, the better you are capable of determining wich knive will do the trick for you, knowledge and sense of critisism seems to me as the approriate answer to a modest budget.
 
COME AGAIN, DID I HEAR THIS RIGHT... One million USD???!!! I was wandering if such an extended array of knives has offerd you the highly sought after experience... Are there any tips for a knife-lover. Wich particular knives deserve closer attention? What is the crowning piece of your exeptional collection.

Anything your very "uncommon" collection has learned you about knives in general is extremely welcome. Experience, even second hand, seems more valuable then just cheap theories, that can easily be undermined.

Please, Mr. Enormous Collection, I beg you to share any findings with others. Give us a taste of what it is like to have an extended budget and the experience that holds :-)

I'm jealous :-(
 
Originally posted by holdanedge
...i do not really think of the dollar value of my collection...
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Agree 100%.

As a rabid "collector" of practically everything, the true value of my knives is in the enjoyment I myself derive from them. Period. I'm sure my "beginner's collection" of customs is worth about what a decent luxury car would cost - but I really don't care. (Oops, maybe I WILL have to add them up soon for my impending "collectible" insurance coverage.)

When I was collecting wristwatches, I thought I had a pretty impressive collection at about $350k. Then I met a dentist, from whom I purchased a watch, who had a collection (stainless and WHITE gold only) worth over $2-mil. So, it's all relative. My favorite watch is STILL a jeweller's "house brand" sterling silver tank-style watch that I bought from a dealer for about $200.

And I own lots of folders, etc. each worth over $1k - but one of my favorites is still a little custom folder from Matt Stocker for about $175.

What a boring world this would be if we all agreed on everything.;)
 
Old & new slipjoints about $1,000
Old & new fixed blades about $1,500
Just ordered my first custom, a Bowie from Dennis Riley $500 :D
 
Wow. Some of you guys have way too much disposable income. How about sending some my way?

My collection consists of about 9 or 10 Spydercos, total value probably around $800. Also have a bunch of random fixed blades, SAKs, etc that are pretty much worthless.
 
I have two simple rules:

1) Never try to add up how much you've spent on knives.

2) Never try to add up how much your collection is worth.

Knowing either of these numbers could be frightening.
 
I suppose you folks are right, trying to forget the sacrifices required to extend your collection should increase the joy :-)It will be hard but a fine collection does earn to be tasted and enjoyed :-) Ooh well, it just is a question of setting your priorities, some people spend fortunes on their cars and they end up with a lousy car anyways. Investing in a knife will not as easily let you down, if you pay attention, with knifes you can get closer to pure perfection then lots of other hobbies. There is plenty of material to keep one busy and yet a taste of unmatched quality (a treat that will remain a mistery to most folks) lies within almost anyones reach, provided you can make a well-educateted choice and that you have the patience to gather the amount of money to obtain your knife of desire. This hobby is quite demanding but a has high potential of leaving tou satisfied behind. Tell me, which car-freak can tell that they raised their car to unknown heights, to me they are showoffs that are starving for attention *grin* collecting knifes is way more classy, isn't it ;-) Knives are willing to follow the specific demands of each users and contrary to cars you KNOW you have a rare piece, enjoyed by few :-) However, knives still allow you a margin to fill in yourself, it demands more effort but if you do it right you will be really satisfied with yourself. In the collection you can see the face of the owner...
 
This thread brings up a good point, and i have a question. Does anyone know of a good insurance company that will insure high-end knives at a reasonable premium with low hassle? I used to have insurance for my guns through an NRA program, the rates were good, but then i heard a few horror stories about trying to collect. So, any company in particular that you would recommend to insure my knife collection, maybe even my guns too? I dont think i can fully insure my knives and guns on my basic renters insurance policy, and therefore i need a seperate company, preferable one who specializes in guns/knives.

And to answer the original question, the answer is...too much. I used to have a nice gun collection, and i have, in effect, traded in that collection for a knife collection, cant really afford both. Its tough though, the next time i have about $750 to spend on something fun, its going to be a difficult choice between a custom knife, or a stainless Sig P220. Cant afford both unfortunately.
 
Originally posted by Gollnick
Knowing either of these numbers could be frightening.
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I've never even tried to add up a dollar value to my collection. And when my mind tries to do it without my permission, I quickly bonk myself on the head!
 
I am also eager to learn about any knives insurances. Please observe that I leave in the meaningless dot in between France and Germany, called Belgium. Possibly this can void my insurance, I would like an insurance that compensates my losses if I would ever find that unfortunatly, after all, cash value is a narrow and limited way to express the value of your personal selection that is subject to strong emotional value (I think this is because you can alter the properties of almost any knife, if you manage to do a good job this could strongly augment the value the blade has to offer. As a matter of fact you can screw up a knife or enhance, if you succeed doing the last one you really appreciate the full range of favorable properties, I suppose.

But you don't feed cash hungry supliers with anything as unsubtantial as emotions, in the real world you can unfortunatly only rely on cold, hard cash. Nobody can stay indifferent when having the option to maximise the effect of your money. Please enlighten me on any insurance policies. Thank you very much.
 
I don't know about insurance, I'm trying right now to find someone who can accurately appraise my collection without charging 10-20 dollars a knife. I can't afford 1600 to 2000 dollars before I even insure them.
 
If my mathematics are OK, you should own no less then 100 different knives. I'm green with envy!
 
cockroachfarm, you are my kind of man! i have just recently renewed my longtime intrest in knives. but i collect almost EVERYTHING. i have one wristwatch in particulier that i will never say what it cost.
i do indeed have a nice house, but my collections far exceed the value of the dwelling in which they are kept! my wife always makes me have to decide to get rid of something, because according to her "there is too much junk in here"! i am very diverse. you wouldn't expect someone who collects knives to also collect h.o. railroad, guitars, beer taps,and about 1000 other oddities would you? this is the problem with being obsesive-compulsive! lol.



holdanedge.
 
have been collecting tac folders for about 2 yrs, have about 30 knives, mostly BM/MT/EKI/spydie and about 4 customs (crawford KFF/perfigo, DRD 4" maxx , CRK seb, and 2 greco fixed blades) w/an empahsis on BM AFCK(7) and MT SOCOM (4)

i would say all together they are worth about 3-4K, hope my wifes not surfing this forum, lol, and doesnt include guns/watches/cars/other toys..............

greg
 
I stopped calculating my small collections value when I had spared (compared to street value In Finland) 2000 euros by buying knives?!

The value of my collection is irrelevant as I almost never sell my knives. When I buy a knife I have a reason to buy it. My (way too small) collection is like a diary but better.
 
My entire collection is priceless! Some of the knives are dirt cheap. A few are slightly above affordable but the accumulated worth is based on the number of hours I have spent walking miles and miles to the various nooks and corners of the city and outside the city looking for these strange and sometimes forgotten knives.

The hours, time and effort I put in haggling with dealers and shop assistants and the fun I had sometimes landing the "big one".

All these and more are worth more than dollars and cents. They are the unrefundable investment I put in to come up with a meagre collection that pleases me, and me only.

:D :D
 
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