What are the 10 Commandments of Knife Collecting?

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
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I have heard so much being said about knives and its related subjects here that I figure any aspiring knife collector can just look through the archives and find all the answers for any conceivable question.

However, I have yet to come across the 10 Commandments of Knife Collecting.

This would have to come from someone who has long been in this field. Let's suppose a new guy comes up to you and asks you this question, what will you say to him.

The 10 Commandments of Knife Collecting. Well, anyone?
 
Commandment suggestions:

1. Buy what YOU like.
2. Have a plan early on what you are going to collect.
3. Set monetary limits and stick to them.
4. Trade, if necessary.
5. Ask a lot of questions of other collectors.
6. If you are not sure, don't buy it.
7. If you want it, get it (it might not be there later!).
8. Be careful who you tell about your collection (or where it is).
9. Never get rid of family knives - no matter what it looks like.
10. When you stop enjoying it, quit.

Dean, breaker of commandments (for knife collecting :))
 
Originally posted by RDaneel
Commandment suggestions:
8. Be careful who you tell about your collection (or where it is).
Click to expand...

I've been thinking about that one more and more recently.

Anyone tried any knife-specific insurance?

Mike
 
I like Dean's list.

Now for a little bastidness.

1. Thou shalt not ask A.B.S. Mastersmiths "Did you make that Damascus".

2. "Is that a knife like O.J. used" is not an appropriate question.

3. "2000 dollars! I could make a knife better than that" is not a good way to make new friends.

4. "I want a knife just like the one that person made over there, but it is too expensive. Can you make me one like their's but cheaper" May not be the right approach.

5. Thou shalt not purchase a mokeme and jigged bone handled knife and run over to Les' table asking him what he thinks of it.

6. "Who are you going to kill with that thing or why would anyone need a knife like that." will not endear you to the person or persons who made the knife.
 
With regard to insurance, some of the firearms collectors' insurance (NRA offers it, for example) will cover knife collections. I also like the idea of a thousand pounds of hardened steel wrapped around a collection, but that certainly limits display options.

One of my friends with a collection of Old West revolvers built a display case into a den wall. It has a thick steel frame (back and sides) that is bolted to the studs, with a heavy Lexan front. It will supposedly resist a sledgehammer/heavy prybar. At least that would keep the average juvenile burglar out.

I agree that securing the collection should be one of the Commandments. Worrying about it constantly or losing it would certainly destroy the collecting experience.
 
You should never start collecting anything with out first having a good knowledge of the subject. Without knowledge you will most likely end up with an accumulation not a collection and will waste money and time getting to where you want to be.
 
Here's my own list.

1. Have a passion deeper than the deepest ocean for this hobby, for it shalt give thee solace in thy twilight years.

2. Spread the joy thou have for this pastime to all who are willing to listen.

3. Listen to the masters of the trade, for they shalt cast that shining light onto the darkest unlearned corners of thy mind.

4. Spend wisely but not too much on blades that will give thee endless hours of pleasure, for thy act shalt counterbalance those unexpected lonely days that may lie ahead.

5. Sing praises of the makers of blades, tell them so ever so constantly, for they have given, donated, supplied untold hours of toil, sweat and quality time to make thee happy, and their families, too.

6. Cherish the beautiful handiwork of each and every single blade that passes through thy hands.

7. Give away some of your precious knives at certain times of thy life, for thy act will create happiness unexpected in the lives of the receivers.

8. Encourage the dreary in this trade for they have wandered far away from the true path of the bladesman. Lead them back and show them the pleasure that awaits them.

9. Count not the number of good knives that are not in thy hands for there would be many more on the way.

10. Befriend one and all in the realm of blades, for in the end it is key that opens all your hearts to kindness, friendship and brotherhood.
 
Very well said Golok.

I have a goal in my life of meeting you in person some day.
 
1 As A NEWBIE, SHUT-UP and Listen

2 PRIOR to Posting on BF, throw away the $500 worth of clone crap you bought

3 LISTEN to the people that know the art of knife collecting and LEARN

4 Become Addicted, very Addicted and spend as much time as you can on knives and collecting

5 Give away a knife to a stranger, even though you are a NEWBIE in order to better understand what knife collecting really means.

6 Be prepared to KILL any Bastid that tries to steal your knives or sell you a clone

7 Forget Number six and JUST KILL anyone who tries to sell you a clone

8 Learn to live in a tent every Month when your wife opens the credit card statement

9 It is OK to have Sex with your Buddie's wife, just DO NOT touch his knives

10. Never forget that there is alot tolearn about knife collecting and it is impossible to own one of every knife made, but Damn-it, TRY!!!
 
Golok, nice thread and very good list of commandments. Wolfmann is on the right track too :)

I wrote this a couple of years ago for another thread about Knife Addiction, but I think it is appropriate to revisit the Ten Commandments for Knifeaholics as revealed to me in a wholly vision:

  1. Thou shalt have No other knives before Me.
  2. Thou shalt not dishonor the name of thy knife maker by taking thy knife in vein
  3. Remember the Day of Resting from thy knife preoccupation, if only for a moment.
  4. Thou shalt honor thy Father's AND thy Mother's knives.
  5. Thou shalt not Kill with thy knife except in self defense or to feed thyself and others.
  6. Thou shalt not use the knife of thy neighbor, nor shall ye loan thy knife unto thy neighbor.
  7. Thou shalt not Steal to buy knives.
  8. Thou shalt not bear False Witness unless thou hast a concealed carry permit.
  9. Thou shalt not Covet thy neighbor's knife.
  10. Thou shalt not take Thyself or thy Knives so gosh darned seriously.

    [/list=1]



  1. By way of explanation:

    Folks, really, I didn't want you to think that I just made these commandments up out of thin air. No…

    This is what happened, really:

    After watching a rerun of George Burns as God in that old movie, and falling into a restless sleep, I woke (I think) and went out for a walk in the woods. To my amazement and surprise, high up on a nearby hill I saw what looked like a forest fire in the making.

    As I got closer, I realized the unholy glow was only a single burning bush. I rushed closer and as I neared the flaming bush, I realized that it was actually only a large pink Wholly Mammoth covered with a flowing mane of fuschia that moved as if a strong wind was blowing, and was not a burning bush at all.

    I said something blasphemous and blurted out: "what the heck Is this anyway?"

    And it spoke unto me (I hadn't expected that and I fell back upon my knees in awe and terror). The wholly apparition said in a loud trumpeting voice, "I am what I am."

    At that moment I knew I was in Big Trouble and probably need serious psychiatric assistance, if not animal control, the police, and the fire department, not to mention Mulder and Scully.

    Suddenly, from out of the improbable mammoth's enormous proboscis came forth a bright flame of fire that was not fire. It projected this wholly laser onto a large tabular rock nearby and the rock erupted in a shower of sparks and flame. I cowered in fear before the wholly sight.

    Then, before I could even say the words, what the ****?, the wholly apparition disappeared. But Upon the rock was written the wholly words I have posted above for the edification of all knife-kind.

    I have seen the light. I have taken the pledge of non-knifeaholism and I have passed on the sacred words of the Wholly Pink Mammoth. But I didn't write everything 'exactly' as inscribed upon the wholly rock. You see, I was afraid, but I have since been overcome by doubt, guilt and shame and need to tell the absolute truth.

    The tenth commandment actually was:

    Thou shalt not use my Wholly Tusks as knife making material!


    Paracelsus
    Certified Lunatic and Seer of Wholly Visions
 
:D :D

Hey Paracelsus, would you mind if I spread that one around a bit?
 
Triton, since that piece came direct from the wholly source, I can't take all the credit for it. I am only the messenger ;)

I would be honored to have you 'spread it around', just please give credit where credit is due. I own the copyright to the Ten Commandments of the Wholly Mammoth and intend to vigorously defend my legal rights to use it for my own sick purposes.

A serious answer to this question is that the only real commandments of knife collecting are:
buy what you like, learn all you can, and never expect to have them all.

All you really need is one good knife. Everything else is gravy :)

It is good advice to avoid bankruptcy. But it's not a commandment. :D

Para
 
Para,

As a follow up to your bankruptcy comment:

11. Thow shalt not give Les, Patrick, Tim, etc your credit card details or any other form of easy payment. Trouble will only follow.

Regards,

Ed

NB No offence to any of the nice people listed above that keep taking my money. Buy what you like and you will not go far wrong.
 
1. Your collection is NEVER complete.
2. Always set aside an extra budget in case something "sharp" pops up.
3. Buy knives that you would like to have in ten years.
4. Buy knives that you would like to have NOW.
5. Never sell any knife you own - you may regret it later...
6. If a knife vendor has a sale, do your utmost to "eliminate" it.
7. If a knife vendor has a sale, keep it to yourself.
8. Keep a low profile - there is always someone who doesn't like knives out there.
9. If you can't decide which one of two knives to buy - buy them both.
10. Never give a knife to anyone without owning a copy yourself.
 
Not to forget:

* Have an understanding spouse or learn to say "Honey, I've had that knife for years" with conviction.

Andrew Limsk
 
Bastid's and Paracelsus' posts are both very funny and very true -- but Bastid, what's the story behind your Commandment #5?

Paracelsus, is it only pink mammoth tusk that we're forbidden to use for knife handles? I hope so....

I had a dream in which a gigantic walrus came to me and said ... no, let's not go there.... (If you don't know what oosic is you won't have that dream....)

Collectors usually start out hoarding a large variety of knives, snarfing up anything that catches their eye more or less indiscriminately, and gradually narrow down to one particular kind of knife. I've been going through that lately ... and it can really help control the insatiable urge to buy everything. When I stopped buying knives with a stoopid joint in the middle a few years ago that improved my peace of mind immensely, by eliminating a lot of the inner conflict of wanting knives I can't afford. I still look at folders and admire them but I know I don't want them. Eliminating stainless steel helped a lot too, years earlier.... Of course I still see knives I want and can't afford, but not as many of them.

I think that process is probably necessary; you have to start out collecting a variety of knives before you can discover where your real interest is, and if you rush the process too much you might find you've chosen the wrong specialty -- but it's something to keep in mind ... think about what you really like. Don't settle for knives that have features you like but also have a feature you don't like -- there are plenty of those around. There's no need to bankrupt yourself to buy knives that aren't perfect. Repeat that to yourself like a mantra as you wander around a knife show -- it helps.

One knife that's exactly what you like is worth more than any number of knives that cost less but aren't perfect. Add up how much you spent on knives in the last year and compare that figure to the price of that knife you really want but feel is too expensive.

Using knives is more satisfying than buying them -- even just handling them is more satisfying than buying them. Collecting is not just buying things and putting them away!

When you buy a mediocre knife you feel pleased about it for a while, maybe as long as several days, before you realize it's not as great as you thought.... If you buy a lot of knives like that they add up to pleasure for quite a bit of the time ... but it's an addiction; you always have to keep feeding it. If you buy a really fine knife you'll always feel good about it. A few really fine knives and -- okay, I admit it, you'll still want more -- but you'll feel good about what you have, too, and you won't feel you need more and better knives; you'll only want them -- you'll be happy to buy more when you get a chance and you'll still be happy in between purchases, even if it's a long time between.
 
Cougar,

Great post. I now what you mean about buying a bit of everything before you settle down with a particular type/area of knife.

One thing I have learnt this last year is not to be too quick in turning over knives. I know there is one knife I sold that I now regret big time and I am looking to replace it. But at least I learn.

Regards,

Ed
 
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