What do the custom knifemakers collect?

golok

golok

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Oct 20, 2000
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We all at some time or other collect customs (if we can afford it) but what about the custom knifemakers themselves?

What do they collect? Or do they have the time to collect at all?

Do these makers collect their contemporaries' masterpieces as well?

We hear of great artists painting great works of art but we seldom hear of these artists collecting paintings of others. Normally, their art studios are filled with their own works.

I wonder if this scenario applies to the custom knifemakers.
 
I do know that some of the makers that I have dealt with do collect knives. One of these makers does not seem to collect knives of any particular makers or types. Just ones that caught his eye. They might be custom and they might be production.

It will be interesting to see what the makers have to say about this. Great thread Golok.:)
 
He who dies with the most knifemaking STUFF wins :) Tom, I have this box of CARBIDE endmills.....

I don't consider myself a knife collector but you will find knives all over our house. There are about a dozen various neck knives hanging from our wine rack in the kitchen!! I have a few favorites locked away that never see use. My problem is that when I go to a knife show, I spend my money on materials and rarely have any left over for knives :(
Right now if I hit the lottery, I would probably buy a Brend or three, or whatever Les has in stock! I'd send Tom payment in advance for a TNT Hawkbill, I'd put an order in with Jerry H. for one of his Bronco camp knives. Then I'd start perusing the rest of the dealers and makers sights :) Oh, I forgot, a Wilson fillet knife, I CANT MAKE FILLET KNIVES!!!!!

Neil
 
I agree this is a good topic.I have collected for years other makers knives that I have come in contact with at the shows,over the phone,ect.like setting up next to them.Alot of times at the end of a show we kinda like say hey I'll trade you this one for that one.I've gotten knives from Wayne Valachovic,Hugh Bartrug,Fred Carter.Its alot of fun.I love knives...making them,buying them,trading them,whatever!My wife Lori used to buy one from a different maker every Christmas.I remember setting up next to Ernie Emerson at the Anihiem show years ago(before Ernie hit it big.)And he had all these swingers left on his table and my wife said hey its you b-day coming up,so she bought one for me.Tom has a good point too,latley I've been collecting machines,and tooling!

Rick Hinderer
 
Belly button lint and grinder dust. Right now I got a good 10 pounds of grinder dust in my shop just waitin to get collected! :D
 
Hi,there.When I am not collecting tools,I like to collect Money.
I am not much on material things.Tools are my greatest love.Without tools I am nothing.
Brad Ducnan
 
Dust, dead belts, dead bandsaw blades, weird shaped steel and ti offcuts, stranges ti coils under the drill press, catalogues...
:D
 
I collect old machetes. I have a few Collins, a Tru Temper or two, a couple from England, picked up a Greenshire last week.... Most of them are around WWII vintage.

As to why I collect machetes, the answer is ......uhhh....gee, I don't really know......??

John Ownby



John C. Ownby Handmade Knives
 
Well, quite franky, YES!!!!! WATCHES!!!! OMEGAS FOR TNTS!!!
I used to collect nice folders...have had at least a half a dozen Barry Woods...used to have an Ivory handle Jess Horn folding boot, nice side lock by that guy in kentucky that I can never remember his name......Pease...thats it.....a couple of Jack Busfields back when they were around $250-still have the letter from him for a skinner shape that I never got that was going to be $250.......Had a Steve Hoel with an aluminum handle that I should have NEVER sold.....would really like to get a couple of rare Barry Woods that I have been looking for and a Ron Lake! :)
But will probably spend the money on watches n Talonite instead!! :):p:):p:):p:)
 
I collect knives from other makers. I've bought only two custom or hand made knives in my lifetime. The rest I traded for. I also collect tools. Hammers, punches, chisels, tongs, hardie tools, forge blowers, post vises, scrap steel etc... But for knives, just the ones from other makers. No special style or make/model. Any knife will do. All knives are great when they come from the heart of a good maker.
 
i trade for a few other makers stuff. i also trade my stuff for firearms etc, mostly i collect SCARS and CALLOUSES on my hands:D
 
Kits right!!!!!
There's nothing like beating on a peice of hot steel to work out ones frustrations. BUT!!!!
When its to hot to work in the shop there's no better way to relax than laying in the shade and firing a couple hundred rounds of centre fire at gophers,crows,magpies or coyotes.
I love the prairies, if you can see it,burn powder.
 
TOOLS,Yes thata the ticket,TOOLS.....
Otherwise I collect anything that cayches my fancy at the time,People say I am just a pack rat.But I have some really cool Junk.And some of it has been modified and been used in the shop...:D :cool: :D
Bruce
 
Well, I do collect old Brazilian knives, khukuris, used to collect Joseph Rodgers folders but sold them all few years ago.
Regarding custom knives, I pick them up now and them, most often at trades, as I have yet to say "no" when I am offered a good trade. Some I keep, some I just let go. Its been a good while, though, since the last knife I ordered specifically for my collection.
And, of course there is my dog collection - 11 at this moment, and counting...
 
Small vases,paintings,a knife now and then,if it falls into my lap so to speak,like at a yard sale etc.Will trade knives for guns,but will not buy them retail.Good books,of course.
 
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