Codger_64
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- Oct 8, 2004
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Occasionally over the past few years, when I have posted the results of my research and/or observations, people have felt moved to call me an "expert". Sometimes it is in heartfelt appreciation for my sharing knowledge, and sometimes an effort to mock me, or to discredit the information I am sharing.
I don't consider myself an expert, and have repeatedly denied being one. I am aware of a circle of knife industry pundents who are known widely as experts, and they do posess an amazing amount of knowledge of knives, and of knife history etc. They have written many volumes of reference books that collectors take as gospel, give appraisals of knives or knife collections for fees, appear in court as paid recognized experts on knife law matters, and have some business relating to the cutlery field. They make a living from their "expertise" as people in all fields of endevour do. They posess a certain desirable commodity (knowledge) and they sell it. I admire the fact that they have found a way to make a living doing something they love to do, and don't begrudge them one bit.
Well, I was again called an expert in a thread visited by a poster I consider a spammer, again in a weak attempt to mock me. Therefore, the term "expert" IMHO, is a term I abhore. It is as much overused as the term "rare". I have given this quite a bit of thought, and here is a posting I found that explores the question "What is an expert?"
Now, I make no claim to being an expert, and never have in the field of Schrade knives, or knives in general. I am a Master Patent Illustrator, Master Swimming Pool Contractor, with an engineering degree. I make no part of my living selling knives, Schrade memorabilia, or knife knowledge. Other than what I have posted here to share with you for free, I am not a published author of a single book or magazine article, either written by me, or ghost written with my name on it.
What I am is an attentive Schrade knife collector who has done research, examined the knives by buying multiples of a pattern searching for minute engineering changes which can indicate when that particular design variant was made. I've posted here several times my suggestions to other collectors as to where to look for information, how to conduct their own research. There is nothing magical about it, and nothing unique or mystical about acquiring knowledge and arranging references so that you can quickly and accurately retrieve the information when you need it.
It did not take me long to realize that to authoratatively publish all the available information on Imperial Schrade and associated cutleries and their knives, one would have to prepare at least six volumes of materials the size of a Sears and Roebuck catalog, if not the Thomas Register (now up to 16 volumes, see eBay #140021633207).
Codger
I don't consider myself an expert, and have repeatedly denied being one. I am aware of a circle of knife industry pundents who are known widely as experts, and they do posess an amazing amount of knowledge of knives, and of knife history etc. They have written many volumes of reference books that collectors take as gospel, give appraisals of knives or knife collections for fees, appear in court as paid recognized experts on knife law matters, and have some business relating to the cutlery field. They make a living from their "expertise" as people in all fields of endevour do. They posess a certain desirable commodity (knowledge) and they sell it. I admire the fact that they have found a way to make a living doing something they love to do, and don't begrudge them one bit.
Well, I was again called an expert in a thread visited by a poster I consider a spammer, again in a weak attempt to mock me. Therefore, the term "expert" IMHO, is a term I abhore. It is as much overused as the term "rare". I have given this quite a bit of thought, and here is a posting I found that explores the question "What is an expert?"
GreyThumb.Blog Saturday said:
Now, I make no claim to being an expert, and never have in the field of Schrade knives, or knives in general. I am a Master Patent Illustrator, Master Swimming Pool Contractor, with an engineering degree. I make no part of my living selling knives, Schrade memorabilia, or knife knowledge. Other than what I have posted here to share with you for free, I am not a published author of a single book or magazine article, either written by me, or ghost written with my name on it.
What I am is an attentive Schrade knife collector who has done research, examined the knives by buying multiples of a pattern searching for minute engineering changes which can indicate when that particular design variant was made. I've posted here several times my suggestions to other collectors as to where to look for information, how to conduct their own research. There is nothing magical about it, and nothing unique or mystical about acquiring knowledge and arranging references so that you can quickly and accurately retrieve the information when you need it.
It did not take me long to realize that to authoratatively publish all the available information on Imperial Schrade and associated cutleries and their knives, one would have to prepare at least six volumes of materials the size of a Sears and Roebuck catalog, if not the Thomas Register (now up to 16 volumes, see eBay #140021633207).
Codger
