What is this Knife Collecting thing all about?

Lorien

Lorien

Nose to the Grindstone
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Don't wanna dictate a particular exchange of ideas here, so I will just leave you all with this simple question and hope that you find the topic interesting enough to chime in with your thoughts.
 
Very interesting topic!

For me this knife collecting is all about getting items (knives, presentation boxes, the odd watch or pen) which are made with good old school craftsmanship, and beautiful natural handle materials (wood, horn, ivory). Made by enthousiastic artist/craftsmen, who are proud of what they make. Knives are fascinating, and beautiful handcrafted custom knives are even more fascinating.

Kind regards,

Jos
 
I guess for me I am just attracted to them. Some kinds of art do it for some folks, cars for others, guitars, women.. etc. For me knives are one of those things that my eyes like. From there comes collecting. Its about having that pride of ownership knowing that others will also like your knife. Maybe envy is part of the game. :)

Also what guy doesn't like sharp things? They can be pretty badass.. specially when used properly.

Of course over the last bunch of years its become about people and friends in the scene as well, but I guess were focusing on knives here?

For a while the whole idea of knives appearing in publications kept me moving fast, and for a while I had something appear almost every month. But I have been buying less lately and also buying less NEW knives so the publication thing has died down for now. But its another example of the thrill of knife collecting for me. If anything, its the "cool" factor that comes to play with collecting knives.

My father raised me to hold back on spending money unless it was on quality items. So naturally I started trying to jump to the high quality stuff.
 
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I collect antique guns, watches, knives, pens, lighters, sunglasses... It's all about finding poetry in the pieces I collect.
 
For me knife collecting is about getting back to a time where skill couldn't be replaced by gear. I'm also fascinated by the fact that knifes are one of the oldest tools in the world and are still being used. And there's always that attraction that just can't be explained.
 
From as far back as I can remember I have loved knives from the one my father had ,an old dagger style knife, in a tool box that I would sneek into just to hold it when I was 4. (Later I "rescued" it and now have as part of my collection). To the old folder I snuck to school and got in trouble for having in the 1st grade. To the giant Kukri sitting on the tables at Gun Shows when I was 8.

I always have been enamored with knives. And now that I have the means to buy them....I do
 
As kids my cousin and I used to raid my late grandfather's collection, still kept by my grandmother. We'd ogle them, borrow them, play with them. 30-odd years on and I still love their beauty, mystique, practicality, adventure, craftsmanship. It's in the genes. Love 'em.
 
Its a form of madness.... I am doing my level best to get it down to four users, end of story but I cannot decide which ones to lose and which ones to keep.
 
I am attracted to the materials, and craftsmanship. For me I love a harder, stronger steel (or even better nonferrous alloy), and beautiful wood, or high tech composts, assembled with flawless craftsmanship.

But that alone is not enough reason to justify the time, and money. Maybe it is human nature to collect things, especially fine things, and this particular group of people here collect knives. Some collect watches, guns art, antiques, flashlights, and any number of other things, we do knives.
 
My father raised me to hold back on spending money unless it was on quality items. So naturally I started trying to jump to the high quality stuff.
Click to expand...

Same for me too. I am so cheap I dont buy anything for myself, except for knives and knife making supplies. I cant help myself and I dont feel guilty, the cash just flows free and fast:o
 
To me, it's about "the knives", however just as much about the "people".
My collecting background was in classic sports cars, where it seems more about “just the cars” rather than the people or camaraderie. I still keep a couple collector cars, but knives have pretty much consumed all my time.

When I wandered into the Blade Show by chance about 10 years ago in only a few hours I found something that was "missing" from my many previous years of collecting, which was the people/camaraderie.

Of course I love the knives. The classic sports cars and custom knives that interest me are similar as I see them as "functional art" in that both are beautiful works of art and design yet perform to function at a very high level. In other words, an object can be made to perform or to be beautiful but the combination of both is what excites me.

It’s also the history or heritage of the knife (or blade) that interest me as the “knife or crude blade” is one of man’s earliest tools and weapons. One could make a strong argument that mankind may not have survived without it.

I love the diversity of custom knives. There are so many different styles, types and materials. I love the natural materials. It’s just something about holding a fine knife in your hand with 10,000 year old mammoth ivory and thinking what this handle has been exposed to over the many years.

There’s so much to enjoy about custom knife collecting and I’m amazed it’s not more popular a collectible. That’s why I feel it’s so important that we spread the word.

Sorry to go on so, great thread Lorien.
 
For me its probably a combination of many things. I was always facinated with my grandfather's and fathers knives even though they only had a few. Working on the farm and hunting/fishing etc I used knives alot and always felt myself wanting more specialized knives and feeling "that one more...that aught to do it". Then I discovered knifemaking and custom knives which fueled my obsession for better and more unique tools. Soon it was not a matter of needing anything but wanting something unique and different than what everyone else had, like what Jonathan said envy from family friends of my tools played a bit of the game too.
I also reflect Kevins thoughts on the heritage of the knife and that very much facinates me, I love reading about earlier weapons and tools and buying some designed after certain older models (nessmuk comes to mind).
Plus I like sharp things that cut stuff :)

I'd also like to add that my addiction/hobby has reflected on many of my friends and family. My father only carried one folder until I was 20. Then when he'd visit he'd see all my shiny knives and got a little jealous. Then started joining me to knife shows along with my brother and sister . Soon my friends where coming and asking about different knives and what they should buy. I feel now learning about, collecting and using knives is no longer a hobby but a duty I glady accept.....at least thats what I tell my wife when a new box arrives at the door:D
 
I think that it is all connected to human genetics...

The "collecting lust" is a small flaw... Knife collecting must be
a slight mutation of that nice little genetic "flaw"... :)

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
I trace my fascination with knives back to childhood- when communion with objects is common- and when for me, as with most of you, a knife(s) was that object.
To me, conceptually at least, 'reaching back' and snatching a bit of that youthful fascination and focus on communion with an object, seems a compelling reason behind the fascination.
With custom knives, by 'reaching back' you can help someone 'reach forward'. By fulfilling a need to revisit a younger version of myself, I can at the same time enable another person to reach into the future and pull out a knife of their own making.
That's some of the gobbledeegook psychobabble behind this for me.

Beyond all that, I am fascinated by performance and by the ability of a knife to excel due to the care and intention behind its manufacture. When I can couple my views on design characteristics with another person's seasoned experience manufacturing a knife- especially when that person shares a common outlook regarding the physicality of the knives I most like to use- then that really fuels the fire. And for me it's not about getting one better knife than the last, but filling in between the lines and developing a quiver of knives. Each one desirable for different occasions, all inevitably overlapping in certain characteristics but not every characteristic.

I have a couple of knives which were designed to be weapons, and although my ideas regarding their performance can only be supported by theory, all my other knives get regular use and maintenance and were designed as tools. I know very well the strengths and weaknesses of each, as well as some technique behind their use, specific to each knife. Some I use more than others, but I use them all. For me, there is great joy in using my knives and an almost spiritual connection. To what, I don't know. Maybe my inner caveman. I feel like maybe I'm kind of like a surfer, always on the lookout for the next wave to ride, and ready with whatever board suits that wave best. It's not so much about what the knife is, but where it can take me.

Whew! That was long winded:rolleyes::) I'm really enjoying reading all your posts, by the way. This is some good stuff!
 
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