What makes you want to add a knife to your collection?

kile

kile

Joined
Mar 19, 1999
Messages
620
Is it the design, the maker, the steel, the handle material, the price? For me, I would love to own every custom knife ever made. I can only afford a select few, so I have decided to collect small fixed blades. I feel that is where the best value is. I usually begin to notice a maker based on picture of his knifes, then I find his/ smallest model, and search around for it. I also like a wide variety of handle materials in my collection, so if I already have a knife with the same handle material, I won't by another knife with the same kind of handle. I find it very interesting to see each makers idea of a small knife, some makers don't even make a small knife. But there is so much variety in little knives, that it keeps the collection interesting.
Kyle Fuglesten
 
You have a real good approach here!
I am not that long in custom knives (but hooked good...) and actually after reading this thread I start thinking.....
Focus on one part of this wonderful CUSTOM world makes sense!
Just have to figure out which part:D
 
Having attended my first custom knife show up here in the Northeast, I can also say that besides the actual knife that strikes my fancy and also fills a niche that is open in the collection; meeting the makers really seals the deal.

As a Northeaster, I generally look for knives that are fast ambi folders or nice, small fixed blades, all having to do with miscellaneous cutting chores and legal defensive carry on Long Island and NYC. If it's custom that fits the bill, then it's more fun in a way. The downside is maybe having something taken away from me by authorities, which really shouldn't happen; or being forced to ditch a several hundred dollar knife!!
 
Much as I hate to say this I have to agree with Tom :)

I have to say that I buy what I like when I see it - no real great master plan, apart from more Emersons.

Regards,

Ed
 
Hey, Kyle,

I'm one of those random knife dudes.... I have no rhyme or reason to any of the knives I attain.

I do a lot of research on the knives I consider, and don't bother with any that don't match my specific taste. I don't care what is popular... I just know what I want.

I won't mention any names, but have knives on order from Tom Mayo (Perfect folder for me)... and Ed Fowler (perfect fixed blade for me)

OOPS, I mentioned the names...


I like your idea of a theme behind your collection, though... I think that is what keeps this whole thing interesting!

-Dave
 
Having a theme is good in the event you're into it for having and reselling; or really REALLY love the category of knives in the theme.

I've been getting what looks to be useful for certain instances, and it winds p a mixed bag, not really any kind of theme.

Funny how I picture them all as users. only to then find that I dig the knives' finishes and stuff and then don't really want to use them.

This must happen to a lot of other folks because most of the ads you see in resale is NIB. There's a barrel full of people just getting knives and just handling them until it's time to get more, trade 'em or get some money back into the house.
 
Boink, I also have found that there are an awful lot of NIB second hand knives for sale. I have sold or traded a half dozen or so. Only one had not been used to cut anything at all.

What gets my attention as far as knives are concerned is many fold. The most important thing to me is the maker. His reputation and how he/she is in their dealings with me are paramount in my decision making process. Of course the maker must make a style of knife that I am interested in. Does he work in the materials that I want? Can I get a knife in the time frame that I am willing to live with? Is the price of the knife within the range I am willing to spend?

There was a time that I bought knives just because I liked the way they look. That is no longer the case. Now my purchases are researched much more carefully. I find that I am much happier with my choice of knives now.
 
I also tried the focus on one style method. It worked for a while but eventually I branched out into other styles. Now, I buy what I like instead of trying to justify a purchase with a specific use. Hell,,the truth is most of my knives haven't been used, not because I don't want to use'em,,but just because I don't really have that much to cut.:D


Phillip
 
There is just something about a knife with a bunch of holes drilled in it!

Seriously, some knives are just plain cooler than others. One blade will be ground with much more precision than another. Some knife may have a handle made out of some super nice wood or stag or ivory. Sometimes, a knife calls out to me as something that would be really handy for actual use. Yes, that's right, I use an occasional knife!

The reasons I need to add a knife to my collection are varied and dont always make sense to anybody but me. But, that's why they are my knives.:)
 
I have to admit that appearance is a big factor. sometimes, it's as simple as the grind on the blade - something very sensuous or particulary nasty looking, be it bead blast or satin finished. Have not had the rocks to get a damascus bladed one yet, due to living near the beach in a salt air environment. I'd hate to get a beautiful damascus and then wind up keeping it in a hermetical seal. Wanna play with these things, dammit!

Some anodized handled ones can bum me out due to watching what rings you might be wearing. Already messed up an MT L-UDT in two places, what with a ring finger and a metal stud on my jeans.

Finally got some fixed blades, one by Al Pokalski (really, really nice man) and an up-and-comer named Meerdink. Also, checking out some Crawford knives. The Crawfords will come with blasted ti handles; the fixed are micarta; I'll be more relaxed giving them some slight character blemishes.
 
Let's just say in the last year of collecting customs, I've learned an aweful lot. Probably the thing that strikes me first are aethetics and materials (I prefer abalone, black lip pearl, and ivory). That gets my attention, from there I look at fit and finish. I'm extremely particular about smoothness (I only collect folders). I have seen knives that are absolutely gorgeous, only to pick them up, realize thay have no edge and a grinding detent ball, or stiff operation. Those go back. Some makers only let ultra-smooth knives leave the shop, so JW Smith, Aaron Frederick, Jim Minnick, Warren Osborne, and Des Horn are high on the list. To further complicate matters, I'm a southpaw, so it has to be left-handed or totally ambi. I'd own ALOT more knives if they came with dual or reversible thumbstuds. Blade steel (except for Damascus) doesn't really mean that much to me, as long as the bevels are well set and there is a good heat treat. I really don't see a whole lot of performance difference between ATS-34, BG-42, S30V. Two outliers are damasteel and VG-10, which are just an absolute NIGHTMARE to sharpen. The only maker on my "short list" who uses damasteel for blades with any frequency is Des Horn. I've really learned that it is VERY difficult to buy knives just from pictures, so I go to more shows now or simply order what I want. This shorts out the whole left-handed issue. And then there is price....which takes us back to the secondary market, where you tear through pages of knives only to sort out the few ambis/lefties.
 
The knife and the person.

The person carries more weight to me than the knife. Sometimes I will buy a knife from a starting out maker that does not fit into my collection just because I like their attitude.

This allows me the trust to set a ceiling price on an order and tell the maker to basically do what they want to do and have fun with it. I have never been disappointed when I have ordered a knife from someone I have taken the time to get to know. Now the problem for me is with all those choices I can not afford a knife from each maker that I have that type of trust in :D. Oh well things could be much worse. :)
 
The first thing that usually catches my attention about a knife is some performance-related aspect. I use most of the knives in my collection, and that is what gives me the greatest enjoyment--using a high-quality tool, especially if that tool was made by a maker I can like and respect.

I am pretty much of a traditionalist. I don't care a whole lot for tacticals, though I do have a few. I like natural handle materials and carbon steel, although I have some knives that don't fit that description.

To me, a knife that has acquired a patina and some marks of use is more beautiful, because each mark represents a memory.
 
The crossing of a neat knife and sufficient money in my pocket causes a sale to take place....that's the nearly perfect formula for increasing the size of my accumulation/collection...that's the way it has been for about 30 years now....
:D

Okay, not totally true....I'm not into the "boy Ninja" or "tacticals" that the porch-sitters typically admire....That's probably because I've "been there and done that"...I found in Vietnam that my little three-blade Queen steel pocketknife in combo with my Randall Model 18 accomplished all I wanted to get done....didn't require any "lightning fast" opening, fancy locks or autos to make it happen...

The great thing about knives is that there are so many permutations that a "newbie" has seemingly unlimited choices when it comes to what brand, maker, style, etc he'll chose to collect.....Me? I favor wood, stag, various ivories, etc. as handle materials....I've found that over time, they appreciate and I can't honestly say I've ever lost a dime on a well made custom or benchmade knife with those kinds of materials....I'm not certain I can say that about all the new "high-tech" handle materials....

I'm also partial to knives that feel good in the hand and to the eye...since that is so subjective, I'll not even proffer an opinion as to which ones look the "best"....but suffice it that I'm partial to Randalls, Herrons, Morans, Lile and other similar makers....they look purposeful, have nice lines and of course, do exactly what they were made to do....what a novel notion.

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing...so if you're collecting, have fun with it...don't look to make your collection your retirement account.....;)
 
Howdy Jimsbowies..

I agree with most of what you say... However, not all new handle materials are inferior. I own a stag handled knife that my uncle gave me, and by the time I got it, the pins in the handle had corroded and permanantly stained the bone. I have tried to remove it, but aside from taking sandpaper to the hilt, there is nothing that can be done.

I love natural materials for handles too.... but a Mayo TNT will hold up much better over time than most knives.

-Dave
 
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