What to collect

S

sheajs

Joined
Sep 3, 2002
Messages
9
Hello everyone,

I have been lurking for about 6 months and finally decided to post. I have recently aquired a fondness for slipjoints and I am interested in collecting them. I was wondering what type, brand, style, etc. everyone else who collects focuses on. I know that I should basically stick with what interests me but I am just curious what everyone else likes to collect.

Thanks,

Scott
 
WOOHOOO!
I love threads where I get to help other people spend money!!
Some patterns that I like a great deal:

4 blade congress
Seahorse whitler
Doctor's knife, or physician's knife (with spatula blade, all the better!)
Stockman (always a good choice)

Sunfish (AKA; elephant toenail, wildcat driller) These are a bit expensive. I just picked up my first one and really appreciate it.

Double end trapper


Have a look at those and see if any really get you excited about the pattern. Then ask some of the folks here to share pictures. There are some great collections out there.

Have fun!
 
I like too many different patterns to focus on just one. What I collect is Stag. I have stag handled knives from Bowies to Barlows. My second most collected handle material is Jigged Bone. I doesn't seem to matter to me if they're custom or production. I have knives from $50 to $500 and love them all.

Scott, my compliments for starting out your collecting with a plan. Take your time, do your homework and you'll save yourself a lot of money and mistakes.
 
I joined the Case Collector's Club (CCC) and collect their annual knives (3 of them) one in Junior, Regular and Life Member categories. The knives are available about the normal, retail price of a knife with that quality but numbered and identified as CCC and shipped with box and zippered individual pouch for each. Indeed, the price may even be a bit lower than for an equivalent, retail knife.

The benefit is also that you collect a variety of different style knives from single the 'peanut' to folding hunter's. Let the 'CCC' be your collection interest and acquire, eventually, ALL of Case's knife styles and modifications.

Other manufacturers have similar issues of collectable knives covering many different styles.
 
I am so "all over the place" that I'm probably the last person you would want to seek advice from on this subject. :D
 
I like alot of the old patterns as well.
My favorites are:

Stockman
Jack
Barlow
 
I'm with toothed on this. When I see one that I like and can afford it I'll pick it up. That is especially true of a custom when it was made by a friend. The common threads in my multiblade collection are split backspring whittlers, doctor knives and knives made by friends.
 
I'd suggest that before you buy online, learn by attending some knife shows, handling some knives, and figuring out what you really like, maker, style, handle materials. Learn all you can by meeting the knifemakers, collectors, and good, friendly dealers. Then, pick one or two things to concentrate on, handle material, maker or brand, type of knife (autos, slip joints, particular pattern, etc.) and go for it. By attending some shows, you'll save yourself from learning the hard, expensive way, buying knives you end up not liking, paying too much, etc.

Lately, I've focused my collecting mostly on custom congresses, senators/pen knives. Eventually, I'd like to have a 4 blade congress from every custom maker. (email if you have any you'd part with)
 
Scot...

Fast Eddie has given you some excellent advice! And good for you to put a little thought into this.

Obviously, by my screen name here, you can see I enjoy collecting the texas toothpick (also known as 'tickler or powderhorn' pattern) and that is what I focus on. But still, when I can, when I see a different pattern by the same manufactor of one of my ticklers, particularly if the handle material matches, I'll get it. Gives me some variety in the collection.

Welcome to 'our thing'.
 
I started collecting pruner style knives several years ago, and through the net, have seen them receive more attention. While it's good that more folks seem to appreciate the lowly curved-blade style, it has provided me with a frustratingly higher amount of competition for auctions! I guess that's okay, though.

Not a fancy gent's knife, the pruner was (and is) a worker. Many fine examples spent so much time in service, they ended up being sharpened down to almost nothing by their frugal owners. It's more of a challenge to find mint pruners of significant age for this reason. Fancy stag, horn, & bone scales could be found on some of the early knives, but wood seemed the more popular choice in quantities. I guess many folks didn't see the point in paying extra pennies back then for nice scales for a gardener's knife.
 
Just picked this up at Blade West.
2 1/2" blade 6 1/8" open
Brown Bone
Makes me want to go out and prune my roses.
 
Welcome to the forums! :) I have the same problem as you. I collected Microtechs for awhile and now I find myself wanting to collect Case's. The new Case Tiny Trapper's are very nice! I too like the Seahorse's and the good old Trappers are good too. If I can help, let me know! Paul
 
I like Doctor's knives. They have a very simple yet functional design. Case, Winchester and Schatt & Morgan are a few of the brands I have in my collection.
 
Basically, you should start with anything that feels right in your hands and looks nice to your eyes. Then, continue from there!
 
I like the splitspring whittlers as well... I also try to grab alot of stag.
Hawkbill do you have one of those Bose/Case collaboration pruners ? I've been salivating over that one for a while !
 
Yep, got one of the Bose/Case pruners when they came out. It has spent a fair amount of time in my pocket, since.
 
some collect certain brands, patterns, etc. Persoanlly I collect whatever I like. Ive been collecting for over 28 years and do it for pleasure. While I am not too particular I do have a sak collection, military knife collection, one handed knife collection, etc

Personally I say, collect what you like!
 
Try this. Find a handle you like, any handle, oh say Queen's Burnt Bone (from the 90'). Find one (on ebay, on the dusty shelves of a local dealer), then find the whole set - every pattern, one by one, hunting and searching. Before you collect them all, choose another set to collect, maybe the Robeson repro's from Queen (also 90's), and hunt them down one by one. Etc. The disease is progressive and incurable, but you won't fear death.
 
Once I realized that I needed to focus on a certain type of knife, I decided to mainly collect the Sunfish pattern My thinking was that there wasn't that many of them made and that would inturn increase my ability to get a good collection of them. Well, now that I am up to my armpits in Sunfish of all makes, models and flavors I came across what was the Holy Grail of Sunfish. At least it was to me. There are still many more that I am in search of but the one in the attachment is the epitome of what I was after. Far from pretty and as old as the hills, it is still my biggest prize out of all the knives, custom and production, that I have
Greg
 
Greg - that one is probably one of your biggest knives - period. Do you have one of the old Robeson equal end swellcenter sunfish patterns? Those are real beauties - pretty hard to get hold of too. I've yet to see one for sale.

Scott - the best advice I could give would be to see what *you* really like - pick some particular pattern or make or handle material, or go for antique knives from really obscure makers, or any other thing that makes you happy.

Follow your bliss. Don't worry about what anyone else is doing. Don't worry about appreciation of value or any of that (is this a business or a hobby?).

Pick something and start learning as much as you can about it. Avoid "high dollar" knives (these are so often faked or monkeyed with -- you need to develop the knowledge and eye to avoid these before you move into collecting on the high end) - start simply and collect what you understand and know is real. The more you learn the more you can expand the range of what you collect. Always buy the knife, not the story.

Be flexible - you may find that your first interest leads you to another line of interest entirely. Don't sweat it -- that's what other collectors are there for - to buy all the stuff you no longer want.

-- Dwight
 
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