What would you like to see happen to your knife collection after you die?

Joss

Joss

Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
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And what steps if any have you taken to ensure this happens?

One reason I'm asking is that I once read a post by a Japanese sword collector who recommended that you give away your swords to another collector. His point was that if you sell them, your collection is lost and if you donate them to a museum, you don't know what will happen to your pieces (maybe the museum will only be interested in 1 or 2 and leave the others unseen, etc). On the other hand, if you give them to a fellow collector you know & trust, they will be kept together, well taken care off, and appreciated.

Of course, a collection can mean a good deal of money but they should be a small % of your total assets. Finally, in most cases nowadays, inheritances are not critical to the well being of your children (since we live so much older now - if I die at 80, my son will be 43 by then, and that's because I got a late start at fatherhood.)

What do you guys think?
 
Joss,

I doubt there is even one serious collector who has not had such
thoughts cross his mind at one time or another....

It would be quite interesting to see what some of them have to say,
even though I doubt many would respond seriously - who wants
to bring forward thoughts about passing away........

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
Thinking about it once again, I feel that my main inheritance is found
in the pages of my books - and has already begun to be distributed among
makers and collectors around the world..... :)

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
ddd said:
Thinking about it once again, I feel that my main inheritance is found
in the pages of my books - and has already begun to be distributed among
makers and collectors around the world..... :)

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
Click to expand...


It certainly has David. Even if you threw away all your collection in the sea, your legacy would be better established than that of any collector.
 
I hope that my son (6 years old now) will follow in my "footsteps" and will get the knifebug too. If that's the case I will leave my collection to him. Although I will have to find a way to compensate my (now 13 year old) daughter:D;).

If none of my kids is really interested I think I will sell the collection off before I die. I'm thinking in the line of selling off most of my pieces slowly (so not to disturb the market too much) and keep lets say 20 of my most beloved pieces to enjoy and to be sold or inherated after I'm gone.
The main problem with this plan is that I don't know when to start because I (along with the rest of the world) don't know when it will be my time to "shuffle off this mortal coil".

Marcel
 
all my kids love knives, so i'll leave them all my knives.
let them figure it out. just leave them the combinations to your safes and a polishing rag. each one loves a different style.
vern
 
I think leaving them to a fellow collector and friend makes perfect sense if you don't have children or relatives that would appreciate having them.

Since I don't have children I have thought of leaving various things to friends that I know would appreciate having them.

Peter
 
There's a few pieces that my daughters are partial to, but the majority will be sold.

All my pieces are documented on my collection documentation spreadsheet with, photos, price paid, date purchased, current value, buyer information for the ones that are already spoken for, who/where they were originally purchased and such. There should be no problem with my heirs finding good homes for them and ample information to satisfy the tax collectors. So I'm set.
 
I have nobody in my family who I consider worthy of inheriting my knife collection. So I will have no choice but to keep living!;)

Kind regards,

Jos
 
My hope would be that a fellow collector would sell off the pieces for my family and keep 2 or 3 of his choosing for his service. Of course I haven't taken any steps to ensure this so if I die suddenly the collection would probably be sold off by my brother without any knowledge of their worth or non-worth.
 
My collection will be left to my wife along with the names of people to contact about possibly purchasing them. Every year or so I update a list that has the values of the knives in my collection. This is done so that my wife will know what to sell them for.

If my wife passes away before I do, I will have to look at what to do at that point. My son likes knives, and I have a grandson that just might end up liking them as well.

The idea of giving them to another collector is an interesting one. It is something that I would consider.
 
My thought is to turn them over to friends who share the same passion for the knives as I do.

I have no family members with great interest (though they'd get some) so the rest would be gifted to those who have come to bring me as much enjoyment in this avocation as the knives themselves.

(Which, when related to the other thread about "using" vs. "keeping pristine" explains why it may provide some latitude to do either without being overly concerned since the $ value in the end isn't the overriding factor.)
 
My notes on all my Masters' daggers to my executor have them going back to the makers or immediate families and there are a few other special knives that I felt should go back to the maker or their family.

Like Blues, there are notes on knives that will go out to friends and the ABS.
 
I've already given a large portion of my gun collection to my sons and grandsons. The wife wasn't too keen at first, but I've had the opportunity to enjoy watching them continue in an activity that I've always liked. I've only passed down a few of the knives. I'm reluctant to give too many of the knives away because they are not as "usable" as a firearm.

I keep a spreadheet on my collections that is updated regularly, and there is a note on who to contact (Win) to dispose of them if that's their wish. Once I'm gone, it doesn't really matter. It would be nice if they could appreciate the same things I did, but if their interests are something else, then let them use the money to enjoy what they like.
 
how bout donating some to the CKCA, so they can auction them off and use the proceeds to raise awareness and provide education? Maybe they could use the funds to provide a grant to a successful applicant which can be used to apprentice under an eminent knifemaker? Or maybe a grant to someone who wants to produce a book on custom knives?
 
how bout donating some to the CKCA, so they can auction them off and use the proceeds to raise awareness and provide education? Maybe they could use the funds to provide a grant to a successful applicant which can be used to apprentice under an eminent knifemaker? Or maybe a grant to someone who wants to produce a book on custom knives?
Click to expand...

That's not a bad idea. If the CKCA still exists in 20 years time (and I think they will still florish) I will definately think about this.

Marcel
 
I would like to see my knives go to someone who would truly appreciate them.
 
Since I know the time is nearer than I would hope. All my knives go to my son, who has helped me collect them and loves them as much as I do, after that, my grandson who is my namesake.
 
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