Who collects antique knives

[not2sharp]

Generally antique are those items which are 100 or more years old. We collect antique knives for their historical relevance. They tend to show workmanship, values, and materials from cultures and periods that may no longer be relevant or available. The knives can inform and help to connect us with the past. We can look at an item that would have likely been issued to a unit involved in an ancient battle or something that would have been carried by period hunters, natives or explorers. It is an area of knife collecting driven more by the love of history than by utility, where the goal is to preserve and understand the knife as a historical relic; to own something that may have been with someone at some significant point in time. Often, we are left with the thought of what the item might tell us if it were capable of speach.

My collection is a mixed bag, some items were purchased for historical reasons while others were purchase primarily for utility (technology). I will leave out art as that can apply to either type.

I also know there are folks who avoid used knives altogether as items that may have been physically or socially contaminated.

Which are you?

N2s

 

[oldmanwilly]

I've got several knives that are well over 100 years old, but they are mostly hand-me-downs from my Opa and his forbearers who used them hard and set them aside when they were no longer useful. So not much more than worn out old pocket knives, hunting knives, and some butcher knives rigged up from old saw blades. I keep them around as a connection to family history, but not much more.

You might enjoy this thread that has been running for a while: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/old-knives.527126/

 

[not2sharp]

I mentioned contamination in my OP. The most usual concern runs along the line of 1) what if I purchase a knife previously used to murder someone? Or, what if this thing had been in contact with some horrible contagious disease?

But, I also recall an interesting discussion on radiation. If you buy a 200-year-old knife how would you know if the materials used to make it inadvertently included radioactive elements? You don’t usually carry a gieger counter, and they certainly didn’t have one when the thing was made.

Here is a related article from the EPA:

Radioactivity in Antiques | US EPA

Some antiques were made and sold before scientists fully understood the health effects of radiation. Some items sold at thrift stores and antique shops may contain radioactive material, but usually not a health risk if they are in good condition.

www.epa.gov

N2s

 

[oldmanwilly]

I mentioned contamination in my OP. The most usual concern runs along the line of 1) what if I purchase a knife previously used to murder someone? Or, what if this thing had been in contact with some horrible contagious disease?

But, I also recall an interesting discussion on radiation. If you buy a 200-year-old knife how would you know if the materials used to make it inadvertently included radioactive elements? You don’t usually carry a gieger counter, and they certainly didn’t have one when the thing was made.

Here is a related article from the EPA:

Radioactivity in Antiques | US EPA

Some antiques were made and sold before scientists fully understood the health effects of radiation. Some items sold at thrift stores and antique shops may contain radioactive material, but usually not a health risk if they are in good condition.

www.epa.gov

N2s

I can't say I've ever worried too much about that kind of contamination. I think it more likely that an old knife was used to disburse pesticide/herbicides or unpleasant industrial/household chemicals. If I plan to carry and use a newly acquired knife of any age, I'll wash it thoroughly with dishsoap until I'm satisfied it's clean. I haven't noticed any radiation problems yet, but I've got some vintage ceramics that glow a little at night.

 

[Blues]

I had some, Barlows, Daddy Barlows, some straight knives from Russell / Green River...and some Remington and Winchester folders, but I've gifted most of them to friends here on the forum.

 

[Triton]

The only real antiques that I have (assuming you don't count the items I purchased over 20 years ago myself) are a couple of those khukri from the Royal Nepalese Armory (1800s) and a 1901 WWI bayonet. However I noticed that there are some auction houses with pretty reasonable prices... I may own more in the future.

 

[knarfeng]

Smile when you reference me and "antique" in the same sentence.

Generally antique are those items which are 100 or more years old. We collect antique knives for their historical relevance. They tend to show workmanship, values, and materials from cultures and periods that may no longer be relevant or available. The knives can inform and help to connect us with the past. We can look at an item that would have likely been issued to a unit involved in an ancient battle or something that would have been carried by period hunters, natives or explorers. It is an area of knife collecting driven more by the love of history than by utility, where the goal is to preserve and understand the knife as a historical relic; to own something that may have been with someone at some significant point in time. Often, we are left with the thought of what the item might tell us if it were capable of speach.

My collection is a mixed bag, some items were purchased for historical reasons while others were purchase primarily for utility (technology). I will leave out art as that can apply to either type.

I also know there are folks who avoid used knives altogether as items that may have been physically or socially contaminated.

Which are you?

N2s

A lot of folks who hang out in the Traditional Forum collect antique knives. You might consider requesting to have this thread moved there.

 

[smith357]

I used to collect pre-war axes, knives, and razors, I had totes full of them. Then, I got married with children and sold off 99% of them, along with a bunch of classic old rifles and guitars. The only old knives I still have, are the ones I forgot I had, and found them in an old dusty box.