Who has the best custom knife collection?

Joe Drouin (Hope I spelled his name correctly). If it wasn't for Joe I most likely never would have been able to handle Morans,Scagels,Warenskis,Horns etc etc. Joe is a tireless knife collector who travels all over the country displaying a collection to die for and if I'm not mistaken he was inducted into the Cutlery Hall of Fame a few years ago. When I met him the first time he had 3 tables full and after talking I learned that he could if he had the space and the time fill about 15 or so tables. I still remember those tables like it was yesterday.
Bob
 
It's probably a toss up between 4 collectors.

3 are in the US and the other is in Europe.

As I do or do not know if they would like there names revealed. I will respect their privacy.

I will tell you that none of them have a web site. Although 2 are considering openining custom knife museums.

Joe has an excellent collection and he sets it up at every Guild Show.



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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
 
Les: You can't do that to us! No names, but at least you can give us some reasons why-- breadth of knives, quality... focus. I am really curious as to what constitutes a great knife collection....
 
If you want a taste, order this book from S.R. Johnson. Awesome pictures of some great knives.

Handcrafted Knives

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"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
George Orwell
 
Have to second Mr. Drouin's collection. He is the only collector that has been inducted into the Blade Hall of Fame. Everything from Nazi memorablia to local makers here in Wa. state. He is generous enough to display at our modest NWKC show and it's a treat to see the some of the best there is.

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Mike
OUCH!......damn
 
I lived in NYC for a few years, and the most impressive assemblage of blades I've ever seen is in the weaponry (Arms & Armour I think it's called?) collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

One jade-handled scimitar I remember--Persian I think--was simply stunning beyond words. Contemporary US makers not really represented, but there are some historic masterpieces of legendary proportions in that place. Nice that it's available for the public to see.

--W.
 
Sultan of Brunei or his kid is supposed to have a huge collection. As the story goes
They can afford it. A couple measley million worth of knivws to them is nothing.
 
I gotta say with all honesty, the person who has the best knife collection is the person who likes his/hers as it is. The person who has gathered said collection in a neverending enjoyable way; who has thrilled in the hunt, exulted in the aquisition of that blade that produced a smile; who looks at that collection and is warmed by it in a pleasant way; who admires the collections of others without envy and with true appreciation.

The most cash expenditure does not the best knife collection make, nor does the largest blade count. My collection is extremely small and inexpensive in comparison to others, but I feel it is the best. And the best part is, the best is still to come.
smile.gif


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Sometimes I catch myself assuming that everybody knows their way around a pocket knife. Then I remember what the first three letters of "assume" are.
- James K. Mattis
 
Velitrius, I like your way of words and humor.


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"I fought the law and the law won".
 
Vel, I like the way you think. I don't even consider what I have 'A Collection' just as 'My Knives'and I love every one of them.

There was an article in Blade magazine a while back about a guy that owned a Bowie knife from each of the first 50 ABS Master smiths. Now that's what I would call a collection.

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"Will work 4 Knives!"
My PhotoPoint Site
 
I think the Makers wind up with the best collections. Why you ask? They get all of there knives for the cost of materials. I for one own a few knives from other Makers but have a really hard time parting with the ones I've made. Usually 1 out of 5 wind up finding a home on my Mantle or Entertainment center
biggrin.gif

(For at least 6mths or more)

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RHankins Available knives
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=205453
 
Joe Drouin is a wonderful guy. I had the privilege of purchasing a knife by HH Frank from his collection through a Voyles auction. I contacted him to ask him about the knife's history. Not only did he respond in a friendly manner, but he sent me all the original correspondence relating to design of the knife as well as a professional photograph of it.
The best collection I've ever seen is with a collector of antique knives in Israel. Also a great guy with tremendous knowledge and love of the blade.
I do love my own collection, but I still admire those few who have taken it to another level.
 
Les (or who ever)

As a wannabe web designer, I will offer my services for free to put together a web site for any of these collectors that might want to build a virtual museum. If they can supply me with pictures, I will build it to the best of my abilities. Also, if they do not want their names associated with the site I can certainly do that. If they don't even want ME to know there names, maybe they can forward their pictures and knife info through someone else. Anyway, I would just love to see some of these collections and am more than willing to help make them available for the more knife poor people (like myself) to drool over.

Just a thought,

Jared

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Broken promises don't upset me. I just think, why did they believe me?

I hope that after I die, people will say of me: "That guy sure owed me a lot of money."
 
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