Gollnick
Musical Director
- Joined
- Mar 22, 1999
- Messages
- 29,258
Here's an interesting thread
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum54/HTML/000249.html
The poster picked up a most unusual knife at an estate sale. Doubtlessly, the owner of the knife knew a lot about this knife, might have even had an intersting story or two to tell about it. But, he's 6' under. Apparently, he didn't leave any information about this interesting piece behind.
Often, the difference between a $5 piece of junk and a $50 collectable is knowing what it is. And the difference between a $50 collectable and a $500 treasure is the information and the stories that goes with it (what collectors sometimes called "collateral materials").
I see this often in catalogs. You'll see three very similar knives. Item #1 is, "Handmade WW2 Theater Knife, maker unknown, $50." Item #2 is very similar, but it's "Handmade WW2 Theater Knife made by Pvt. John Smith and carried through the battle of... $100." Item #3 is a very similar knife described as "Handmade WW2 Theater Knife made by Pvt. Bob Brown, XXX infantry Divison. Includes three photographs showing Pvt. Brown carrying the knife including one as he marches into Paris with Allied forces. Also includes photocopies of Pvt. Brown's honorable discharge and a special citation he received. Also includes a letter signed by Pvt. Brown describing how he made the knife and how he used it in the war. $300."
So, if you have any unusual knives in your collection, any with special stories connected with them, whatever, take the time to collect and write those things down so that they won't be lost.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
[This message has been edited by Gollnick (edited 04-02-2000).]
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum54/HTML/000249.html
The poster picked up a most unusual knife at an estate sale. Doubtlessly, the owner of the knife knew a lot about this knife, might have even had an intersting story or two to tell about it. But, he's 6' under. Apparently, he didn't leave any information about this interesting piece behind.
Often, the difference between a $5 piece of junk and a $50 collectable is knowing what it is. And the difference between a $50 collectable and a $500 treasure is the information and the stories that goes with it (what collectors sometimes called "collateral materials").
I see this often in catalogs. You'll see three very similar knives. Item #1 is, "Handmade WW2 Theater Knife, maker unknown, $50." Item #2 is very similar, but it's "Handmade WW2 Theater Knife made by Pvt. John Smith and carried through the battle of... $100." Item #3 is a very similar knife described as "Handmade WW2 Theater Knife made by Pvt. Bob Brown, XXX infantry Divison. Includes three photographs showing Pvt. Brown carrying the knife including one as he marches into Paris with Allied forces. Also includes photocopies of Pvt. Brown's honorable discharge and a special citation he received. Also includes a letter signed by Pvt. Brown describing how he made the knife and how he used it in the war. $300."
So, if you have any unusual knives in your collection, any with special stories connected with them, whatever, take the time to collect and write those things down so that they won't be lost.
------------------
Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
[This message has been edited by Gollnick (edited 04-02-2000).]