Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gary Kennedy on February 15, 2011 at 5:55

This is what the NKCA was and should become again with the right leadership which it doesn't have at the present .

Kevin Jones said:

First to promote collectible knives and help bring more knife enthusiasts into the knife community and to help sustain and support those already active in the community.

To help the general community by sponsoring charitable projects such as knife raffles and such. This not only helps the general community but also helps to present collectible knives in a more favorable light as opposed to just weapons.

To have a friendly, fun, educational and interesting forum and website for it's members to visit and share information with one another.

To have a member discount program for members to save money on knife related products and services such as knife photos, sheaths, collector/knifedealer/knifemaker insurance. This can help members to reduce or in some cases eliminate their cost of dues/membership.

To offer it's members "VIP" passes and free admission tickets to knife shows.

To offer a monthly newsletter to it's members so they can stay abreast of what's going on in the knife community.

To offer desirable, unique and high quality "Club Knives" to it's membership at reasonable prices.

To have a annual banquet where all members can meet, gather and have a great time before the Blade Show.

Sponsor a knife show which offers it's members a chance to acquire very special knives from in demand knifemakers at very desirable prices.

Set up at knife shows and do seminars around the country to help promote and educate on collectible knives.

Create an annual knife calendar to  increase the exposure of collectible knives both inside and outside the knife community.

To help unite  knife enthusiasts from around the world.

To help knifemakers be successful in exposing and marketing their knives to the broader and more mainstream collectible and art communities.

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Permalink Reply by Gary Kennedy on February 15, 2011 at 6:03

Terry Waldele said:

For me to become a dues-paying member of a new knife collecting association, membership would have to include a monthly publication such as Blade magazine or Tactical Knives magazine, and it would have to offer discounts on knives and knife-related products.   That sounds good but there is a cost to that .

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Permalink Reply by Gary Kennedy on February 15, 2011 at 6:39

 In a perfect world which this is not I belive we all want to futher the knife collecting hobie .First we need people like Scott  with insight as to  new ideas that will keep your insterest going. There is nothing in life free so Dues will help pay the way  to maintain the  Club or site . Info is what most of use are looking for to see if what we collect is either valuable  are if there is some magic history  that goes with it .  Whether you collect antique , modern ,tatacial , fixed blades  ,custom , or any thing with an edge on it the club or site  should devote space and  time to them. With that said it takes a lot of effort and money  to make this happen  . Try talking to Lisa with the NKCA and  hear   a little of  Her story. Knife raffles, club shows  , club knife , fourm  , a place to buy trade  and sell to club member , a club dinner that you pay for not the club , montly news letter . Stay Sharp  

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Scott King on February 15, 2011 at 7:39

While this discussion isn't about this site- but I hear you John. Why don't you help us add more about the old knives then? Or is it just the "killing blade" knife folks are more willing to help provide the content they like? Just saying...

john a shavel said:

Hi guys. An association that talks about new knives is great. But a lot of us also collect old knives. This site seems to have guys who only care about the latest "killing" blade. Guys ,a tad less on the Rambo crap would be nice. Now ,that's not to say that I don't dig slice and dice the bad guy stuff.But let's face it most of us will only have to face a pissed off boss or wife( if there's a difference).

I have a large collection of new and old stuff. The new stuff is easy to know and understand. The old stuff,well I can use some help.Hint,hint

john

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Scott King on February 15, 2011 at 7:43

No, you got it right, Mike. This post isn't about our community here, instead it is about a knife association/club charging dues, providing member services.

Mike Carter said:

I was not at all referring to IKC. Maybe I misunderstood the question from Scott. I was stating what I would like to see IF a new knife collector association were to start up. I was thinking more along the lines of an organization like the NKCA.

I very much agree that we have a good atmosphere here.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Scott King on February 15, 2011 at 7:45

Great feedback Kevin- thanks for helping us thing this through.

Kevin Jones said:

First to promote collectible knives and help bring more knife enthusiasts into the knife community and to help sustain and support those already active in the community.

To help the general community by sponsoring charitable projects such as knife raffles and such. This not only helps the general community but also helps to present collectible knives in a more favorable light as opposed to just weapons.

To have a friendly, fun, educational and interesting forum and website for it's members to visit and share information with one another.

To have a member discount program for members to save money on knife related products and services such as knife photos, sheaths, collector/knifedealer/knifemaker insurance. This can help members to reduce or in some cases eliminate their cost of dues/membership.

To offer it's members "VIP" passes and free admission tickets to knife shows.

To offer a monthly newsletter to it's members so they can stay abreast of what's going on in the knife community.

To offer desirable, unique and high quality "Club Knives" to it's membership at reasonable prices.

To have a annual banquet where all members can meet, gather and have a great time before the Blade Show.

Sponsor a knife show which offers it's members a chance to acquire very special knives from in demand knifemakers at very desirable prices.

Set up at knife shows and do seminars around the country to help promote and educate on collectible knives.

Create an annual knife calendar to  increase the exposure of collectible knives both inside and outside the knife community.

To help unite  knife enthusiasts from around the world.

To help knifemakers be successful in exposing and marketing their knives to the broader and more mainstream collectible and art communities.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Scott King on February 15, 2011 at 7:47

Now that's a thought, thanks Tony.

Tony B said:

I would like to see it as a world wide organization. A group that govenments could talk too. In the UK we have no influence on knife laws and are thought of as criminals in the making for wanting to own or carry a knife.  If it had a real voce I would join. Dont know what I would pay.  $20 a year??. I if it had real teeth like the NRA I would pay more.

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Permalink Reply by wayne schmertzler on February 15, 2011 at 8:02

what i would desire in a knife club/association would be a variety of tastes in members cutlery likings, so as to have a varied choice for everyone who becomes a member. an example of this would be some members liking military knives, some miniature knives, some only fixed bladed or bowie type knives, some remington collectors, some custom mades etc. variety is the spice of life!! benefits for members could be discounts for knife shows elsewhere, discount on yearly club knife, etc.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Scott King on February 15, 2011 at 8:02

Good stuff here Trent! I love the annual convention idea- so you think folks would fly in from all over to hear speakers, have a dinner, and fellowship in person? Well I guess they do now- it's called the Blade Show :) albeit a little different purpose than a international/national annual convention for one association though.

Trent Rock said:

Newsletters can be a plus IF the organization has motivated people to produce and deliver an interesting newsletter.

 

That one is key to me

I want something I can save and refer too

Kind of like my Knife World magazines

(a PDF would be fine too)

Something with information

Not just a list of the knife shows and knifemakers

It could be knife history, like Oregon Knife Club Newsletter, or maybe" member spotlights" (your favorite knife in your collection, your first knife, grandpa's knife,etc), a for sale or trade section,maybe a few ads

A good mixture of traditional knives, tactical knives, custom knives, USA knives, foreign knives, fixed blade and folding, and  tomahawks and cleavers

 

Club knives are cool

If everyone can agree on what type of pattern and manufacture to go with ;)

 

To be honest, teh reason I joined NKCA was the free book

So give something free off the bat

Like maybe a free calendar.....;)  ;)...Kevin?......;)

Just charge 60 bucks for the membership and give me the calendar for free...:)

Or a Cordura embroidered knife roll

A laminated membership card with  If the Police Stop You With a Knife instructions on the back?

T Shirt

Small whetstone in a mahogany box with the club logo 

Doo rag or trucker hat

Lanyard with pewter logo piece

Leather sheath

A.G. Russell™ Steel Thumbnail

DMT keychain sharpener

2 .oz bottle of mineral oil

And each time you renew you get the gift of the year

Maybe give a free gift for 10 year membership anniversaries or something like that...

 

Having a forum with member only sections is definitely a plus

 

Knife show discounts are not a factor for me

If I lived in The Knife Belt (Arkansas, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee?)

Where I was with driving distance of a knife show every weekend

Then it would probably be a factor

 

An annual knife show or monthly meetings would be nice so you could meet people and show knives

That's probably more of a local knife club thing

Like SoCal Blades knife club

 

"First to promote collectible knives and help bring more knife enthusiasts into the knife community and to help sustain and support those already active in the community.

To help the general community by sponsoring charitable projects such as knife raffles and such. This not only helps the general community but also helps to present collectible knives in a more favorable light as opposed to just weapons."

That's good stuff too

Maybe give a knife to an active service member or as presentation piece to a retunring servicmember

Kind of how they presented custom Bowies to senators back in the day

Or sponsor a young whittlers club somewhere

I would like to try and help the knife community as a whole

Enlighten people and spread the good word about The Good Blade

 

To have a annual banquet where all members can meet, gather and have a great time before the Blade Show.

Sounds costly but fun...hehehhehehe

 

My price range would be $19.99 to $34.99 a year (with free bumper sticker)

 

The lower the annual fee

The more members

Is my motto

You all knew that though, right? ;)

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Clint Thompson on February 15, 2011 at 8:12

As a writer for Knives Illustrated I like to just set back and read all of the likes and dislikes from the members of IKC.  From these posts I can really get a good feel for the knife enthusiast here in North America and International knife lovers as well.  I have traveled overseas a great deal and am amazed how different the laws vary from one country to another.  Here in the USA the knife, or weapon, laws vary as much as they do from country to country.  In my articles I always tell the readers to check their local weapons laws before buying and or carrying knives.

 

As for supporting a new knife association, I would agree with our cousins abroad in regards to the political power the association could bring.  Being a Life member of the NRA I see the results such organizations can bring.  I would suggest strong chapters in those countries to bring the desired political pressure.

 

I would say 20 USD would be a good price for basic members in North America and International chapters charging a manageable fee to their members.

 

In all I just want to say hi and help out on Scott's quest.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Scott King on February 15, 2011 at 8:18

I agree 100% Mike- an International org with National/State/Local Chapters. All working in concert together. Plus, it seems one of the challenges for a National club without local chapters is that of manpower, but this way, the local chapters could support the initiatives of the Org by carrying out on a local level the shows, community events, youth programs, etc.

A friend of mine is the president of the Birmingham, Al Porsche club local chapter and this structure is they way they are set up. We talked for a long time yesterday on how they function and work under the oversight of the leadership of the International (mother club). Just makes a lot of sense to me. Instead of having all these local/regional clubs all doing their own thing.

 

Otherwise, it seems all we are going to have is splinter groups (old, new, custom, tactical, etc), which is seems is they way things are now...

Mike Carter said:

In my opinion, the perfect scenario would be an International organization with local chapters that encompases all kinds of knives, users and collectors. Local chapters could have monthly meetings and countries could hold annual shows or conventions.

In reality, we already have so many splintered knife groups, clubs and organizations and many are struggling to stay afloat.  We have the oldest knife club in America based in my town, the Kentucky Cutlery Association. That club has dwindled to a handful of members who show up at the monthly meetings and nobody wants to be officers, put together the newsletter or do anything except sit around and trade pocket knives. In contrast, the Knifemakers Guild is successful and growing again because they have several enthusiastic and motivated people working hard for the group.

It is a lot of hard work to make any organization successful. You will always have alot of people who will sit in the back and grumble about what "they" are or are not doing. Just like this forum. It didn't just happen. Scott King put a lot of time and effort into it. That, along with the support of the members is why it works.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Jones on February 15, 2011 at 8:26

Gary Kennedy said:

This is what the NKCA was and should become again with the right leadership which it doesn't have at the present .

Kevin Jones said:

First to promote collectible knives and help bring more knife enthusiasts into the knife community and to help sustain and support those already active in the community.

To help the general community by sponsoring charitable projects such as knife raffles and such. This not only helps the general community but also helps to present collectible knives in a more favorable light as opposed to just weapons.

To have a friendly, fun, educational and interesting forum and website for it's members to visit and share information with one another.

To have a member discount program for members to save money on knife related products and services such as knife photos, sheaths, collector/knifedealer/knifemaker insurance. This can help members to reduce or in some cases eliminate their cost of dues/membership.

To offer it's members "VIP" passes and free admission tickets to knife shows.

To offer a monthly newsletter to it's members so they can stay abreast of what's going on in the knife community.

To offer desirable, unique and high quality "Club Knives" to it's membership at reasonable prices.

To have a annual banquet where all members can meet, gather and have a great time before the Blade Show.

Sponsor a knife show which offers it's members a chance to acquire very special knives from in demand knifemakers at very desirable prices.

Set up at knife shows and do seminars around the country to help promote and educate on collectible knives.

Create an annual knife calendar to  increase the exposure of collectible knives both inside and outside the knife community.

To help unite  knife enthusiasts from around the world.

To help knifemakers be successful in exposing and marketing their knives to the broader and more mainstream collectible and art communities.

 

Gary, the above is a list of what the Custom Knife Collectors Association (CKCA) is currently doing. We are a little over 2 years old.

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