Welcome Home...THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY

iKnife Collector

The online community of knife collectors, A Knife Family Forged in Steel

Beginner Collectors

Information

Just started collecting? Want a place to learn and ask questions about our hobby? No dumb questions here. Seasoned iKC collectors provide direction and help with basic questions

Members: 174
Latest Activity: Sep 16, 2022

16 members like this

Collecting is one of the most enjoyable hobbies. It brings years of satisfaction and provides for great friendships.

If you are relatively new to knife collecting- you are faced with thousands of choices. There are more knives out there than we have the money to buy, so which way do you go?

There are a number of factors and decisions that go into building a collection and our goal with this iKC Group is to help you sort though those choices.

Almost every collector started out by grabbing whatever we liked, almost without rhyme or reason. While this is one way to start off, it can be extremely expensive. Most collectors eventually settle-in at some point and focus on a type of knife, a maker, a pattern or particular use.

It's OK to buy what you like, but determining WHY you like knives and your goal for your collection are the most important questions you can answer for yourself as early as possible. And before we go much further here.

Our group here is to help you think this through.

Discussion Forum

Collecting Ethnographic & Aboriginal Knives

Started by Lars Ray. Last reply by Jan Carter Mar 18, 2015. 14 Replies 3 Likes

Ethnographic and Aboriginal knives – at one time I could hardly spell these terms let alone understand what they meant. The title itself is enough to turn away crowds at any self-respecting knife…Continue

Knife Collection Genres

Started by Lars Ray. Last reply by Lars Ray Mar 17, 2015. 27 Replies 4 Likes

Have a simple discussion with another collector and one topic is always bound to occur - someone will ask, "what do you collect?" Sometimes the answer is simple - Folders or Fixed blades. Spend more…Continue

Tags: a, Collection, Staring, Genres, Collecting

Buyer beware!

Started by Steve Scheuerman (Manx). Last reply by Tobias Gibson May 16, 2017. 16 Replies 8 Likes

I just wanted to stress to everyone to do your homework on your purchases before you buy them. Knock offs are everywhere, and everyone stands at risk of this diabolical practice. My son and I were…Continue

Tags: offs, knock, counterfeits

A video Introduction to collecting Traditional Pattern Knives

Started by Tobias Gibson. Last reply by Andy Larrison May 20, 2017. 7 Replies 6 Likes

I've been doing a series of you tube videos on Traditional Pattern Knives. The videos are being made with the novice knife collector in mind. I will be adding them to my page and to this thread. …Continue

A look at China Made Knives

Started by Bobby Horn. Last reply by Tobias Gibson Jun 25, 2014. 6 Replies 2 Likes

With all the negative discussion about Chinese-made knives, I wanted to add my two cents based on actual experience, not rumors and second hand information. I am comparing my three newest knives-…Continue

How sharp ?

Started by Bobby Horn. Last reply by Brian Martin Sep 6, 2013. 1 Reply 2 Likes

When I get a used knife I like to take it to a decent edge. What criteria do you use. Slice paper, shave hair, others? Sorry my microscope is broken and I am too old to eyeball edge :)

Featured

Definition of a "slip joint knife"?

Started by Charles Sample. Last reply by D ale Mar 11, 2016. 3 Replies 2 Likes

Until recently I had never heard the term "slip joint knife". At first I thought it must be a type of knife that opened differently than a standard pocket knife. From my own research I think I have…Continue

Deciding on a type of knife to collect

Started by Mel Jones. Last reply by Jan Carter Mar 15, 2015. 14 Replies 3 Likes

I have collected knives, not seriously, for many years, but now I would like to create a collection that can be added to on a regular basis and that has some semblance of meaning to me. I am…Continue

Why is this knife worth $2500

Started by Ira Landsman. Last reply by Jan Carter Jan 22, 2015. 14 Replies 3 Likes

I am a new collector. I follow ebay to gain an understanding of the cost of knives. I was blown away by this one.…Continue

new to knife collecting; no idea what this is...

Started by Michael Forbes. Last reply by Shlomo ben Maved Mar 11, 2016. 9 Replies 1 Like

Found this at my grandfathers old house and it seems to have some sort of value. Older with what appears to be some form of middle-eastern writing. thanks for the help. …Continue

How Do I Label my Knives?

Started by Jim Child. Last reply by Ricky L McConnell Nov 25, 2013. 5 Replies 1 Like

Okay! Trying to be organized I've set up a database in HanDBase (synchs between my laptop and my Droid smartphone) and every knife has been assigned "a number."That's all good and well but now I need…Continue

Knife Steels

Started by Pat T. Last reply by Alexander Noot Aug 28, 2014. 3 Replies 1 Like

What is the best all around knife steel? Something robust but also stainless. How good is ZDP 189 & M4?How is the rust resistance of D2?Continue

Tags: steel, 189, ZDP, D2, M4

Knife Maintenance Gear

Started by kage. Last reply by Mel Jones Jan 2, 2012. 14 Replies 1 Like

At some point in time as your collection grows, you may find the need to maintain your knives, in order to keep them sharp, functioning and to preserve their potential value. As a beginning…Continue

Tags: User, Maintenance, Knives, Gear, Collector

Plastic or antler/bone? Can you tell by sight?

Started by Andrew P. Last reply by dead_left_knife_guy Jan 23, 2015. 8 Replies 1 Like

I have a Solingen "big n little" set (I'll have to figure out the picture thing here shortly) that I have been told has Sambar Stag scales.I know the hot needle trick to discern plastic handgun…Continue

Counterfeit Knives ( What you need to know)

Started by Alan Stevens. Last reply by Alan Stevens Dec 27, 2009. 1 Reply 1 Like

Ok all knife collectors have purchased a fake or counterfeit knife at one time or another it simply goes with the territory. Unfortunately most Counterfeits are purchased by beginner collectors who…Continue

Tags: knives, counterfeit

In Memoriam

Ever cut yourself playing with your knife - while it is still in your pocket?

Started by Scott King. Last reply by Ricky Messerle Feb 25, 2010. 11 Replies 1 Like

I don't know about you but lately I have found myself playing with my knife- while it's still in my pocket. I'll be talking to someone and find myself opening and closing the blade..I like the…Continue

Undefined Area's of collecting:

Started by James Sosa. Last reply by Chris Pittman Dec 5, 2010. 3 Replies 1 Like

Ok, I'm looking for some info on what makes knives tick. Our collection depends on:1 - Looks, (is it pretty, does it have nice lines, is the style up to date or antique?), you can add more to this…Continue

In Memoriam

Tell us where you find your knives

Started by Scott King. Last reply by Bobby Horn Jul 17, 2013. 21 Replies 2 Likes

When we're first getting started into buying knives, whether to use or collect, it can be a trial and error kind of thing. Let's help each other out here and save us all some heart-ache and $$ by…Continue

Tags: buy, purchase

best knife for the dollar

Started by duncan lemp. Last reply by björn thompson Mar 5, 2012. 13 Replies 1 Like

Personaly ( im a kid and a beginer so ask sesoned people for the best answer) i like the byrd line ( yes B Y R D) from spyderco. I havent seen one but ive heard that the spyderco tenacius is good.I…Continue

What quality knives did you get when you first started collecting

Started by Michael B. Last reply by Bobby Horn Jul 17, 2013. 18 Replies 1 Like

What quality knives did you get when you first started collecting did you keep buying the cheap ones o did you jump right to the expensive ones

Tags: quality, beginners, price

View All

Comment Wall

Add a Comment

You need to be a member of Beginner Collectors to add comments!

Comment by Tobias Gibson on February 11, 2015 at 14:40: They go for around $80! That's a serious price for a filet knife

Comment by Jan Carter on February 11, 2015 at 8:03

Comment by Shlomo ben Maved on January 20, 2015 at 2:29: I just found out about a new knife company called Bubba Blade (http://www.bubbablade.com/index.php) that uses 8Cr13Mov and has gotten some rave reviews in various knife and salt water fishing magazines.

It's comparable to AUS 8.

Comment by Alexander Noot on January 20, 2015 at 2:14: Leathermans are decent tools indeed. For a user you could do a lot worse.

Comment by Richard van de Laarschot on January 20, 2015 at 1:09: As a beginner collector with a low budged i have a few 8Cr13Mov blades now and like them a lot. Yes you need to learn how to sharpen them a bit more often but for me i like the value for the money. I also have a Leatherman Crater C33 with a 420HC blade and like that a lot too. Its very good value for money and they seem to have the heath treatment down also. The quality is as you expect from a Leatherman.

Comment by Alexander Noot on January 19, 2015 at 8:05: It's all a matter of standards. Personally I won't mess around with a 420 blade. he only exception is Buck's 420HC but only because they have the heat treatment down right.

On any other manufacturer 440A or 8Cr13Mov is the lowest I'll go.

Just because there's no excuse for a crappy knife.

Knives in lower steels will work in a pinch or an emergency situation.....but anyone can do better than 420J. (Seriously that stuff dulls as soon as you look at it)

Comment by Tobias Gibson on June 19, 2014 at 21:22: Bobby is the knife says stainless and the type of steel is not specified I would assume it is some grade of 420, most often 420J2 or some equivlent grade of steel such as 3CR13.

These are a tougher steel that will dull quickly. A quick check is to see a magnet will stick to the blade. If a magnet won't stick then the steel is very likely in the 300 series of stainless steels and is extremely poor quality.

Frost, Schrade, and several other companies use a 420 or nondescript 400 series of steel in their knives. Same with many of the low priced house brand knives use find in the big box stores like Walmart, Cabelas, and Bass Pro Shops.

Despite the horror stories you hear, depending on the intended use of the knife 420 stainless will do just fine. If you like the knife and it is working for you, then enjoy it and resign yourself to the fact you may never know what steel is used in the blade.

Comment by Tobias Gibson on June 19, 2014 at 21:14

Comment by Bobby Horn on July 17, 2013 at 15:17: I have a couple of knives from China and Pakistan the only marking is Stainless and country of origin. Would it be safe to assume they are 440A steel or is there another steel more often used on the less expensive end?

Comment by Frank yanez on January 23, 2013 at 16:17: Hello fellow collectors I have been collecting for 18 years and when I was new at collecting I started with knives that i like and it has been a great decision and I love my collection.The thing is if you dont like the knives in your collection collecting will not be as fullfiling a hoby as it could be just collect what you like and your collection will bring you alots of joy (at least it does with me) aslong you have it.Good luck new collectors.Here is some of my collection