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

Do you collect folding knives by pattern, series or brandname????

I have an ever expanding list of knives on my potential purchase list. Is it best to collect by pattern ( trapper, muskrat) series (black pearl, coal miner) or brandname ( rough rider, case) ??

5 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on May 21, 2014 at 14:45

Yes I love a patina on an old knife. I don't collect Military Fighting Knives but if I did, I'd want my old Kabar to show how it severed our country during the conflict. History of those old Hobos that severed during the Wars must really be something.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on May 21, 2014 at 16:02

A old knife that was never used may have more value among true collectors but it can also be a sign that the knife was not appreciated for its true purpose in life. If the blade was a ceremonial dagger or sword then I would hope to see it near mint condition as it tells me the person who owned it respected the office or cherished its meaning. But if it were a knife that was designed for use in combat or hunting or just every day carry, then I the scratches and wear on the blades are badge of honor.

I currently have several knives that have not been used. I probably need to get busy either using them or passing them on to someone who will get some use out of them. LOL

▶ Reply

KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by Dave Taylor on May 21, 2014 at 17:39

Well, in the case of my 100 year old Mother of Pearl, Bruckmann folders, each of them is verified as being a part of the showroom collection at the Bruckmann factory when it was still in business, and not from a group of knives "found" in a warehouse some time back. So, that being the case, I am rather happy they are all in pristine mint condition, just as they came from the showroom.

In knives, as in many things, condition is a personal preference. To each his own and that is good.

▶ Reply

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on May 21, 2014 at 18:32

Dave, I to have mint knives in my collection and I will never put them to use. I am just saying, the clean knives have their place and the good condition user vintage knives do to. I think, now days the old saying, if a knife has been used it's not worth collecting, have gone out the window. There are collectors that pay high dollars for vintage knives in good used condition.

▶ Reply

KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by Dave Taylor on May 21, 2014 at 19:39

I totally agree Robert. We have knives we like to keep pristine and those that we admire for their character and history.

My little assortment of Bruckmanns are one small category, the rest of my knives are in quite another. I am one of those who personally loves a good patina on the knives I use and enjoy daily. I like carbon steel for the way it takes on character as we use it. The old Bruckmanns of course are carbon steel as well but they have the old time crocus polish on the blades, which I find especially attractive. It is said that Bruckmann was one of the last of the old companies to crocus polish the blades of their knives, and that adds to my appreciation of them as well.

But the knife in my pocket everyday is in no way "pristine". Over the years that knife and I have both taken on a lot of "character and patina". Maybe one day we will both be of some value for that.......... lol

▶ Reply

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on May 22, 2014 at 17:04

Dave I'd love to them. Do you have a picture?

▶ Reply

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Doug Webber on August 28, 2015 at 13:38

I've been reading all the posts in this thread, and I guess I'm lucky I started and have stayed with Schrade knives. Schrade went bankrupt in 2004, 11 years ago, so arguably all their knives have some collectibility...no more will ever be made. They were in business for 100 years and made so many patterns from fixed blades, to folders to switchblades that most anyone can find something they like. Vintage knives, newer knives, bones and more modern ones are still available. And compared to some of the current US knife makers they are fairly reasonably priced. They kept very few records so there is always something new being discovered. After a couple years collecting Schrades I got acquainted with Herman Williams who was the in-house customizer for Schrade for 24 years. That takes care of the custom side of knife collecting collecting for me, and as far as that goes he still sells customized Schrades on Ebay that are available to everyone. I've sold well over 200 knives on Ebay and there have been very few that I've had to re-list. At one time or another Schrade was associated with, owned, or made knives for Camillus, Imperial, Ulster, Keen Kutter, John Primble, Wostenholme in England and Parker Frost. Heck, Canal Street Cutlery was started by workers from Schrade. By golly, I don't think I realized just how good I have it, and the mailman just brought delivered two White Bone scrimshawed Wostenholmes, a stockman and my first canoe. Three cheers for Schrade.