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

When does a person become a knife collector as opposed to owning a few knives?

A little background and why I'm asking the question:

My Uncle (rest his sole) had a few knives . He was very proud of the knives he owned. Among the knives he owned were about a half-dozen Case knives, primarily Stockmans and Jacks. All of the knives were bought new but had been used over the course of his life. Despite being used, they were in excellent shape. He had other knives, but they weren't made by Case. His Case knives were stored in a small jewelry box when not being used.

He did not actively seek out and buy Case knives, but when the fancy came over him and he saw one at the local store, he bought it, retired his current one and started using the new one. Thus he may have bought a new Case knife every five-ten years.

I would say his Case knives were in very good to excellent condition, and some probably dated from when he was a kid. (he passed away this year, and was over 80 years old.)

Was he a collector of knives? If not why not, If so, why?

In your opinion, what is a knife collector and what is a knife collection?

3 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on June 27, 2011 at 13:31

I was about to ask the same question almost. What's the difference between a collector and a accumulator? I'm sure we'll get help on the subject.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on June 28, 2011 at 19:11

That one is easy. He loved his knives and created a collection of users. I hope he enjoyed them everyday!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Halicon on July 2, 2011 at 6:46

In my mind a collector is someone that has knives they don't use. A user is someone that uses all their knives, focuses on "holes" in his needs and covers it through purchases.

Your uncle was a user since he used all his knives. Regarding how hard he used them is irrelevant.

Think of it as furniture. Do you buy it just to have it sit there and look good or do you buy it to use it for something? I'm sad to admit that I am a collector, I have bought knives that I just can't bring myself to use like I do with my "workhorses".

The reason why I'm sad to admit it is because I feel that I'm not honoring the time the maker put into making the knife and put it to it's rightful use. It's something I have to work on and eventually I hope I will be able to put all my knives to use which actually had a specific need in mind when I bought them except for that they only tickled my fashion senses.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by stephen tungate on July 2, 2011 at 10:13

i think as others have said there are ones whom collect and those whom use there knives for a reason. maybe work or hunting or fishing or something along those lines. but there is also a third kind of person and they do both like me. i have knives that i use and carry every day but also have knives that set on display to look at and show others.so there is 1.a user 2.a collector 3. a user and collector i think as halicon said to be a real user you should be able to use any knife no matter the cost.because that is what the maker intended for the knife not only to look good but also help the owner to do the tasks at hand.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on July 10, 2011 at 18:23

You know, I think there are those who make or manufacture knives just for show, especially the high end custom jobs made with gold and silver inalays.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 10, 2011 at 18:29

Tobias,

I agree, the art knives are for show and collecting. Since I am a collector I always appreciate them but dont see them as users

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Halicon on July 11, 2011 at 2:56

I would never ever buy a knife from a maker that believes his knives are not meant to be used.

Regardless if it's got diamonds, thick gold plating, engraving, scrimshaw and other aesthetic additions, I want it to be functional. It would literally be a self-proclaimed death-sentence for a maker to state that his knives can't face use.

Heck even color mosaic damascus makers never say anything of the like yet they have questionable performance.

Stephen, if you have knives you don't put to use then you are in my eyes a collector just like me ;)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on July 11, 2011 at 8:59

I'm pretty certain the knives I'm talking about are 100% funtional and use some of the best knife steels on the market. They can do the job but that doesn't mean I'd risk using them when I have other knives available. I'm not talking about thing like the Frost Undertaker or something like that but I am talking about custom pieces that would make a Yellowhorse or Painted pony look like a common Case Knife. Check out some of the knives in David Darom books on Custom knives and you'll get an idea of what I'm talking about. Fully functional art masterpieces.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Halicon on July 11, 2011 at 13:17

So first you think there are makers that create knives only for show and now it's the polar opposite and you're quite certain they are 100% functional?

You're kind of all over the place here but to answer your latest reply, I'm well aware that there are makers that perform gorgeous art but what I'm wondering about the most is just what kind of maker you are talking about that consciously makes knives only for show but unconsciously end up with a 100% functional knife.

Are you speaking of relativity in price since for some $5000 can be nothing and for others a small fortune. I stand by my statement however that I would never purchase a knife made only for display/show, be it $10 or $10000.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on July 11, 2011 at 14:06

I don't think I'm all over the place. You can easily make a show knife, just like you can make a show car. It will be fully functional, just like show cars can be driven and often are but that doesn't mean you're going to take it to the drag strip, other than to show it off. Same goes for bejeweled watches and hand-guns, they function but that doesn't mean you're going to take the pistol the range and put several rounds down range every week-end.

A show knife, at least a real show knife needs to also be fully functional. Many are made of some of the toughest steels out there which is why they command such a high price, but these knives are fully functional. Having only seen a very few of them, I can't judge them on how they would compare to a Spyderco or even a Chinese made Kershaw.

But when you see a knife bedecked in precious and semi-precious stones, and having hand tooled gold etched blades and such, you can assume it -- even if you could skin a bear with it and whittle a set of oars for the boat --it really wasn't made for that purpose. It was meant to be a work of art and displayed.

You are also correct that for some $5000 is nothing and they are the ones who buy these custom knives. Sly Stallone can afford a $5000 knife, I can't.

I have an inexpensive knife that was scrimshawed that I probably will never cut a thing with. I display it. I had the scrimshaw work done for that purpose. It is just as functional as the non-scrimshawed knife that I will use. I had the scrimshaw work done for the purpose of showing off the knife not to go off and cut line and pick knots.

I also would not buy a knife unless it was functional regardless of looks. That said, I have no problem buying a knife just for show.

What I initially said was people make knives just for show and I do believe that. But this doesn't mean they put all that time and energy into the piece just to create a non-functioning knife.

Problem is some people DO make knives that they CLAIM are functional but really are just show pieces (Frost and his 420 &440 exotic daggers and Daisho sets, for example) These weren't the items I was talking about when I made my first comment and I don't buy those types of knives. Still, I have no problem with people buying such things and calling them knives. The hobby is big enough for all types of collectors. If that type of knife brings you pleasure, then go for it.

I guess this answer probably just muddles things up a little more for you.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on July 11, 2011 at 16:39

That would do it. Nice to be back on topic, Don. I guess it is really self proclaimed. You could have dozens of knives that were accumulated over time and still not be a collector or have the same number of knives and be a collector. I guess it really depends on the mind set of the person with the knives.

I'm afraid to ask when does a person become a "knife hoarder?" Is that when you refuse to throw out broken junk knives because you're going to fix them some day?

Don said: