Knife collecting: Difference between revisions

'''Knife collecting''' is a hobby which includes seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining [[knives]]. Some collectors are generalists, accumulating an assortment of different knives.<ref name =aopm>{{cite journal | last = McKeon | first = Bill| title = All Outdoors| journal = Popular Mechanics| volume = 134| issue = 4| pages = 38| publisher = Popular Mechanics| year = 1975 }}</ref> Others focus on a specialized area of interest, perhaps [[bayonet]]s, knives from a particular factory, [[Bowie knife|Bowie knives]], [[pocket knife|pocketknives]], or handmade custom knives.<ref name=taotk>{{cite book | last = Kertzman | first =Joe |title = Art of the Knife | publisher = Krause Publications | year =2007 | pages =3–6| isbn =978-0-89689-470-9 }}</ref>

The knives of collectors may be [[antique]]s or even marketed as [[collectible]]. Antiques are knives at least 100 years old; collectible knives are of a later vintage than antique, and may even be new. Collectors and dealers may use the word ''vintage'' to describe older collectibles. Some knives which were once everyday objects may now be collectible since almost all those once produced have been destroyed or discarded, like certain WW2 era knives made with [[zinc]] alloy handles which are rapidly degrading due to the material's shelf life.{{Citation Someneeded|date=November collectors collect only in childhood while others continue to do so throughout their lives and usually modify their collecting goals later in life.2024}}

Knives have been collected by individuals since the 19th century with formal collecting organizations beginning in the 1940s.<ref>{{cite book | last = Bowker| first =R.R. |title = Antiquarian Bookman, Volume 21 | publisher = R.R. Bowker Company | year =1958 }}</ref> The custom knife-collecting boom began in the late 1960s and continues to the present.<ref name=taotk/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2024-10-08 |title=The World's Most Collectible Knives |url=https://nobliecustomknives.com/world-most-collectible-knives/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Noblie |language=en-US}}</ref>

Some novice knife collectors start by purchasing knives that appeal to them, and then slowly work at acquiring knowledge about how to build a collection. Others (more cautious or studious types) want to develop some background in the field before starting to buy knives.<ref name=igtk>{{cite book | last = Suermondt| first =Jan |title = Illustrated Guide to Knives| publisher = Grange Books | year =2004 | page =24| isbn =978-1-84013-694-4 }}</ref>

In general, knives of significance, artistic beauty, values or interest that are "too young" to be considered antiques, fall into the realm of collectibles. But not all collectibles are [[limited edition]]s, and many of them have been around for decades.<ref name=white>{{cite journal| last = White| first = Richard D. |title =10 Ways to Find the Hot Knives| journal = Blade's Complete Knife Guide|publisher = F&W Media|year =2011| pages =126–130|volume= 38 |issue= 3 }}</ref>

Many knife collectors enjoy making a plan for their collections, combining education and experimentation to develop a personal collecting style; , and even those who reject the notion of "planned collecting" can refine their "selection skills" with some background information on the methods of collecting.<ref name=joek>{{cite journal| last = Kertzman| first = Joe |title = How You Can Be an Informed knife Buyer| journal = Blade's Complete Knife Guide|publisher = F&W Media|year =2011| pages =10–13|volume= 38 |issue= 3 }}</ref>

Knife magazines such as ''Knives Illustrated'' and ''[[Blade (magazine)|Blade]]'' are one of the most popular means to learn more about the field. Attending knife shows, gun shows, and militaria shows is another way for a collectorcollectors to familiarize him or herselfthemselves with the hobby. These shows sometimes include seminars on a variety of subjects such as knife making seminars, the history of knife companies, starting a collection or how to insure a collection. There are a number of books dedicated to collecting knives.<ref name=cw>{{cite book | last = Ward | first =Chad|coauthorsauthor2= Bryan Regan |title = An edge in the kitchen: the ultimate guide to kitchen knives : how to buy them, keep them razor sharp, and use them like a pro| publisher = HarperCollins | year =2008 | location =New York | page =68| isbn =978-0-06-118848-0 }}</ref>

Although national and international collector clubs exist such as the National Knife Collectors Association. A collector may find and join a local knife club to meet other people who collect knives. Knife publications frequently list the location, date and time of club meetings as a service to new collectors. Collectors who have already narrowed their collecting focus to the knives of a particular maker or factory may want to join a club that focuses on this producer's work:, such as the [[Randall Made Knives|Randall Knife Society]], [[Ernest Emerson|Emerson's Collector Club]], etc.

Knife collections are varied and run the gamut from collections of $5US pocketknives to $100,000US Artart knives.<ref name=taotk/><ref name=":0" />

Collecting antique Bowie knives is one of the higher-end forms of knife collecting with rare models selling for more than $200,000.<ref name =tbkwm/> Even mass-produced Sheffield Bowies from the 19th century can sell in the range of $5,000US to $15,000US.<ref name =tbkwm>{{cite journal | last = Manns| first = William| title = The Bowie Knife| journal = American Cowboy| volume = 11| issue = 1| pages = 40–43| publisher = Active Interest Media, Inc.| year = 2004|url=httphttps://books.google.com/books?id=XuoCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43&dq=american+cowboy+bowie+knife&hlpg=en&ei=bDtxTfvZApCPA43|access-sAPEppS7Cw&sadate=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CEUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=american%20cowboy%20bowie%20knife&f=false|accessdate=042011-03-201104 }}</ref>

==The internetInternet==

A potential collector may wish to chat with other knife collectors in specialized discussion forums via the Internet. Fellow knife collectors are usually very happy to share information with new collectors; thisDiscussion includes information about where they have been successful in acquiring their knives, where they have struggled and what they are looking for. Internet Knife forums allow for an open exchange of information, sometimes with experts and makers available to answer questions and offer guidance. In addition, several web-sites specializing exclusively in the selling and trading of knives have been launched in recent years to help collectors manage their items as well as compare, connect, and trade directly with othersexist.<ref name=JK/>

There are a number of [[usenetUsenet]] and [[Internet forums]] dedicated to the discussion of [[knife|knives]] and knife collecting. The oldest of such forums is rec.knives, a usenetUsenet group started in 1992. The largest is BladeForums.com with over 100250,000 members which primarily emphasizes production knives.<ref name=JK>{{cite book | last = Kertzman| first = Joe| title = Knives 2003, 23rd Edition| publisher = Krause Publications| year =2003 | location =Iola, WI | pages =47–48| isbn =978-0-87349-448-9 }}</ref> Manufacturers such as [[Cold Steel (company)|Cold Steel]], [[Spyderco]], and [[Benchmade]] have established their own forums giving them input from users and a method of responding to customer service issues in a timely fashion. Some forums such as Usual Suspects Network have gone so far as to host their own knife shows on a scale similar to ''[[Blade (magazine)|Blade]]'' magazine's annual [[Blade Show]].<ref>{{cite journal | last = Searson| first = Mike| title = The Best Knives of G2| journal = Blade| volume = 37| issue = 5| pages = 80–84 | publisher = FW Media Inc.| date = 2011-04-01}}</ref>

*{{cite book | last = Darom| first = David | authorlinkauthor-link = David Darom| coauthors author2= Eric Eggly, |author3=Francesco Pachi, |author4=Paolo Saviolo | title =The Great Collections (Modern Custom Knives) | publisher = Chartwell Books| date = April 30, 2008| location = | pages = 288| isbn = 978-0-7858-2360-35 }}

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*[http://www.blademagbladeshow.com/bladeshow/ The Blade Show]