Newbe/wantabe knife collector.

[jwb]

Hi,
This is a really cool forum.
Recently I have bought a few pocket knives and have been playing with the idea of starting a collection, but the "fake knife forum" has me wondering.
Seems Case is the most collected, but I never even thought about fakes before I got here. Are 1970's/1980's ect knives faked a lot. I cant afford high dollar knives, but a few "older" ones would be neat if I'm not throwing away money on fakes.
Is the best place to start for a newbe current production knives.
Any help or thoughts would be great.

Ps.
My collection so far

2 henkels half whittlers from Cris kirk that aren't very sharp, for factory, but seem well built.
2 Case med stockmans in the mail
1 older gerber metal handled "survival" / hunting knife
1 BlackJack hunting knife
1 Benchmade folder

Thanks for any help

[stagman]

It is of my opinion to collect what makes you happy. I collect mostly stag handled knives, but not exclusivley. Its a real consuming hobby at times, almost spiritual. There is alot of great folk's involved in it, willing too share there thoughts with you. A knife that is old and worn may be worth the world to one person, while someone else thinks its junk. Thats the beauty of it. It is by far the best hobby I have ever taken up, and can be very profitiable if invested in wisely. Check out my Clear Creek Knives store right on this site. Regards, Will

[galvanic1882]

Hi JWB, I am also hooked or addicted to knife collecting. I started about 18 years ago with my first buy, Union Razor Sunfish, picture included. From there I went to verthing I could afford in old pocket knives and was just happy to have them. Than I started buying customs, Randall's, old English Jacks etc etc. But a good man I meet while buying knives said is if I was going to spend money on it I should spend it wisely. I started to sell my older non mint knives for Mint rarer knives. I now have about 60 knives, the most I ever had was maybe 100. The knives I do have are really worth some money and are great to display and share with others. I agree that you should buy what you like but for me that is most knives so I needed to get focused on an area to collect because all my knife money comes from what I make buying and selling. That is how I continue to build my collection. The first thing I did was buy a copy of Levine's Guide to knives and read it from cover to cover. Knowledge is everything. If I spend alot on knives say more than 500 I usually buy it from someone I know. Email me anytime and I will help you so you do not get burned!!!! By the way I do not own any Case, Remington or Winchester knives. They are to common fro me.

I also added a picture of a mint Maher Grosh big sleeveboard knife.

Happy Hunting and welcome to the maddddd world of knife collecting.

[wt3l]

Hi There JWB, and welcome. You will find a lot of folks on this site that are very knowledgeable about knives. I too have bought a lot of knives from Chris Kirk, each and every one came to me just as advertized. I think you'll find (as you go along in the hoby) that J.A. Henckels knives are now made by Boker. Just for your information. Again welcome and have fun...some of the best people on the internet are found here.

Hey Stagman... Nice Pic of your Maher Grosh sleeveboard, very nice knife.

wt3l

[TKC]

I buy/collect what I like. I don't care about what is populat. I buy what I like, it is as simple as that.

[Mossdancer]

HEY JW;
You know how to make a person jealous. Took me Near twenty years to find a BlackJack #1, IMO its a good sub for what it looks like, I also collect old gerbers, if interested in selling or trading picture the gerber with the story or send me a PM.
Thanks,
Mossdancer

[9ball]

Hello, I am new around here also, but have been around knives as long as I can remember. I quess I have been a bona fide collector around 25 years. I would also buy only what I like to start out, go to a couple of Knife Shows only, no guns. I do not buy knives off of eBay like I used too, but I do sell a few there for extra knife money. If you are buying for an investment, I'll agree with galvanic1882: Spend your money wisely. If it is rare now, it will most likely always be rare, unless a large collection or old store inventory comes to market. And if the hobby continues to grow, it will have no effect. Newer knives may take 20-30 years to grow in value if you are just buying common stuff, IMO. I have seen some brands from the 70's go down or nowhere in value.

The fake knife a.k.a. Counterfeit forum is your friend. At one time I saw more Counterfeit or "worked on" Case than any brand. There is a crook in every profession; They counterfeit fishing lures, cigarette lighters, watches, ladies handbags, gems, etc. Cutlery is no different, you just got to learn what to look for. The more folks get educated the less market there will be for them. Watch for added dots in the Case knives from the 70's.


You can still find some Nice Old & Fancy Straight Razors and Vintage Kitchen Cutlery at reasonable prices (in excellent shape) if you want to dabble in the older stuff. They are good to get the feel of older cutlery.......tang stamps, materials, workmanship. They make excellent displays/conversation pieces also.

[jwb]

Thanks for the wecome and advice eveyone.
Hey, Mossdancer will try to find the time to take some pics of the Blackjack and gerber. Both have been shapened and used though. they are still in real good shape, just not new. I don't think they are all that collectable really, and not sure I'd sell. skined my first deer with one and the other just reminds me of highschool or something. but the pics would give me a chance to learn how to upload and post them.
Thanks again.
John

[TKC]

John, I hope you really like it here!! It is a nice knife community!! I too want to see pix of your those knives!!