Knife Collecting

Having been a knife collector and dealer for many years, I have managed to pick up a few tricks of the trade.

In my dealings, some of my customers have sought my advice on what they should collect and specialize in. My recommendations always center around buying what you like first, and worrying about resale second.

Pruning the collection

When going through my personal collection, I try to weed out knives that no longer hold that fascination. My rule of thumb: any knife I have not handled in over six months probably belongs in the "to be sold" pile. Part of the enjoyment of collecting anything is the pursuit of the item - I call it the chase. Once the chase is over, some of the glamour of the item is lost. Set your sights high, and pay that extra dollar for the must-have pieces.

The blue-chip makers

For years my pursuits centered on Bill Moran and Bob Loveless knives. These two pioneers of modern knifemaking not only produced some of the finest knives known, but are, in my opinion, among the easiest to resell. I have steered many a new collector toward Morans and Lovelesses for the same reasons: a bit of up-front investment can pan out to tidy profits in the not-so-long term.

Patience is the key regarding resale of any knife. Do your homework: how much did a similar knife sell for? How many similar knives are on the market today? If you sell the knife, how much will it cost to replace should you want it back someday? Do not rush to turn a quick buck - the couple of dollars you just made may be the tip of the iceberg.

Other makers I collected besides Moran and Loveless: Jim Schmidt, Ron Lake, Jim Martin, Buster Warenski and a few others. These are top names in the field, and their knives are always saleable.