The Knife Web Guide™ provides an extensive guide of links, resources and information to online knife, sword and cutlery-related Web sites organized by category. Look inside for links to knife manufacturers, custom knife makers, swords, magazines, knife collecting, knife making supplies, related sites and more.

Knife Collecting Information

Browse the Knife Web Guide™™

Select a Theme Antiques     Antique Associations     Antique Directories     Antique Publications     Antique Shows - Fairs Custom Hand Made Knives     Bladesmiths - Metalsmiths     Custom Knife Dealers     Custom Knife Makers Cutlery     Flatware Silver Stainless     Kitchen Knives     Manicure - Personal Care     Razors and Barberania     Scissors and Shears Information     Appraisals     Career Help and Info     Collecting Information     Edged Weapon Instruction     E-mail Discussion List     Escrow Online     Freight Handling and Shipping     Help and Information     Knife Sword and Cutlery Downloads     Maps and Prints     Military     Military Edged Weapons     Police - Law Enforcement     Right to Keep - Bear Arms     Schools and Courses     Shopping Guides     Shows - Exhibitions Knife Making     Flintknapping     Knife Engraving     Knife Making Information     Knife Making Supplies     Machine Tool Equipment     Metal and Related     Scrimshaw     Wood and Metal Machines     Wood and Supplies     Wood Directories Knives and Related     Automatics - Switchblades     Axes and Hatchets     Displays and Showcases     Knife Accessories         Sharpeners         Sheaths - Scabbards     Knife Auctions     Knife Books and Related     Knife Classified Ads     Knife Collectible Malls     Knife Collector Clubs     Knife Dealers - Retailers     Knife Directories     Knife Forums     Knife History or Related     Knife Information Sites     Knife Laws     Knife Magazines     Knife Malls     Knife Manufacturers     Knife Organizations     Knife Photography     Knife Repair - Restoration     Knife Web Services     Machetes     Miniatures     Promotional Products     Throwing Knives     Used Knives Outdoors     Outdoor Magazine-TV-Radio     Outdoor Retailers     Outdoor Stuff Swords     Fencing and Related     Stage - Combat     Sword Books and Magazines     Swords - Custom     Swords - Japanese     Swords and Armour

KWG Site Map > Home Page > index > Knife Collecting Information

Knife Collecting: A Beginning

Want to learn more about knife values or knife history?

Knife collecting is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the United States. It provides enjoyment as well as being an excellent investment for the future. A carefully assembled collection of selected knives will continue to grow in value year after year. The demand for older knives is a definite reality.

The four main groups that most knife collectors specialize in are:

• Patterns
• Handle Materials
• Brand Names
• Specialties

Knife collecting is a very personal hobby where each individual can select his or her specialty. There are knife collectors that search for certain patterns (such as trappers, whittlers, canoes, muskrats, peanuts, folding hunters, etc). Some collect certain handle materials (such as stag, mother of pearl, yellow, rough black, green bone, celluloid, etc). Many collect certain brand names (such as Case, Remington, Winchester, Fight'n Rooster, IXL, Queen, etc). Others collect certain blade stampings (such as Case Tested, Case XX, Old Remington, New Remington, etc). Some collect certain specialties (such as advertising, figural, souvenir, etc).  Regardless of your desires for a knife specialty, you will find buyers, sellers, traders at any knife show and most gun and knife shows.

 The most sought after knife in any brand or pattern is a mint one. As a general rule, used knives bring 25-70% of what a mint knife brings. You can usually pick up an excellent condition knife for 50-70% of what you pay for a mint one. Ten to fifteen years ago, all the knives experts preached "Buy only mint knives". Well, in the older knives (1945 and earlier), if you stay with only mint, you will pass up a lot of fine knives. If possible, collect only excellent or better knives. Used knives can have considerable value. But, for the soundest investment, it is more desirable to collect only excellent to mint knives.

Remember to take excellent care of your collection, as you are the curator during your lifetime for future generations to enjoy. Moisture and fingerprints are the prime villains to avoid. Check your collection periodically and keep your knives in a dry location. Make an asserted effort to wipe your knives at least once a month. Your collection can lose value very quickly if you allow your knives to deteriorate from lack of care and maintenance.

The best teacher for learning about knives is to attend as many knife shows as possible. Most dealers and collectors are very patient about explaining the many variations and subtleties that make some knives rarer than others. The more knives you examine the more familiar you will become with them. This experience will also make it easier to spot counterfeits or altered knives. If you are just starting out, take the time to look and talk rather than buying. The next best thing to going to knife shows is knowledge you can obtain from books and magazines. The way to obtain this knowledge is to read books on knives, knife history, knife price guides and knife magazines.

Don't start out hoping to collect every knife made by a manufacturer as that would be virtually impossible. For example, Remington made 1300 different patterns. Set your goals at a more realistic level, such as: one particular pattern, a certain type handle, or a particular blade stamping. A collection with a theme or direction will be easier to sell than one that is simply a conglomeration of everything.

Above all, when you reach the point where you are purchasing knives costing hundreds of dollars or more, make sure that you buy only from a reputable dealer who will stand behind the authenticity of the knife. Beware of 'too good of a bargain' as in all probability you are being taken. As in any hobby, there are always those unscrupulous few who will make a fast dollar in any way they can. Many counterfeiters are very good and only an expert can tell. Simply be as careful as you can and familiarize yourself with manufacturing methods and details.

In any event, get your feet wet at a knife show. Look; ask questions; read books and articles; start small; become a knife collector, and join thousands of us who enjoy this great hobby. Look for a local or regional knife club near you and go there to find other collectors who will reinforce these ideas.

Knife Collecting: A Beginning article above contributed by
Copyright ©Byron Rogers All rights reserved. Reprint rights below.

Recommended Reading On Knives

Questions or evaluations about an vintage or antique, knife, sword or related book you own?

Knife Repair?

A Knife Value Question: Why does a knife that I purchased, say 10 years ago, cost so much more now than when I purchased it?

What does new, used, vintage, and antique knives mean? 

The system we use for knife grading and describing a knife’s condition is on our Knife Grading System Page.

Many domestic knives can be dated by a U.S.A. patent number which happens to be stamped on the blade. Click here for the patent numbers and years.

Read more about how to determine the date of a Case knife
By learning the simple Case dating system, you can easily determine the year a Case knife was manufactured.

Some thoughts on limited edition and commemorative knives

Back to Top 

For a Printer Friendly Form of the article above click here.

Click here for "Remember the golden rules of collecting."

Recommended Reading On Knives:

Unfortunately there is no one book that gives prices or values for all knives.

A great gift for those too cheap to buy their own.

Books