How to Collect Antique Knives

photo by Charles Buchanan

Antique Knife Collecting can be a rewarding and challenging hobby. Antique knives do not have to be expensive (sometimes purchased for as little as $1.00 at a garage sale) or they can cost thousands of dollars. As with all antique collecting, your success will grow as your knowledge and experience develops.

Things You'll Need

• Research books.
• Identification and price guides.
• Notebook or index cards.
• Display case or cabinet.

Instructions

1. 

   Antique knives exist in a large variety of categories. Knives have been around since the first ancient man broke a piece of flint and created a knife of stone. Since then knives have been created for every profession, thousands of purposes, as art, for war, for agriculture, cooking, fishing, hunting, and carving. They have been made of stone, glass, bronze, iron, steel, carbon fiber, obsidian and even plastic. The variety and options for collecting is almost unlimited.

2. 

   There are many Antique knife areas you may collect. Some examples; military knives and blades, miniature knives, women's Victorian knives, figural knives and daggers, fruit knives, pen knives, folding knives, bowie knives, advertising knives, multi-tool knives (like Swiss Army knives), fixed blade knives, Middle Eastern knives and daggers, Asian knives and daggers, African knives and daggers, Native American knives, engraved knives, etc... there are many more. How you collect and what you collect may very but some guidelines will assist you.

3. Buying knives. Once you have done some research you will be anxious to begin adding to your collection. At first you will want to purchase all the knives you see. There are a lot of things you need to know before you begin seriously buying knives. How do you know what a knife is worth? Is the knife you buying original or has it been reworked? What condition is the knife in? Is it rare or common? Is it a fake or modern reproduction? What types of knives do you want to collect? What kind of budget do you have? Do you want to buy from dealers or hunt for knives in garage sales, junk shops, antique sales and shows?

4. To answer all your questions you need to learn about knives. Start by buying a knife guide. Then check out sales and auction sites online (this helps you determine what is available and what prices are like). You might start to visit knife and gun shows, you might want to join a knife club, visit knife exhibits and look at museum collections. One of the best way to learn about knives is to meet other collectors, they often can give you valuable knowledge, and better still they may show you their collections so you can examine collectible knives up close. You can never know everything about this field of collecting. Collectors and guides will also give you guidelines into properly handling, cleaning, maintaining and displaying knives in your collection.

5. Learning about all the different types of knives that exist is half the fun of the hobby. Holding an antique knife in your hand brings you closer to the events that surrounds it. There is more to a knife than just a handle and a blade. The history and craftsmanship of the knife maker and knowing that information makes it much more interesting, more important, and sometimes a lot more valuable. Knowing the condition and value of the knife is important if you are going to purchase it, and later decide if you want to trade or sell it. Everyone who collects knives has to develop a sense of value. Over time you start to learn the company markings, acceptable conditions of knives and their values.

6. Purchasing an antique knife. When you find a knife you want to buy consider why are you buying it? Don't worry too much what the knife book says about value. Does the knife fit into your collection and do you feel it is reasonably priced? Remember unless it is a common knife it may be a long time before you see another just like it, maybe never again. If it is inexpensive and you want it and it looks good to you (you've done some research right?) then you should probably buy it. If it is expensive, do your homework, buy off a reputable dealer or collector and ask for the right to return it for a refund within thirty days (after talking to an expert), or buy it on condition you can take it to another collector or expert for appraisal. Reputable dealers will give you a guarantee and allow you to return it if not as stated. Beware of fakes, reproductions and forgeries on EBAY and other auction sites. Commonly faked knives include Confederate Bowie Knives, Bowie Knives in general and Nazi knives and daggers.

7. 

   Antique knife collecting can be fun and profitable. As your expertise grows you may be able to find fairly priced antique collectible knives at flea markets, gun shows, antique shops and even online. Most educated collectors will find bargains. But remember that the best knives are held by other collectors and dealers. These will often be major purchases for your collectionbut are generally the knives that will increase in value over time.
   Buy within your budget, buy the best you can afford, always buy a knife because you love it, then you won't regret it in the long run.

Tips & Warnings

• Collect in an area that you enjoy, it is better to collect a specific area than to be a generalist, but that is ok too!

• Stay within your budget.

• Buy a knife because you fall in love with it not because it is a good bargain!

• Visit collections, knife shows and exhibits, in person or online.

• For expensive purchase reputable dealers, research, written money back guarantees and a second opinion is a must!

• Don't be afraid to buy inexpensive old knives that interest you!

• Beware of fake Civil War Confederate Daggers, Bowie Knives and WWII Nazi daggers. EBay is riff with fakes as well as unscrupulous or unknowledgeable dealers.

• Never pay a large amount for a knife that you do not have the experience to know is authentic.

• If you are unsure of a knife get a guarantee and the right to bring it back for a refund if you find it is not as presented!

Resources

• Identifying Fake Civil War Knives and Swords
• Book: American Premium Guide to Knives and Razors: Identification & Price Guide (American Premium Guide to Knives & Razors)
• Book: The Standard Knife Collector's Guide: Identification & Values (Standard Knife Collector's Guide)
• Book: The Case Cutlery Dynasty: Tested XX
• Book: The Bowie Knife: Unsheathing an American Legend
• Knife Collector Club (listing by state)