Where do you see yourself with regards to collecting collectable knives verse using them.

The reason I ask is I'm seeing Mr. Ingram's knives going for $395 for a model I purchased for $140. I've use the knife a bunch, it still looks great but is obviously used. I know it would have been a better financial decision to have never used the Ingram blade and continued ignorantly along using my ole Kershaw blade. I have a couple of other Ingrams that are even nicer and I don't know if I can bring myself to stuffing them in a pack for a week long hunt.

My collection of knives (not collectibles) is growing rapidly with my interest in knife making. I can't bring myself to part with the very first samples and frankly speaking don't like that many people that I feel good about giving a knife. Plus, my work isn't good enough to warrant a selling price more than the material cost - so that has me giving away all my labor - can't even make the $2.50 an hour some of you talented posters are quoting.

Now I'm thinking I want to get a truly collectable knife, never to be used other than an occasion cut of my finger as I fondle the dang thing. Am I nuts or just in the same category of a lot of the other posters here?

Damascus steel, lots of file work, presentation grade wood or ivory, superb leather sheath, are a few of the items that fill my dreams.

I am strictly an accumulator...

I use the knives that I have...I don't misuse them...and I take care of them, but I like using them.

MurhpysLaw --- You have it exactly right.
As an "accumulator" you can use it or display it or...... but you don't have to have a reason and you don't have to have a bunch of "expert" knowledge. Though you may have to give the wife some responses occassionally. Hopefully "Just because" will be sufficient to all who question.
JMHO
mrk

Probably no small part in thanks to Big Stick telling all it's "Ingram or bust". Wished I's found out about them before he did. I sure they are great and I'm usually a pretty patient guy, but 3 1/2 years is a stretch for me. Even my two May's are going to take 18 months to get.


Roy

that 140$ knife is listed @ 295$ new on ingram's site

I collect and use--a couple are unused and may stay that way as I accumulate more than I use, but a few are regular users and a few more rotate through.

W

If I can use it I don't own it. Just my way in life. Otherwise the garage would be filled with collections.

I agree Big Stick did add on this site significant credibility to Gene's work but can't help but believe being named knife maker of the year is the event making his leadtimes and prices raise so dramatically.

I'd look into a Burt Foster knife. I think Burt is around 18 months out now. His work is superb.

I have some high dollar knives and would use any of them in a second. Life is just too short not to enjoy things like nice knives and guns. I understand trying to keep stuff NIB but I bet if you asked the maker of said item they would all say use em.

I was going to order an Ingram till I acquired a May B&T used from a member here. Since then I have acquired a used May Swamp Oak and have two other May's on order, delivery next spring and summer. They are all either used or will be.
Good tools are meant to be used, just take decent care of them and nothing should go wrong. That goes for knives, guns and trucks. If you need a can opener, then use a can opener!!

I wouldn't call May's high dollar or collector knives. They are great knives made to be used. High dollar to me would be in the $1000 plus price range. Most of these collector knives are either made with natural exotic handles that are not suited for hard field use or the maker is retired or dead. I don't own any of these knives but if I did I would find it hard to use. So I will stick to my $500 and below working knives.

Can't argue there. Seems some folks are collecting Ingram's/May's/Crott's etc as investment items. I would agree as well that $500.00 is about top end for a good working knife. I can see spending that much when the knife is new from the maker. Used or NIB resale on the other hand.......depends how bad you want it. But they are still working knives.

I have to use them, which is why most of the knives I made have a lower finish on the blade. I pretty much give them as gifts and the best gift to give is the one that is used without reservation.

I would rather give a knife to someone and see it beaten up with honest wear and tear than see the knife 10 years later looking like I just gave it to them.

varmintsinc Christmas will be here soon don't forget me I will take a lower finish working knife and use it as it was intended to be used. Ok well I would settle for some pictures

Anyone stowing away Ingram's or May's as an investment is wasting their time. They are knives made to be used, they are tools. If they were intended to be more then that they would add some fancy un-needed file work. They would be using exotic handle materials and wire inlays. In general what you get from them is a basic knife that works and works very well. I could be wrong but I don't see them ever becoming investments outside of the hunting tool class. IMHO. I don't know Crott but now you have me intrested in seeing his work so I will look him up. Besides life is to short to let a great working knife set un-used. Its like a good rifle are you going to throw it in the safe and look at it every now and then to hope that someday its worth X-amount of dollars? Not me its going to be used hard and well cared for. When I can't shoot it anymore or die then maybe it will be sold and hopefully I get something for it but if not I have a lifetime of memories with it. Can't say that for the knife or gun sitting in a safe.

I agreee in concept that the May and Ingram knives are working tools but admit to having far more knives than I can use (also have too many rifles but that's another story). Gene made it very clear that he wanted his knives used and I've sent him images of his knife in the field.

But I have my favorite hunting knife, an Ingram #7, and always carry it a field. The others sit on a book shelf on open display. I don't see a good reason for tossing a brand new knife in a pack just to try something new. It is comforting to have spare Ingrams on hand.

Plus I am now putting together my own knives and will add one of the K2 capers to my pack this season. These are clearly tool quality knives and it won't bother me if one gets bent or broken.

Maybe I should have asked, "for those of you with knife collections, do you carry the same or different knives a field?" I carry the same hunting knife and an EDC.

I just got 2 Fosters and have to say they are superb knives. Finish, heft, balance are second to none. I own and use Ingrams and Mays, have some on oder, but Foster makes a hell of a knife, my new favorites.

Is there an article or link about that? I did a quick google with no luck---

Thanks

to add to the conversation, I've got a pair of Ingrams and two more on the way, all four will be used, no safe queens for me. Dad and Bro-in-Law each have one as well, and they get used too.

My statement is incorrect, Gene was not named knife maker of the year. I too searched the web and can find no reference to such an award. I apologize for my incorrect statement and will be more diligent in researching my comments in the future.

Dan Crotts got his start in about 1995 or so working in Bob Dozier's shop. A few different sites carry his knives. I haven't found a website of his own though. Stuff looks very nice though I haven't handled one however if he trained under Dozier........

Crotts is his son-in-law; I believe.

DB

I use my knives... did 11 deer, a pig or two... Mine get used.

No problem there, I was just hoping there was an article or something I could read about it, oh well. I've got 2 Ingrams and 2 on the way, bought a cheap belt sander and trying to mimic some of his during the 3 year wait on the last one .

my 1st Ingram is on the way and it will be my primary knife

Which model did you get SAKO75? I just recieved a new BullNose Hunter in the mail about 2 weeks ago from Gene and it is one of the lightest and handiest knives I own. Sure wish the wait wasn't so long or I would order another 2-3 Ingrams. I've got a Charlie May Hognose comning in about 15 months or so as well, will be my fist May knife.

#7+ drop point

Dan Crotts is Bob Dozier's stepson and has been the shop foreman at Dozier for a number of years. He makes a very nice knife in his own name. I have a few of them - very similar to all my Dozier's - what a coinkydink. Here is a fillet, a #1 droppoint, and a bird & trout from Crotts.

I wouldn't say I'm a collector - just like to order knives in different combos to see how they will turn out I guess. Right now I have about 15 on order - I end up selling most of them for just about what I pay for them so I can afford to order more - it's a hobby - I do it to keep guys making knives. I tend to order knives and sell them a month or two later. If there wasn't such a backlog with these good makers, I'd be losing my shirt

Daniel is Bob's step-son.

I have owned a few Dozier's and never like any of them. Looking at Dan's knives I don't see much different from Dozier's. Nothing that sparks an intrest for me.

I am a prolific user, and in no way a collector. I AM, however, an arbitrageur. Picking the up-and-coming makers, or finding bargains, to resell in a hot market to make the money to buy more users is a very satisfying endeavor.

Reading through the rest of the thread I see that the gist shifted along one branch to basically something along the lines of "if not an Ingram or a May what is the best "affordable" custom user." Along that vein I'd offer:

Stock removal: (and this ain't even a contest)

Phil Wilson
Tom Krein

Forged:
Burt Foster, MS
Bill Buxton, JS

Phil Wilson makes a great knife and the best fillet knives I have ever owned. Journeyman I am with you on the buying up in comers. I also seem to resale a lot of knives. I buy them use them and if they make the cut I hang onto them if not they are sold to be able to buy more. I have never resold a May or a Wilson but have given a few away to close friends.

I look at my gear as an investment of sorts...in my enjoyment and quality of my experience in the pursuits I love. I buy good knives to use, and I take good care of them, but they all show the marks of what amounts to memories for me. Buy it nice or buy it twice is a motto I've adhered to for many years and it's never done me wrong.

That is very true Whip. I hear guys say all the time thats a lot of money for a knife. Lets see a good box of factory ammo is what about $40.00 lets say. Or half doz carbon arrows $100.00 at least. Their job last all of a second or so. The knifes job on one animal can take sometime. So why skimp on the tool you are going to use the most to do a job?

There are many that get the job done with lesser stuff. That just doesn't float my boat though. I'll be starting my boys off with good gear (just like dad's). I see it as a way of establishing a set of values (get good stuff and take good care of it) that'll serve them well in life. I've got Ingrams and Randalls stacked up for delivery for the next 7 years. My wife thinks I'm a bit touched.....and she'd be right (grin).

Whip
I don't know if you are a fisherman at all but if so I would highly highly recommend a Phil Wilson (Seamount Knives) fillet knife. No working knife collection would be complete without one.

I ordered a 9" Punta Chivato from Phil yesterday, will takem 8-9 months before it is ready, just in time for fishing next year.

Montana Creek Hunter,
Sheeeeeit! Now you've gone and done it, dangling the proverbial carrot in front of me. I went to the website and I gotta say that those are the most badazz looking filet knives I've ever seen. I'll be putting in an order for a punta chivato soon, even though the funds for fun account is overdrawn this year (see post in backpacking forum about purchases). This site should have some kind of support group organized for us compulsive buyers!

Are you in Montana or is it just part of your screen handle? I'm in Polson, MT myself, and diggin every day in paradise

I've three of Phil's knives, and another in the planning stage. My one, singular most amazing cutting implement is my Modified Bird and Trout, the "magic knife." I'd first heard of Phil from a Shark fisherman in a tourney off Nova Scotia and based on what I saw him do that week bought a fillet. Later I picked up a semi skinner, and finally - the magic knife.

This knife is the one I post in most of the "favorite knife" threads. 3-1/4" blade, 7-1/4" overall of S30V super hardened to 61 HRC. The David Boye type super full flat distal taper is so thin it'll cut your eye if you look at it, and the thing only weighs 2.7 oz to boot!

I go to Scotland each year stalking red and roe deer and shooting driven grouse, and this knife, the first year I had it, caped 14 red stags out for the skulls to be boiled for European mounts, then later in the week went on a driven grouse hunt and worked over 356 birds - sans even a whisk on a steel.

Magic knife!

Middle knife - that edge is 12* per side!

I'm compelled by multiple non-public requests/comments to clarify:

1.) The left and right knives in the photo aren't Wilsons

2.) The little fillet on the right is a Tom Krein Panfish.

No it is a creek near my house in Juneau AK where I do a lot of duck hunting. Man you won't regret getting the Punta Chivato. I have been using Phils knives for going on 10 years.

AKMtnHntr
You will not be disappointed. I have been using the Punta Chivato in SE AK for going on 10 years now. I have a 7", 9", semi-skinner, and Coyote Meadow. I sure am glad Phil is back in the game and making knives again. I believe he has the fillet knife market locked up. I have yet to find a better fillet knife out there.

Would assume your 10ish year old fillet is ATS-34 or 154 CM? Have you compared it to a CPM steel?

Yes my first Punta Chivato is 154CM. I have one of the first Punta Chivato's he made using CPM S30V and a semi-skinner in S90V. I have found that the S30V holds an edge much longer then the 154CM. Both metals make for great blades. I have on the way now a 7" Punta Chivato in 154CM. Both will do a fine job but in my experiance the S30V holds up better and is easier to keep sharp. Just guessing but I would say that my first Punta Chivato has no less then 500 Coho, 100 Kings, 100 Cod, 100 Rockfish, 30 Striped Bass, and numerous trout, bass, and blues. I used it while commerical fishing and sport fishing. I have used it on both coast and I honestly have never had a better fillet knife. I would buy Phil's knives in either 154CM or S30V but favoring the S30V. I use a Diamond stone and strop and have never had a problem getting and keeping either sharp. In my years since I have been buying and using Phil's knives I have give several away to good friends. I don't regret giving them to friends I just wish I had a replacement for all of them. I have owned his Punta Chivato's, Coyote Meadows, Semi-skinner's, and one Chalk Creek Hunter. All are great knives.

Mt fillet is 154 CM, skinner is CPM S90V, and the Bird & Trout is CPM S30V. The next will be CPM 154.