Knife collecting is an extremely rewarding experience for knife enthusiasts. There truly is a knife for everyone. Many increase or hold their value throughout the years, making collecting knives something to pass on to the next generation of knife collectors.
Small-to-medium-sized fixed blades make excellent cutting tools, and today’s prime cutters are good to go. Here are five of the hottest in this sharp-looking category.
The P.U.K. (Personal Utility Knife)
The P.U.K. from Atlas Dynamic Defense is a hungry little cutter in CPM S30V stainless.
The P.U.K. (Personal Utility Knife) from Atlas Dynamic Defense has a 2.52-inch blade of CPM S30V stainless steel heat treated to a Rockwell hardness of 57-58 HRC in a controlled vacuum with an additional -300°F cryo bath. Top that with a DLC blade coat and you’ve got one hungry little cutter. The scales are removable with a coin or rifle cartridge. MSRP: $225.
Buck Omni RT
The Buck Omni RT Extra makes the list of prime cutters and boasts a stocky, 3.25-inch blade of 420HC stainless steel.
Among other prime cutters is the Buck Omni RT with a stout 3.25-inch blade of 420HC stainless steel and an ergonomic handle of Dynaflex rubber in Realtree Xtra Green Camo. Weight: 4.6 ounces. Overall length: 7.75 inches. A nylon sheath that matches the look of the handle completes the ensemble.
Western Knives Kota
The Western Kota features a blade of titanium-bonded 420 stainless and a G-10 handle. MSRP: $29.99.
The Kota from Western Knives includes a 3.25-inch blade of titanium-bonded 420 stainless and an ergonomic handle of G-10 with an elongated hole for a lanyard. Overall length: 7 inches. It’s kind of a cool design, really. A nylon sheath is included. MSRP: $29.99.
ESEE 3HM
If you’re looking for a carbon-steel cutter, the ESEE 3HM has a blade of powder-coated 1095.
If you’re looking for a carbon-steel cutter, the ESEE 3HM offers a 3.63-inch blade of 1095 carbon steel in a low-glare, stain-resistant powder coat and a canvas Micarta® handle. The contrast of the light-colored Micarta and the dark blade is choice. Weight: 7.7 ounces. Overall length: 8.88 inches. A black leather pouch comes standard.
I was waiting for Tom Ploppert’s custom slip joint like a kid on Christmas morning. To my surprise, there were two knives in the package when it arrived. Tom had sent me a new knife for evaluation and another that had been used hard for a few years. Both still walk and talk like they are supposed to, but the older knife has a smoother action. Yes, the handle is beat up a little and the blade has been resharpened a few times, but I could tell it is a high-quality knife. This is a good sign of excellent workmanship—I have had slip joints get sloppy after a few uses. Tom used premium stag pinned on to make the knife scream, “Use me!”
EDGE TESTS
I started off with a sheet of copy paper. I held the slip joint between my thumb and index finger and let the weight of the folder do the cutting. I just kept turning the paper around to a fresh side and sliced along its entire length until I had cut all four sides. The knife has a very good feel to it and fits my hand very well.
Next up: cardboard boxes. After 30 minutes of cutting I had slivers of cardboard all over the garage floor.
I had to change out my Kydex® foam for some new stuff as I had run a large batch of sheaths and the old foam was getting too compressed. After gluing on the newly cut foam, I sliced up the older pieces by simply resting the blade edge on the foam and making a pulling cut. The slip joint sliced as fast as I could maneuver my fingers out of the way.
WOOD/ROPE/LEATHER CUTS
I had some pine 1x1s cut—they make perfect whittling sticks. Tom’s “slippy” is excellent at control and the big stag handle is very comfortable. It did not take long to produce a pile of curly-cues.
Half-inch sisal rope was next on the agenda. The knife still felt sharp but I gave it a few strops on my leather pad for good luck. It crunched through the rope like a champ until I hit 60 cuts. My index finger rode up on the blade and I found the spine to be very sharp, and the inside of the liners also were sharp. A few strokes with a fine emery board dulled the sharpness and I settled back into cutting. I noticed the edge starting to slide at 120 cuts. Not bad at all and no more hot spots. I grabbed some leather and skived around the edges. The slip joint worked great and would still shave hair.
TIP TEST
I used the tip of the blade to cut and pry the dried skin from an old deer rack that needed cleaning. I was careful of the fine tip as I did not want to pop it off if it got stuck in the rack.
I gave the tip another workout, stabbing it into a 2×4 and twisting the tip out. The tip handled a dozen stabs and twists without breaking or any loosening of the folder’s action. As long as I had the 2×4 handy, I gave it a few chops. The blade bit deeper than I thought it would and the knife was comfortable while doing it.
IF IT WERE MY KNIFE …
… I would soften every place that is sharp except the edge of the blade. I use knives hard and sharp edges where they should not be might result in a hot spot. Just a few minutes with fine sandpaper and it’s all good.
FINAL GRADE
Tom’s slip joint performed excellently. His fit and finish are very clean. This is one very well made, good-looking work knife. Great job!—By MSG Kim Breed, BLADE® field editor
For more information contact Tom Ploppert, Dept. BLADEMAG, 1407 2nd Ave. S.W., Cullman, AL 35055 256-962-4251 tomploppert3bellsouth.net.
Lonnie Williams steampunk folder is one fast, loud auto.
As the eighth entry saluting my addiction to steampunk folders, Steam Hunk is a giant, 2-pound, all-damascus auto. It’s powered by a standard leaf spring as well as two coil helper springs. It’s fast and loud!
Of the 48 individual parts, 18 move. I just can’t do the glued-on gear thing. The blade fires by a palm-activated rocker lock with the safety switch at the left rear. Steam Hunk represents about 300 hours of work and 32 square inches of damascus.
Our “Knife Of The Day” for Feb. 8 is the Seber Drop Point Model RK1150CP.
Featuring a 3-inch serrated blade of 8Cr13MoV stainless steel and a G-10 handle, the knife offers up the Rotation-Loc, a ratcheting-type mechanism that enables the blade to lock open at a variety of different angles. There’s really nothing else quite like the mechanism among folding knives.
Weight: 7 ounces. Closed length: 4.5 inches. Your price at ShopBlade: $39.99.
If the knife is well made, it will always have value. Josh Fisher’s bowie features a damascus blade of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels, and a handle of curly Tasmanian black wood. (Caleb Royer image)
Thinking of dipping your toe into the exciting world of collecting custom knives? Read these tips first.
What for Look for in a Custom Knife
Don’t buy or collect trends. Buying what’s “hot” today may mean selling at a loss tomorrow. Buy a knife because you like it, not because you think it will increase in value. If the knife is well made, it will always have value.
Decide what the knife will be used for and choose accordingly. Is it pleasing to your eye? Hold it and see how it feels in your hand.
Is it easy to carry? Is the edge geometry correct and are the grind lines even? Are there gaps at joints between the blade and guard? On a folder is there too much blade play—up and down and/or side to side?
Does the knife walk and talk? What about fit and finish?
Is the edge geometry correct and are the grind lines even? Are there gaps at joints between the blade and guard? Don Hanson’s folders exhibit tight fit and finish from stem to stern. (SharpByCoop image)
On a linerlock or framelock does the lock engage too late or too early? Is lockup tight? Feel the knife all over for hot spots and evaluate it in terms of quality construction and materials, creativity, etc.
If the knife is a fixed blade, a sheath can add value. However, the knife needs a sheath only if it is important to you, though it may affect resale value. A good sheath can cost $75 to $150 to have one made, so this is a good benchmark of value detraction.
On the other hand, some sheaths can be distinctive works of art that can add significantly to the knife’s overall appeal and value.
If the knife is a fixed blade, a sheath can add value. However, the knife needs a sheath only if it is important to you, though it may affect resale value. Zac Camacho offers a sheath with his zesty fixed blade in damascus and a handle of stabilized ancient bog oak. Overall length: 13.875 inches. (Caleb Royer edited image)
Commissioning a Completely New Custom Knife
Be wary of custom orders, as many things can go wrong, including long wait times before delivery, and makers who shun lengthy dialogue over what might be a healthy monetary investment on your part. Moreover, the finished knife may not meet your expectations.
Custom orders may be best for makers early in their careers. Veteran makers may wind up making a custom order that doesn’t represent their style, so the knife may not increase in value.
Place an order with enough time to pick the knife up at a time that works for you, such as during BLADE Show.
Determining Price of a Custom Knife
If you pay a high price for a knife, see if the maker has been in business for a number of years, has a strong following and that the knife is something special. Such a knife should be made of materials of a higher quality/more in demand than a less expensive model. An art dagger by Dennis Friedly with engraving by Gil Rudolph would appear to qualify on most all of these counts. (SharpByCoop image)
Never be afraid to ask a maker, purveyor or any seller why a knife costs what it does. Ask him/her for some background and history on the knife, both of which can embellish a knife’s value, especially if the knife is a vintage one.
If you pay a high price for a knife, see if the maker has been in business for a number of years, has a strong following and that the knife is something special. Such a knife should be made of materials of a higher quality/more in demand than a less expensive model.
If the maker is just starting out, be sure his knives are priced reasonably.
If the knife appears to be underpriced, be sure there’s not a mistake in its construction.
For a guide, check the prices of like knives on the sites of purveyors who have been in the business for a long time. They wouldn’t still be in business if they didn’t offer reasonable pricing.
Are Deposits Necessary?
One purveyor said you should never pay an upfront deposit on a custom order. No exceptions. Watch out for makers who claim to need the deposit to buy materials, etc. You are not a finance company.
Besides, as one purveyor said, “It’s unfortunately very human that it’s hard to get work done that is already paid for.”
Warranties
Ask for a written guarantee regarding what the maker will and will not cover in terms of damage caused by use/abuse, flaws in workmanship or materials (excluding natural materials that chip and crack), etc.
The warranty should last for the remainder the maker’s career.
Smith’s new EdgeWork-Site knives were designed for the toughest of conditions and applications, namely those found in and around the construction industry. Tools chosen for construction work must be close to indestructible, given the jobs they’re required to do, day-in and day-out.
Here’s one great example: Smith’s EdgeWork-Site 2.7″ Hawkbill knife (available here). This tough, dependable knife features a 400-series stainless-steel blade with black stonewash finish that provides extra protection while providing a rugged look.
The razor-sharp Hawkbill-style blade is made of precision heat treated stainless steel with a 1″ serrated section to utilize the full length of the blade.
Opening the EdgeWork-Site Hawkbill knife is made extremely easy with ambidextrous thumb studs. The front handle is made of rugged glass-filled textured nylon, and the back handle is constructed with 2Crl3 steel.
The EdgeWork-Site Hawkbill knife employs a sturdy frame lock design that secures the blade open during use, and it also includes a handy pocket clip for carrying ease and convenience.
What kind of jobs can the EdgeWork-Site Hawkbill knife handle? Cutting lines, cords, and rope up to 1” in diameter; opening or breaking down any cardboard box; and taking care of virtually any chore where an extremely tough, sharp blade is needed.
Learn more about the Edgework-Site Hawkbill knife and the rest of the all-new Edgework line of knives and sharpeners at www.smithsproducts.com. Be sure to give a follow on Facebook and on Instagram.
