8 Tips for Starting a Knife Collection

Your local Midwest Arms Collector Gun Show is perfect for starting a knife collection with some of the best-priced blades on the market. Knife collecting is a popular hobby both in and outside of the firearms community, which is why so many of our events feature vendors selling knives alongside firearms, offering both practical and collectible knives exclusively, or offering knife-related services and accessories, like professional knife sharpening or scabbards. It also has a much more budget-friendly price point than firearms collecting. If you’re ready to start your collection, we have some cutting-edge tips to get you started. 

Why Knives?

Like guns, knives are versatile tactical essentials that, when used properly, can help you defend yourself, survive in the wild, or put food on the table. They’re also handy for day-to-day prying, cutting, trimming, or carving. Knives are made from a wide range of materials with varying features, appearances, and adornments. Starting a knife collection can let you focus on important historical moments, enjoy the hunt for rare or exotic variations, or just give you a range of tools suitable for everyday carry. Knives are usually less regulated than firearms, and you can begin a collection for less than the price of a box of ammunition.

Every collector has their own reason for focusing on knives, and their knife-collecting hobby follows the priorities they’ve set out for themselves. If you see a lot of the same qualities of practical utility, self-reliance, and individual determination that fuel the Second Amendment community, then you’re starting to understand why so many knife collectors and vendors flock to their local gun shows. It’s also why so many gun owners also own a respectable knife collection.

How to Start Knife Collecting as a Hobby

There’s no hard and fast rulebook to knife collecting, and that’s one of the things that makes it so special. For every high-dollar collection of ultra-rare collectible blades, there are a dozen collections featuring flea market and hand-me-down folders that the owners wouldn’t think of trading. If you’re struggling to find your starting place, however, here are a few knife-collecting pointers.

Learn the Anatomy of a Knife

Learning the parts of a knife can go a long way toward helping you form your collection because you’ll have the vocabulary to talk about what you like with vendors, search better online, and separate the qualities you like and don’t like more efficiently for yourself. Each part of a knife has a name, as do the various blade shapes–even those with only minute distinctions. 

Learn Knife Safety

The basics of knife safety set the bedrock foundation for enjoying your knife-collecting hobby and retaining your digits. Treat every knife as if it’s sharp, and make sure every knife meant to have a sharpened blade has one to avoid dull-blade cuts. Always hand the knife off handle first, and walk with its tip pointed down. Never try to catch a falling knife–just mind your feet and pick it up off the floor.

Learn State and Local Knife Laws and Regulations

Less heavily regulated doesn’t mean unregulated. Make sure you know what knives are legal to possess or carry in your state and which ones you’ll want to avoid. Will you need a special permit to purchase some knife types as curios, or are some construction materials regulated? Understanding these realities can help you avoid legal jeopardy when it comes to the next step of starting a knife collection.

Decide on a Focus for Your Collection

What kind of knife gets your heart racing? A good folder you can count on for years? A limited-edition Bowie knife? Carbon steel that’s a little primal and rough around the edges? Finding a focus for your collection gives you a starting place to make knife collecting more rewarding. While collecting “all of the above” may sound nice, it can quickly feel like you’re just buying whatever knife comes your way and not making progress toward a goal.

But Don’t Feel Hand Cuffed by Your Focus

That being said, if you find a knife you like, there’s nothing wrong with buying it. Plenty of militaria collectors have a few civilian models that caught their fancy tucked away, and even high-end knife collectors often have a few solid but affordable EDC options they keep around. Just be aware that different knives have different maintenance and upkeep needs as the years pass.

Set Your Budget

We suggest setting your budget AFTER you’ve determined your collection’s focus because that way, you can work toward quality over quantity. Starting a knife collection can be a heady experience, and it’s not uncommon to feel pressured that you have to find a knife to add or you’re not a real collector. You’re a collector the moment you buy your first blade and decide it’s the start of something bigger, but you’re a good collector when you know what that something bigger is so you can spend your money wisely. Your budget lets you know how much you can spend when knife collecting and whether or not you’ll need to save up for a premier piece to add to your collection.

Invest in Proper Storage and Maintenance Accessories

An often-forgotten expense when starting a knife collection is storage and upkeep. The last thing you want to do is find that the knives you’ve spent time collecting and money buying are being eaten by rust. Learn about the metals and materials used for your knives and buy the appropriate cleaners and oils. Learn to use sharpeners and honing tools properly to avoid scoring or otherwise damaging the blades. Get the protective equipment you need to save your fingers and the knife blades, like cut-resistant gloves. Finally, store your knives in cases designed to protect them from curious fingers, dust, humidity, and other environmental threats.

Be Part of the Knife Collecting Community

Get to know local knife collectors and vendors, as well as those you meet at your local gun show. There’s plenty of experience, excitement, and pointers to go around. Search for online interest groups that fit your knife-collecting lifestyle. There are broadly themed knife collecting groups that cover all things bladed and hyper-focused forums for those who specialize in knives of a certain type. There’s a wider knife collector’s world out there waiting for you to take your seat at its virtual and IRL table.

Start Your Knife Collection at Your Local Gun Show

Check out our gun show calendar and circle the date on your calendar for your next local gun show. If you’ve never been because you thought it was just for firearms, you’re in for a surprise at your first gun show. It’s a great opportunity to browse new and old knives, talk to vendors, and meet other collectors from your neck of the woods. It’s a safe, comfortable environment with professional security on-site and knife vendors traveling hundreds of miles to make a deal with you. Order your tickets online to a MAC Shows Gun & Knife Show today.