Having been a knife collector/Dealer for many years, I have managed to pick up a few tricks of the trade. In my dealings, some of my customers have sought my advise relative to what they should collect and/or specialize in. My recommendations always center around buying what you like first, worry about re-sale second.

When going through my personal collection I try to weed out knives that no longer hold that fascination. My rule of thumb is any knife that I have not handled for over six months is one that probably should be put in my "to be sold" pile. Part of the enjoyment of collecting anything is the pursuit of the item, I call it the "chase". Once the chase is over some of the glamour of the item is lost. Be certain to set your sights high and to pay that extra dollar for the must have pieces.

For the past few years my pursuits have mainly been for Bill Moran and Bob Loveless knives. These two pioneers of modern knifemaking not only produce some of the finest knives known to man but also, in my opinion, are some of the easiest to re-sell. I have steered many a new collector towards Morans and Lovelesses for the same reasons. A bit of an "up front" investment may pan out to bring tidy profits in the not so long term. Moran and Loveless knives are currently HOT, HOT, HOT! Patience is the key regarding re-sale of any knife. Do your homework, how much did a similar knife sell for? How many similar knives are on the market today? If you sell the knife how much will it cost you to replace it should you want it back at some point? Do not rush to turn a quick buck because that couple of dollars that you just made may just be the tip of the iceberg.

Some makers who I currently collect besides Moran and Loveless are: Jim Schmidt, Ron Lake, Jim Martin, Buster Warenski and a few others. These are top names in the field and their knives are always saleable.