Beginning with knowing what types of knives are out there and which ones are real and which are fakes or counterfeits, you must do some homework before purchasing your first knife. Even experts who have been collecting knives for years have been duped by counterfeits and fakes because they were not paying close enough attention to the details.

Different Types of Knives to Collect -

There are many styles and kinds of knives out there to choose from. You may want to collect only one style of knife, like the pocket knife, or you may want to collect several kinds and styles of knives. For example, you could collect the pocket knife and the bowie knife along with boot knives and katana swords.

Pocket Knives -

Pocket knives date back to the early 19th century and can be found in various styles and shapes with different blades and gadgets. The pocket knife value depends on the price and the condition it is in. The resale value depends on the same thing so be careful when handling your collection and cleaning each item.

Bowie Knives -

Bowie knives are big collectible items at the present time. Bowie knives began in the early 1800's by a man named James Bowie while he was watching a duel and many of the bystanders lost control and began fighting. Bowie was shot in the leg and ended up killing a man with his large hunting knife that his brother gave him for protection. People everywhere heard the story and wanted a bowie knife. Authentic bowie knives in excellent condition have sold for upwards of $40,000 depending on the style, size, where it came from, and to whom you are selling it too.

Katana Swords -

Katana swords are Japanese swords that are usable art. They are beautiful displays that can still be used at martial art competitions. They are very expensive and one should think very carefully before beginning a collection of this caliber. They are popular at the moment and so resale value might be enticing to a novice, but there is a lot of work and care that goes into maintaining the katana swords. Also, it is not wise to purchase a 'fixer upper' sword because there are so many pieces to the sword, and restoration is complicated and expensive. You are better off purchasing an original from a reputable dealer.

Boot Knives -

Boot knives are knives like hunting or utility knives worn in a sheath attached to your boot or in your pant leg to be concealed from others.

Check Out Knife Shows -

Going to knife shows will help you decide which knives you want to begin collecting. You should also talk to the people at the shows - the ones who are selling knives and the ones who are buying them. Listen to what they have to say about collecting knives, how they got their start, and what to look for. Most people at the knife shows have been around for a long time and know what they are doing. They can show you the difference between an original knife and a counterfeit, or at least show you what the real one looks like.

Knife shows are also where you will get some good ideas of prices and what you will be investing on your collection. Some knives are very expensive and others are reasonably priced, it depends on the era the knife came from and the person or business selling the knife.

Research How to Clean Your Knife Collection -

Cleaning your knife collection takes time and patience. You don't want to hurry through a job such as this. You need to avoid getting a possibly injury by the sharp blades, and you need to maintain those knives without ruining any of the knives in the collection. To properly clean your knives you will need oil, a soft cotton rag and cotton swabs. If you have a knife with rust, all is not lost, take a cotton swab and dab a little oil on the spots, and let it sit for a few days. When you return, gently pick the rust off with another knife, leaving the original stainless steel or finish intact. Use the oil on the rag and gently wipe the width of the blade, always pushing away from you with the sharpened edge facing away from you.

Displaying your collection of knives needs to be done delicately. You can have a case built or build one yourself, and display them on a soft cloth or have them hanging on the wall, blade side up so as not to wear the sharp edge down.