How Do I Label my Knives?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by AlanN on November 1, 2010 at 22:48

Interesting question. You got me scratching my head.
I've noticed several collectors in my club keep index "cards" on each knife....maker, date, price paid, etc., But I'm not sure how they keep the cards associated with the knives, and some of these guys have huge collections.
I'll try to remember to ask one of them at the next meeting.

A couple of things come to mind. If we are talking traditionals, which are usually small, keeping them in a knife roll and labeling the roll spots with your number might be an idea.
Or you can get small cellophane/plastic sleeves in various sizes that could house the knife and a card or label, plus giving a little protection to the knife.

Permalink Reply by Shlomo ben Maved on September 25, 2011 at 13:45

I guess it depends on where and for what you're labelling them.

Pre-computer days I took Polaroid pictures of each knife and attached to the back of the picture was a cut to size index card on which I wrote the details of make, model, blade steel, size and length, handle material, any unique features, where and when bought (or traded) and for how much on the back...Photocopied them and put the originals in the safety deposit box--later along with the VHS then DVD of all the knives for insurance purposes and kept the copies with me at home. 

Now, I wrote a MS Access program with all the details (but in far greater detail) and with space for a digital photo(s) of the knife...In both cases a unique identity number was assigned to each blade and just carried over from the old system to the present.

A friend of mine owns a printing company and I had him make up some of those 3M Post-it-Notes pre-printed with the info I need but with the spaces left blank for me to fill in and attach to the back of the sheath(s) as I predominately collect fixed blades...He also printed up some hole punched labels that I used to attach with string (similar to yours) but switched to those really small Zip-ties (like police restraints) that had the basic info on them that I would attach across the hilt when I would display them at shows but I keep them on all the time in the display cases--which are old wooden and metal blueprint drawers that I salvaged and which will hold all but the thickest of knives--and makes identifying them for friends easier...I had him print them in two different colours--a pale white for home display and a reddish colour for when I attend a show.

I keep a bunch of both types of red ones with me at any show in case I happen to buy a knife from someone that has only a few samples on their table and will let them display the blade until the last day of the show...Get the info from the seller or maker, print it on the cards and attach them to my newly acquired purchase...Even if I take the knife with me then and there, I'll still attach the label on the knife and/or sheath so I won't forget anything about it.

The Zip-ties are very thin but tough...On the few folders I have, if possible, I'll loosen the stub on the blade, slip the tie under and retighten it and if not I'll just wrap it around the choil to the spine, zip them tight and close the blade…Since they’re so thin they don’t hamper the closing any…I always display folders with the blade(s) open so I’ll wrap the tie around the centre of the knife, cinch it closed and leave it that way in the display case….If the ties get cut, I’ll just attach another one through the label holes as they’re super cheap in bulk—around three to five for a penny depending on volume.

 

Permalink Reply by Jim Child on September 29, 2011 at 8:38

Thank you  Shlomo -- LOTS of information!!

 

I'm very familiar with Zip-ties, we actually use them as a quick way to hold 5' metal livestock panels to fence posts out in the field. BTW: a good source for a WIDE variety of sizes and types is http://www.cabletiesplus.com/ 

In the above picture you can see, with the lower knife, how I close the blade on the label's string when the knife does not have a bail.  Shlomo , I know you understood, but I thought other readers of this thread might enjoy an illustration.

I have a friend who puts a very small, transparent sticky label on his knives' bolsters -- the small black ID numbers on the labels are easy to miss udring a quick look. Of course, he ONLY collects early Case riggers and they ALL have bolsters.

I'm not sure I understand how you use the Zip-ties in all circumstances, especially on the non-folders in your collection. Are you locking the label down tight against the knife? ...with the Zip-tie cinched all the way?

The string loop on my labels let me pass the label through to attach to a knife's bail (see upper knife above) and then, passing the label back through, to un-attach the label -- maybe for photo taking.

Shlomo ben Maved said:

I guess it depends on where and for what you're labelling them.  ...<snip>...

The Zip-ties are very thin but tough...On the few folders I have, if possible, I'll loosen the stub on the blade, slip the tie under and retighten it and if not I'll just wrap it around the choil to the spine, zip them tight and close the blade…Since they’re so thin they don’t hamper the closing any…I always display folders with the blade(s) open so I’ll wrap the tie around the centre of the knife, cinch it closed and leave it that way in the display case….If the ties get cut, I’ll just attach another one through the label holes as they’re super cheap in bulk—around three to five for a penny depending on volume.