Progression as a collector

[mcarter]

Like many people, I was a collector long before I became a knife maker. I started out collecting anything that caught my eye at flea markets and yard sales. I didn't know anything about knives back then so I bought a lot of junk.

I then got into Shrade knives, especially lockback folders. I also collected a few Case, Camillus and some others. I have always loved big Bowie knives and have gathered several of various makes over the years.

Around 1991 I was at a flea market and saw a United Cutlery / Gil Hibben Double Shadow on a dealer's table. I had never heard of Gil Hibben and I had never seen anything like this knife. I loved it. The split blade was the first time I had seen anything that differed from the normal blade shapes. It was like a magic trick how the blade seemed to disappear when you put it in the sheath and you could see all the way though the slot in the middle.

I was hooked. I had to learn more about this guy Gil Hibben and find more of his knives. When I found out United made an annual Hibben knife I made it a point to get every one and anxiously awaited each year's release. Around this time I also learned that people, including Gil, made custom handmade knives. I was just a poor working stiff (still am for that matter) and I couldn't afford Gil's handmade knives at the time but dreamed of someday owning one. I did start buying a few other handmades when I saw one I liked and could afford.

Anyway, as time went by I mostly lost interest in the poclet knives and mostly bought the bigger fixed blades, especially bowies, and a few military bayonets and some swords (cheap repos). And of course I kept collecting the Hibben United knives.

It was in 2003 that I stumbed across contact information for Gil Hibben. I was stunned to see that he was in LaGrange, KY about 20 miles from me. I had thought we was out west in Utah or up in Alaska. I had no idea that he had actually lived for several years in my hometown of Louisville before moving to LaGrange. I immediately made a call and found out that Gil Offered knifemaking classes. I signed up for a class and took a weeks vacation time to attend in may 2003.

That was turning point in my life as well as my knife collecting and my beginning as a knifemaker. Gil and I were like long-lost brothers from the day we met. His family became my family over the years. Gil taught me more about knives and knifemaking than I could possibly relate here. He introduced me to countless knifemakers and others involved with the industry. Through Gil I met the owners of Smoky Mountain Knifeworks, the owners of United Cutlery, Kit Rae, Bruce Voyles (Publisher of Knives Illustrated), Steve Shackelford (editor of Blade Magazine), and a lot of influential knifemakers and collectors. Gil introduced me to the Knifemaker's Guild.

I have continued to make knives since that first class in 2003. After about 4 years I felt I was ready to start selling my work and Carter Crafts opened for businees in May 2007.

I still collect knives. I'll buy the occasional factory knife if it is something that interests me but mostly I am only interested in handmade customs these days and if I have the money to buy one, it will almost always be one of Gil's knives.

I now have somewhere around 300 knives in my collection. Most are not valuable but rather just things I liked over the years.I consider myself very lucky to have several of Gil's handmade customs in my collection now including some that he made especially for me and some very special collectable knives.

It has been a long and fascinating journey over the last 20 years or so. I learned a lot and continue to learn daily. I find the history of knives fascinating and pursuit of excellence in knifemaking has become my passion. I have developed an extreme appreciation of those who can make extraordinary custom knives and the craftsmanship involved.

That's my long story. What's yours?