When I first started collecting knives for purposes other than my next fishing or hunting trip it was in the 1980s while managing a cutlery store. I met Al Mar and got to know what a nice guy he was and Al gave me one of his knives. I started collecting numbered Al Mar knives when they came out & I could afford them. Slowly I started adding new Kershaw knives to the pile. When I left the cutlery business in 1992 I pretty much stopped collecting knives until I retired in 2004 and decided I needed a new knife with a carbon steel blade. I remembered Old Timers from the cutlery store and went looking on the Internet for an Old Timer, only to find out Schrade had closed their doors a few months before. At that point I was still able to buy new Old Timers in the local stores, so that is what I did; I bought a lot of new Old Timer knives.
After a while I encountered Old Timer patterns that had not been made for many years and Open Stock Schrade knives that I found attractive, but impossible to find or afford if still new in the box. So I began collecting old knives as well. Slowly my preference in collecting knives shifted away from the new knives to old knives. Now, I can’t recall the last time I looked at the GEC forum because it is mostly about new knives. The same is true of the Case forum to a lesser degree.
My point is that appreciation for old knives is generally an acquired taste, much like okra or grits –
(ok, I know I have crossed a line there for some folks, but you get my point. LOL) 
My current preference in knife collecting is pre-WWII Camillus knives. As my taste on old knives becomes more sophisticated, and (hopefully) my pocketbook becomes deeper, (not likely), I will start collecting knives that are older than those I collect currently. Collecting is a progression for most collectors. It is a matter of being exposed to, and educated about these older knives before one can truly appreciate them.
If it were not for guys like you, Ray, LT a few others, we who are newer to collecting would never be exposed to these old beauties. Without exposure there is no education nor appreciation of these old knives.
SO…………. KEEP POSTING! You will build an audience! It is already happening, it is just a slow process!
And a big
THANK YOU to those of you who take the time to take good pictures and post them and tell us about the knives, what they are and about the makers. You are teaching us and building an audience and a new group of collectors!
A special thanks to Ray who has been posting pics despite all his computer problems! Ray, I appreciate your efforts and I know others do as well! You have some unique knives in your collection!
Post pictures of a mid 19th century hand forged folding bowie and members just breeze by without a comment or second look. I don` know why I waste my time posting pictures of these of old knives anymore 
But really, a Big Thank You! to everyone for the knives and education provided. I might have two knives that fit that era I have to double check and get back with ya and you guys can tell me what you think. 
