Unfortunately today, knife collectors can be profiled as militants or worse- criminals. While this may not initially sound like a problem, when it is the law enforcement doing the profiling, significant additional evidence and alibis may be needed to get off a rap.
We know there are many different types of knife collections and some are easier to label as weapons than others (from our perspective), but regardless, there are an awful lot of collectors who at minimum have a half-dozen Case knives sitting around the house. When it comes to legal investigations a knife collection is a knife collection. They don’t care if the knives are peanuts, seahorses or elephant toenails– new or antique. A blade is a blade. And we already know knives are perceived by many as weapons and anyone who “stockpiles” weapons will eventually use them, or so they think.
I learned of a man who was convicted of murder (he was only 15 at the time of his arrest) and one of the pieces of evidence used to convict him was his knife collection. It turns out after serving 8 years in jail his conviction was overturned, but my gracious think about it- he lost 8 years of his life for something he later was found unguilty (if I may use that word) for!
So, what’s the solution? We must keep all appearances of being a “bad guy” as far away from us as possible. Think about it- we proudly display our collections in our home or office; folks know we are card-carrying knife collectors (they know this cause we can’t help but talk about knives- after all, we are passionate about our hobby); we spend time traveling great distances to knife shows; we subscribe to Knife World, Tactical Knives or Knives Illustrated (Is CNJ bookmarked on your computer? Then there you go); on and on I could go.
From the outside looking in, you can see how we could be profiled as having the propensity to use knives in a crime and our collections easily spun as stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction. We must be careful! People’s perceptions are their reality.
A&E had 2 specials on the Hettrick Murder case.
In addition to the knives, his GRAPHIC artwork was used by the prosecution
I keep my gun and knife collection on the down low
If someone asks me about them
I will tell them about WHY I collect guns and knives
More often than not, it has CREATED friends
Not shun them, like they think I am a knife nut/bad guy……….