On the lighter side: A wired old knife collector having a blast

I’m often asked, “Scott, just how do you do it? How do you keep all the knife related projects going?”

To begin with- I have fun doing all my knife-related projects. And yes, most of them do involve the web.

And it is true, as I find new technologies I’m going to do a test drive. At first, many of these tools are a little far out for most collectors. I know that. But it’s clear there are thousands of wired older collectors, plus younger collectors are using them already.

Twitter is one. Blogs were but are close to mainstream now….well, almost. Social Networking- facebook, MySpace, YouTube and iKnifeCollector members are continuing to mushroom in number.

As an aside, I’ve gotta share a funny email I received the other day from a fellow iKC member-

“Scott, You might want to look at getting a 5-point safety harness installed on your computer chair. So you won’t be blown away with all this new member registration.”

Jerry Smith – J. W. Smith & Sons Custom Knives

OK, so maybe only the early adopter collectors use these new web things, but really the point here is for me to come clean.

I don’t want folks to feel sorry for me about the number of things I have going.

I’ve wanted you to see me as an old knife collector sitting behind a wooden desk with my feet propped up as I peck away on my keyboard. Kind of fits with the image of an old knife collector, doesn’t it?

No, I don’t have a super-duper computer chair with straps. But the truth is I do have a get-up that handles extreme speed and keeps it all going very efficiently. I haven’t wanted to show you because I hate the knife collector-geek reputation.

Only so you won’t worry about me any longer- here is how I get it all done…I just don’t use a keyboard 🙂

Social Networks Spawn Anti-Knife Groups

Social Networks are the hottest thing on the web these days and they continue to go mainstream. Last week, FaceBook, the granddaddy of SN’s, reported topping 300 million users. In fact, it added 50 million users in the last 75 days, according to Inside FaceBook. Historically, the 18-25 year olds dominated FB, however, eMarketer reports the social network is seeing significant growth in the 45 to 65-year-old category. While this social phenomenon is interesting to watch, the aspect relevant to the knife community is the significant presence of the Anti-Knife Crowd.

I went exploring earlier this week and ran up on several activist anti-knife groups there…..you should have seen me- it was like I walked into a den of bears awakening from hibernation. Fortunately, I saw them before they saw me, so I ever so quietly, and quickly, back stepped out of that place. And before you start hurling barbs at me for withdrawing from a fight, let me say- their numbers are huge!

While there are dozens of groups shouting anti-knife rhetoric, it is clear, compared to the few pro-knife groups, the anti’s dominate the place. In fact, one group- STOP KNIFE CRIME houses 109,399 fans! Another over 70,000.

If you are into FaceBook and are of the pro-knife persuasion, be warned- the place is crawling with folks who stand on the other side and their numbers are many.

My Favorite Knife Video Contest 3rd Place Winners & Honorable Mention

After several days of deliberations, the judges are ready to announce the winners of the My Favorite Knife Video Contest. The contest was sponsored by YouTube’s Cutlerylover, the National Knife Collectors Association and Cutlery News Journal.

We will begin by announcing the Third Place Winner and Honorable Mention

The third place winner is a tie between Rough Rider Toothpick submitted by Nathan Thompson

and 1978 Swiss Army Knife submitted by Jake Shindelar

Also, an Honorable Mention goes to Kenneth PFahlert for Large Swiss Army Knife

Thanks Gentlemen. Good stuff here. Great stories.

We’ll be in touch later this week.

Next is the Second Place Winner

iKnifeCollector Grand Opening Announcement

Grand Opening Announcement of iKnifeCollector- The Next Generation Knife Collector Community.

There’s a storm brewing

Weekend Edition

From the Off The Subject category

Just so you guys don’t think I’m always intense and serious, and in keeping spirit with lighter subjects in the Weekend Edition-

We had storms down South yesterday. My wife and 3 daughters are in FL for spring break and I’m home alone with my 17 year old son. He’s got baseball playoffs going on which is why we stayed home.

He and I rode the storm out together, alone.

ini mini miny mo

Weekend Edition

The hardest part of anything is getting started. To help prime the pump let me ask- How are you at making decisions? Are you quick and decisive, or deliberate and wishie washie?

After reading the comments so far about the My Favorite Knife Contest, it doesn’t appear getting folks to enter is a problem. Instead, it seems these folks biggest challenge is deciding which of their knives is their most favorite.

As I shared with the toenail collectors over at The News at Elephant Toenails.com this morning, I have the same problem. While I’m not eligible to enter the contest, my wife asked me which was my favorite out of my collection. I realized, I don’t really have a #1 Favorite.

ini mini miny mo

It is like being forced to pick which of my 4 kids is my favorite- I can’t do it.

So, for you who are like me and can’t make that decision- I can make the decision for you- JUST PRETEND.

The knife you use doesn’t really have to be, deep down in your heart of hearts, your all time favorite, OK? So, don’t get hung up trying to decide. If you do, you’ll never get started.

We can all narrow it down to at least a short list of  favorites-  so just pick one of those and then pretend.

Have fun!

My Favorite Knife YouTube Video Contest

UPDATED: Thur. April 30, 2009

The deadline is today for entering your video! Put it up on YouTube and send me your link. Thanks to the contestants who have taken the time to enter. Good luck!

Check out Cutlery News Journal’s YouTube Channel for the entries as they come in. I’m linking them to the 2009 My Favorite Knife Video Playlist.

The rules and instructions are linked below.

Everyone has a favorite knife. And I haven’t met a knife owner who doesn’t get excited and want to tell about it.

CNJ Monthly Update

If you want to give your eyes a break from reading come on over to CNJ’s YouTube Channel and watch the CNJ Monthly Update for October 2008.

Leading by Example: Elephant Toenail Knife YouTube Video

For weeks now I have been pounding the drum about the knife establishment taking the organized knife collecting hobby to the people through online media, specifically the watchers of knife related videos on YouTube.

Well, heck- after talking to YouTube’s Cutlerylover, I decided to go for it too. Jeff inspired me to introduce my favorite knife to those outside of the normal channels. So, I sat down yesterday and put together a basic introduction to the Elephant Toenail Knife.

I loaded it last night around mid-night and was pleasantly surprised this morning to find a nice comment-

“Great review, personally I wasn’t aware of this knife at all but I’m glad I saw the video….thanks and I look forward to seeing many more great reviews on your channel.”

I am not looking for compliments, instead I simply wanted to let folks know about the ET.  

If you care to watch a basic intro to the best old pattern, then check it out- Intro to the Elephant Toenail Knife

Subscribe to the Cutlery News Journal Channel

If you wish to subscribe to the Cutlery News Journal’s YouTube Channel it is easy and free. I do plan on broadcasting CNJ topics, as well as additional toenail videos.

CNJ Interview with YouTube’s Cutlerylover

Recently I wrote about the Next Generation of knife collectors and their online presence on YouTube.

Updated YouTube Stats

Before you meet Jeff, let me remind you the number of knife related YouTube videos at this time numbers into the thousands. Search “pocket knife” and you get 911 videos, while “knife” is 105,000, though I am sure many thousands aren’t related to cutlery. “Knife Collection(s)” has 1080 videos. There is even a category of “pocket knife reviews” with 67.

Meet Jeff- YouTube’s Cutlerylover

Allow me now to introduce a young man named Jeff, who is without a doubt the YouTube Knife King. He goes by cutlerylover. Here is his bio and video collection page. You will see he has over 3,100 subscribers to his channel and 127,864 views of his bio on his channel page.

 Jeff is 23 years old and has been collecting knives since he was a boy. Today, Jeff has made YouTube his turf- his forum for sharing his passion about knives.

Jeff has produced 230 YouTube knife videos. Most are showing his knives, either in groups, or featuring a certain brand or pattern. Some are purely instructional.

What is also amazing is Jeff’s knife videos have received thousands of views. While he does a good job showing the knives and narrating, let me remind you, these are amateur videos, but even still many have been watched over 10,000 times, and several have over 30,000 views each! 

CNJ Interview with Jeff

I asked Jeff some questions about his interest in knives, why the YouTube videos, online collectors, and his subscribers. Listen in to his responses. He is knowledgeable and articulate. Jeff clearly represents the Next Generation of knife collectors. They are online and they are watching YouTube.

Thank you Jeff for being willing to share a little about yourself with us here at CNJ. I’m sure we’ll be talking again.

Scott