The Soul Project

Will it work? Or is it just another failed knife-collecting justification?

Apr 23, 2023

Here’s an idea I had. It might be hard for me to do, but here’s the idea.

I’m calling it the Soul Project, and it’s a reduce and refine scheme. The Soul Project is all about selling as many mass-produced or “soulless” knives as possible to afford a hand-made knife — or more if possible.

Of course, the presumption is that the longer and more personally the knife is labored over, the more soul it has.

Selling knives is not so easy for me. I still have the acquisitive instinct of a collector and a desire to check out the “new” and always have the perfect justification for buying new knives!

But also I have knife shows, people sending me knives, online purveyors, and blade forums — and I have the perfect justification for buying new knives all the time. And then there are the sentimental knives — keep a knife long enough and it will become a sentimental piece!

But do I want to hand down 50 million Chinese folders to my progeny or do I want to hand down a few priceless treasures?

I’ve tried recently to sell off some folders, to dismal results. Is no one buying? Am I in the right place? Am I charging too much? I have to figure it out to both avoid collection constipation and mature as a man into someone who collects things with soul.

Thinking about the makers I interview and the blood, sweat, and tears they put into their work, the Soul Project is what I owe to the knife-making community. Their work is where the real value is.

So, I think I’m on the way with the “Soul Project.” Wish me luck!

Bob

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RichMade Knives - The Knife Junkie Podcast (Episode 411)

Richard Kloc of RichMade Knives joined me on Episode 411 of The Knife Junkie Podcast — just published today — to discuss his hand-made custom folding knives crafted with hand-carved titanium and steel, featuring sculptural and decorative elements not seen on modern folders.

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