Is this an "old man's hobby"?

asomotif · 21st November 2012, 10:06 PM

43, pretending to be 40- something for the next 6 years

My father (79 now) had a javanese golok which he traded as a young boy for a defective wristwatch. It was always laying next to his tool box.
It was an intrigueing object. as a small boy (approx 10) I thought it to be a knights sword, but playing with it was off-limits.

At the age of 15, after watching the television series "Shogun", I wanted a replica katana, (made in spain) and with my parents consent I bought it for NLG 230, which is appox Eur 105,- nowadays.

I wish I had bouhgt a 17th cent. katana like Norman did

, as I still have the bloody replica katana as a token of bad taste and quality

Best regards,
Willem

Ps. remember Anjin San / Richard Chamberlain.

Norman McCormick · 21st November 2012, 10:36 PM

[QUOTE=asomotif] I wish I had bouhgt a 17th cent. katana like Norman did

Hi Willem,
Absolute luck and sheer ignorance I can assure you.

Regards,
Norman.

dana_w · 21st November 2012, 10:50 PM

I turned 53 this year and have been collecting antiques of one type or another most of my life. Two years ago my father passed away and left me his weapons collection. Now I am in REAL trouble. Antique weapons are rapidly taking over all my other hobbies.

Jeff D · 22nd November 2012, 12:55 AM

350 dog years or 50. Been at it 15 years.

All the Best
Jeff

Andrew · 22nd November 2012, 01:21 AM

44

Martial artist for 35+ years, which naturally led to an immediate unatural compulsion to acquire every conceivable hand weapon available.

Battara · 22nd November 2012, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

44

Martial artist for 35+ years, which naturally led to an immediate unatural compulsion to acquire every conceivable hand weapon available.

Oo, oo - what kind of martial arts?

Emanuel · 22nd November 2012, 04:25 AM

30, started collecting at 23, essentially when I joined this forum

I had purchased a "Lake Toba" keris-like object on ebay that turned out to be a horrible POS. One post here and some wonderful lessons from Henk put me on the right path

Then a look at the Vikingsword glossary and a copy of the "Big Book of Stone" got me hopelessly hooked.

kahnjar1 · 22nd November 2012, 05:02 AM

THANKS GENE

You really know how to strike deep!! 68 and have been collecting for about 40 years, but don't hold that against me. Age is but a number, and one can do all sorts of things with those! My mind is still SHARP

Stu

Royston · 22nd November 2012, 02:25 PM

56

Started when I was 18 after years of admiring a saw-backed K98 bayonet that belonged to my Grandfather. I still have it now. Collected bayonets for a few years then went to work in Sabah in 1982 and got interested in S.E Asian weapons. There were lots about in the UK in those days. Like most collectors I can still remember the things I should have bought while they were available. Oh well, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Roy

bhushan_lawate · 22nd November 2012, 02:27 PM

32 now and collecting since the last 8 years or so....!!!!!

Andrew · 24th November 2012, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Oo, oo - what kind of martial arts?

lol.

ITF Taekwon-do
Chung Do Kwon
Muay Thai
Western boxing
Submission wrestling (w/a little BJJ)

Timo Nieminen · 25th November 2012, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

ITF Taekwon-do
Chung Do Kwon
Muay Thai
Western boxing
Submission wrestling (w/a little BJJ)

Wot? No weapons?

ITF TKD
Liechtenauer, mostly longsword
Chinese spear
Chinese archery

In the past, foil fencing and SCA heavy if you call those martial arts.

Atlantia · 25th November 2012, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

lol.

Submission wrestling (w/a little BJJ)

Keep it clean!

Battara · 25th November 2012, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

lol.

ITF Taekwon-do
Chung Do Kwon
Muay Thai
Western boxing
Submission wrestling (w/a little BJJ)

Wow! Nice! Thank you Andrew.

I did Tae Kwon do once, then Shotokan, then Judo, then Chinese Kenpo, an intro to Winchun and an intro to Arnis/Escrima. I am currently working on American Kenpo (with a small mixture of other stuff).

Also I got started collecting in my mid-twenties right after I got married.

My first piece was a Nazi SA dagger, but soon ditched that and got into pieces from the Philippines (and a few other countries).

CourseEight · 22nd November 2012, 01:23 AM

32, and been collecting about 10 years.

Berkley · 22nd November 2012, 02:43 AM

I'm 66. Began collecting antique firearms when I was 14. Always tried to follow the rule of acquiring at least one reference book for every new piece in the collection. Bought a kukri at a gun show on a whim when I was 55 - knew nothing about it, thought it looked interesting, and tried to find out more about it. Discovered that, unlike the many firearms books available, there was precious little printed information about the kukri. Began searching the newly evolving Internet, haunted eBay, developed a correspondence with a gentleman named John Powell who outbid me on a piece I really wanted. Discovered this and other online forums. The collection continues to grow, and I keep meeting other collectors online, a much more gratifying way of learning than simply reading a book.
I think it has always been the case that acquiring a collection takes time, and collectors therefore tend to be older. Whether the field of weapons collecting is one that will continue to attract new collectors in a changing world is something I do wonder about.

weapons 27 · 23rd November 2012, 04:26 PM

I am 48 years , I have been collecting for about 10 years

antoine

not2sharp · 23rd November 2012, 07:08 PM

I am 50, and I have been collecting and trading things since very early in life.

n2s

KuKulzA28 · 23rd November 2012, 09:08 PM

22 currently.

I like history and martial arts, and it led me to collecting antique weapons. But I am not much of a collector... I buy, enjoy it for a bit, and then sell to recuperate the cost. So I'm not big on collecting, due to a combination of cost, taking up space, and not really using them.... but they are very nice.

Iliad · 26th November 2012, 07:48 PM

Aged 71; started collecting about 12 years ago. Collecting edged weapons seems to be an incurable disease. Is there any way out?
But I have made so many friends!
Brian

Peter Andeweg · 25th April 2020, 02:44 PM

I'm 29 years of age. After a period in the military, it all started about 7 years ago to study and deal mostly in arms and armor. I spent the last 5 years in the study of oriental arms and armor including tribal and ethnographic weaponry.
This forum is a huge plus when it comes to combining knowledge in this specific field of interest.

Hope to share and gain extensive knowledge on this forum in the future.

All the best to everyone!

Peter Andeweg

rickystl · 26th April 2020, 03:31 PM

I will turn 70 next month. Bought my first surplus machete with sheath when I was about 10/11 years old. Paid $3.00 for it as I recall. Been shooting/collecting antique guns (and the occasional blade) since I was 14 years old. And it is still a passion. As far as the average age of collectors:

If you ever attend the Antique Arms Show in Baltimore, MD (cancelled this year) it is hard to notice anyone there under the age of 50.

Rick

Jens Nordlunde · 26th April 2020, 04:37 PM

Come on Ariel, I have been retired (early due to the sale of my firm) for more than 22 years. As long as you have hobbies/interests it is no problem.
In a year or so I am closing in on 80, so the rest of you youngsters should take it easy:-).

21st November 2012, 10:06 PM	#1
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	43, pretending to be 40- something for the next 6 years My father (79 now) had a javanese golok which he traded as a young boy for a defective wristwatch. It was always laying next to his tool box. It was an intrigueing object. as a small boy (approx 10) I thought it to be a knights sword, but playing with it was off-limits. At the age of 15, after watching the television series "Shogun", I wanted a replica katana, (made in spain) and with my parents consent I bought it for NLG 230, which is appox Eur 105,- nowadays. I wish I had bouhgt a 17th cent. katana like Norman did , as I still have the bloody replica katana as a token of bad taste and quality Best regards, Willem Ps. remember Anjin San / Richard Chamberlain. Attached Images Last edited by asomotif; 21st November 2012 at 10:14 PM. Reason: typos

21st November 2012, 10:36 PM	#2
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,618	[QUOTE=asomotif] I wish I had bouhgt a 17th cent. katana like Norman did Hi Willem, Absolute luck and sheer ignorance I can assure you. Regards, Norman.

21st November 2012, 10:50 PM	#3
dana_w Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Southeast Florida, USA Posts: 436	I turned 53 this year and have been collecting antiques of one type or another most of my life. Two years ago my father passed away and left me his weapons collection. Now I am in REAL trouble. Antique weapons are rapidly taking over all my other hobbies.

22nd November 2012, 12:55 AM	#4
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	350 dog years or 50. Been at it 15 years. All the Best Jeff

22nd November 2012, 01:21 AM	#5
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	44 Martial artist for 35+ years, which naturally led to an immediate unatural compulsion to acquire every conceivable hand weapon available.

22nd November 2012, 04:25 AM	#7
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	30, started collecting at 23, essentially when I joined this forum I had purchased a "Lake Toba" keris-like object on ebay that turned out to be a horrible POS. One post here and some wonderful lessons from Henk put me on the right path Then a look at the Vikingsword glossary and a copy of the "Big Book of Stone" got me hopelessly hooked.

22nd November 2012, 05:02 AM	#8
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,789	THANKS GENE You really know how to strike deep!! 68 and have been collecting for about 40 years, but don't hold that against me. Age is but a number, and one can do all sorts of things with those! My mind is still SHARP Stu

22nd November 2012, 02:25 PM	#9
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	56 Started when I was 18 after years of admiring a saw-backed K98 bayonet that belonged to my Grandfather. I still have it now. Collected bayonets for a few years then went to work in Sabah in 1982 and got interested in S.E Asian weapons. There were lots about in the UK in those days. Like most collectors I can still remember the things I should have bought while they were available. Oh well, hindsight is a wonderful thing. Roy

22nd November 2012, 02:27 PM	#10
bhushan_lawate Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: India Posts: 77	32 now and collecting since the last 8 years or so....!!!!!

22nd November 2012, 01:23 AM	#15
CourseEight Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 222	32, and been collecting about 10 years.

22nd November 2012, 02:43 AM	#16
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	I'm 66. Began collecting antique firearms when I was 14. Always tried to follow the rule of acquiring at least one reference book for every new piece in the collection. Bought a kukri at a gun show on a whim when I was 55 - knew nothing about it, thought it looked interesting, and tried to find out more about it. Discovered that, unlike the many firearms books available, there was precious little printed information about the kukri. Began searching the newly evolving Internet, haunted eBay, developed a correspondence with a gentleman named John Powell who outbid me on a piece I really wanted. Discovered this and other online forums. The collection continues to grow, and I keep meeting other collectors online, a much more gratifying way of learning than simply reading a book. I think it has always been the case that acquiring a collection takes time, and collectors therefore tend to be older. Whether the field of weapons collecting is one that will continue to attract new collectors in a changing world is something I do wonder about.

23rd November 2012, 04:26 PM	#17
weapons 27 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 462	I am 48 years , I have been collecting for about 10 years antoine

23rd November 2012, 07:08 PM	#18
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	I am 50, and I have been collecting and trading things since very early in life. n2s

23rd November 2012, 09:08 PM	#19
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	22 currently. I like history and martial arts, and it led me to collecting antique weapons. But I am not much of a collector... I buy, enjoy it for a bit, and then sell to recuperate the cost. So I'm not big on collecting, due to a combination of cost, taking up space, and not really using them.... but they are very nice.

26th November 2012, 07:48 PM	#20
Iliad Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 187	Aged 71; started collecting about 12 years ago. Collecting edged weapons seems to be an incurable disease. Is there any way out? But I have made so many friends! Brian

25th April 2020, 02:44 PM	#21
Peter Andeweg Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Vlissingen, Netherlands Posts: 71	I'm 29 years of age. After a period in the military, it all started about 7 years ago to study and deal mostly in arms and armor. I spent the last 5 years in the study of oriental arms and armor including tribal and ethnographic weaponry. This forum is a huge plus when it comes to combining knowledge in this specific field of interest. Hope to share and gain extensive knowledge on this forum in the future. All the best to everyone! Peter Andeweg

26th April 2020, 03:31 PM	#22
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,632	I will turn 70 next month. Bought my first surplus machete with sheath when I was about 10/11 years old. Paid $3.00 for it as I recall. Been shooting/collecting antique guns (and the occasional blade) since I was 14 years old. And it is still a passion. As far as the average age of collectors: If you ever attend the Antique Arms Show in Baltimore, MD (cancelled this year) it is hard to notice anyone there under the age of 50. Rick

26th April 2020, 04:37 PM	#23
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Come on Ariel, I have been retired (early due to the sale of my firm) for more than 22 years. As long as you have hobbies/interests it is no problem. In a year or so I am closing in on 80, so the rest of you youngsters should take it easy:-).