Holding knives for vertical display

wolfeknives

wolfeknives

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Jan 2, 2006
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I am working on several vertical (wall hung) displays for some of my traditional folders. Trying to find a secure way to mount them. In older threads magnets, or resting on small nails was suggested. How secure are those methods?
Tried this, but too much work:




Seriously though, I am looking for ways to display knives both open and closed in various positions.
 
Ha, good one!

If you have the patience, you could trace and router out reliefs for them, or put enough padding behind them so there is enough tension against the glass to keep them in place.

Or use dividers that turn into shelves when you turn it vertical. Like those clear, flat lure boxes.
 
Yeah, they'd stay on like that and nobody would want to steal them either:D:D Hammered pins would be more elegant though..;)

I'm sorry I can't suggest anything, but Charlie C has a lot of displays and experience with them so maybe you could contact him?

That's an exceptionally tasteful display you've got there, the 38, 25,92 is a fine combination, great examples too.But them screws...try superglue?:)

Thanks, Will
 
boy&hisdogs said:
Ha, good one!

If you have the patience, you could trace and router out reliefs for them, or put enough padding behind them so there is enough tension against the glass to keep them in place.

Or use dividers that turn into shelves when you turn it vertical. Like those clear, flat lure boxes.
Click to expand...

This would be a bit of work, but would fit with what I am trying to accomplish. My goal is to create a "Store" type display for my 98's. I will be receiving the remaining 3 I "need" to complete the set. I will be building a vertical display case with a carved head board on to featuring the Great Eastern logo.

Any other ideas will be much appreciated.

 
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That is quite a picture! Sorry I can't help with your problem but I had to comment on that...
 
At a local hardware store, they have a nice display. It's a wooden rotating cabinet display, with some sort of of thin sheet metal in the back of the cabinets, that was painted dark red. Then they used small square earth magnets (which are super strong) and stuck them to the metal. They did not slide around and stayed put even when rotating the cabinet. 3-4 magnets were used per knife and you could stack them to get different heights. I thought it as a good idea.
 
I have some ridiculously strong rare earth magnets from a Leatherman display case. I just tested them on a traditional pocket knife and they provide a ridiculously strong hold on a blade or springs. If you display them with a blade open, it might work. The magnets don't hold nickel silver bolsters and they have a weak hold if you put them on the covers on the pile side (at least when the liners are brass)... the magnets are so strong that when it slips from the covers, the magnet flips the knife and locks on the springs.

Using a router or shelves sound like nice ideas.
 
i collect arrowheads as well, just about everyone uses felt lined foam pressed against the glass . Glue , wire,etc has been abandoned long ago. I would consider magnets as well
 
Using magnets is a great way to display knives, and it allows you to do quick changing and shuffling. On the down side, you have to have at least one blade open, and generally the blademust be uppermost.
Here is a display I am working on, of Horn-handled knives.

Horny 1.JPG Horny 2.JPG Horny 3.JPG

You can see some of the magnets in the pictures. Sorry for the confusing juxtaposition - there are obviously 3 separate pictures of the same display taken at three different levels!
 
EmpireDisplay2010 001.jpg This Empire display could not easily be done with magnets.
You have to lay out the whole display first, then wire the knives in place. This display is mounted on 1/2" plywood covered in cloth. 4 holes are drilled per knife. I bought bundles of coated thin wire from a florist. The pieces are about 4" long, and dark green.
I laid out the knives on the bare plywood, marked and drilled the holes, and then applied the cloth. I found I could push the wires (two per knife) through the cloth cleanly, then a couple of quick twists at the back secured the knives.
 
The Empire is a magnificent display Charlie. It is exactly what I was aiming for. How did you install the cloth? Is it just stretched, or adhered with spray adhesive?

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I will get some rare earth magnets as well and see what I can do with them. For a permanent display the wires are great, and maybe a classic way of mounting them.
 
wolfeknives said:
I am working on several vertical (wall hung) displays for some of my traditional folders. Trying to find a secure way to mount them. In older threads magnets, or resting on small nails was suggested. How secure are those methods?
Tried this, but too much work:




Seriously though, I am looking for ways to display knives both open and closed in various positions.
Click to expand...

Instant glue is very efficient and you don't see it! :D:D:D:D
 
wolfeknives said:
The Empire is a magnificent display Charlie. It is exactly what I was aiming for. How did you install the cloth? Is it just stretched, or adhered with spray adhesive?
Click to expand...

Wolfe, I stretched the cloth around the panel, using wide double-sided tape on the back of the plywood. I then stapled through the cloth and tape, just to be sure it stayed taught. You do NOT want stretchy cloth, BTW! The marks you see is a slight nap on the cloth (look like fingerprints).
No nap is better.
 
waynorth said:
Wolfe, I stretched the cloth around the panel, using wide double-sided tape on the back of the plywood. I then stapled through the cloth and tape, just to be sure it stayed taught. You do NOT want stretchy cloth, BTW! The marks you see is a slight nap on the cloth (look like fingerprints).
No nap is better.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much Charlie. I am looking forward to this little project. If it turns out half as nice as yours, I will be very happy.
It must have taken many hours to drill all the holes in the proper location for each knife to get such a perfect arrangement. I admire your passion.

Wolfe
 
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I drew some big circles on the plywood, and aligned the "tips" of the bolsters in as perfect a circle as I could manage. Since a good place to put a wire is around the tang as it disappears into the bolster, I drilled holes right on that circle. Of course I laid out the knives and used a marker to place dots for the holes. The second pair of holes had to suit each knife of course.
Two wires per knife.
Hope that helps!
 
Nice collection Charlie, looking over those knives I see a lot of similarities to GEC in their blade and handle shapes - e.g the spear points at bottom right, a clip point, a couple of the wharncliffe blades -far more so than in your other horn - handled knife display- is this coincidence or where those blade shapes fairly universal?
 
I like the OP photo, but with just a little more work you could drill out two of the pins on each knife and then use hammered pins through those holes to hold them to a board. It would look better, and since you're not going to use the knives ....
 
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