The fundamental difference between the AKC and other mail-order
operations, is the "Club" concept. Members are invited to participate,
and general knife enquiries, as far as possible, are answered. Literally
hundreds of phoned, faxed and mailed enquiries are dealt with in the course
of a year.
The members are a fantastic information resource for the AKC. Much valuable
data has been accumulated directly as a result of members seeking answers
that need to be researched and highlighting areas for greater consideration.
That is why the "club concept" will always remain an integral part of the
AKC and every effort is made to "personalize" with members, regardless
of the increasing number coming on line.
1. CATER FOR THE NEEDS OF BONA FIDE COLLECTORS:
The needs of collectors are wide and varied.
The Club markets an extensive range of factory-made bladeware available
in well-known and respected brands from around the world. Also
on offer to Club members are commemoratives, limited editions, newly released
items, old items, traditional artefacts, publications and Club products,
as well as historic information, valuations, identifications. The AKC
is the first and only national knife collectors and knife makers mail-order
club. With membership numbers now exceeding 4000 across Australia,
the AKc Club continues to service the needs of the growing number of knife-minded
and edged-tool enthusiasts who are invited to always make their Club their
first point of call for infromation and advice.
2. ENCOURAGE THE ASPIRATIONS Of CUSTOM KNIFEMAKERS:
Many Club members are self-confessed knifemakers,
whilst lots of others are customisers and restorers - the Art
of Custom Knifemaking and the Craft of Knife Customisation. The
AKC is the first and largest national knifemaking supplies source in Australia
and
has induced hundreds of tyro makers into the industry. Via articles
in Australian and overseas publications, the AKC continues to expose the
work of Australian knifemaking artisans.
3. PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE KNIFE OWNERSHIP &
USAGE:
The AKC wants no truck with those who employ
knives for unlawful purposes or wilfully abuse working tools by engaging
them on tasks for which they were not intended. The AKC advocates proper
usage, maintenance and storage of humankind's oldest edged tool.
Collectors are custodians of bladeware that may be purely collectable
(not to be used) or practical collectables (chooose to use or keep
in collection) .
4. MAINTAIN A REGISTER OF KNIFEMAKERS &
COLLECTORS:
The AKC Club maintains a comprehensive register
of Australian custom knifemakers - past and present - from part-time hobbyists
to full-time makers. Makers are encouraged to send in evidence of their
work (colour prints preferred), a personal profiles and, by arrangement,
actual knives for examination and/or to be photographed. Similarly, collectors
can send in, by arrangement, rare items for identification and information
exchange. Such information can then be shared with other memerbs
by its incusion in AKC Knives Australia magazine or other publications.
Club member confidentialyt is observed.
5. RESEARCH AUSTRALIAN KNIFE HISTORY &
ESTABLISH ARCHIVES:
This has been a tedious area of ongoing research,
for Australians were notorious for "losing our history". The AKC is the
only organization pledged to compile archives and artefacts relating to
our precious knife manufacturing and custom knifemaking industry
since before White settlement. 'Already much ahs been published on
the subject and more is to follow.
6. STRIVE TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF KNIFE
ENTHUSIASTS:
The AKC is a nationally recognized organization
within the cutlery industry and by Government Departments across Australia.
It continues to be a voice in relation to legal issues concerning knife
importation, marketing, ownership and carriage. The AKC holds exemptions
in Victoria to enable its financial members to own daggers and swords -
both deemed to be prohibited weapons in that state. And the AKC Club is
registered as an Aproved Society in New South Wales, which enables its
financial members to apply for personal exemptions to own prohibited
weapons in NSW.
7. PRODUCE & PUBLISH KNIFE PUBLICATIONS:
In February 1995, AKC PUBLICATIONS was registered
for the purpose of publishing further books, booklets and videos (now DVD's)
on a range of knife-related topics following the success of Spencer's
Guide to Australian Custom Knifemakers 1991 and Spencer's Guide
II to Australasian Custom Knifemakers 2nd Edition. These were
followed in 1999 by Edgemaster, 50 Australian Knife Stories (SSAA
columnist - Keith Spencer and publisher - Joan Renton-Spencer)
and then two videos, The Custom-Made Knife and The Damascus Bladesmith
produced by Joan Renton-Spencer (re-edited and re-issued as DVD's in 2007).
Knives Australia, Australia's first and only newsstand cutlery magazine
was published quarterly for 7 years (2001-2007).
AKC Club Members magazine AKC Knives Australia,
the official magazine of the National Knife Collectors Australia
- Australasian Knife Colectors Club was introduced to specifically
cater for the needs of Australian knife collectors in a more personalied
way. Additional books and DVD's are in the pipeline.
Back to: AKC
Home Page
