How do you store your inventory

Chris Railey

Chris Railey

Well-Known Member
I sell mostly by word of mouth and two or three local festivals a year. I am at a point now where I have been building some inventory for these shows because orders have been lacking lately. I was wondering if anyone had any good storage tricks or ideas for storing where the knives and sheaths are safe but organized and ready to go when needed. Thanks.
 
I have three different ways/places I store inventory.

My "common" knives get stored in a cabinet with short, full sized drawers, or in a large Pelican case (size 1650)

My "collector grade" pieces are stored in a gun safe, that has been converted with nothing but shelves inside.

I would say that the most practical for most would be the Pelican (or similar) type cases..... the knives can be stored there indefinitely, and are ready to "go" at any time.
 
The pelican case is a good idea Ed. Think I will go that route thanks. I guess you cut the foam to store them vertically in the sheath?
 
NOPE! NEVER store a knife in the sheath! That's a recipe for all sorts of bad stuff to happen.....nothing worse then getting ready for a show, and at the last minute decide to "look" at the knives in the case (and in the sheaths) one last time..... and find tarnish or rust spots!!

Don't "pluck" any of the foam out of the case. Lay the knives in the case, and let the foam compress around them, to hold them securely.

Store sheaths in a different place, with a tag/rubber band to identify which goes with which knife.
 
I see it's been a while since this was last discussed, but I'd love to hear if anyone has changed up their storage methods over time. I've been looking for a way to keep my materials organized without taking up too much space. Do you guys still stick with the same setups, or have you found better solutions since then? Shelving and bins seem popular, but I'm curious about new ideas!
 
I use Gun Safes to store my finished pieces and materials. They offer great security, keep everything organized, and prevent rust with the right setup. I added some desiccant packs and a small dehumidifier inside to control moisture. Shelving and foam inserts help keep knives from shifting. It's also nice knowing everything is locked up and safe from curious hands or accidental damage.
 
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Yes as Ed said don't pluck the foam. I had my wife make slipcovers (think pillowcase) for the foam inserts out of cotton flannel. They keep any wax oil etc off of the foam and can be removed and washed if necessary. I also don't really trust the foam against my guns/knives for long term storage. I keep sheaths/holsters in cotton canvas duffel type totes with handles for air flo so no sudden humidity gain or loss. I've seen rubber bands leave stain/marks on blades and handles after extended storage on antiques and passed on buying them for that reason. I use soft cotton twine like to tie chicken/turkey legs together for baking. Rubber doesn't stain everything but leather, bone and mop for sure with enough time. Silver as well.
Some museums store old blades and guns in soft cotton slips I've been told by a conservator so I do as well.
 
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