$1,000 is not a lot of money. It is however, the limit that I will spend on a single

Bladeandbarrel

Bladeandbarrel

Joined
Oct 5, 1998
Messages
3,148
"$1,000 is not a lot of money. It is however, the limit that I will spend on a single knife,"
Click to expand...

This is a quote from Steven Garsson. It is very wise. I tend to follow that same example except I have gone over that limit <slightly> a few times.

In this day and time, 1K will get you a lot of knife if you collect the right makers.

I have Crowell's, Fisks, Deans, Bradshaw's, Fitch's, Newton's, Bagwell's, JM Smith's and knives from other reknowned 'smiths that cost under that amount. Not hunters either. I rarely buy hunters.

There is a sweet spot from my perspective that is between $500-$1000 that I am willing to spend for "another knife?" (as my wife would say).

Granted, this excludes some more ornate work, but in reality I get just as much pleasure from the less "ornate" knives as the damascus with ivory..living by this mantra is one reason I have 40 nice forged blades and not 10.
Any comments?
 
I still hold true to that value, with the exception of three knives, Busfield, Osborne, and Fogg, the Fogg being the highest cost yet, and fantastic value for the money.

That was, and is the limit for the "formal" collection, but Japanese styled swords, and a Kevin Cashen small sword have, and will far surpass that limit.

The statement was specifically geared towards knives, and a collection built around proving and displaying the relative "affordability" of custom knives.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Anthony,

How can you post a deep and involved topic like this 10 minutes before the Sopranos? :eek:

I'll be back to you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anthony,

"Crowell's, Fisks, Deans, Bradshaw's, Fitch's, Newton's, Bagwell's, JM Smith's"

I think you are going to have to enlist Paulie Walnuts to get $1,000 Bowies out of Fisk, Dean, Newton etc.
You have obviously purchased wisely, but going forward $1,500 maybe a more realistic limit.

There is clearly a wider market for knives in the $500-$1,000 range, and hence greater liquidity. I think you have an excellent plan and admire your resolve to stick with it.

Best,

P

BTW, I am going on the record now, that the widow, who wanted to move to Florida, will be the one who kills Tony S.

Best,

P
 
I have never thought to limit my collection by setting a maximum price that i will pay for a knife. My upper limit is only governed by what I can save up in the time it will take for my to be ready. Certain embellishmants are becoming more appealing to me and I am willing to pay the premiums that they cost. This of course means that I will be adding fewer knives to my collection in the future.

There is certainly nothing wrong with setting an upper limit one will spend on a knife, but it just doesn't work for me.
 
Better get my post over with before Peter gets back,I've seen his knife pics.:eek:
A thousand as a rule is a great idea,nice round number.And ya' certainly should be able to get something nice for that much money.

Of course taste plays the biggest part.Then collector level.Dear God,didn't someone buy Buster Warenski's Fire and Ice for 108 grand?:confused:Buying at that level is insane,I am a simple man.
No disrespect meant to Buster Warenski as that knife was worth every penny that was paid for it.Did I get those facts right?I saw it once,in a picture.

I too,am still patiently waiting on my Fogg magic. :o Edited to add.Not anymore,have Don's Sting coming!

I would add the Anders,father and son and Jimmy Fikes to everyone's Forged Bowie's:thumbup:Edited to add Don Hanson.How could I have forgot.Or Bill Bagwell and just got a Rodrigo Sfreddo that's very nice.
Doug
 
$1000 is a good number if you get it straight from the maker.Actually I think that $1500 gives you a better Choice.Like Leatherbird just said B. Warenski's are Exceptional beyond doubt,but I blew my one chance to get my favorite for about $1000- $1200.But if you want some makers knives through a seller(other than the maker),$1000 is too low in my opinion, & limits the choice Big Time.Though it's been awhile since I've been able to spend anywhere near the above mentioned prices on a knife.:cool:
 
My limit is what I currently have set aside as my 'knife fund'.I will spend all of it,or part of it on a knife that I see that I feel I would like to have.I have spent well over 1000 on a knife,and still feel that I got great value for the money...I don't have a large number of knives...I just don't like to limit myself.My problem is this:when I find a maker whose work I like,I tend to want their best work(not to say that their less expensive work isn't just a good quality wise)I just would prefer to have one of their 'showpieces',that they feel is some of their best work.That said,I usually can't afford their 'best work' and get what I can with what I have at the moment.
 
Sounds like a pretty good spending philosophy to me. I've been over the $1k mark (once, for a "gotta' have it" purchase), but I prefer users to showpieces and there are more than enough good knives out there in the $500 +/- range to keep me in the poorhouse.
 
A portion of this revolves around a notion of personal responsibility.

In my case, I have a wife and a small child and another on the way soon.
I have seen "the worst case scenario" happen to people and If something bad, like sudden death, were to happen to me, I would much rather leave my family with a pile of knives that held their value well or even appreciated a bit while I was lucky enough to own them. I would also want them to be easily sellable and not at auction prices.

Over a certain price point, this seems to get more difficult.

I thought The Sopranos was excellent tonight, BTW.
 
Anthony Lombardo said:
A portion of this revolves around a notion of personal responsibility.

In my case, I have a wife and a small child and another on the way soon.
I have seen "the worst case scenario" happen to people and If something bad, like sudden death, were to happen to me, I would much rather leave my family with a pile of knives that held their value well or even appreciated a bit while I was lucky enough to own them. I would also want them to be easily sellable and not at auction prices.
Click to expand...

Hell ya, brother!!!!:D

You got it $$!

Let those that disdain the "sellability" of their booty suffer the consequences when the rubber hits the road, and the economics of a hobby becomes food on the table.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
$1,000 just won't cut it for really nice stuff. Even a fine bowie can smash $1,000 no problem. As a rule, it does take a special something to break the $1k mark, but I've done it a couple times.

In fact, one of my knives blew $1,000 by such a huge margin that it came around and nearly did it twice again, and I don't regret it one bit.
 
$1,000 just won't cut it for really nice stuff.
Click to expand...

I guess it depend on your definition of "really nice stuff".

I have some "really nice stuff" that isn't that ornate or highly embellished that was well under $1K by pretty big name makers.
 
with the makers i know and like, i have no problem shelling out $1k...that's not a bad price and as long as they keep producing knives that are appealing to me.
 
The $1000 limit would not buy bowies, camps or fighters from the makers you list such as Fisk, Newton, Dean et al. in todays market, you have obviously bought well in the past. The $500-$1000 range is good for some JS and none JS (even an MS or two) makers who are tipped for greatness, and that is half the fun, identifying them and seeing if your right, or finding a bargin.

You are spot on with the assertion that knives in the $500 -$1250 range(I have lifted the limit slightly) are more liquid and more likely to turn a small profit/very low loss. My collection has two distinct parts to it. A rotated section of nice carbon steel pieces which I try to buy and sell regularly around the range you describe, this keeps the hobby dynamic and active. The other section is a small number with the end objective of numbering 10-15. This section will be more permanent and represents in my mind high end pieces from makers at the top of their game. These pieces are a mixture of damascus, embellishment, or historical reproduction. It will probably take me another 10 years to complete that part of the collection ..... then I'll move on to folders:D

Stephen
 
Since I primarily collect forged blades, this will be pretty much "forged" specific.....

I like that strategy Stephen and yes, I agree you have to be a smart shopper to get good deals :) I find myself thinking along your lines and that $1k limit has become a bit blurry at times. The 1K mental limit has also cost me a few screaming deals on knives that were closer to $1500, but worth much more, so it also has its downfalls. In two or three instances my "limit" caused me to hesitate and lose out on a few I would rather not remind myself of:grumpy:

The other way to meet the objective is to order knives from hard to get makers years in advance at current prices and wait. Case in point. My 5-year old order with Jerry Fisk is about to come to fruition as a much lower price than todays knife. It took a little foresight and a lot of patience, but it is a good way to get more value in your collection.

As far as buying from up-and-comers, thats my favorite part of the game, figuring out who is next on the "big boy" list. I look for makers with versatility and range with the knack for artistic design and an eye for fit and finish. Knight, Desrosiers, Dan Farr, John White, Russ Andrews, Nick are all candidates that currently fit that bill as do Ricardo, Gustavo, Rodrigo and Luciano. As far as MS makers that are "undervalued" I would consider John Perry, Doug Noren, Jerry Lairson, Ken Durham, Keith Kilby,Roger Massey,PJ Tomes, and a few others as great values.

Should a collector strive for a small number of exceptional pieces or a larger number of representative pieces? That is a topic I am really interested in hearing some responses on.

At any rate, keep the answers coming.
 
I think you can do fairly well with a 1K limit in the fixed blade market, but you're in the very middle of the road for folders, and pretty much at the bottom of the food chain for autos, not to mention engraved folders or engraved autos which usually START over $3K. I can think of quite a few makers where your not even in the starting range at a grand. Even though I agree strongly with setting ceilings, everything has its perspective.
 
I have yet to spend $1000 U.S. for a knife but have come close a few times.We all set limits for just about everthing we do.For me my limit is how bad I feel I need the piece,how much collecting money is available at the time and how much of my collection I would have to move to make up the difference.So for me I don't think I have set a concrete limit but my circumstances are limiting at a given time.:rolleyes: I definetly lose that impulse shopping feel once the price goes over $500 though. Very interesting topic Anthony.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top