Anthony Bourdain's custom Bob Kramer chef's knife going up for auction

it's a big world outside our individual perception of things, and plenty of room in it for alternate views. It's great we have a place here to discuss topics of interest to us, as these discussions can inform us and enrich our experiences around C&H knives.

as the reluctant moderator of this forum, I'm going to plant the flag of 'discussion without disparagement', and hope that our community can embody that ethos. Thanks!
 
Aidenag said:
Fanboy attitude? I was just pointing out why he could be viewed as the most well known smith after you said you barely knew anything about him and his exposure you so doubted. Don't gotta get all cranky about it. You interjected into the debate questioning the points made, now you care 'not a whit'?
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Clearly, if Dawkind Dawkind never heard of him, he can't be that important. After all, Dawkind was into custom knives before it was cool. He's into other custom makers. You probably never heard of them - they're pretty obscure.
 
BTW, I saw on his Instagram post that Bob Kramer himself will be a bidder. So he claims. Even HE wants this gem. :p
 
SharpByCoop said:
BTW, I saw on his Instagram post that Bob Kramer himself will be a bidder. So he claims. Even HE wants this gem. :p
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that's pretty understandable, actually. I can understand why he'd regard this knife as something he'd want to possess
 
^^^ Yes. But not inordinate. He's not auctioning it himself, and no one else will know who's bidding against them (as most auctions remain anonymous).
 
Nahhhh. If you read his IG post(s) and his absolute truthful fondness for Anthony Bourdain, I sincerely think he's simply wanting this knife, like others.

I don't think he's got an underlying wish to push the highest of pricing by shilling.

When does this auction end or begin? When will we know?
 
SharpByCoop said:
Nahhhh. If you read his IG post(s) and his absolute truthful fondness for Anthony Bourdain, I sincerely think he's simply wanting this knife, like others.

I don't think he's got an underlying wish to push the highest of pricing by shilling.

When does this auction end or begin? When will we know?
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I got that vibe, too
 
For a chef, Bourdain had a number of weird human anatomical models. Like, showing where the meat is..
 
paneraica said:
By even mentioning that it seems he's trying to influence the bidding to bump the price and attract more attention

DON
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Regardless of whether Bob Kramer will actually be bidding on the knife, the inescapable fact is that he does indeed have an interest in doing so that other folks do not share, namely that of keeping the price of his knives high. Just like a stock whose price is plummeting, a company can buy back shares to limit supply and thereby prop up the price, at least for the short term all other things being the same. I don't think Mr. Kramer has any interest in letting a creation of his get out into the wild at a giveaway price in such a public auction. If nothing else, it might send a signal to prospective buyers of his knives that perhaps the perceived demand for his knives is not aligned with the price he asks for them.

Like any knife that is LNIB and sells for half the price of a new one, once that sale becomes known, people tend to think that is perhaps what the knife is worth and begin to look for that knife at the ridiculously low price of 50% what a new one would cost. Don't get me wrong--I am not judging Mr. Kramer, just pointing out something that I think he himself already knows.
 
So this raises a pertinent question: Can anyone identify how much this 'normal' chef's knife would be valued as sold/auctioned NEW, absent of A.B.'s purchase/commission? Open market auction. $10K-20K??

I have already stated a highball bid of $40k. I am dead certain this knife wouldn't have 'sold' for nearly that much.

Bob's too savvy to NOT understand this market, I get it. However, I don't think this particular knife needs his help boosting it. It will have plenty of $$$ admirers. We'll see.
 
Unneeded Boost? Ummm....Turbocharged @ 24 lbs.... ;)

This in an email today 10/08 from Bob Kramer Knives:

Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-2.00.31-PM.jpg
^^ This is a screenshot.

Link to Knife auction HERE.

Link to Culinary Institute Scholarship info HERE.

Like I suggested: $40K. I may be way off or not.
 
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SharpByCoop said:
When does this auction end or begin? When will we know?
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Says on exhibition from oct. 9 - 30, but a click on the auction says it starts in just under 18 hours

Watches and furniture are my favorite items in the auction, but no way to ship furniture and I don't buy higher priced watches without seeing in person.

Lot of Persol sunglasses, but I need prescription, so not for me

DON
 
There are a few groups with fairly deep pockets that could be interested.. chefs, celebrities, fans, knife nuts (maybe not so much).. I wouldn't be surprised if this went well over all of our estimates (especially considering a large portion benefits a charity)
 
Yes. The link I provided already shows it at $7000 or so.

21 days left. :)
 
Lots of better pics of the knife in the listing: http://bid.igavelauctions.com/Bidding.taf?_function=detail&auction_uid1=5555226

Up to over $10k (including the buyer's premium).

So it's an 800 layer forge welded billet, but it looks like he used only one type of steel, or at least, didn't etch it. The welding pattern is visible if you look closely, but it's not obvious like it would be with (for example) etched Damasteel. Interesting take on forged welded Damascus - very subtle.
 
SharpByCoop said:
Don, in the world of high-end Custom knives, MY top six MOST sought after and collectible and EXTREME pricing are:

Ron Appleton
Bob Kramer
Ron Lake
Wolfgang Loerchner
Jurgen Steinau
Michael Walker

Bob is under the radar, yet in many circles he's mightily renowned. He consistently sells (auctions) his basic work over $20K Some as high as $50k with engraving (by Tom Ferry).

I have never captured a Bob Kramer knife. Testimony to his reclusive clientele.

We will see. :)
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Off topic...I met and handled a Ray (not Ron) Appleton folder in 1998 at the NY custom knife show. He called it his "tulip" folder. I believe it was one of a kind. On the table, it looked like a beautiful, glistening metal tulip. Like an ornate decoration on a table. When he said it was a knife, I didn't believe him. When he opened it, my jaw dropped. You familiar with the second Harry Potter movie? Remember how the tunnel door unlocked to the home of the Basilisk? That's how it opened.

I was with my dad. We are both engineers. We were mesmerized by his engineering genius and his skill as an artisan. Price in 1998 was over $20k. Between the two of us, we still couldn't afford it.

I've been collecting for over 30 years and that knife still stands out as the finest hand made item I've ever seen.

If given a second chance, I'd sell all my collectibles to be able to purchase that knife.

Sorry to digress...but I just wanted to thank Coop for mentioning an Appleton as #1. I've not handled a Ron Appleton, but Ray was something special. They are worthy of #1
 
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