Architect,
You wrote "I would just say that around $500 seems to be a threshold above which "bang for you buck" seems to begin to lose its meaning."
That $500 threshold applies here, mostly because that is the limit per knife that BF members are comfortable spending.
Bang for the buck applies at all levels.
Example, you can buy Michale Walker knives for less than $2,000. When you take into account amount of knives he makes, delivery time, demand in the aftermarket and the ability to turn the knife for a profit almost instantly.
This may be the best bang for the buck high dollar folder maker out there.
Another example: John W. Smith Damascus folder. John makes the Damascus, the gold screws that hold the handle material on the knife, the gold thumb stud, does all his own file work and gold inlay in the Damascus bolster...Price $1,300 - $ 1,500.00.
This may be the best bang for the buck Damascus folder out there.
Another example: Jerry Fisk, carbon steel Bowie, $1,100 - $1,300. National Living Treasure, ABS Master Smith, ABS Hall of Fame, 4 -5 year wait. Huge aftermarket demand.
A bang for the buck maker is not one who's work does not hold it's value. It is not one that you see 5 new ones for sale on the interenet every other day.
When I look at bang for the buck makers I compare them to the totality of the market category they are in. Yes, I factor in aftermarket desirability. Not because I am a dealer, but becasue that is where users and collectors trade or sell custom knives.
Also, while taking in the "totality of circumstances" you have to look at the following. Does the maker:
1) Advertise
2) Regularly attend shows. This is especially important. So many people make a determination as to whether they will buy a knife based on the maker themselves. Also this provides an opportunity for you or future buyers to handle the knives.
3) Do they have an internet presence? This will become much more important in that 3-5 year period Architect talked about.
4) Do they have a dealer network? Most bang for the buck makers are represented by many of the established dealers out there. Lets face it the dealers who have been buying and selling for at least 10 years have a pretty good idea of who the bang for the buck makers are. This comes from the experince of buying/selling/trading knives on a weekly if not a daily basis for over a decade.
5) Innovate
6) Utilize new construction methods, new materials, etc.
Bang for the buck makers are not limited to one or two types of steel, one or two types of frame material or handle material.
Kit Carson was asked one time what his favorite blade steel was. His answer "What ever the customer wants".
That boys and girls is the bang for the buck knife maker in a nutshell.
Architect, your 3-5 year strategy could be a good one. However, there are too many other factors that affect it's ability to deliver the desired effect.
1) You may not be into knives 5 years from now.
2) The maker may not be making 5 years from now.
3) The maker or the knife or the style or the materials chosen may no longer be desireable.
4) The maker may not lock in the price. As such you are subject to pay a price you did not aniticpate. This price may not be competitive with the going rate of other such knives in that market.
Architect, you are correct. There are so many makers out there to choose from. However, very few are bang for the buck. Most charge the right price for the work they do.
This does not make them a bang for the buck maker. This makes them a professional maker who charges a fair price for the work they do.
There are several makers listed on this thread that I would agree are bang for the buck makers. However, there are others who don't deserve the bang for the buck title.
Again, take in all the criteria.
Architect, I like the fact that right up front you qualify your post with the fact that
"I haven't owned enough handmade folders suggest much range."
There is nothing wrong with making judgements based on your experience level. After all that is what most of us do.
Your statement has hit the nail on the head. There are a lot of people who post on all the forums and list a particular maker as a bang for the buck maker or up and comer.
However, their experience is limited with custom knives and makers outside of the ones they collect.
At times many of the recommendations on the internet forums are taken to heart by those who are undecided as to which knife to buy. As such they look for advice from the fellow forum members.
Now if you have someone like Gus giving you guidance you will be good to go.
However, in this very forum I got into a discussion with an individual who was giving recommendations to people on which knives to buy. It turns out, not only had he never owned a custom knife....he hand never even held one.
This is why when these threads show up, I ask the members to qualify their statements.
This gives those who are reading it what that persons back ground is. If someone owns only 4 custom knives from the same maker (for example) is their statment going to be unbaised?
Acuatlly, it could be. If they have spent years doing homework and through their own criteria have determined that this maker is a bang for the buck maker, then at least in his mind the maker is.
However, many of the people who post have limited experience when it comes to the whole market. Consequently, they post the maker or makers they have as bang for the buck. Which is fair, as they feel they are.
Personally, I really like these threads. I feel they can be very informative. From a purely business perspective I enjoy reading about makers from their collectors.
) but I have handled other Rob Brown pieces...you are right, great work for the price...in fact, great work at any price...
