Blade Show "Best . . ."

dsvirsky

dsvirsky

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I was looking at the list of the Blade Shows Custom Knife Awards for 2009 and it got me to thinking: I figure it's a fairly prestigious for the knifemaker to be named in one of the various categories, but what does it mean to collectors, if anything? When there's a winner whose name isn't already well known, do you say to yourself, "I need to take a look at this maker's work" or, I suppose, "d@mn I'm smart, I bought one of his/her knives" or ???
 
Sometimes it means -- "Hey, I got lucky!" :)

Good thread, looking forward to reading thoughts on this...
 
dsvirsky said:
I was looking at the list of the Blade Shows Custom Knife Awards for 2009 and it got me to thinking: I figure it's a fairly prestigious for the knifemaker to be named in one of the various categories, but what does it mean to collectors, if anything? When there's a winner whose name isn't already well known, do you say to yourself, "I need to take a look at this maker's work" or, I suppose, "d@mn I'm smart, I bought one of his/her knives" or ???
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Good question.
I believe anything that's good for a maker is most likely good for those who collect his/her knives.
When a maker wins a prestigious award it promotes the maker and his knives. This could have a positive, even if small affect on the maker's aftermarket pricing thus benefiting his collectors as a whole.

A collector who owns a knife winning a prestigious award will benefit from the provenance the award creates. The actual dollar value of provenance is hard to determine, however it's most likely not going to hurt the value or desirability of a knife.
At the very least it's an exciting and pleasurable experience for both the maker and the collector.

xaman, how do you feel about your Dean EL Diablo winning "best fighter" at the Blade Show?
 
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but what does it mean to collectors, if anything?
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I own a Bowie that won Best Bowie/Fighter at the Annual Knife Show by the MKA (Montana Knifemakers Association) a few years back. I'm not sure if that award will have an influence on the value, because I will "never" sell it. But it gives me a good feeling to know that I own a knife that at that point in time was measured against the competition and won:thumbup::cool:;)

Marcel
 
One thing you have to consider is that only the people who have booths are invited to vote in the "best of" competitions.............

I see, for the most part, the same people getting the same awards year after year.........I have heard Chris Reeves ask for more competition as he got the same award for the third year in a row.

On the custom side.........some people spend an inordinate amount of time making a knife designed to win a certain award.......A certain very well known engraver/knifemaker has told me he does it with regularity.
 
I believe the "Show Award Winners" have to be taken with a grain of salt as the saying goes, however they always generate excitement and fun. :thumbup:

Speaking of awards and fun, we aren't picking a "2009 Bakelite Award" winner among our three players of the game? :confused:

Where's the poll? ;) :D :)
 
It definitely puts a smile on my face when a knife I bought wins an award. But the honour and credit go to the maker - I just bought the thing.

It can help the future value of the particular knife, but I suspect not that much overall. If you see two comparable knives from a given maker available on the secondary market - one of which one an award - how much more (if any) would you be willing to pay for the award-winner, assuming you otherwise liked both knives equally well?

Roger
 
From a collectors point of view it's always interesting when certain knives get awards. But that's not only with custom knives. Virtually every collectable field has this. But personally I am more happy when a certain maker I have already knives from get their J.S. or M.S. stamp! ;)
 
It's very much the same kind of question that arises when a particular knife is published in a book, appears on the cover of Blade, etc. Then it's a question of how prestigious the award, etc. Then it's a question of how long ago, etc. Then it's - etc, etc, etc.

I am with Roger. If I own a knife that wins an award (or ETC), it puts a smile on my face. Anything beyond that is gravy, whether monetary or mentally stimulatory.
 
RogerP said:
It definitely puts a smile on my face when a knife I bought wins an award. But the honour and credit go to the maker - I just bought the thing.

It can help the future value of the particular knife, but I suspect not that much overall. If you see two comparable knives from a given maker available on the secondary market - one of which one an award - how much more (if any) would you be willing to pay for the award-winner, assuming you otherwise liked both knives equally well?

Roger
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Probably not much if any, however the "award" would probably be the deciding factor as to which one most would choose to buy.
 
I appreciate all your thoughts, but no one's answering this part of the question:

When there's a winner whose name isn't already well known, do you say to yourself, "I need to take a look at this maker's work" or, I suppose, "d@mn I'm smart, I bought one of his/her knives" or ???
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I'll take this year's best folder/best in show winner, Matsusaki Takeshi, as an example. D@mn, I'm smart, I bought one of his knives. :p
 
Kevin Jones said:
Probably not much if any, however the "award" would probably be the deciding factor as to which one most would choose to buy.
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That's a fair observation. As with publication - which Bob mentioned - these intagibles can make a given knife more saleable.

Roger
 
dsvirsky said:
I appreciate all your thoughts, but no one's answering this part of the question:



I'll take this year's best folder/best in show winner, Matsusaki Takeshi, as an example. D@mn, I'm smart, I bought one of his knives. :p
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Sure - if some guy I never heard of bags the Best Bowie award at Blade, I'm likely to try to see some examples of his work.

Roger
 
I think Tom Mayo hit the nail on the head. WIth a few exceptions if you are not on of the good old boys with a booth or somesuch...you are a slim pick for an award. Kinda like the home awards all major cities have. Best, new home, best kitchen design, best addtion , ad nauseum. If you don't belong to the little house club ..not gonna win. Once again...I said with exceptions.
 
Kevin Jones said:
xaman, how do you feel about your Dean EL Diablo winning "best fighter" at the Blade Show?
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Absolutely --- just like you and Roger said --- just makes me smile :) :)

Harvey's going to send the plaque and a "certificate" that I will proudly display alongside the knife...

For me, as this was one of my first "real" jumps into the ABS side at the Blade Show, it was very gratifying. I totally understand the subjective nature of the judging AND the potential "good ol boy" preference ---- but it is nonetheless:

1. A validation to me that I chose well and was fortunate to be able to make this purchase.
2. Bragging Rights --- not so much here (as you guys are able to judge a knife on it's intrinsic merits), but with guests in my home, non-knife-nuts... When I tell them "this knife won "best fighter" at the world's largest knife show," they are impressed. I must admit that is slightly gratifying, LOL.
 
When a maker wins awards it gets me curious and I do indeed want to see what drove the honor.

When I showed cars and motorcycles trophies were given at different events based on "Peoples Choice", show participants only, or by a panel of judges (composition of the panel not really based on any expertise sometimes). Fads can win awards in some shows. You have to take it for what it is, enjoy it, not get bent if you don't "win". For a while Blinged Out cars and outrageously expensive Choppers were "winners". They were fun and interesting but fads pass and those awards won't mean much in the long term. Awards never drove me to buy/built a a car or bike that was Bling, Bling.

Owning knives that are award winners is "really cool" to me. Could be worth a bit of coin, maybe not. Beyond that...All glory is fleeting, I don't weigh final purchase decisions heavily on a "Best of ..." tag.

Xaman, your El Diablo is fantastic. Very cool that you'll have the plaque and a certificate to display with the knife. That's something that Ups the fun factor. Haven't heard of this as a practice and I must admit that when I sold cars I kept the awards for memories sake.
 
r connally said:
When a maker wins awards it gets me curious and I do indeed want to see what drove the honor.

When I showed cars and motorcycles trophies were given at different events based on "Peoples Choice", show participants only, or by a panel of judges (composition of the panel not really based on any expertise sometimes). Fads can win awards in some shows. You have to take it for what it is, enjoy it, not get bent if you don't "win". For a while Blinged Out cars and outrageously expensive Choppers were "winners". They were fun and interesting but fads pass and those awards won't mean much in the long term. Awards never drove me to buy/built a a car or bike that was Bling, Bling.

Owning knives that are award winners is "really cool" to me. Could be worth a bit of coin, maybe not. Beyond that...All glory is fleeting, I don't weigh final purchase decisions heavily on a "Best of ..." tag.

Xaman, your El Diablo is fantastic. Very cool that you'll have the plaque and a certificate to display with the knife. That's something that Ups the fun factor. Haven't heard of this as a practice and I must admit that when I sold cars I kept the awards for memories sake.
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That was a sweet "Best Fixed Blade" Fisk Gamemaster you picked up. :thumbup:
 
winning an award can't hurt the desirability of a knife although the motivations and quality of the judges as well as the quality of the field should always be taken into account.

i think any added monetary value would be limited to a select group of highly motivated collectors/fans. i would want the award itself if i was to pay a premium for such a knife.

the value to the maker, especially if it means more magazine coverage, has to be a nice thing
 
dsvirsky said:
I appreciate all your thoughts, but no one's answering this part of the question:



I'll take this year's best folder/best in show winner, Matsusaki Takeshi, as an example. D@mn, I'm smart, I bought one of his knives. :p
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Can you pls show that Matsusaki Takeshi Folder? I'm really curious!
 
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