Blade Show Buyers Remorse??

A

Airstream88

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Jun 8, 2008
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I am relatively new to knife collecting and attended my first Blade Show in Atlanta. It exceeded my expectations and hooked me. However, I believe that I made a couple of hasty purchases in the final closing minutes of the show. My question is this; how do I discretely determine if the knifes I purchased were a good deal? I'm specifically refering to a custom knife maker that I was unfamiliar with. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
 
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I went to Blade and walked and window shopped for hours on end, I did not personally see any makers knives that I saw overpriced. Be happy with your purchase, welcome to the start of one nasty addiction.
James
 
The custom knife market prices vary incredibly, like artwork. When you buy a custom knife you're paying for the materials, the maker's time, and most of all the maker's name and reputation. Therefore it can be difficult to determine the 'value' of a custom knife beyond the maker's asking price.

If you're unhappy with the knife's quality or have a specific gripe, you should contact the maker directly. He may be willing to refund the money or exchange it for another knife more to your liking. Many makers have waiting lists of people wanting to buy their products...

Or you might consider offering it for trade or sale on Bladeforums or at some future knife show.

Wish I could help more...
-Bob
 
If you use them and they break, bad deal. :thumbdn: Otherwise, why worry? :confused:

Done is done. :yawn:
 
I honestly didn't see any of the customs that were significantly overpriced based on my limited knowledge. The blade makers pay attention to the market. But they also are trying to make a living. It is an expensive show for them to attend, but probably mandatory if it is financially feasible.

There are many custom bladesmiths that I am not familiar with. You can search on the internet and learn some things. It is probably better to just watch the pricing of their knives if they have a website. Subscribe to Blade Magazine.

The artsy one of a kind stuff is diffcult to get a value on. I saw a lot of Damascas steel at the show.
 
Google Joe Smith's Knives and see if you can find out more about the knives you purchased and the maker. Some of us have been collecting knives for many years and still don't know all the makers. You more then likely paid a fair price at the show. Many people pick up knives there that they would have to wait months or years for if they ordered one. Welcome to our world.
 
I'm thinking all us of are likely to experience some version of "buyers remorse" at some point in collecting. And if you haven't, and you are married, just tell your spouse about your purchases. That ought to do it. Seriously, if you find out you paid too much, you might consider hanging on to it for awhile and you might find out you have a better knife on your hands, after awhile, than you thought. The above suggestions are all great too.
all da best,
rats...
 
Thanks to all of you for responding, you have made me feel better about my purchases. I will just sit back and enjoy my new knives. Thanks again
 
Buyin' customs is like buyin' art, buy what you like, not for investment.

This way if your expectations aren't met, at least you own a knife you like.

Learn as much about the makers, their knives, even their clients if possible so at least you can make educated decisions, what's hot today may not bring squat tomorrow but a young and up and coming maker classically trained and studied under the master have a better chance of makin' you money.

You know where I have the most fun? it's when I can buy a good quality production knife for a few dollars,(whether current or antique) and then sell it and make 300% profit when I sell it, that's fun.

Some times my profit is sellin' a knife I bought for $3-$10 for $12 to $40 or a knife I bought at auction for $5 and sold for $100+.

For me it's never been the money, (although it helps) it's always been about gettin' my hands on a knife I really want.
 
When I go to the Eugene show, I bring the cash I want to spend and then I buy what really catches my eye. The only regrets I have are on the drive home when I still have cash left over and I'm thinking "jeez, I really should have bought that one I passed on".
 
Airstream88 said:
Thanks to all of you for responding, you have made me feel better about my purchases. I will just sit back and enjoy my new knives. Thanks again
Click to expand...

That's the real test--If you enjoy them, they were a good purchase.
Greg
 
I think the responses pretty much cover the thinking of most. It is also important to remember that life is just plain too short, and it is a good thing to do things you enjoy that give you satisfaction. Remember, your purchases also may have made the day for the maker you bought from so that too is a good thing.... The money you handed over will get spent on things important to that person or may even go to put food on the table.

With the national economy already bad, unemployment growing, and going to get even worse.... putting money into circulation just helped improve the national economy too so you may have saved the nation.... Okay, this last one is a real stretch but the others are real....
 
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