Busse secondary market

[Last Visible Canary]

The busse after market has always been difficult for those who want to be able to sell fast and at a high profit. There have been times when the market was good but most of the time that I've been aware of it (2003-2013) it's been the situation that if you want to sell for a profit (above original msrp) your likely going to have to wait more than a week, and often more than a month to sell the knife. That makes the market feel 'dead' because it feels like knives aren't moving and there are no buyers. The market has always been strong for those willing to sell at or below msrp. when your willing to sell a knife at 10% below msrp (ex, 290$ for a 327$ knife) it often sells within a week, occasionally going for several with an off/common model.

This is compounded by the last economy drop, an increase in models and available knives, as well as a fresh demographic of new users and sellers. Busses hold their value, but only if your willing to maintain your sales stock for long periods of time (i.e. having a sale page up for 3+weeks at multiple venues). That's always been the case, just with added emphasis now.


personally I've spent 10 years going back and forth between <25,000K$/year jobs (after taxes >20k$/y) and moving, leaving gaps of no income here and there for a week or two and then banking on a lump sum of money in 2006 that was gone before I could blink. This last month has been the first time in my life that I've been able to maintain a potentially long term job at >30K$y. I'm not in a position to buy anything high priced (and if I am it's going to be a kifaru mmr hauler or xray). I spend every week trying to figure out how to not go crazy working through lentils, rice, dried potatoes and other dry stock because every single penny goes to a mountain of debt that I can just now see a the glimmer of hope at being able to pay down.

 

[resinguy]

Chris, I made a comment in jest once about blowing my daughters college fund on Busse knives, so maybe that is what you recall.

Part of the soft market may be due to Busse having ramped up production, so supply by direct sale is up, satisfying demand. Older knives do seem to be less valued by the newer fans, so they sit on the market longer. The fan base is bigger, but the supply of new models is bigger as well. Plus, some sellers have not adjusted to the new reality, and the asking prices are too high.

 

[lsheldon]

It seems like the summer has always been a bit soft for selling. Aside from the reasons already mentioned such as the economy, those who spent heavily on firearms and ammo in the panic buying, etc. One main thing I see is that blade was just under two months ago, followed shortly thereafter by a Ganzaa for a limited production model that is highly sought after. I don't know if Busse sold all 600 of the SHBM's, if not they most likely came real close. When you consider the cost of 600 SHBM's, not to mention the other knives offered, that's quite a bit of change from this small community in conjunction with Blade in a very short time.

 

[dericdesmond]

^Knob creek had apx 350-400+ knives a month & a half before blade as well

 

[shunsui]

I don't think many people can keep up with all the models coming out of the Busse kin companies the last few years, let alone buy more off the exchange at marked up prices. I've seen a couple of grail knives at reasonable prices that I passed on because I just have too many knives already.

Not to worry though, those grails sold pretty quick.

 

[u812]

It does seem the market is a bit flooded. Not as much with Busse but other companies. I know there are very few folders that catch my eye right now as I have or have had most of the models I liked plus the fact that the ZT 0550 is near impossible to get out of my pocket.The newer models I would like to have are either sprint runs that are just to big of a pain to run down just for a different scale color or made in China that I will not buy at any price.
I do know the knives that people are going after changed a lot in the past few years. I used to have a firm grip on what was hot and not with Spyderco but then the interest in the older discontinued models faded away and went to all sprint runs.

 

[MikeH]

I once commented that my collection could go a long way in helping pay my grandson's college education. However, that will be taken care of even if Busse resales go to zero, which they won't.

My primary reason for cutting back is that I had to face up to the question, "just how many knives are enough?" I have cut back from thinking I have to have a representative sample of everything to setting a few goals for complete sets of certain knives, and filling gaps in my collection of older knives. Also, for two years I have been on a 1911 kick and have also finally started exploring single action revolvers, which puts a hole in the knife budget. The Hi-Power thirst seems to have been quenched, though. Another factor is that my wife just retired and we must start relying on 401k's and our pensions for income, and given Kim's situation I want to spend as little as possible of what will eventually be her and my son's inheritance.

I have never collected anything as an investment. However, there is another factor that often gets left out of the discussion. If I eventually have to sell my Busses at below original purchase price, so what? The has been a lot of value extracted from collecting them, using them, and the associations with Busse people. The fact is, though, that at age 67 and with more than I could ever possibly use, I still can't bear the thought of getting rid of them. I may start selling off a few that for one reason or another just don't turn me on, such as some extra thick small knives.

These are the good 'ol days of the Busse aftermarket for a buyer. When I started collecting these things, you could closely watch the sale forums here and at a couple of other knife forums and see maybe six Busses for sale in a week. Many times days went by with nothing showing up at all. The Busse resale market really took off after the special sale subforum for Busses was created. I have seen this market have prices go up and down several times. Today represents an opportunity for buying the older knives, as there are knives for sale right now in the $600-700 range that not too long ago were going for $1000 and up. If there were more holes in my collection I would be all over some of these.

 

[abizzybomb]

There are many fine points made here. In my limited experience (January-present) I've notice the sales go in spurts. A number of blades get posted before and after shows and ganzaz to fund purchases. Or at least that's how it seems to me. Once I realized there was a secondary market of discontinued blades and learned how things run with Busse and Kin I got gored by the Hog! Busse has a very good community to be involved with. It seems much more like a family experience. I'm new blood so I did play catch up as well. Not as an investment though. Just out of shear love for blade, blood and beers! I have received some great deals on Busse and kin and all were purchased as users or to be used.
TGLB $380 New
NMFBM $700 Unused
DSSF $275 Lightly used w/sheath
HDD Free prized
Skinny Ash $339 Used w/sheath
CS R3 $160 Unused w/sheath
I definitely have more on my to buy list. I do my best to sell things I'm tired of to buy things I want. I know I've got some good deals but, I would like to see the factory price come down some too. Just my thought thoughts... Now for pics except for the R3. It's not her yet.
The DSSF and Ash were given the "Bomb" treatment.