Buying knives on working man's wages

I carry a small Sebi as my EDC, and I would upgrade to a customized version. So I would pay $350 - $500 for the right user.
 
For me it's a maximum of $500 on a folder and $350 on a fixed blade. The closer to those prices they are, the less hard use they see.
 
blan said:
I notice a correlation between amount of posts and amount willing/able to spend.
Click to expand...

I think that in many cases (mine especially), you are absolutely right. When I first found this place, I had some pricey kitchen knives, but the most I had ever spent on a pocket knife was thirty bucks for a SAK. There was no way I would ever spend Busse money, and Chris Reeve, William Henry, and custom folders would be something I would only have if I became rich.

It's more than just grown-ups show-and-tell, though. :D
 
Hi Bobby,

I saw your knives in Chicago. Absolutely well-made and competitive pricing. I liked the ti folders at around $400. You have the skills to make them as good as one needs--and even better!

But, here is an observance: You mention how this 'affordable user knife' system worked for your mentor, George Herron. Without question, it did, and he provided just that. That was a different era, though.

I submit, though, that today's larger buying community is less interested in user knives than they are in quality collectible knives (that, of course, can be used).

For example: Regardless of how good a user you make (and you do), I have already met my limit on quality user knives (I own 5 or so). So, I am still not a candidate. But... I am always looking out for a top quality collectible knife with something new/exciting/designed-well/proven etc. The Collector market is larger than the user market.

I wonder how successful a full-time maker can be if they attempt to sell only user-grade knives. I would bet it's darn hard. The Collector market is larger than the user market, in my experience.

Bobby, I am using this post as a discussion point, and really don't want to discourage your great intentions. It would be interesting to understand your philosophy on this, and other's viewpoints.

Thanks.

Coop
 
Gentlemen, my father-in-law works in maintenance at Con Agra and I use him as a gauge for working men and what they will spend on a knife. He tells me; $20 dollars or less, is the average. $50.dollars is Rare! I don't even show him what is in my drawer!
 
depends on the knife, for a small utility $300 or less, for a big chopper or something in that size range, $500+/-
 
Looking at what are my current users, the fixed blades fall in the under $300.00
category. My folders are now in the $400.00 range. I doubt I'll ever use anything more expensive.

Win
 
The most expensive thing I own is a $130 leatherman. I don´t think I´ll ever spend more than that. I might go out on a limb and say $150. Anything over that just isn´t worth it to me since there are many (MANY) cheaper options on users.

I'm not a collector though but if I was I might be able to spend more.
 
I wish i could spend more. but my wife and i both work and make decent money. Still $100.00 is more than i could afford right now.

Certainly thats not always been the case there have been plenty of times i could have spent more.

But at this point in life (im 48 an my wife is 53). Taxes ,insurance, doctors,gas,food.shelter,utilities,saving for retirement. etc. Wich are all just what it costs to live a DECENT life. Cut deeply into any extra spending. (Which is what another knife would be to us ) considering the ones currently owned.

signed by... Just a average guy
 
i am retired, which is not what you asked about, but i think us old farts are a sizeable sub group in the community of custom knife buyers.
as time runs ever shorter, i think buying what you want, overrides price to a larger degree than for younger folk.
i don't think custom knife selling is really about price.
to me it's about acquiring something exceptionally well made, ergonomic, and attractive. and something that seems to have some of the "soul energy" of the maker.
if a person just wants a "really good knife" to use, there are many excellent production candidates in the $100-200 range.
so i say, focus on designing and making the absolute best knives you can, striving for perfection. price according to cost of materials and paying yourself at least a living wage.
if the knives truly are well made and reflect something of yourself, they will sell. some buyers may use them, some may not, but all will get much pleasure in owning a "special" knife.
roland
 
SharpByCoop said:
Hi Bobby,

I saw your knives in Chicago. Absolutely well-made and competitive pricing. I liked the ti folders at around $400. You have the skills to make them as good as one needs--and even better!

But, here is an observance: You mention how this 'affordable user knife' system worked for your mentor, George Herron. Without question, it did, and he provided just that. That was a different era, though.

I submit, though, that today's larger buying community is less interested in user knives than they are in quality collectible knives (that, of course, can be used).

For example: Regardless of how good a user you make (and you do), I have already met my limit on quality user knives (I own 5 or so). So, I am still not a candidate. But... I am always looking out for a top quality collectible knife with something new/exciting/designed-well/proven etc. The Collector market is larger than the user market.

I wonder how successful a full-time maker can be if they attempt to sell only user-grade knives. I would bet it's darn hard. The Collector market is larger than the user market, in my experience.

Bobby, I am using this post as a discussion point, and really don't want to discourage your great intentions. It would be interesting to understand your philosophy on this, and other's viewpoints.

Thanks.

Coop
Click to expand...


Thanks Coop. I would really like to start another thread on your observations that are in your quote that I have highlighted in red. I will keep it here for now so that everyone can see it in the proper context.

This would be a very interesting topic for dealers, collectors and makers alike.
As a full time maker who has a wife with a good job, I still need to have a pay check to hand over to her every two weeks to supplement her income so that the basic bills are taken care. I have the bills that go with the business such as knifemaking supplies, tools, major equipment purchases, show expenses, etc. I like to travel to other makers shops on occasion or attend a class to further my knifemaking skills, therefore, I have to budget for that also.

For my situation, it has always been necessary and my desire to offer a quality knife at a price that would make it affordable to the average soldier, sportsman, LEO and fireman etc who does not have the extra income to spare for a more expensive knife. I also like to step out of the box at times and make the real nice piece for the collector.

By selling at shows over the years, I have found that there are more people who who can afford a $200-300 knife than there are who can afford a $500-$600 knife. As a full time maker, the hardest part of making knives is deciding which market do you want to cater to. By making higher end knives, you could be missing out on sales by people who like your work but can not afford your knives and by making less expensive knives, you may be missing out on the person who likes you and would like to see you make higher end knives because he just is not interested in the lower end knives.

For me as a maker who needs a pay check every couple of weeks and to operate my business as a business, I find it hard to work on one knife for a week or two and take a chance on whether or not it will sell or whether or not the collector who ordered it will be ready to take delivery. I am sure that I may have hurt myself and not built a huge collector base by spending most of my time making the less expensive knives. when I started making knives 24 years ago, I never thought that I would be doing it full time.

So, I would like to hear from full time makers dealers and collectors.
Is Coop right?
Is the collector market larger than the user market?
Do you only buy a couple of user knives like Coop and the rest of them are collectibles?
Are you less interested in user knives and more interested in collector type knives?

Thanks,

Bobby
 
Coop, I think you make an excellent point! We arrived at the same conclusions a couple years ago.


I don't buy knives. I trade for them. Todd however, has a budget of about 200-400 for a fixed blade and 350-500 for a folder, all users. If he had his way, he would want 1500-3500 for the collectibles he hungers for!
 
rprocter said:
i am retired, which is not what you asked about, but i think us old farts are a sizeable sub group in the community of custom knife buyers.
as time runs ever shorter, i think buying what you want, overrides price to a larger degree than for younger folk.
i don't think custom knife selling is really about price.
to me it's about acquiring something exceptionally well made, ergonomic, and attractive. and something that seems to have some of the "soul energy" of the maker.
if a person just wants a "really good knife" to use, there are many excellent production candidates in the $100-200 range.
so i say, focus on designing and making the absolute best knives you can, striving for perfection. price according to cost of materials and paying yourself at least a living wage.
if the knives truly are well made and reflect something of yourself, they will sell. some buyers may use them, some may not, but all will get much pleasure in owning a "special" knife.
roland
Click to expand...



Thanks Roland, I think that you hit the nail on the head. I think this is great advice. It is definitely food for thought.

Bobby
 
So, I would like to hear from full time makers dealers and collectors.
Is Coop right?
Is the collector market larger than the user market?
Click to expand...
For custom knives, I bet that's true. I wouldn't use any of my custom knives due to the 'irreplacability' factor.

Do you only buy a couple of user knives like Coop and the rest of them are collectibles?
Click to expand...
I have over 300 knives, and exactly three of them are designated users.

I have no intention of using most of the knives I purchase, but I wouldn't buy anything that couldn't be used. That's probably clear as mud. :)

Are you less interested in user knives and more interested in collector type knives?
Click to expand...
Any knife, production or custom, could be worthy of collecting/accumulating. I've found that user-grade knives that were set aside make the most interesting and desirable long-term collectibles. Why? Because many other people lost/used/broke/abused theirs, and because those are the brands/names that will be the most recognized by future collectors.
 
i am retired, which is not what you asked about, but i think us old farts are a sizeable sub group in the community of custom knife buyers.
Click to expand...
It's true, old people have all the money. :grumpy:



:)
 
I use a Benchmade knife which folds up and fits into my pocket, for most of the regular uses most knives of its size would see day to day. Under 200 bucks. I don't require anything fancier or more expensive for these types of uses, however, I do have a Marzitelli folder which sees pocket time, from time to time. That's about a $400 knife. To be honest, it doesn't actually work as well as my Benchmade knife does. But I like having it, and I got it from Peter in a trade towards a bike for his wife as a christmas present, so it's kind of special to me.

Other than that, the only thing I use a knife for regularly is clearing and building trails, and for that, I count on large straight knives which range from $250- $600. There is no production knife available that can compete for that kind of work. A Busse or some such goes for about the same amount of money, and when it comes down to shelling out that kind of dough, I'd rather see it go to an individual who is working hard to make me the best, most dependable knife that they can, instead of feeding a company's marketing budget, and buying into some form of bullshit or another.

It's definitely a luxury to own and use knives of this calibre, but these knives have a relatively specialized job to do, and they make the job much more fun.
:D

Actually, the other use that my knives, (some anyway) see is throwing. I've spent a couple hundred on quality handmade throwing knives, when I could have spent less than $20. I've used the cheap ones, and they suck. Since I enjoy throwing so much, I feel I deserve to use the best. Again, a quality tool makes a task more enjoyable.

For me, the only way I can justify spending so much on these tools, is the fact that they are tools. I can appreciate where collectors are coming from, in amassing a quantity of 'artwork' to appreciate, but over time I've realized that that is not for me.

The only things that I buy, are things that I use, or think I'm going to use. Sometimes I'm wrong in my choices and the thing I bought doesn't work as well as I'd hoped. Sometimes I get rid of it, but usually I hold onto it, as I hate the idea of losing money on something I made the decision to buy. I don't think it would be any different if I made more than working man's wages, given my general philosophy on ownership of objects:).
 
Bobby Branton said:
So, I would like to hear from full time makers dealers and collectors.
Is Coop right?
Is the collector market larger than the user market?
Do you only buy a couple of user knives like Coop and the rest of them are collectibles?
Are you less interested in user knives and more interested in collector type knives?

Thanks,

Bobby
Click to expand...

Yes, Coop is right.....knife USERS tend to buy much less than knife COLLECTORS.....I myself rotate about 6 folders, and 10 or so fixed blades at this point.

I have many more knives than that.....MUCH more interested in collecting USABLE knives....don't have too many art knives.....by usable, think damascus, inlayed Sebenza vs. regular Classic model.....think Benchmade Limited editions with pearl, and damascus, vs. regular production models...you get the idea.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
On a practical level for me it is $500.00 for a folder and $300.00 for a fixed blade knife.

If you want to carry one of the bolstered slip joints from makers like Jerry Halfrich or Mike Zcherney- which I do- than the limit goes up into the $600.00 range.

The key for me is that in the "daily rotation" I only have one knife at any given time in the plus $500.00 range and that knife does not see "heavy use.".

Paul
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top