Collectibility of "first production" commercial knives

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Nyfeguy

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I recently acquired a new in package CRKT Shenanigan Ken Onion Plain Edge stamped "First Production" on the blade. I am not asking for a numerical value as I believe you need a special account for that but, I have seen this before on other knives and I am curious if "first productions" are a good collectors item for CRKT or any brand or is it more or less a marketing tool? Maybe its part of that model designation? I appreciate your help, Thank you!
 
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On a knife like a CRKT, it's nothing. The volume of knives negates any value to it. On a really small production run, it makes a tiny difference, but not much unless there are changes between the 1st and 2nd run.
 
From what I have found first production does not increase value and as far as collectibility to yourself it is always cool to you but for most knives the value does not increase. There are a few higher end productions/midtechs where first production does increase value. Many times on midtechs or customs a maker will do a first run/production which usually means more to the owner but can increase value more readily. This is from my experience as it seems most people do not want to pay more for a knife that costs more just because it says first production.
 
Anything can be collectible.

If you are asking if the knife might increase in value down the road then no.

Before a 'first production' knife can be collectible in that sense, then the knife itself has to be a collectible one.

I haven't seen any knife from CRKT that I would consider collectible in that sense. I don't think they are really in that market like Kershaw, Spyderco and Benchmade are.
 
With a CRKT, in most cases it will actually detract from the value of a knife to most collectors. The reason being many collectors dont care for words cluttering the streamlined look of the blade. And rarely are these words done in a font that actually is flattering to the design of the knife. There is however instances in the case of CRKT where a first production run knife can demand a premium. In some cases like the Foresight they made all of the FPR knives blades of a superior steel to the rest of the line. All FPR knives were Acuto+ steel while the rest of them were aus8. I dont believe any other steels were used in the case of the shenanigan. I was simply pointing out that sometimes it can make a difference. And even in that case it would probably matter more to someone that will actually use the knife rather than keep it in a collection. Production knives no matter if limited edition or first production run or not are poor investments. Very few in comparison to how many are created ever go on to increase in value and those that do are usually of a higher caliber.
 
Depends. As scurvy mentioned, anything is collectible. People collect paper clips, navel lint, etc etc etc. So, sure, it's collectible.

Is there any "added value" to it? No. Its CRKT and made in vast quantities.
 
Value is largely subjective and irrational. Often, a rare item has little value because no one knows what it is and it has received no "buzz." Also, the items of greatest market value may plunge in market value (price actually paid) over many years because the makers are more and more forgotten and new "big deal" makers dominate buyer thinking.
 
I have heard that "Pre-production" knives are hand assembled and have a better fit and finish that the production models. But I have not found anything in writing on this topic. First production may have some increased value because the machine tools used to make the knives are new and within specifications. However, the machine tools for first production may not have been adjusted properly and later models have a higher fit and finish. I like to collect First production knives of a collectible knife just because they are the oldest of the collectible model.



 
I have the largest navel lint collection on the East Coast. It is for sale as soon as they create a Sales Forum for lint :)

marcinek said:
Depends. As scurvy mentioned, anything is collectible. People collect paper clips, navel lint, etc etc etc. So, sure, it's collectible.

Is there any "added value" to it? No. Its CRKT and made in vast quantities.
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