Considering a Sebenza Collection......

LRJ35A

LRJ35A

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Hope some of you smart CR types could give some input.

I won't be a user of these to speak of most of the time, more of a admirer/fondler...

50% of the reasoning will be for investment (no, don't expect large capital gains short or long term) as to not lose much in the end.

The other 50% is I like 'em...

I'm a leftie, from a resale standpoint, does it hurt alot price-wise, or does it just take longer to sell, or for all I know are LH ones in demand and hard to find in the 1st place??

Does it make a tinkers damn whether they are large or small Sebbies ??

Regards
 
LRJ35A said:
Hope some of you smart CR types could give some input.

I won't be a user of these to speak of most of the time, more of a admirer/fondler...

50% of the reasoning will be for investment (no, don't expect large capital gains short or long term) as to not lose much in the end.

The other 50% is I like 'em...

I'm a leftie, from a resale standpoint, does it hurt alot price-wise, or does it just take longer to sell, or for all I know are LH ones in demand and hard to find in the 1st place??

Does it make a tinkers damn whether they are large or small Sebbies ??

Regards
Click to expand...

hi, i have had sebenzas for a few years, heres my take on your questions:

1. you are not likely to make money in resale, but you arent likely to lose much, if anything either.
2. liking them is enough reason for me to collect them. there are so many variations you could buy 1 a month for several years and still not have them all. plus the yearly nica limiteds.
3. i have seen some looking for lefty sebs on the exchange. since fewer people are left handed than right, it would likely take longer to sell. also i dont think there are nearly as many lefties as righty sebs available to begin with.
4. small or large? short answer, no it doesnt matter. traders and buyers are always looking for one or the other. i like both, although i just traded my small classic. i suppose it gives me an excuse to get the decorated one i have wanted for a while anyway.

hope this helps. and good luck in your new hobby. welcome to the sickness!:D
 
Thanks for your input on the CR's, I see this as an addiction no matter what the maker is.

I've always been weak in these type of situations whether its firearms, watches or whatever..

Regards

PS: Wife already curious why UPS & Postal man arriving daily :D
 
im the same, not so much with watches, although i do have several. i have a couple hamiltons that are my favorites and get the most wear, and together were only about 500.00

but guns and knives? forget about it. lately i have been doing more trading and increasing my busse collection. over the years i have gone back and forth with different makers, designs, etc.

its expensive, but sure is fun!
 
I feel that you can not go wrong in collection CR knives! There are so many unique graphics, that if you collected thoose alone, would keep you quite busy! You DO know you CAN order straight from CRK, right? But, there are also some excellent onlibe dealers that carry CR knives too. I LOVE my CR knives!! I collect CRK's and Custom knives.( I also DO USE them too.)
 
LRJ35A said:
Hope some of you smart CR types could give some input.

I won't be a user of these to speak of most of the time, more of a admirer/fondler...

50% of the reasoning will be for investment (no, don't expect large capital gains short or long term) as to not lose much in the end.

The other 50% is I like 'em...

I'm a leftie, from a resale standpoint, does it hurt alot price-wise, or does it just take longer to sell, or for all I know are LH ones in demand and hard to find in the 1st place??

Does it make a tinkers damn whether they are large or small Sebbies ??

Regards
Click to expand...

Just because a product is great today (by any yardstick of "great" – popular, revered, high quality, exclusive, etc.) doesn’t translate to it being a collectible tomorrow. Case in point is cameras, many of which are very collectible. The Kodak Brownie was the standard for family snapshots in the mid-1900s. Many people reminisce, “my dad had used one of those!” Today, a Brownie in good condition can be picked up in a 2nd hand store for $10.

I certainly don’t have the recipe for what will be the next collectible, but I think part of it has to do with the size of the pool that will reminisce about the product, the magnitude of reminiscing, and the scarcity of items. Here’s my stab at the reasons I think CRK knives will be strong collectibles:

· CRK has had staying power in the industry – 22 years and still going strong, that means that the pool of people that know about (as opposed to own -- knowing and wanting is the key) CRK knives is large and growing.

· All ready established cult-like following (yes, in reference to the thread in the Blade Discussion Forum).

· CRK products have gained the top tier confidence by elite military groups – many companies claim this, but very few have actually gained that stature.

· Winning knife industry awards (Blade MQA 6 times, for instance) helps, but CRK’s starting to win awards OUTSIDE the industry (Gray Sporting Journal “Best of the Best”)

· Demand has always outstripped supply -- bodes well for that being the case down the road.

· Volume is limited, but not THAT limited.

· Lots of different models to choose from, which keeps collectors wanting to collect several different pieces. Additionally, there are identifiable vintages of CRK knives (serial numbers, LE's, discontinued models) which fuels selective collecting.

Having said all that, I think there's a lot of variability in what CRK's you could collect. In Sebenzas, I tend to collect more larges than smalls, mainly because I prefer them for myself; however, it also occurs to me that older collectors with failing eyesight can see them incrementally better :) . I'm guessing that lefties are way more scarce, and since they double as something you can use, that might be a way to consider from both collectible and personal preference points of view.

Best of luck in your endeavors!
 
My opinion is that for the vast majority of cases you will loose at least some on your investment. To keep losses to a minimum I'd suggest:

- Buying used so you pay less to begin with, and send them in for refurb if required.

- Buy only the rarest models like LE wood inlay, LE mamoth Inlay, "H" or "P" sebenzas.

OR just buy what you like.
 
Dave's right buy what you like. If you happen to make money on them so much the better. The market for left hand knives is small and they can be hard to get rid of. I feel in the long run (10 years and longer) yeah they may be a decent investment but like any investment, nothings for sure. Key phrase is buy what you like. I'm a southpaw too and really appreciate the fact that CRK makes dedicated left hand folders and to the best of my knowledge is the only producton company that will still do it. The axis is ambidextrous but all the other production companies found that there just isn't the $$$ out there to justify making left hand dedicated knives.:cool:
 
There are several CRK knives that, even if purchased at original retail, are now in the black as an investment if in new condition (one might argue that a used one that's CRK refurb'ed would bring the same value). The ones that come to mind for me are:
  • pre-1989: "Made in South Africa" knives
  • 1990: "H" Sebenzas
  • 1997-2002: Any Umfaan
Someone who's in the market for these things know the going rate -- I haven't been shopping. Anyone know other CRK knives on the secondary market that have appreciated past their original retail prices (P's, low serial numbers, LE's, etc.)?
 
Thanks,
Btw what's an "LE"
Were the H&P series in all years ??

Chris:D
 
LE stands for Limited Edition and usually in regards to the full wood inlays
they come with all sorts of inlays and options of damascus blades but
limited to a run of 60 knives per year, which is engraved on each knife
hence the Limited Edition and the corresponding value for them.
Myself, I like the Classic Inlays, better grip and guard area and a pointier
blade, plus the layout is cool ;)

As to how wise it is to 'invest' that's a tough one, I've own a LOT of sebenza's
but didn't get the money back out of them in order to get them sold
if I could have waited for the right person, maybe, but it's a rolling target
sometimes.

But by all means, enjoy a couple now and use them, you'll appreciate the
build quality and the simplistic design that has enamoured quite a following ;)
and also has started many a discussion, some good, some not so good...
G2
 
LRJ35A said:
Thanks,
Btw what's an "LE"
Were the H&P series in all years ??

Chris:D
Click to expand...

LE = limited Edition Sebenzas. Each year since '99, CRK has made 60 large and 60 small regular Sebenzas with exotic inlay materials and polished S30V or damascus blades.

"H" series were the Handmade sebenzas from 1990/1991 -- there were 86 of the handmade Sebenzas made. The "P" series started with "Pxxx", where xxx was a serial number from 1 to around 300 (I think). These were the first Production sebenzas made after CRK went to computer controlled machining for some process steps. After it no longer made sense to serialize, CRK dropped the number and simply stamped a "P". I'm not sure how many were made with the P before CRK dropped the P designation all together.

When CRK started producing the new sebenza design (now called the "regular"), they serialized the first several sebenzas with simply a number, with no letter designation.

Hope that helps.
 
Are the CR authorized dealers able to advertise at less than MSRP ?? And once contacted do they usually deal a standard % off if a person negotiates ??

Is it a long lag time if you buy direct from CR ??

I've seen a few makers that customize Sebbies, I can see buying if a person really like em, but do they sell ok in the resale market(a premium)

Are there any dealers you would stay away from that sell CR's (you can email that answer)..

Thanks again, I'm soaking this all up like a sponge :D
 
Personally, I buy two ways -- directly from CRK (great folks to deal with, and I like building the personal relationship with the CRK crew), or used, as DaveH suggests to minimize cost or get something that is no longer in production. The CRK leadtime can be long, but once in a while you can catch them with orders that have been placed, then cancelled. If CRK can not fill another previously entered order with that knife, delivery can be quick. I would call them up to see what they have in inventory or near-inventory, and see if anything fits the bill.

I've got no experience with 3rd party customizers. I'd like one, but not as an investment knife. I'm thinking that 10 years down the road, it's the NIB stock stuff that will appreciate.
 
My experience is that CRK authorized dealers won't deal or negotiate. Either buy it at their price or forget it. Third party sellers will negotiate depending on how quick they want to sell. I've had to sell at a deep discount to move any of my Sebbies that I want to part with. As for modified Sebbies again it's a losing proposition if you think you're going to make money. Maybe a Seb modified by Tom Mayo may sell at a premium because he's not doing them anymore. If you think you are going to make money selling Sebs I think you'll be pretty disappointed. People are looking for a deal and mostly not willing to pay a premium.

I prefer to buy directly from CRK and the wait time will vary depending on what it is you want. I've waited up to a year to get a left hand damascus Seb. The benefit is that you will get what you want.:thumbup: ;)

I have no problem paying the asking price, IMO I think they are well worth it. Like I said earlier, buy it because you like it not because you think you will make a profit.:D
 
Maybe you've mis-read me or maybe I didn't make my point well. I don't expect to profit. Just make an investment in the Seb's etc. that I really like, and hope to cut the losses down the road. I'm sure I may get lucky on a few, some others not, and maybe it all evens out in the end(if there ever is an end to this madness)

As with any investment I or anyone makes, you make the $$$ when you buy(smartly).

Glad to hear from another leftie..

Cheers
 
Fooj said:
When CRK started producing the new sebenza design (now called the "regular"), they serialized the first several sebenzas with simply a number, with no letter designation.
Click to expand...

The first 200 of the new design were numbered, be they large or small, plain or decorated.

I always hate to say this, but you should read the Unofficial FAQ at the top of this forum, it has some useful information if I do say so myself.
 
stjames said:
I always hate to say this, but you should read the Unofficial FAQ at the top of this forum, it has some useful information if I do say so myself.
Click to expand...

True statement -- in fact, most of the Unofficial FAQ is quite official, since James has compiled quotes directly from Anne and Chris, coming as a result of them answering questions throughout the years.
 
Well, it just happens I always read the Sticky's & FAQ's on most all forums I visit.

However on this one, I read all of Page 1 which is mainly orientation on cleaning, disassembly etc., got a little bored with it and didn't click onto Page 2, which contained (some) answers to my questions.
:o :o
 
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