Cost of using?

C

cloozoe

Joined
Nov 23, 2005
Messages
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I know there can't be a precise answer, but hypothetically assuming a $1500 value on a pristine, unused MS hunter, what would be be the value of the same knife that had been lightly and carefully used for a few years? Let's assume no substantial dings, blade showing inevitable signs of use but not abuse, and touch up sharpening only.

I'm sorely tempted to carry and use a particular knife, but have no idea if it would "cost" me 10% of its value or 50%, since I never see knives like this for sale in anything other than mint condition (which tells me that either I must be the only knucklehead around who would use a $1500 knife, or those that do never sell them). The latter wouldn't necessarily preclude me from going ahead, but might make me swallow hard. Thanks in advance for any thoughts you might care to share.
 
interesting question , to me if it is going to be a user , resale value isnt even a thought.

I would guess , with something from a MS , whos wait lists get longer and secondary prices go up , if in good condition you should be able to get 75% or so of your purchase price back. Now say you bought it from the maker for $1500 and secondary prices are $2500 , using it lightly and not abusing , would almost asure you get more than your purchase price back...

those are just my thoughts , but I have never bought a knife and been concerned about resale. I just like to use em' :)
 
The "knife use" value of a piece is anywhere from $300 to $500, all the rest is a combination of rarity and esthetics. On a $1,500 hunter, I'd think you'd loose at the very least $500 if it showed use but not damage. Scratches and dings would take off another big chunk.
 
What does it "cost" not to use?

If it wasn't going to be used, it wouldn't matter if a Ferrari had an engine or not.

(Now, understand that I'm just playing devil's advocate here because I totally get the reluctance to lose value in your investment, but again, it's kind of like having a beautiful woman within your reach but knowing you'll never experience making love with her (and worse, by your own choice).
 
Blues said:
What does it "cost" not to use?

(Now, understand that I'm just playing devil's advocate here because I totally get the reluctance to lose value in your investment, but again, it's kind of like having a beautiful woman within your reach but knowing you'll never experience making love with her (and worse, by your own choice).
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Blues,

Don't believe we have met.

I always dig the female/sex analogy with knives, because I like sexy knives(Loveless, Johnson, Lovett, Young, Steigerwalt, Walker.....)

Women get better for you when you "use" them, knives frequently get used up, big diffence, yeah?;)

If you can afford to take a one time "wipe your butt with $100.00 bills" charge, it shouldn't matter if you use that knife, I'll agree.

On the other hand, you can purchase a smokin' lower cost custom or production piece and use that instead, and appreciate the pristine conditon of an irreplaceable sweetheart, owning, but not sullying.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Takes a while to use up a knife, that's why there's so many old ones still around. Even ones that were not lovingly cared for.

Naturally, I can appreciate an irreplaceable work of art as well as the next guy. I have a few I consider in that category.

Pros and cons, pros and cons. Tony Bose says he wishes everyone would use his knives. He likes to say that nobody parks their multi-thousand dollar vehicle for fear of using it. (And it depreciates from day one as well.)

A knife by Ed Fowler would be a treasure and very expensive for most folks. (I don't own one.) However, knowing folks who do, it seems most of them would consider it a crime not to use it.

I see both sides of the argument and I have custom knives that fall on both sides. Some used. Some not. Just depends.
 
Joss - thanks; very direct and exactly what I was looking for. My area of expertise is bamboo fly rods and this same topic is frequently discussed (Blues's 'beautiful woman' syndrome). The difference is that the vast majority of the most valuable rods were made between roughly 1920-1965, have already been well used, and hence - providing you don't break them - you can have your cake and eat it too. On the rare occasion an unfished Payne or Garrison or Gillum, ($5000-$15000) comes to market, though, the new owner typically does not fish it, partly as a pure financial calculation, and partly out of a sense of responsibility for its stewardship. The new rods by today's good makers sell for between $1000-$3000 give or take and are typically bought to fish with as opposed to simply collect. Perhaps roughly equivalent to a $200-600 hunting knife.
 
cloozoe said:
Joss - thanks; very direct and exactly what I was looking for. My area of expertise is bamboo fly rods and this same topic is frequently discussed (Blues's 'beautiful woman' syndrome). The difference is that the vast majority of the most valuable rods were made between roughly 1920-1965, have already been well used, and hence - providing you don't break them - you can have your cake and eat it too. On the rare occasion an unfished Payne or Garrison or Gillum, ($5000-$15000) comes to market, though, the new owner typically does not fish it, partly as a pure financial calculation, and partly out of a sense of responsibility for its stewardship. The new rods by today's good makers sell for between $1000-$3000 give or take and are typically bought to fish with as opposed to simply collect. Perhaps roughly equivalent to a $200-600 hunting knife.
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Hey cloozoe, I have a couple of old bamboo fly rods of my fathers, not used much at all, I need a valuation on them, please email me direct at jamesatodd@gmail.com. Dad owned a sporting goods store in the 30's and 40's, he died early at 34, so I know the rods are old, just don't know what they are worth, Would appreciate the help.
 
Joss said:
The "knife use" value of a piece is anywhere from $300 to $500, all the rest is a combination of rarity and esthetics. On a $1,500 hunter, I'd think you'd loose at the very least $500 if it showed use but not damage. Scratches and dings would take off another big chunk.
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If the maker did a refurb, and it was neigh-on impossible for an education buyer to see the effects of the refurb, it would be on the lower end of that for depreciation, maybe a $350.00 hit, depending ALWAYS on maker desireability or rarity at the time. This is based on real and practical experience of both selling and buying aggressively, occasionally used.

The maker refurb MIGHT bring the cost to what you were originally stating.:D

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
cloozoe said:
Joss - thanks; very direct and exactly what I was looking for. My area of expertise is bamboo fly rods and this same topic is frequently discussed (Blues's 'beautiful woman' syndrome). The difference is that the vast majority of the most valuable rods were made between roughly 1920-1965, have already been well used, and hence - providing you don't break them - you can have your cake and eat it too. On the rare occasion an unfished Payne or Garrison or Gillum, ($5000-$15000) comes to market, though, the new owner typically does not fish it, partly as a pure financial calculation, and partly out of a sense of responsibility for its stewardship. The new rods by today's good makers sell for between $1000-$3000 give or take and are typically bought to fish with as opposed to simply collect. Perhaps roughly equivalent to a $200-600 hunting knife.
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A well made $200.00 custom cries out for use a $600.00 model less so(more fragile materials or finishes), but there are a lot of Gaston knife collecters that probably wish that they used less, and appreciated aesthetics on much more.

Always a decision.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
James,
Glad to help - will email you.

The knife in question, BTW, is something of an anomaly in that it is not a complexly embellished "art" piece that would be almost silly to use for more than opening the occasional envelope if that, but rather a sparely engraved, plain blade, "field grade" piece with an ironwood handle. It cries out to be used, but because it was made by Jerry Fisk, it's fairly valuable: therefore the conundrum. Were a roughly equivalent knife made by a less reknowned but still highly skilled JS or MS, it would be a $300-500 knife and I'd use it without a qualm. I have knives like that and I do use them. Sure wouldn't mind having that Fisk on my belt now and then, though.
 
It'll boil down to whether you see the knife primarily as an investment from which you hope to capture future financial gain, or as a beautifully crafted tool.

As I mentioned earlier, I can definitely relate. I have MS knives I have used and enjoyed. I have others that I hold, clean, appreciate, and return to safekeeping.
 
cloozoe said:
James,
Glad to help - will email you.

The knife in question, BTW, is something of an anomaly in that it is not a complexly embellished "art" piece that would be almost silly to use for more than opening the occasional envelope if that, but rather a sparely engraved, plain blade, "field grade" piece with an ironwood handle. It cries out to be used, but because it was made by Jerry Fisk, it's fairly valuable: therefore the conundrum. Were a roughly equivalent knife made by a less reknowned but still highly skilled JS or MS, it would be a $300-500 knife and I'd use it without a qualm. I have knives like that and I do use them. Sure wouldn't mind having that Fisk on my belt now and then, though.
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I assume it's a Sendero or Gamemaster as they are Jerry's most popular hunters and has a carbon steel blade since you didn't mention damascus.

A nice example of either model with Ironwood and simple engraving would sell by a dealer for about $1500 as you said.

If you could get one from Jerry, it would run you $1250 to $1350 depending on engraving. And if moderately used, you could expect to get from $950 - $1150 depending on the condition and extend of use.

Hope that helps....
 
50% +/- on anything other than the super rare unless you can have it refurbed prior to resale.
 
Over 20 years ago a man bought 2 knives from me, one for himself and one for his son. Yesterday he brought them to me for a checkup. They have been used hard, very hard and stood up well. The beauty of the day was listening to him talk about what they had done with the knives, docking lambs, scraping paint, cutting bailing twine, dressing animals, just the things a ranch knife needs to do.

They have received much more benefit out of those knives than if they had simply put them in a case to increase in value. He ordered a new one for his hired hand who will use it hard. Use is what makes knives worth owning.
 
Ed Fowler said:
They have received much more benefit out of those knives than if they had simply put them in a case to increase in value. He ordered a new one for his hired hand who will use it hard. Use is what makes knives worth owning.
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To you, Ed, to you, use it what makes knives worth owning.

There are more than a few ways to look at it, for the individual, they are all "correct".

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Ed Fowler said:
Over 20 years ago a man bought 2 knives from me, one for himself and one for his son. Yesterday he brought them to me for a checkup. They have been used hard, very hard and stood up well. The beauty of the day was listening to him talk about what they had done with the knives, docking lambs, scraping paint, cutting bailing twine, dressing animals, just the things a ranch knife needs to do.

They have received much more benefit out of those knives than if they had simply put them in a case to increase in value. He ordered a new one for his hired hand who will use it hard. Use is what makes knives worth owning.
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Great points made by both you and STeven. Many ways knives can be enjoyed.
 
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