Cost & ROI of engraving?

Joss

Joss

Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
7,353
Guys,

I am curious on what you think the cost of engraving is (I don't even know how its priced - by the inch?), and also whether it is a good idea from a $ standpoint to engrave a knife.

I was looking at the Warenski daggers on some retail sites, and they are nearly all sold engraved. Some have a huge amount of engraving, but some have a more "reasonable" amount, for example from the Knife Legends archives:

http://www.knifelegends.com/Warenski_FlutedWireWrap2_w.htm
Warenski_FlutedWireWrapDagger-w.jpg


and

http://www.knifelegends.com/Warenski_Sm Fluted Jasper.htm
Warenski_Small%20Jasper%20Flute%20Eng-w.jpg


How much would something like that cost, roughly? Would it enhance or lower the value of a knife - i.e., would the knife with the engraving be worth more than the cost of the engraving + "nakked" knife?

Thanks,

JD
 
I remember a recent article in Blade where it was mentioned that engraving would make the knife much more desirable. I like it a lot especially when it's done tastefully (just like any other embellishment).
Here is a link to a site with pricing information http://dangeloengraving.com/

Marcel
 
Yes Marcel, engraving does make most collectables (knives, watches, etc.)
more desirable, but the cost for engraving varies very much and sky can
be the limit with some world-class engravers.

Here is one example from the highest level of this engraver's "scale":

Lindsay-Lindsay #5, 1996
This lock back folder was eleven months in the making and engraving.
The piece was made by Frank Lindsay and engraved by Steve Lindsay.
The knife contains 121 separate parts. There are thirty-four diamonds in
the 18k gold inlay handle and one in the blade. These are .01ct full cut stones
and as close to D flawless and ideal proportions as obtainable and matched
to within .02 mm. The blade and locking bar are made from ATS-34 stainless.
The blade has a hardness of 59 Rockwell on the C scale and was triple tempered
with one being sub 0 of -100F to impart toughness. The frame and other parts
are made of heat-treated 416 stainless. The diamond settings are made of 18k wire.
The folder is held together with screws and taper pins.
This design made it possible for the knife to be engraved while apart.
The inside face surfaces of the handle have been finished to the same extent
as the outside and have also been engraved. The center 18k gold interframe
was bright cut engraved. The graver was kept polished to an extreme to
accomplish this. There are 424 individual 24k gold inlays per side (848 in all).
The leaves were inlayed with .010" dia. wire and the vines with .006" dia. wire.
Overall length is 5 1/2" (138 mm).
The collector who bought this amazing piece of art paid $65,000. Recently it was
resold for $110,000.....

Doesn't this say quite a lot say much about the price of being paid for
world-class engraving?

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

From Steve Lindsay's section in my book "Custom Folding Knives"

picture.JPG
 
David - thanks, this is very interesting (however I am not seeing the photo).

Obviously I am not thinking of anything like that! :)
 
I too, Joss, know only a handfull of collectors who think along the
$100,000 for a small folder, and was therefore quite impressed when
I met the young collector who now owns the Lindsay-Lindsay #5...

About the picture, It may be a bit heavy because of the black background,
but it is in size, just like those on all my recent posts...

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
It's not a pic size problem, I get a red X thingie, as if the URL was wrong.
 
I re-copied the link and re-pasted it in the post. It looks fine on my
screen but it looked the same before as well........ :)
I hope this works out or, you can open my first book on page 182 for the
high-rez full page illustration of this folder.

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
David - I have seen it in your book.

I suspect that the service is down and that you can see it because is cached on your machine, maybe.
 
I can see Keith's post fine. Yep - I know that one. All I can say is, amazing.
 
I like fine engraving on knives as I believe it gives a maker the opportunity to demonstrate a very broad range of artistic talent from the laborious hammering or grinding of the steel to shape, to the very tedious and detailed task of engraving fine images into the steel.

Many knives will benefit aesthetically from the correct style and amount of engraving, however sometimes may not increase the overall value of the piece enough to recoup the cost of the engraving. This would be especially true of knives in lower priced ranges.
On the other hand, many engraved knives will benefit aesthetically and will raise the value of the piece well over and above the cost of the engraving. In my opinion, engraving also highlights other detail or features of the knife. In some cases, engraving can be used to cover flaws or to add a little pizzazz to an otherwise plain piece. I have found that engraving adds a little durability as engraved areas of knives generally don’t show scratches as much as polished or hand rubbed satin finished areas.

I always prefer knives to be engraved by the maker, with the exception of collaborations by maker/engraver partners such as Bob Loveless / the late Dan Wilkerson, D Alton Holder / Bruce Shaw, Edmond and Jere Davidson and of course Harvey Dean and Steve Dunn or Terry Theiss. My favorite knifemaker/engravers are Jerry Fisk and Steve Dunn. It’s practically gotten to the point where these talented artist’s knives are almost expected to be engraved. My favorite engravers in no particular order are Joe Mason, Bruce Shaw, Simon Lytton, Julie Warenski, Ray Cover Jr. and Rick Eaton.
 
Has anyone experienced that specifically, i.e., by a knife at its current price for $X, add $Y in engraving and sell it for > than $X+$Y, in a way that can be directly attributable to the engraving?
 
Joss said:
Has anyone experienced that specifically, i.e., by a knife at its current price for $X, add $Y in engraving and sell it for > than $X+$Y, in a way that can be directly attributable to the engraving?
Click to expand...

I would not add engraving to a piece in my collection just in hopes of increasing the value over and above the price of the engraving.

I would and have added engraving to a piece where I felt the price of the engraving would most certainly be recouped by sale and the engraving would enhance the piece making it more marketable or increase the likelihood of sale.

I try to keep cost of engraving at or below 30% of total knife cost. IMO, if you go higher there's risk you will not recover cost.

Here's two pieces in my current collection that I had engraved after initial purchase:
orig-1.jpg


338046127_b2bb2a894d_b.jpg
 
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