Custom Folders: who are the HIGH end makers?

fracmeister

fracmeister

Petroleum Engineer
Joined
May 26, 1999
Messages
1,686
I have seen folders by living, working makers that go for prices in excess of 10,000$ Who are these guys? Who buys these knives? What web sites do they hang out at (if any?)
 
tim herman
dellana
van barnett

these are the ones that just popped into my head when i read your post. more to follow after some pondering.
 
Most of the well known makers could and have produced work in that range or close to it. Since many makers are living off their work, they make the stuff that sells fairly quickly and leave the art knives to special orders.
 
Frac,

Your requirement is $10,000+.

I don't know if any of the makers listed get $10K. I know they have gotten in Excess of $5K. So has W.D. Pease as well as John W. Smith.

Makers in excess of $10K:

Ray Appleton
H.H. Frank
Michael Walker

I sold a pair of Bill Moran Folders for $25,000. Although they did not sell initially for that when Bill sold them.

Usually these knives will feature engraving and other special touches.

Tim Herman did a folder with Opal scales a few years back, that may have topped $10K.

Most of the makers who get even $5K for a folder, this is ususally pre-ordered. Lets face it, how many buyers have the "spare" $5K in their pocket.

Some of the buyers have been around for decades buying knives. Others collectors are new and have a lot of money. Unfortunately, many of the buyers are taken advantage off because they get the "fever". They are around for a year maybe 2 then they are gone.

Of the list mentioned, I have only seen Herman and Smith on the forums.

They both, along with WD Pease have web sites.

Purveyor's Dave Ellis and Gary Levine in particular have some of the aforementioned makers work.

In person the best place to see these makers are:

The East Coast Custom Knife Show
The Knifemakers Guild Show
Phil Lobreds Art Knife Invitational (every 2 years).
 
Originally posted by Les Robertson

In person the best place to see these makers are:

The East Coast Custom Knife Show
The Knifemakers Guild Show
Phil Lobreds Art Knife Invitational (every 2 years).
Click to expand...

Where and when are the next ones?

Dan
 
Try Barret-Smythe galleries in NYC.
They have many knives in that price range.

They have a web site too, but I dont know the uRL.
 
Folks, Barrett-Smythe is out of business. They had some amazing knives by Kious, Howard and others. Jon Robyn was their in house engraver. Awesome.

I was lucky enough to handle some knives by Rick Eaton, Hank Rummell
had them, truly amazing. In the high 4 figures.

Alot of the better knives that are available are not on the Internet,
not all makers or purveyors have sites. I would venture to guess there
were 4 purveyors in NY that alot of people here never heard of. They had everything from tactical to fantasy.

Win
 
In general unless you are talking about highly engraved folders most fall under the $10,000 mark.The average Ray Appleton knife is currently around $8500 and go up from there,average Michael Walker knife is in the $5000 range and up.When talking about H.H. Frank it is quite easy to get up to $10,000 range.
Bill Moran folders (when you can find one) start at around $8000 to $9000 unless you want damascus,than you are looking at $13,000 plus.
Now if you are talking Steve Lindsay,Firmo Fracassi or Torcoli engraved knives you can hit the $10,000 plus mark very quickly.
Hope that helps,
Dave Ellis,ABS,M.S.
http://www.exquisiteknives.com
 
Greg,

No one forgot Jess. Remember the initial criteria $10K +.

Jess is exceptionally reasonable for the quality of the work and his position in the market.

Most of his knives were in the $750 - $2,000 range.
 
I know that Herman has sold a knife for $15,000. Not bad for a hasbeen.
 
Timmy Herman has had some sell for $20,000...
 
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