Customs and passarounds

[DaveH]

Last year we did some fund raising and got quite a bit of interest in buying customs for passarounds. This year we're having a little trouble spending the money we raised and selling what we've already bought.

Here are some of my observations:

Fixed blades are not as interesting as folders.

It seems like it's hard to sell a custom for what you payed for it.

Is the market for customs about collecting rather then using?

It seems like few people are willing to say they really believe in a maker and that they work to put together a deal and proposal for a passaround.

I'd like your thoughts on this because I was hoping that the next stage in passarounds would be customs, but it's been really slow taking off.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

1) Folders are more practical for most people. They can take them to work and test them out without attracting attention from co-workers. I myself would be more interested in fixed blades, but I am sure that I am in the minority.

2)It is pretty hard to sell any used knife for what you paid for it. A passaround knife has definitely been used. Some makers knives will command a higher resale value than others.

3)Most of my customs are collector knives and are not used, but some of them get used on a regular basis.

4)I am surprised that you can't find people that believe in the work of custom makers that have made them a knife. There are many makers that I would would have no trouble recommending. If I wanted to take part in a passaround, I would be more than willing to work with a maker to try and arrange a knife for this purpose.