Demand and value

on_the_edge

on_the_edge

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Typically speaking, how does a knifemaker's death impact the demand and/or value of his/her knives? Indeed, does a knifemaker's death impact either at all? Instead, what if a knifemaker who is very well known, say a popular and well-known Mastersmith, simply stops making knives? Are there any differences between the results of a death and a conscious choice to simply stop making knives?

I'm inclined to believe that the price of a knife will generally follow demand, but I don't think that is necessarily always the case. I'm curious to know what folks here have perceived in the last several years. Many great makers have passed away and at least one that I can think of has stopped making knives altogether so far as I know.
 
Supply and demand. If supply is cut off then demand increases.

The curve will level off and then maybe even drop if the maker was a flash in the pan. Once the current fans are sated and there is no production to draw new ones in then they'll start to fade.
 
Danke42 said:
Supply and demand. If supply is cut off then demand increases.

The curve will level off and then maybe even drop if the maker was a flash in the pan. Once the current fans are sated and there is no production to draw new ones in then they'll start to fade.
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This.

It all depends on the reputation of the maker. Strong, well-known maker of quality products? The price should hold up or increase?

Little-known maker? The value of the knife will depend on its inherent quality relative to what is currently being produced, with a bit of a discount based on the unknown factor.
 
Not sure if it makes a difference, but I am mostly talking about the greats, like Warren Osborne, Joe Kious, John White, and unfortunately several others. Bailey Bradshaw no longer makes knives, but is now making beautiful custom rifles.
 
For the greats the value will continue to go up. Probably won't skyrocket but it won't ever get cheaper so the time to buy is now.
 
Many times, once a maker's name recedes from the spotlight, people forget and values fall.

Charlie Dake, Bob Hajovsky, A.T Barr, Ruffin Johnson, Bob Conley, Corbet Sigman just to name a few...don't think they are increasing in value amongst the general knife collecting population.

The greats will be outliers, but most will go the way of interframes (for those that remember them :) )...

-Michael
 
Not sure if this is applicable, but it does dove tail into the discussion. Prior to Joe Kious' untimely demise he and I were discussing the fact that a couple of his MAJOR collectors, one of whom was in Europe had died and their collections were beginning to filter into the market via dealers and purveyors and he was essentially competing with himself for new business. Plus the fact that he had been making pretty much the same styles (pocket locket, the bug etc.) for so long that the regular collectors were just about saturated and were looking for something new in style.

Now that the well has dried up, I'll be interested in seeing if demand and prices pick up due to lack of supply. Warren's work could well be in kind of the same fix based on lack of diversity in base styling. John White's work, while easily recognizable, seems to be holding steady and increasing in dollar value. I am speaking in general terms as there are certainly exceptions to everything.

I have a couple of Kious very early pieces (Alamo, TX) and they, of course, are not styled like any of his later offerings.
They are definitely not for sale, but if they were I guarantee the prices would seem to have skyrocketed.

Paul
 
Many times, once a maker's name recedes from the spotlight, people forget and values fall.
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This is very true.

Warren Osborne's name was mentioned so I did is quick look around and I found over 50 of his knives available, all in different states of embellishment and price ranges on a few dealers websites. Even though what he did he did really well, there is no longer much of a demand for that style of knife. The number of collectors who bought them are getting less, they are selling off their collections, or moved their collections in a different direction.

I found similar numbers with Kious knives and unfortunately his knives were similar to Warren's.
 
I think after someone like Warren Osborne passes away, there is an immediate rush by some to cash in. That is why you see a lot now. Eventually they will dry up and the prices will go up.

Look at Bob Lum's stuff. There was a slight glut after he passed and now you hardly ever see them and when you do they are $$$$.

I think having your designs live on like Osborne, Kim and Loveless for various reasons keeps their names from fading away. As long as there is still a Spyderco Lum, a Benchmade 940 and 'loveless' patterns, there will be a demand.
 
That being said, I remember a maker who will go unamed who was griping that a dealer was selling one of his knives for under half of what he changed new. He said something to the effect of how people will kick themselves for selling so cheap after he stops making knives. Everyone just rolled their eyes.
 
Chuck and Michael are posting close what I would consider to be "The Truth".

I have an Osborne for sale at a major dealer's site, and it hasn't gotten a bite in almost two months. Great knife, have no problem keeping it, but other collectors might not be so fortunate.

Warren made some of the best knives that could be had at any price and the market for many of the styles he made is soft.

Grandiose pronouncements sound great, but unless there is some experience backing up the statements....it's just another opinion.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
knives can make for great investments, even better if you could read the future! Buy low, sell high is the investor's mantra.
Not that you should always make room in your life for knives just for a monetary consideration...
 
It's been my observation that those who quit the business have values that slip away rather than rise.

Deceased makers whose knives have experienced decent any kind of decent, long term investment return are very, very, very few and far between.
 
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It's "demand" I see as the critical factor.
There has to be a market for a specific maker.
His work can only live on when he is remembered.
These days we get so much new information, that is easy to get lost.
 
Chuck Gedraitis Knives said:
This is very true.

Warren Osborne's name was mentioned so I did is quick look around and I found over 50 of his knives available, all in different states of embellishment and price ranges on a few dealers websites. Even though what he did he did really well, there is no longer much of a demand for that style of knife. The number of collectors who bought them are getting less, they are selling off their collections, or moved their collections in a different direction.

I found similar numbers with Kious knives and unfortunately his knives were similar to Warren's.
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Maybe I'm off base, but it seems crazy to me that you can buy a custom Osborne for significantly cheaper than a "custom" Medford (just to take one example). (I'm looking mainly at the Osbornes up at Nordic Knives--there are several under $1k.)
 
brancron said:
Maybe I'm off base, but it seems crazy to me that you can buy a custom Osborne for significantly cheaper than a "custom" Medford (just to take one example). (I'm looking mainly at the Osbornes up at Nordic Knives--there are several under $1k.)
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Me too, though simple supply and demand. Need someone to do Osborne knife Youtube videos featuring icepick grip and using the words 'Bro' & 'awesome' excessively :D

Remember the interframe bubble? If so, when do think the titanium-tactical bubble will pop? :rolleyes:

-Michael
 
Medfords cannot be compared to Osborne's. Warren's eye for design, style, fit, finish and material selection cannot be compared to a simple frame lock.

The problem is Warren never evolved with the market, he just kept on making what he knew. There are a few makers who have started making what will sell, not just what they want to make.

Examples are:
Myself
Richard Rogers
Joel Chamblin
Gayle Bradley

I'm sure that there are others.
 
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