Desperately Seeking Loveless...

From my standpoint, it seems a bit strange to let $500 ruin a $13,000 deal. If you would have felt extatic paying $12,500 to own that knife, do you really think you would feel rotten paying $13,000? That's 4%.

On the other hand, I recognize that one should draw a line in the sand at some point.

Also, I don't know how rare that knife is.
 
You first offered ~10% less than the selling price, but refused to pay 4% more than "your final offer" which was the original selling price. Sounds like you really did not want this knife. From a different perspective, the seller told you to "pound sand" and remained firm on their price.
 
Buffalohump said:
Please post a picture of this holy grail for the more ignorant here....
Click to expand...

http://www.knifelegends.com/LovelessRobynFighter.htm

Joss said:
From my standpoint, it seems a bit strange to let $500 ruin a $13,000 deal. If you would have felt extatic paying $12,500 to own that knife, do you really think you would feel rotten paying $13,000? That's 4%.

On the other hand, I recognize that one should draw a line in the sand at some point.

Also, I don't know how rare that knife is.
Click to expand...

The knife is rare enough, Joss....have been told by two people that the stag is superb.

A very positive result of this thread is that I have been contacted by someone who may have what I am looking for, under more workable conditions....will keep everyone posted...a negative of this thread is that it revealed Brownstain isn't dead yet.:thumbdn:

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Last edited:
from your description, it sounds like the dealer led you to believe that the buyer would take $500 less than their asking price. Perhaps he spoke out of turn. Definitely should have checked with the seller first before telling you there might be flexibility.

I'd be interested to know if there is a commission involved, and if it was the dealer who had decided against giving a deal, knowing that he wouldn't lose most of his commission due to the fact that there are other buyers waiting in the wings.

Speaking as one whose livelihood is based on selling things to people, I'd say that sellers are 100% responsible for the price that they sell things for, and that just because a buyer might have an expectation that they should get a better deal, doesn't mean the price will drop for them. Telling a seller to 'pack sand' just because they decided against dropping their price for you is a real potential bridge burner.

I thought it was common for highly desirable knives from established makers to increase in value once they reach the secondary market. That, I've always thought, is their investment potential.

If I buy products at wholesale and sell them at a profit, then I'm doing my job. Certainly, anyone could invest in starting a business with the sole purpose of buying things for themselves at wholesale. But it's simply too much work. I'd liken it to waiting many years for a knife you want, in order to get it at the maker's price.

The Loveless model that you want is now even more on the radar, and it is quite possible that this thread may serve to increase its value, leaving you in a worse situation than when you started.

Having lots of knives is good. Diversification is something investors talk a lot about, and although my knowledge of investing is very meagre, it makes sense to me. However, collecting knives isn't always about investing, it's emotional, and if one knife provides more satisfaction in ownership than 10 knives, then it makes sense to liquidate the ten in order to acquire the ONE.

Given all you've said, this almost seems like a lost opportunity for you. Unless of course, deep down, you really don't want to invest such a substantial amount of money in one knife. I wouldn't blame you for that, I would never do it.


ps. I just read the past couple of posts since writing this, and I don't mean to infer that you are wrong to invest in this one knife. Also, I'd like to wish you luck in finding what you are looking for.
 
Last edited:
I can't compact 25+ years of knife collecting know-how and experience into some quick paragraphs for you.....but I'll try a bit....

Know the market, know the maker's position in it.

Have a price that you are willing to spend, know what the aftermarket markup is, and find out what something costs from the producer whenever possible.

Stick to your guns.

Know how to play the game....there are so many little variables....it is better to start off small and move into bigger pieces when you have some time and experience buying AND selling knives.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I don't believe that potential buyer or seller were out of line here. As $13,000 is not an unfair price for this model, just more of a premium over maker price than Steven felt comfortable spending. As far as the seller not yielding on his asking price, we don't know his cost. He could have paid $12,500 for the knife and felt deserving of a small profit.

Don't see a cause for any sand pounding here. It was just potential sale/deal that didn't bare fruit, as many of them don't.
 
Kevin Jones said:
Don't see a cause for any sand pounding here. It was just potential sale/deal that didn't bare fruit, as many of them don't.
Click to expand...

I know the prices involved.....not only does the selling agent(who was doing NOTHING in this case, I had to call him 3 times, at no point did he call me) leave this deal empty handed, but it is worse for him, because now I am irritated(I was practically begging).....This chicken crap has turned into chicken salad, no thanks to the selling agent.....thusly the sand pounding.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Last edited:
In your opinion would it be more wise for a collector like me to start out with a $4000 drop point hunter, or just hold out for what I REALLY want which is a mini-wilderness or Ny special in either amber or mastadon. I could probably never afford this straight up but if I considered selling part of my collection it could put me in the ballpark. Do most people start out with the hunters to get the feel for loveless?
 
jonathan brand said:
In your opinion would it be more wise for a collector like me to start out with a $4000 drop point hunter, or just hold out for what I REALLY want which is a mini-wilderness or Ny special in either amber or mastadon. I could probably never afford this straight up but if I considered selling part of my collection it could put me in the ballpark. Do most people start out with the hunters to get the feel for Loveless?
Click to expand...

My personal experience is that people buy the hunters for a number of reasons, Jon-

1. They like hunters.
2. They are much more affordable than the other models
3. They are more readily available than other models

That said, I try to avoid purchasing hunters, because I don't hunt anymore(geographically difficult), don't much care for the pattern, and LOVE fighters.

Figure that the average maker knocks out a fighter for every 10 hunters they make...just from the rarity factor, fighters are much more desireable.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Last edited:
Spectacular piece. I'm sure the stag handles could only be an improvement over the brown micarta.
 
jonathan brand said:
In your opinion would it be more wise for a collector like me to start out with a $4000 drop point hunter, or just hold out for what I REALLY want which is a mini-wilderness or Ny special in either amber or mastodon. I could probably never afford this straight up but if I considered selling part of my collection it could put me in the ballpark. Do most people start out with the hunters to get the feel for loveless?
Click to expand...

I would advise you to save your $4000 towards purchase of the model you ultimately want. I have found that 'settling' for something less than you want is not often rewarding long term.

Be patient in your search and hold out for the most you can get for the money you have to spend. There have been 'deals' out there over the last year or so. I was going to point you towards a very nice and well-priced mini-wilderness, however just noticed it must have sold over the last few days.

Either model in mastodon may be aiming too high as good amber stag is hard enough to find at a good price.
I know of a NY Special available in ivory, but the price is ^^^^$$$^^^^ ;)
 
Is/was this it?

44542-DSC_0001.JPG


Click this link, if it's a red X: Loveless Stag Dixon Fighter

Coop
 
I would have thought a Big Bear would've been your dream Loveless, but then I realized we'd be talking about a price roughly 2x higher than a Dixon, yes?

I shudder to think of what would happen should you ever win the lottery, STeven. :) :D
 
Not knowing much about the market, and admitting that my price range right now is an order of magnitude smaller than we're talking about, that seems like an awfully sizeable premium for a knife still available from the maker. One thing I'm surprised no one has brought up- and the only way I personally would consider that kind of premium, is if I had actually handled the knife in question and it seemed particularly outstanding in some aspect. In this case, perhaps if the stag seemed better than I could reasonably expect to get on a new knife from the maker.

I don't fault the seller for not wanting to come down although if that was my bottom line I probably would have started higher. After all, he only gets to sell it once. Just based on what I've read here, his price seems high, so maybe he was afraid to start higher fearing he wouldn't get any interest.

Anyway, not that it matters, but I'm with Steven- I'd have passed.
 
bluejaunte said:
I would have thought a Big Bear would've been your dream Loveless, but then I realized we'd be talking about a price roughly 2x higher than a Dixon, yes?

I shudder to think of what would happen should you ever win the lottery, STeven. :) :D
Click to expand...

I love the subhilts, I sure do, Aaron....but big knives take up lots of room, and the Dixon just hits it on so many levels.....much as I would like to collect Loveless knive-s....I will be quite happy with this one.

If I won the lottery, I would be like Ed Wormser.:D

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top