Do Fine Knives Appreciate In Value?

3

30-30 Cal.

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Jan 1, 2004
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I know it's a broad question. As an avid collector of old Winchester Rifles, I have experience in assessing values, rarity, condition, etc. I don't have such experience in knive collecting. Let me attempt to answer my own question, and then you can steer me down the right path. On the surface, purchasing a custom made knive, even if at full retail price, would seem to be a purchase that would appreciate in value if held for a number of years. After all, the knive making/buying community is very vigorious, growing steadily, so you would have a steady market for your re-sell. On the other hand, that very condition could work against you, as the market seems on it's way to being flooded with increasingly lower priced high quality custom made knives . What do you guys think?

(Forgive me if this question has been discussed before. It's a slow, lazy Sunday morning, and the question just popped in my head).

Dave
 
Thats where the craps shoot part of knife collecting comes into play. There are so many makers out there making good quality knives, but the question is, who's going to be there 5 years from know. And even if he is there 5 years from know, has his quality and uniqueness been improving or declining. Is he communicative with his buyers, establishing a rapport that will increase his demand. Even if he/she is commnicative with buyers, is his/her QC good enough that he/she isn't spending excessive time doing repairs? Is his/her business mainly through the internet or do they rely on word of mouth?

These are just a few of many things that have to be researched. Sure there are plenty of knives out there that will increase in value, SR Johnson, Loveless, Bill Bagwell, D'Holder, Charlie Weiss, Richard Rogers just to name a few. The enjoyable parts of this whole thing are the pleasures received when getting a knife from one of the established stars of the knife world and also trying to figure out who the next superstar is going to be.
 
As with all forms of collecting, value and appreciation are largely attributable to scarcity of supply and reputation of the manufacturer. Consequently, the most value appreciation may be expected from the best known and most respected producers when the knives are of LIMITED EDITION. Pre-production models, one-of-a-kind examples, unique renditions, and desirable models from respected, defunct companies will also have good prospects for value appreciation.

 
I'm collecting Bagwells work.

They are destined to become collectors of much value once he stops making them.

There are japenese who will pay 2500.00 for a 1200.00 Bagwell right now if they can find one without waiting 2-3 years to get one from him.

As with any collecting with investment in mind, pick the top makers and put them away.

If you had bought a Moran Bowie 12 years ago, it would have doubled or tripled what you paid for it then.

Brownie
 
I think back to when I first started collecting, Pat Crawford knives were reasonably priced, makers like Pardue, Szabo, and Nealy were also attainable, but the cream of the crop, Lile, Randal, and Moran were expensive to start with, yet they still increase in price.

I tend to collect lower end custom makers who are making using knives, so that I get quality at an affordable price, I'm not looking to get rich buying and selling.
 
Do custom knives appreciate in value? (Since we know selected knifemakers who're 'hot'/we see their work shoot up in value, we must mean 'does the typical custom knife rise in value?)

It could be interesting to take down those two fat volumes that log collectors' values {tho we might hv to DERIVE tendencies at once-remove, since I recall these books wer about PRODUCTION knives}; one is written or edited by C. Houston Price (I have them both somewhere). (That's another thot, that Bernared Levine writes maybe the most famous books in this area --- and he monitors a BladeForum forum---if HE doesnt know, well ....) Anyway, I thot there might be someone who has a C. Houston Price volume from
1995, another from 2003. So, per the book, how DID prices move?
Up? or down?

Just a thought.

--- J. D.
 
Is it better to put the knife away so that it will be worth more one day, or to use it? Would you rather inherit a mint condition, valuable knife from a father or grandfather, or that same knife that is well worn and used? I too, want to see my knives go up in value, but I don't think I'd ever sell them, and wouldn't want heirs to do so. Yet, one can't "un-use" a valuable limited run knife, either.
 
Interesting question knifedad! It made me think. My dad has given me many knives in my life time of various values and conditions, the ones I cherish most are well used and are of little value to anyone but me.

Comparing Price Guides is OK, comparing auction results is a little more accurate. Some of the best real price gains I have seen in cutlery over 40 years have been in pre 1970 (preferably even older) Case knives. Mint Case knives from the 40's and 50's easily bring the high 100's to low 1000's (Less than 6 or 7). Keep in mind these knives sold originally for just a few bucks and could be had pretty cheaply (10 or 12 bucks) in the 60's.

Last summer I purchased an uncleaned mint 88 (large congress pattern) made in the mid 50's a garage sale for under 10 bucks.) It is easily sellable for between 450 and 600. Not much comparison between those old case knives and the dotted versions of the 80's and up.

Sure wish I had brought a few more as a kid. Sure wish I had purchased a few more old Winchesters and Colts too :D. You could pick up Henry's and SAA's pretty reasonable back then ;).
 
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