Do we over pay for custom knives?

fracmeister

fracmeister

Petroleum Engineer
Joined
May 26, 1999
Messages
1,686
I only ask because when I see opportunities like this

http://cgi.ebay.com/Colllectible-Kn...1QQihZ005QQcategoryZ43334QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I am guessing that I have paid that much ($1200) or more for at least a dozen knives and here I could get three hundred "colllectible" knives and have an extra l thrown in! ;)

Then again, on the more serious note, I think I spend too much on custom knives. I donot expect that they are even conceivably going to ever be resold (in aggregate) for as much as I paid for them. In fact, if I was to sell them now I am guessing 70-80% might be a good net figure.

Thought you might enjoy a link to this "opportunity" ---
 
George is right......if a factory, or any other type of mass production blade will work for you you should buy it. I tell that to my customers all the time. If its something a little more unique that you desire...then a custom or handmade knife will certainly fill the void.
I congratulate you on being able to collect and I believe that at that price range you quoted you have some amazing pieces of work. My hope for you is that you enjoy your collection more than you could ever sell it for.:)
 
Well lets see. I pay too much for gas. For electricity. For water. (here in Texas any way). Too much for a car. (The value drops like a rock!). Too much for a house now days. Clothes, forget about it! Food here is ridiculous. ( and It is a one time shot! It's not like you can enjoy a meal, and then resale it, even at a loss.( It kinds turns to ---well you know!) Never ate a fine meal, and then turned a profit on it. Steel, at least what I use has gone out of site. (The Chinese are buying it by the mega ton), Fine stag, about 99.00 a set from Banana Bay. Others have it, but mostly junk. Good belts, ouch! I can't really answer your question. I can tell you that a Big Bear bought from me two years will bring 2-3 times what a customer paid for it. I've never seen a cd at the bank bring that kind of money. Now if I just had enough sense to keep a few------. Real question. What in your life doesn't cost too much. And who decides what that is? I don't know. Everytime I watch an antique road show, or Barrett Jackson auction, I'm blown away. You see, it is the public that decides what will sell and for how much. Not the seller. Mike
 
All of the materials that go into a knife-steel, titanium, pearl, stag, ivory, whatever...

All of the supplies in a knifemaker's shop....

in my opinion, are not the main thing that I am paying for in a custom knife.

The main thing that I pay for is the knifemaker's time.
And that is irreplaceable.

I usually think that I'm getting a pretty good deal.
 
shaldag said:
All of the materials that go into a knife-steel, titanium, pearl, stag, ivory, whatever...

All of the supplies in a knifemaker's shop....

in my opinion, are not the main thing that I am paying for in a custom knife.

The main thing that I pay for is the knifemaker's time.
And that is irreplaceable.

I usually think that I'm getting a pretty good deal.
Click to expand...

:D :p :D thank you, sir
 
shaldag said:
All of the materials that go into a knife-steel, titanium, pearl, stag, ivory, whatever...

All of the supplies in a knifemaker's shop....

in my opinion, are not the main thing that I am paying for in a custom knife.

The main thing that I pay for is the knifemaker's time.
And that is irreplaceable.

I usually think that I'm getting a pretty good deal.
Click to expand...

I could not have said it better myself!! I agree 100%!!
 
shaldag said:
All of the materials that go into a knife-steel, titanium, pearl, stag, ivory, whatever...

All of the supplies in a knifemaker's shop....

in my opinion, are not the main thing that I am paying for in a custom knife.

The main thing that I pay for is the knifemaker's time.
And that is irreplaceable.

I usually think that I'm getting a pretty good deal.
Click to expand...

The only thing I can add is you meet a friend whom you
may have never met.....and that also is irreplacable.:thumbup:
 
Evil Eye Earl: You are right about that!! There is no amount of money that can come close to equally the relationships that are made!! That is the BEST part of knife collecting.
 
if you buy that, ive got 100,000 genuine pieces of rabbit poop ill sell you for 1 cent each. Turn that around and sell each piece of poop for 2 cents each on ebay and youve just made a quick 1000$!
 
shaldag said:
All of the materials that go into a knife-steel, titanium, pearl, stag, ivory, whatever...

All of the supplies in a knifemaker's shop....

in my opinion, are not the main thing that I am paying for in a custom knife.

The main thing that I pay for is the knifemaker's time.
And that is irreplaceable.

I usually think that I'm getting a pretty good deal.
Click to expand...

And again, well said!

As for those collectables on ebay. You can buy those same knives for at least half and probably less on one of those TV knife shows. Ya'll better get some before they're all gone ;)
 
I haven't met too many wealthy bladesmiths, well maybe just one. I do believe in supporting good craftsmanship which is hard to find these days.
Bob
 
There are custom knives that are more money than they should be. However, I firmly believe that for what goes into them, the vast majority of custom knives are priced about right, or are underpriced. When I start seeing knifemakers driving $100,000.00 cars and wearing Patek Philippe watches, then my opinion might change.
 
Since nobody has every forced me to buy a knife, I can't say that I have ever overpayed. By that I mean that I knew the price going into the deal and voluntarily decided to make the purchase. Therefore, the knife was worth the asking price to me at the time I bought it. In these circumstances, I can't imagine that I have ever "overpayed". If I pay more than market value for a hard-to-find knife, I have not overpayed. Rather, I have given a monetary value to my need / desire to have that particular knife.

As for resale value - some knives will hold their value fairly well, some will increase and others will decline. If return on investment is a primary consideration in your knife purchase decisions, then it is up to you to do your homework to ensure that your purchases fall into the first two categories.

Roger
 
Tough question, regardless if it is light hearted or not.

I use an old manufacturer's rule of thumb....if you make it for $1, sell it for $5 in order to make a profit.

That may sound like a huge markup, but trust me when I say it isn't. One thing you have to take into account is the fact that knifemakers are by and large one man operations. I am the marketing director, office manager, logistics manger, chief financial officer, shipping and receiving department and......push broom operator. The cost of doing business certainly doesn't get any less expensive, so after doing the math, the 1 to 5 ration gets thin pretty quick. I am not saying I don't make a good living, but I know for damn sure I EARN it. Ask my wife who has been asleep every time I have gotten home from the shop for the last week, or the fact that I haven't taken a full day off ( except for Christmas day) for the last three months.

I look at it is part of the price I pay for being able to do what I want to do for a living, but the value I hold on it is certainly not all financial.
 
Bailey Bradshaw said:
Tough question, regardless if it is light hearted or not.

I use an old manufacturer's rule of thumb....if you make it for $1, sell it for $5 in order to make a profit.
That may sound like a huge markup, but trust me when I say it isn't. One thing you have to take into account is the fact that knifemakers are by and large one man operations. I am the marketing director, office manager, logistics manger, chief financial officer, shipping and receiving department and......push broom operator. The cost of doing business certainly doesn't get any less expensive, so after doing the math, the 1 to 5 ration gets thin pretty quick. I am not saying I don't make a good living, but I know for damn sure I EARN it. Ask my wife who has been asleep every time I have gotten home from the shop for the last week, or the fact that I haven't taken a full day off ( except for Christmas day) for the last three months.

I look at it is part of the price I pay for being able to do what I want to do for a living, but the value I hold on it is certainly not all financial.
Click to expand...

Bailey,

It is closer to $1.00 cost to manufacture/Sell for $3.00 these days. Competition is stiff in many sectors, and there are large variances. Hard goods like John Deere equipment can still go for 1-5, but soft goods are 1-3, pretty much across the board.

I find the question interesting because of the threads that we have had like Anthony started after Blade last year.

When new collectors come in and buy the "wrong" knives, or get taken advantage of by shrewd, yet unscrupulous dealers/makers, the collector has paid "too much", and it costs the whole industry.

When an experienced collector has a strong idea of the "market rate" for a knife, and chooses to pay a premium, that is not "too much". That is choice.

I know knifemakers who are pretty much thieves(Corkum.......), and I know knifemakers who are salt-of-the-earth(Bailey, Tom, Matt......) It is like any other industry, except that we have more supply(in general) than demand, and with the way the ABS is turning out JS's, the collectors these days HAVE to become much more knowledgeable, much more quickly.

I'll be blunt.

Everyone has a RIGHT to earn a living, but there are many knife makers that are not ENTITLED to MY money.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
When I look at the big picture - no.

Just are not many makers that are getting rich off of us (custom collectors). I look at the knives think about what went into them material, time and skill wise and feel I have a bargain. Most are satisfied to make a great knife and sell it at a fair price, so they can eat, take a break and sleep on occasions and support their families.

I always am excited for a maker when they team up with a factory and things work out well.
 
David Schott said:
if you buy that, ive got 100,000 genuine pieces of rabbit poop ill sell you for 1 cent each. Turn that around and sell each piece of poop for 2 cents each on ebay and youve just made a quick 1000$!
Click to expand...

Are they all from the same rabbit? Any estimate on shipping costs?
 
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