Exploding knife market?!

A. G. Russell said:
I would think somewhere near 100,000. There are at least two loveless knives that will surpass that. I think though that the top dollar knife would be Buster's King Tut dagger.
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You're right about the Tut dagger. How much are just the raw materials worth in that knife? As for the others, we are gettinginot the range that very elaborate Price and Will & Finck knives are bringing at auction. What would the creme de la creme of the Scagel knives bring?
 
jdm61 said:
You're right about the Tut dagger. How much are just the raw materials worth in that knife? As for the others, we are gettinginot the range that very elaborate Price and Will & Finck knives are bringing at auction. What would the creme de la creme of the Scagel knives bring?
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What is the cost on 32 oz of gold, and some enamel?

Say roughly $675.00/oz, that equals $21,600, but gold was MUCH less expensive when it was created.

The value of the Tut dagger is the uniqueness of the piece, and the fact that Buster did all the work himself. It is the story, as much as the history. The Tut dagger is everything good about knives in one singular package.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
A. G. Russell said:
I would think somewhere near 100,000. There are at least two loveless knives that will surpass that. I think though that the top dollar knife would be Buster's King Tut dagger.
Click to expand...

I agree. The King Tut Dagger would no doubt bring the most of any modern knife. Probaby quite a bit more than any other.

AG, what are the two specific Loveless pieces you spoke of?
 
Kohai999 said:
What is the cost on 32 oz of gold, and some enamel?

Say roughly $675.00/oz, that equals $21,600, but gold was MUCH less expensive when it was created.

The value of the Tut dagger is the uniqueness of the piece, and the fact that Buster did all the work himself. It is the story, as much as the history. The Tut dagger is everything good about knives in one singular package.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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My understnding is that there were some precious materials other than gold that cost a fair amount of money.
 
jdm61 said:
My understnding is that there were some precious materials other than gold that cost a fair amount of money.
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Gold and enamel, Joe, I have had the honor to handle it twice, and examine it as long as I wanted to.

The Gem of the Orient, and Fire & Ice both have some significant gemstones. They are two and three, respectively, of Buster's "Legacy Series". Currently, the Gem of the Orient is valued higher(has 15 karats of emeralds and diamonds, along with a green jade handle, last sold for $1,500,000.00), but not even the owner wants to take a guess on what the Tut dagger will bring when it is sold someday.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
Gold and enamel, Joe, I have had the honor to handle it twice, and examine it as long as I wanted to.

The Gem of the Orient, and Fire & Ice both have some significant gemstones. They are two and three, respectively, of Buster's "Legacy Series". Currently, the Gem of the Orient is valued higher(has 15 karats of emeralds and diamonds, along with a green jade handle, last sold for $1,500,000.00), but not even the owner wants to take a guess on what the Tut dagger will bring when it is sold someday.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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wow....that's enamel? I thought it at least had some lapis if not other stones. I guess the value is helped by the fact that it is the most authentic and ridiculously fine copy of the what is probably the most valuable piece of cutlery on the planet
:D
 
Busters King Tut was a once in a life time achievement, from a master of masters! I may know one of the Loveless's AG is talking about. If so, a friend of mine is trying to acquire it at the moment.
 
A $100k Loveless? :eek: There must be some crazy provenance on this piece. I want to know why, too.

Coop
 
If I had the ability to acquire any knife of my choosing, it would be Jeremiah Johnson's (spelled without the "t" Coop) ;) Bowie. Actually, his name was originally John Garrison, but he changed it to Johnson when he moved west form New Jersey. Was nick named "Liver Eating" Johnson as rumor states he would eat the Liver form his Native American opponents after killing them. As his wife was viciously murdered by them.
Quite a character even aside from the rumors.
Anyway his Bowie resides in the Buffalo Bill Historical Museum in Cody WY.

Would no doubt bring quite a price if ever sold.
 
SharpByCoop said:
A $100k Loveless? :eek: There must be some crazy provenance on this piece. I want to know why, too.

Coop
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I would think that the most valuable Loveless would be the sterling silver mounted bowie knife he made in the 1960s. It sold for $25,000 around 30 years ago. I do not know where it is or to whom it belongs
 
The next most valuable Loveless, in my opinion would be his first "Big Bear", a narrow tang with a mule deer crown butt, I bought it for $175 in 1968 sold it a few years later for X10 bought it back and doubled my money later sold it on consignment and lost track of it many years ago.

Next would be a unique small simi-skinner with a long hilt and big-horn sheep handle, I paid $45 for it in 1968, it was engraved by Lyton McKensie at the NRA show that year. I sold it to Al Williamson with the agreement that I would have first chance to buy it back if he ever decided to sell. He sold his entire collection to J. W. Denton and his son, they learned of my agreement and made a gift of the knife to me. Talk about class! The knife of course is not for sale. My widow will either sell it or place it in a museum.
 
Interesting read, I feel that the few Integral Knive's made by Loveless are vastly undervalued currently and will bring a nice return in the near future.
As for Morans there is a decent market for them but it will soon be building like an Ocean Wave.
I get many calls from first time Moran buyers, I always suggest they buy the best that they can afford.
In my humble opinion I do not agree as to the current value of the Meteorite Moran Knife, it will be at that number someday but not at this time.
As for the most valuable Loveless Knive's..that remains to be seen, the original New York specials are certainly up there.

Dave
 
Ellis said:
Interesting read, I feel that the few Integral Knive's made by Loveless are vastly undervalued currently and will bring a nice return in the near future.
As for Morans there is a decent market for them but it will soon be building like an Ocean Wave.
I get many calls from first time Moran buyers, I always suggest they buy the best that they can afford.
In my humble opinion I do not agree as to the current value of the Meteorite Moran Knife, it will be at that number someday but not at this time.
As for the most valuable Loveless Knive's..that remains to be seen, the original New York specials are certainly up there.

Dave
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I asked about the meteorite knife because that is the first one that popped into my head. What would the most desirable Moran be in your opinion, Dave?
 
Ellis said:
Interesting read, In my humble opinion I do not agree as to the current value of the Meteorite Moran Knife, it will be at that number someday but not at this time.
As for the most valuable Loveless Knive's..that remains to be seen, the original New York specials are certainly up there.

Dave
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horse races and auctions would not be possible without opinions that are different.

If a Moran with him playing such a small part can be sold for $37-38,000 then his best work should be somewhere near $100,000

If Loveless's common fighters are at the $25,000 range then his historically significant works should be several times that.
 
Is there a picture on the web somewhere of Buster's King Tut knife?

Edit: nevermind, I found it in a google search.
 
Currently ST-23's are bringin around $10k,St-24's are bringing from $17 to $24k.
Damascus pieces are bringing nice Dollars that were made by Bill Moran as are his rare pieces such as the Cinquedea.
Based on my actual buying and selling price's I think that a Damascus St-24 with all of the whistles and Bells is currently one of my top Moran pick's based on his more common models.If you get into more eclectic stuff such as 50 yrs. stamped pieces and rarely seen Moran patterns the numbers climp fairly fast although I have not seen any that approach $100k at this time.

Dave Ellis
exquisiteknives.com
 
My pleasure, I used to love reading your "actual prices realized" in the red book's, AG, really sobered me up to why and what I should be buying, still consult it from time to time to eat my heart out for not knowing what I know now back then.
Thanks for all you have done and continue to do in the Knife World, it does not get said enough but you are truly one of the great's my Friend.
From the Heart
Dave Ellis,ABS Mastersmith
exquisiteknives.com
mastersmith.com
 
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