Flavor of the month

Charlie Mike

Charlie Mike

Sober since 1-7-14 (still a Paranoid Nutjob)
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Nov 1, 2000
Messages
28,365
Maybe I spend too much time on Instagram but I've noticed a few things...

There seems to be a trend of small shop makers that are being "catapulted" (goodclimbing bob) into super stardom almost overnight and drawing ludicrous prices. Since very few people who buy these knives ever carry or use them, I must assume they are being purchased to flip at a profit sometime down the line? Take the RADknives Field Cleaver for example... They sell between 8-12k from the maker. I'm sitting here wondering how long a knife will retain its as sold value before the next flavor of the month appears.

I prefer to buy knives made by established makers. Darrel Ralph, Rob Dalton, Walter Brend, hell... even production Striders. These are knives that all seem to hold their value.


I probably shouldn't have drank that 2nd Rockstar.
 
Sometimes I like finding and buying knives from up and coming custom knife makers. Especially when they have not got extremely expensive yet. But, I keep and actually use the knives. I just looked up that knife you are talking about, omg that is not my flavor at all, and the price!?! Wow, the price for that. Can't imagine EDCing that either.
You know one thing I actually like, since I keep my knives and don't resell often, or try not to. When knives drop in price on the secondary market. Especially the really well made knives! love it!
 
Charlie Mike said:
Maybe I spend too much time on Instagram but I've noticed a few things...

There seems to be a trend of small shop makers that are being "catapulted" (goodclimbing bob) into super stardom almost overnight and drawing ludicrous prices. Since very few people who buy these knives ever carry or use them, I must assume they are being purchased to flip at a profit sometime down the line? Take the RADknives Field Cleaver for example... They sell between 8-12k from the maker. I'm sitting here wondering how long a knife will retain its as sold value before the next flavor of the month appears.

I prefer to buy knives made by established makers. Darrel Ralph, Rob Dalton, Walter Brend, hell... even production Striders. These are knives that all seem to hold their value.


I probably shouldn't have drank that 2nd Rockstar.
Click to expand...

This has been happening for years in the folder world....

Best remedy for me is to stay away from IG and similar "social media" sites where new knife makers commanding big $ with a legion of loyal followers is a daily occurrence.

Social media; where everyone is relevant/important, even when they're not...
 
That cleaver thing has to be one of the ugliest knives I've ever seen. It's definitely not for me. I can honestly say that I'll never pay eight thousand dollars for ANY knife. That's money that could be easily used for far too many other things.
 
Quiet said:
That cleaver thing has to be one of the ugliest knives I've ever seen. It's definitely not for me. I can honestly say that I'll never pay eight thousand dollars for ANY knife. That's money that could be easily used for far too many other things.
Click to expand...

And this is something I want to clarify before someone jumps all over my comments above.

I am all for new knifemakers, the more the better, it adds options for us all.

What I am not into, and what is happening way too much, is that your 3rd knife is worth $6-800.00.
Not many want to pay their dues and master what is a craft, they just want instant popularity and $.

For me, no craft/art/trade works that way, except in the make-believe world of IG and FB...

It certainly doesn't work here, and I have seen it play out many times.
 
Ok good, glad it's not just me.
 
JR88FAN said:
And this is something I want to clarify before someone jumps all over my comments above.

I am all for new knifemakers, the more the better, it adds options for us all.

What I am not into, and what is happening way too much, is that your 3rd knife is worth $6-800.00.
Not many want to pay their dues and master what is a craft, they just want instant popularity and $.

For me, no craft/art/trade works that way, except in the make-believe world of IG and FB...

It certainly doesn't work here, and I have seen it play out many times.
Click to expand...

I agree with you completely. I am on IG myself, and have seen a huge uptick in prices from folks who haven't really been around for long. And hey, that's fine, more power to 'em, if they can quickly garner followers who'll pay that. But yeah, that's not going to work everywhere. I have chuckled to myself more than a few times when I see folks in the Exchange attempting to sell these IG-maker knives and other man-toys for what they paid, and that thread is ignored completely. Sorry mang, not many people are going to pay $500+ for a superconductor-material top. Oh, $400 for that small ti pocket prybar? EXCELLENT price, let me just get out my credit card. Ah, sorry, wait, no. Good luck with your sale. LOL
 
$8,000 to $12,000 for a cleaver?!?
Thanks, but no thanks. I'll stick with my Old Hickory cleaver, and maybe buy a REALLY nice used cargo van or pickup, instead.
 
I especially love it when the knives appear to be made with the skill and precision of a drunken troll. bad grind lines. Super thick bevels.

Discomfort as far as the eye can see. Hot spots, and torture, as far as the eye can see.


I remember a a few years ago, there was some kid from NY (I think), was taking blanks and butchering them with an angle grinder or dremmel. Putting on spider webbed plastic abomination of grips, and putting them in rough boxes painted with 2nd grade skill (and some glitter and decorations), and trying to sell them for the prices of an established custom maker with decades of skill.

He got all butt hurt when no one ever bought them, and had a hissy fit.
 
I think every knife maker should have a few years of selling 50$ file knives before they can even think about getting 500$ knives.
I'm not really a knife maker, but I make non functional miniature knives as a hobby and people were instantly wanting to me to start selling them ( something I'm not exactly able to do at the moment )
And even at this minor form of knife making I stuck to making them as gifts for about a year before I even considered letting my dads boss pay me 50$ to make 3 of them for his sons.
I still don't really think they're at the level for me to want to sell them even though people would definitely buy them.( I wouldn't mind being to able to actually pin the handles on vs just using super glue before I specifically make them to sell )
 
I agree. I been doing this almost 7 years and I made my first $400 knife early 2015.
 
Charlie Mike said:
I agree. I been doing this almost 7 years and I made my first $400 knife early 2015.
Click to expand...

You have been doing things the right way man, and what you end up with is respect and longevity...

There is nothing we don't know, your career is transparent, and we can see your development.

Another BF maker that I have a ton of respect for, just to pull one name out of a hat filled with many, is Alan Davis.
The progression of his work is incredible and his prices have followed over the years, but he has earned every $ and the respect of many many people.
 
Charlie Mike said:
Maybe I spend too much time on Instagram but I've noticed a few things...

There seems to be a trend of small shop makers that are being "catapulted" (goodclimbing bob) into super stardom almost overnight and drawing ludicrous prices. Since very few people who buy these knives ever carry or use them, I must assume they are being purchased to flip at a profit sometime down the line? Take the RADknives Field Cleaver for example... They sell between 8-12k from the maker. I'm sitting here wondering how long a knife will retain its as sold value before the next flavor of the month appears.

I prefer to buy knives made by established makers. Darrel Ralph, Rob Dalton, Walter Brend, hell... even production Striders. These are knives that all seem to hold their value.


I probably shouldn't have drank that 2nd Rockstar.
Click to expand...


8k to 12K.... !!!!!! :eek:

I paid that much for my Jeep.... LOL

Personally I have a limit on things, if I can't drive it I am not going to put out that much coin. :D
 
It's not just knives. It's alot of useless stuff / spintops, worry coins.
I have just found torqbar on Ebaz for almost 700 dont get me wrong it's cool but 700 for pice of brass with ball bearings?
But whatever it looks good on pictures and that guy on Youtube that loves sculpted clips and needs m390 on every knife(that he even does not know how to sharpen) said it's cool and really affordable so just buy it and :jerkit on IG.

Torq.jpg
 
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You're definitely not alone. It makes me constantly roll my eyes when I see these makers I have never heard of charging more than I have paid for, from well established and well known makers. I have paid less for knives from Tom Krein and Phil Wilson than what these up and comings are asking. And don't even get me started on the $400 pry bars and $1000+ brass knuckles lol.

Pay your dues, start from the bottom, gain respect, and then we can talk about a high dollar price tag.
 
powerslave said:
It's not just knives. It's alot of useless stuff / spintops, worry coins.
I have just found torqbar on Ebaz for almost 700 dont get me wrong it's cool but 700 for pice of brass with ball bearings?
But whatever it looks good on pictures and that guy on Youtube that loves sculpted clips and needs m390 on every knife(that he even does not know how to sharpen) said it's cool and really affordable so just buy it and :jerkit on IG.

Torq.jpg
Click to expand...

Wow! I was thinking those were $50-75 :eek:

We must save the knife industry from itself!
 
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OAL - 6.8" Framelock Flipper. Mini Sheepsfoot size.

Blade - 2.5" Stone Polished CPM154 hardened to 59 HRC

Handle - 4.5" Timascus Show scale, Pocket Clip and Standoff. Titanium Lock side. Titanium and Stainless Steel hardware.

Weight - 7.6 oz


.......


So if were to ask Reese Weiland to build this for me, I'm willing to bet it wouldn't cost more than $1500... And that's being generous. Reese doesn't CNC/waterjet either.
 
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