Handmade Custom Knives

[coaltrain]

I've read the rules about asking for value of specific knives which I am not trying to do here. I'm new to BF and getting used to the layout and trying to find the correct specific section for my question. I hope it fits here - if not the mods can feel free to do with this how they feel will suit.

My question is about handmade custom knives. I am new to the collecting of anything except for many years as a photography hobbyist which involves a bit of buying and selling of new and used gear (lenses etc.). With that I always try to buy right as I have learned which items hold their value well and those that do not.

With my start to knife collecting, I've purchased a couple new production folders and a couple discontinued production fixed blade knives. So far I am not concerned with any resale value but it is always in the back of my mind. With watching the sale ads here for a while, I see that many production knives do hold their value somewhat. Understandable to only get 75-80% for a production knife that is unused with its original box and paperwork - that is fine. But I am very interested in some of the great work I am seeing listed by the knife makers here - such beautiful work - and to me it means so much more that someone hand crafted these knives to share with us. I just have to get my hands on some of them!

But I know myself well, and I know that I may change my taste as I go along with this hobby, and the possibility always exists that I may want to sell some that I might not like so much to obtain some others. I'm talking stickily about hand made knives - the ones you see for sale in the knife makers for sale section. Since every one of these knives is unique, there is no way to track what the used ones (ones that have been purchased from the knife maker and then subsequently being sold) and their relative value compared to new. And I know I should be buying these knives to own and cherish forever, but I know that won't be the case with all of them.

So the question of the day from me is - does the value of these knives hold about the same as production knives in the used market? I don't mind if I realize even a 40% loss if selling, but I just don't have the funds to keep buying these custom knives without any recourse from possibly selling some off.

 

[Poez]

I guess people will have different opinions about that: as each has his own experience. Nobody will be able to tell you how YOU will fare in that because as you said: custom hand-made knives are all different and unique. It is not clear what kind of knives are you going to collect yourself: even if you are talking about fixed blade or folders? I would take it slow and probably look for an opportunity to buy it cheaper - at the knife exchange, to improve my chances not to loose too much.

 

[marcinek]

The value of custom knives more are subject to the "value" of the maker than production knives.

So custom maker X's and custom maker Y's prices, even if they start the same may end wildly different. Where, say, a Spydero and a Benchmade that start the same willprobably end up pretty close.

Collect what you like, and expect to lose a lot of money.

 

[coaltrain]

Collect what you like, and expect to lose a lot of money.

Ha! Actually that is what I do expect - I guess I just like knowing it before hand.

And good point that a lot of it depends on the maker - I'll keep that in mind.

 

[marcinek]

And good point that a lot of it depends on the maker - I'll keep that in mind.

Yeah....and the hard part is which maker's "stock" will go up and which will go down. We all wish we knew who the next Scagel is going to be. Might be selling stuff in the KnifeMaker's Market right now....

 

[Joe Duder]

It all depends.

First, collect what you like.

Second, Try not to impulse buy, that leads to buyer's remorse and a big loss of money. Now buying what you like is also a loss to a certain extant, but if you like it, you'll use it. The knife is only a loss, if you don't use it, or if it's a "display only" knife- one should feel lucky or privileged to own it regardless of resale or any other value for that matter.

Third, if you're looking for, let's say, a bird and trout knife that will suit all your needs and hold its value, try searching "bird and trout" in bladeforums. When you find a maker that makes a blade that you like, look some more. There are a ton of excellent craftsman on this site, some low end some high end. When you've found a couple you might be interested in, search the makers names. Try to find some consistently good feedback and reviews of their knives. Then see how their knives have sold/resold in the "individual" custom section of the exchange. Then you should have a pretty good idea, more or less, of the value of the custom blade.

Fourth, never never never tell the wife about all your knife purchases. If she asks, just say you've had it for a while, and you just found it in an old jacket.

For what it's worth, good luck.

 

[Sonnydaze]

The value of custom knives more are subject to the "value" of the maker than production knives.

Collect what you like, and expect to lose a lot of money.

I could agree with that...based on my experience over the last 18 months.

 

[frankjuka]

Fourth, never never never tell the wife about all your knife purchases. If she asks, just say you've had it for a while, and you just found it in an old jacket.

For what it's worth, good luck.

Ha ha! I'm not alone with that one huh? Good to know. The old "I've had it for a while!"

 

[Ren-TenKustomKnives]

Me and my father are custom knife makers. Every blade is completely crafted by our hands and is one of a kind, which makes none of them alike. That is why a custom knife maker has the price tag on it. It is his creation that comes from his heart. It is sometimes hard for people to realize the way a custom maker feels about every single blade that he creates. Not to mention the amount of time it takes to totally create a unique custom knife. My fiews on the resale of a custom knife is, once you get attached to a custom knife you have purchased, the knife will be worth way more to you than what you paid for it. I have a knife that my dad made when he was 16 (he is 50 now) and it is PRICELESS! This probably didn't help , but I figured it would be a good point of view from the makers side. Thank y'all.

 

[coaltrain]

It all depends.

First, collect what you like...............

That is exactly the advise I was looking for - advise that makes perfect sense and what I will follow.

Me and my father are custom knife makers.............

I am glad you posted this as this is my main reason for looking at the hand made knives from the craftsmen on the forum. I realize there is more than a monetary value to these knives, but it is my nature to be prudent with my limited funds. Also in my other hobby, while high end camera lenses are an art of design and engineering, they are production made and always have a certain monetary value even if they are 50 years old. I am going into uncharted territory now with hand crafted items like this. That is what I am looking for - something unique that a craftsman has put his heart into, and has taken raw materials and worked them into something both beautiful and functional.

What I need to do as said above is to slow down, do my research, and find that perfect knife from a solid craftsman. If I can find that perfect combination, the monetary value will be insignificant as you say.

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Thank you both for your postings - you've set me in the right direction.

 

[TriviaMonster]

It totally depends on the maker and the timeline. Before Demko had a long wait list, the secondary market was very fair if not 85-90% of purchase. A $600 Demko today is worth much more simply because he has a long list.

A Mayo on the secondary market goes for 150% easily, as does an RJ Martin. When they quit making knives it may triple. Same with Shane Sibert, before Benchmade his stuff was cheap. Last Sibert custom I saw went for nearly $1600. It was purchased from Sibert for about $650.

 

[Ren-TenKustomKnives]

That is exactly the advise I was looking for - advise that makes perfect sense and what I will follow.



I am glad you posted this as this is my main reason for looking at the hand made knives from the craftsmen on the forum. I realize there is more than a monetary value to these knives, but it is my nature to be prudent with my limited funds. Also in my other hobby, while high end camera lenses are an art of design and engineering, they are production made and always have a certain monetary value even if they are 50 years old. I am going into uncharted territory now with hand crafted items like this. That is what I am looking for - something unique that a craftsman has put his heart into, and has taken raw materials and worked them into something both beautiful and functional.

What I need to do as said above is to slow down, do my research, and find that perfect knife from a solid craftsman. If I can find that perfect combination, the monetary value will be insignificant as you say.

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Thank you both for your postings - you've set me in the right direction.

Your very welcome. Glad I could help. Every post on this thread is great advice. Good to meet y'all.