Handmade Knife Prices?

[L6steel]

When you folks see a handmade knife and the price is lower than what you would expect, say by 1/3 or more, do you suspect the knife isn't really handmade? Do you pass on it because you figure the quality isn't there, or do you grab it up fast? I'm not talking about a Kit Carson, Tim Herman, Bruce Evans, or Darrel Ralph made knife. Thanks!!

 

[Stumpy]

L6,I'm always looking for a good deal.I have found some really good deals and blades on this forum.
I think if it's one of the makers that is a regular here I'm pretty sure I will at the very least get my monies worth.So far so good.

 

[pyrguy]

L6
There are a lot of things that go into a knife as you know. But there are a lot of things you can tell by looking, holding the knife, and talking to the maker. Usually if something "feels" wrong you can tell. You may get burned once in a great while but you can make some great buys from some soon to be great makers.

 

[PhilL]

Mike, if I'm not sure about a makers work I ask, either the maker or someone that knows more than I do. I've asked about several makers here and I've never been able to stump the band. I've sen several makers whose work I think is low in price and probably more whose work is overpriced. Some of the overpriced were not from name makers, but you know what? They have the right to charge whatever they think is fair for their work. The Market, and more importantly the Secondary Market determines if they were right or not.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

You will run into many knives that seem to underpriced. The knife will usually be made by a lesser known maker trying to get his stuff into as many hands as possible with the hopes that his work will catch on. Once he gets more popular his prices will almost always go up.

I do not avoid or jump on apparent deals like this. I buy knives because I have come to believe that I can not live without the knife that I have decided to purchase. My problem is, my wants usually far outweigh my bank account. I have never gotten a knife that I didn't think was worth at least what I paid for it. I hope things continue to go that way.

 

[george tichbourne]

Keith you have that wrong. Being more popular does not necessarily increase prices.

If you look at a well known maker and compare the knives that he used to make for $100 and then look at what he is producing today, they usually are two completely different products. Todays product is usually made from more expensive materials or a much more exacting construction method. Knifemakers grow up and so does their product.

I still make hunters that are in the $100 range but as the market has accepted my talent I have added higher end product with expensive materials that sell near the $1000 mark. Does that mean that my prices have increased? No, it means that I am making what the market is looking for and charging accordingly. One knife on the bench has cost me just under $500 for materials, it is not going to be cheap when it is finished. Ten years ago that was my budget for knifemaking materials for a full year.

 

[psy-ops]

I don't care if it is custom or production, cheap or pricy.

I don't care about awards and reputation.

I will not pay for a name because of a name.

it is all about feel in the hand for me and a little about looks.

Hell, it might not even be about looks I bought a Busse a few years ago. but there is something beautiful about a simple very functional blade.