Help please ~ need to pay for san mai blades but how much??

[RayseM]

I have asked a dear friend to provide me with 8 san mai blades for a set of "steak knives" I would like to handle.
These will be 3 steel carbon blades. My problem - and so my question - he, in typical fashion, is being overly generous and I can say, in this case - coy - telling me to pay him what I can afford or "want to pay".

Well that has me stumped. I have no idea. Please help! His finished knives sell for around $ 160.00 to $ 180.00 with handles & S&H. Likely he is selling them for less than I would pay in a US market.

Are these ready to go completely sharp blades worth $ 30.00 each, $ 60.00 each - something in between or more ???? I always send him more than he asks so this is payback - him not telling me a final price.

I will certainly send him extra to cover S&H and would still like to send him more than he would ask me but how much more is fair and not just crazy?

I have told him that maybe san mai is not in the budget and so will consider a more modest steel option. Most importantly I don't want to take advantage of his generosity.

Any advice on the subject will be much appreciated.

 

[Richard338]

Blade gallery sells san mai in various sizes. I guesstimate $150 for enough stock to make 8 steak knives.
Grinding, heat treat, etching... I'd offer $400-$450 and see if he is happy.

 

[Michael Black]

Ooh, that's a tricky one. Honestly, I would really see if he could give you a price and stop being coy about it. But if he won't, then I would think at least half the price of his normal price, since it's at least half the work and materials in this case. So maybe offer $80 each and see what he thinks.

 

[RayseM]

Thanks Richard338 & Michael Black - I was hoping to top out at around $ 500 or 600.00 which is about where you two are ending up. Just don't want to offer $ 600.00 if $800.00 is more appropriate.

 

[Richard338]

One thing to consider is whether his price is for an individual knife. What would he charge for a set?
If you pay too close to his price for a set, then you might as well just let him finish them.
Blanks are usually a lot less than a finished knife, but it is a bit more complicated here given the san mai...

 

[scott kozub]

Just remember handling a knife isn't much work. Making the billet, heat treating, grinding sanding and sharpening is about 3/4 the work and the majority of the material and almost all the expensive tool cost.