Holds it's value?

C

Chewy1

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Jun 5, 2006
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Everybody knows that you're going to pay premium for a Honda.

Which factory knife brands hold their value the best? You can be reasonably certain that if you have to sell it, the buyer won't be offering pennies on the dollar.

The least? When you drive it off the lot, you just know that you're going to own it for life because you won't be able to recoup your investment if you have to sell.
 
Generally most knives are not great investment tools.

(Always keep the original box pristine if possible.)
I often see used Benchmades sell for 80% + of new street value.
Kershaws and CRK hold value well also..

Some new very limited edition popular knives will rise in value.
It is good to keep trade value in mind as your taste changes.
 
I'd say Randall is about the only brand that's pretty much guaranteed to appreciate no matter what model.

For the others, you have to do a little homework + pay attention to trends. (This also applies to most custom knives)

As far as what brands hold the least value? Not sure, but I'd guess any knife that is a "clone" or copy of some better factory knife probably won't shoot up in value. This includes once high-quality knives where someone bought the name + outsourced them.
 
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Microtech, Emerson, Dalton
 
I tend to see Sebenzas, Busses, and Microtechs hold their value the best. Some even go up in value, like the older Microtechs.
 
Models from any company can hold their value or even increase significantly. It's nearly impossible to predict though. For best results:

1) don't pay to much to begin with. buy knives on closeout or discontinued sales
2) buy quality knives
3) buy well-respected, well-known brands
4) keep knives in unused condition; keep packaging in new condition; keep accessories intact and unused
 
Wish I'd bought a double handful of Russell Stings for $30 each back in 1977.
Those early models bring ~$200-$300 each now.
 
Any production knife done up in limited numbers or sprint runs of special steel, handle material, numbered, etc. by any of the big names like Kershaw, Benchmade, Spyderco, etc. should hold their value fairly well as long as box and papers are in tact and condition is "like new" or better.

Just my opinion culled from years of buying, trading, and scouring ebay and some shows.

Jon
 
flashlife said:
Wish I'd bought a double handful of Russell Stings for $30 each back in 1977.
Those early models bring ~$200-$300 each now.
Click to expand...

$ 30 in 1977 would be $ 109 by end-2007, using historical CPI data.
http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Inflation_Rate/HistoricalInflation.aspx

And the inflation data are "harmonized", meaning technical improvements are factored in, which keeps the inflation rate statistically lower than actual price increases, and the real growth of GNP higher (which is fine for the political caste).

Let's say those knives protect you against inflation by keeping their value and even more, but then not that much as one thinks by looking at the bare figures.

:thumbup:
Michael
 
flashlife said:
Wish I'd bought a double handful of Russell Stings for $30 each back in 1977.
Those early models bring ~$200-$300 each now.
Click to expand...

Very interesting as I'm sitting here playing around with one and thought it was worth $10:eek:
 
Well liked Spyderco's are about the best to go way up fast when discontinued, of any production folder. eBay seems to have really put a spark in this and I watched a blue Dodo go for an unbelievable $311.45, just yesterday!
 
Bob W said:
Models from any company can hold their value or even increase significantly. It's nearly impossible to predict though. For best results:

1) don't pay to much to begin with. buy knives on closeout or discontinued sales
2) buy quality knives
3) buy well-respected, well-known brands
4) keep knives in unused condition; keep packaging in new condition; keep accessories intact and unused
Click to expand...

there ya go.

remember while they might hold there value in LNIB shape any use & subsequent scuffs and nicks are gonna significantly lower the value on most any knife,
 
27x40 said:
Very interesting as I'm sitting here playing around with one and thought it was worth $10:eek:
Click to expand...

See the A.G.Russell forum on knifeforums.com.
And cuttingedge.com...search for "sting".

Cuttingedge shows two right now; a prototype that sold for $585 and another early model with leather sheath asking $425.

Clavichord, I don't really give a hoot about inflation calculations. Accounting for inflation, US gas prices ought to be about $5 per gallon...that may be true, but I'm still not happy with $5 gas. I would like, however, 6 or 8 Stings at $200 - $400 each, regardless of inflation. :)
 
is it me or just kind of pointless to have a knife and not cut with it. A car that you won't drive....a woman you won't....you get the idea

I thought I'd get this thread riled up
 
ParadigmShift said:
is it me or just kind of pointless to have a knife and not cut with it. A car that you won't drive....a woman you won't....you get the idea

I thought I'd get this thread riled up
Click to expand...
I disagree. Knife collecting is just like any other form of collecting. Generally, the more the object has been subjected to use, the poorer its condition and the more its value is reduced. Like many others, I have knives I am quite willing to use and others I admire but never use. It's up to each of us individually to determine for ourselves why we're in this hobby - not up to you to tell others what they should or should not do.

As far as future value is determined, it's going to be up to the whims and vagaries of future generations of knife nuts and what they find interesting, collectible, and valuable. There's no way of telling what will and will not be popular with future collectors in decades to come.
 
Casexx knives, if you buy the right one at the right time increase in value. I've bought and sold some for more $$, but have lost money on them too, so buy gold instead. :D
 
Busse knives almost invariably go up in value over time. Even the users. People sell them off at profit every day. Just check the exchange and you'll see.
 
ParadigmShift said:
is it me or just kind of pointless to have a knife and not cut with it. A car that you won't drive....a woman you won't....you get the idea

I thought I'd get this thread riled up
Click to expand...

Actually, your reply is fine. I didn't specify used or unused knives. I'm just curious as to what brands hold value.

I use mine.
 
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