How do you price full custom resale value?

Z

ZTFan

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Oct 6, 2016
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I have a couple full customs for sale, but I don’t know how to price them. Do they lose value like other knives, or do they hold it better? I often see used or refurbished custom knives on dealer sites that are selling higher than when they were new, and somehow they end up getting sold. Granted, if the maker has new knives in stock that’s a different story, but most folks have closed books anyway.

I don’t wanna break any rules so I won’t mention the brand names unless I get mod blessings, but I know the answer probably depends completely on the maker. But could someone give me a rough estimation rule? Thanks.
 
Depends completely on the demand on that particular makers knives. Some lose value as soon as they leave the shop, others gain value (assuming no use, as new etc).
 
I'd call that very subjective. My way of doing it would be this:
- Is it a well known maker or somebody I know who lives three blocks down the street and does it as a hobby?
- If he's well known and in demand (IE closed books) you'll likely be able to sell the knife for a profit since there is no supply but demand
- Start with what you paid for it and go from there
- Look at what certain custom websites sell the makers work for (the difference between what the makers charge for a comparable model compared to what they ask)
- Compromise somewhere between that price and what you paid for.
That way you're not gouging people, you make a profit and you can always adjust the price down.
Seems like a fair way of doing it. If it's a one off knife that the maker only made one and there is nothing to compare to, I would simply put the price on that you're ultimately happy with, if you leave money on the table, well learning experience.
 
I’d look at what other knives of similar size / utility / materials have sold for and factor in the condition of your knives and the current demand for things by that maker.

If they’re by relatively unknown makers, they’re not going to be worth a lot more than material value.
 
I am a professional salesmen by trade. It comes down to 3 things.

1. Are you in a hurry ? Get in a hurry you always lose money.

2. How and where you show it. Sell the sizzle not the steak. Are you marketing the features and benefits of WHY it has value ? Have you listed it EVERY where?

3. Worth and value are 2 separate things. A buck 110 is worth about 45 bucks. But a custom knife has value and value is perception.

That is the key perception. Dont be afraid to ask what YOU think the value is. And then tell people WHY it had this value.
 
Re-selling customs, unless you've acquired them with speculation in mind, will be a $ money losing proposition for you. It is a fickle market at best. Also, I would not use the prices displayed by websites selling customs as a realistic guide to what you will get on the exchange here. They are typically inflated by a healthy margin. A sometimes successful route may be to contact some of the larger vendors that advertise buy back programs (such as BladeHQ). I've received higher appraisals this way on several occasions.
 
You have to keep track of the market or research. Every maker is different and even models by the same maker. Makers come in and out of favor. Supply and demand. Customs have a better chance of going up then production due to the limited supply(maker can only make so many knives and books filled), but the demand still has to exceed that supply. Then you have to factor in condition.
Options I can think of
1. get a gold membership and then you can give knife specifics and ask prices, as well as sell on the exchange.
2. google search for sales prices
3. there are dealers of used knives and you can check their sites, though that will be a retail price and you should expect less.
 
I had a one-off fixed blade with special "everything." It was based on a particular well-respected model that is occasionally available on the Exchange. I supplied the standard model. So it was a complete rebuild by a
justifiably famous craftsman. When it was finished, it was exactly what I had ordered.
I didn't like it at all. I sold it for 1/2 of what I had in the knife and project.
Over the yrs, I had a different excellent craftsman make me two titanium frame-locks to my specs. They were done perfectly, with no objections on my part whatsoever.
I didn't like either one, and sold them for about 2/3 rds of what I had in them.
Lesson: I don't try to do this any more.
It may work out fine for many folks, but apparently...not for me. I have found that I have to HOLD THE KNIFE IN MY HAND to see how I feel about it....
There are SO MANY nice knives out there now, with proven builders, that I have zero interest in repeating my previous errors.
 
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