How many custom knives on order do you have?

[RogerP]

There is also a maker with whom I have more than 5 orders. But they will be delivered over a period of years, and the maker doesn't take orders anymore, so I'm actually glad that I will be able to continue to get knives from him.

Are you somehow managing to sleep at night?

Roger

 

[commodorewheeler]

How accurate of a count are you looking for? Are we talking all ordered knives, to include those that the makers have no intention of delivering? Or, are we just talking about the knives that we have a reasonable expectation of receiving sometime?

Danbo makes a good point. I have several on order that I am relatively certain will not be filled, due to makers' probable impending retirements before they get to my name or the fact that some of these makers I have not been able to contact in more than 6 months.

 

[commodorewheeler]

Are you somehow managing to sleep at night?

Roger

LOL, I sleep great, it's getting up for work in the morning that's the hard part.

 

[Doug C]

I have three on order.
One from Lin Rhea,similar to the Filicietti I acquired from Stephen Foster except it will be a ladder pattern Damascus blade with DI handle.
One from Don Hanson III,piece still undecided.
And one from a maker who shall remain anonymous,for now.

Doug

Ha,ha!!
Add one for me.
Just got an email from Harvey Dean.

Doug

 

[RogerP]

Good for you Doug - and thanks for bumping this one up - I had kinda forgotten about it.

I know numbers can be spun like a gig, and while we haven't yet been told how many custom orders is "too many", consider the following:

Total responses to date - 97

Respondents with 0-4 knives on order - 69

Respondents with 5-8 knives on order - 13

Respondents with 9 + knives on order - 15

Roger

 

[Kevin Jones]

I have considered the results but don't know what significance it has.

Unfortunately, this poll does not identify how many knives the 15 respondents with 9 or more have on order. IMO, that could be the most interesting information to consider.
As a single collector here has listed 35 knives he has on order.

My concern or interest is whether a large number of new knives on order with makers by collectors has a negative affect on supply & demand thus weakening the secondary customs market?

 

[RogerP]

Unfortunately, this poll does not identify how many knives the 15 respondents with 9 or more have on order. IMO, that could be the most interesting information to consider.

True, but any way you slice it, that inquiry would only apply to the 15% (roughly) of respondents that have 9 or more knives on order. That number does not support the suggestion that "collectors kepe ordering them by the dozens". If a fairly small percentage of collectors have multiple orders, I don't see a huge impact on supply and demand, particularly where closer to 70% have 0-4 knives on order. All of this assumes, of course, that the results of this poll are reflective of the industry as a whole.

Roger