How much does using a new Busse affect it's value?

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Nov 11, 2015
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Just like the question says. If for instance I get something in a grab bag I want to try out and then decide to flip it, how much of a hit on value would that be?
 
I'd say it depends on the knife and what level of wear/use it gets. Use away
 
Depends. I've sold blades with light use at about a 10% loss, just sold a stripped moderate user at about a 20-25% loss. Then again, I'm not trying to get rich from selling blades- just want to pass them on to another abusive home. :thumbup:
 
If it's a knife I want, I'll pick up used just to try it out. But trying to sell a used Busse, especially modified, you will lose money on the deal unless you're extremely patient,,,
 
It won't, it's INFI.
Even if you really mess it up, but you can't, because it's INFI, you still have INFI.
Got me?
:D
 
well like I got a Bushwacker Battle Mistress as my first Busse and I got it used because I want to use one to see what all the fuss is about. it was a good deal because it was used... and I haven't been disappointed in the INFI. I don't really want to get rid of it. but I wondered how much surface scratches and coating wear play a part. Also, I see people stripping mint knives and I'm like, why? Why not strip a user? I could see stripping the BWM if the coating gets bad. As it is logs and trees hate it.
 
As a baseline, I'd expect use to knock 10-20% off the secondary market price of any blade compared to one that's still NIB.

As other have stated though, there are a lot of other modifying factors:

-Amount of use, how obvious?
-Has it been sharpened? How much, how well?
-Mods appear to mostly decrease value even if desirable to some for performance/appearence.
-How desirable is the model and blade finish/scale material combo?
-Scarcity, time out of production.
-Overall primary/secondary market saturation (e.g., Op2Wks supply putting pressure on Exchange prices in general).
...and so on.
 
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It won't, it's INFI.
Even if you really mess it up, but you can't, because it's INFI, you still have INFI.
Got me?
:D

That is completely true in regards to usability; however, that is not the case with monetary value. I would say a user reduces price by roughly 25% on average, but it can be significantly more or less depending on many things already mentioned. All of my knives are users right now and I like it that way!
 
That is completely true in regards to usability; however, that is not the case with monetary value. I would say a user reduces price by roughly 25% on average, but it can be significantly more or less depending on many things already mentioned. All of my knives are users right now and I like it that way!

Amen, brother!
 
If you decide to use a knife and then move it along be honest in the description.... We all like users coated or stripped we don't care for vague descriptions with fuzzy weird angle photos. A good piece of INFI will hold its own value based on proper care but I like to beat them like a rented mule and some will never see a new home because of my own finishing treatments or just because they are well USED.

I have seen some real nice spa treatments from outside the Wauseon compound....Ban Tang and Norcalblacktail have done some nice refinements to Busse blades so if you are not sure about the damage inflicted when you work one out these people or the Busse Group may be able to freshen up the look.

Best advice so far has been to use it that's why you made the purchase and enjoy the quality and craftsmanship....:thumbup:
 
I thought it increased the value? Maybe it's just me. My user TG14' Custom gains value every time I look at it.
 
I thought it increased the value? Maybe it's just me. My user TG14' Custom gains value every time I look at it.

Same goes for my Battle Mistress' and ASH-1's....Not so much my Basic Beaters and some of my modified variants (losers each and every one...:eek:)
 
I would never misrepresent anything I sold. However, if I get a $400 knife I'm not super keen on in a grab bag, I'd think twice about giving a tree a couple whacks for $100 loss.
 
Once used the value plummets precipitously... It just becomes scrap metal, meant to be tossed into the ash bin of history. I'll save you the trouble of costly disposal--send that scratched-up length of dross my way and I'll dispose of it for you. No need for thanks friend, it's my duty.






I couldn't resist.
 
I thought it increased the value? Maybe it's just me. My user TG14' Custom gains value every time I look at it.

I certainly value my Busses more with use as that's what I bought them for. Personally, if I was wanting to try out a knife that I received in a grab bag, I'd do it and not worry about later resale value. You may just discover that you wouldn't part with it at any price. Potentially losing a few dollars resale price pales in comparison to that.
 
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