How to sell our custom knives

yitz

yitz

Joined
Mar 5, 2000
Messages
435
I'm thinking about thinning out my collection. I still love my knives, but am finding it harder to maintain them properly than I had originally imagined. I also have less loose money lying around than I once did.
What's been your experience selling knives? I have many really fine and classic pieces. Where's the best place to shop 'em? What's been your experience with higher end knives selling on this forum? Through purveyors? Bruce Voyles auctions? Ebay? I'd appreciate your feedback and any other suggestions or comments. Thanks.
 
yitz said:
What's been your experience with higher end knives selling on this forum? Through purveyors? .... I'd appreciate your feedback and any other suggestions or comments. Thanks.
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Depends upon what you have, and how much time you want to put into selling it.

What do you have?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Thanks for your quick response. I'm not ready to sell anything, yet. I don't even have pictures ready to post. I'm just thinking about it, and may begin the process slowly over the next few months. (Even when you have too many knives, it's not easy letting go of any of them.) Among those I'm thinking of moving are Morans, Scagels, Henrys, Bagwells, Hibbens, etc. One of my problems is that the ones that would likely sell most easily, are the ones I least want to part with. So, at this point, I'm just looking for ideas and impressions, and shared experiences from others who have gone through this process.
 
yitz said:
Thanks for your quick response. I'm not ready to sell anything, yet. I don't even have pictures ready to post. I'm just thinking about it, and may begin the process slowly over the next few months. (Even when you have too many knives, it's not easy letting go of any of them.) Among those I'm thinking of moving are Morans, Scagels, Henrys, Bagwells, Hibbens, etc. One of my problems is that the ones that would likely sell most easily, are the ones I least want to part with. So, at this point, I'm just looking for ideas and impressions, and shared experiences from others who have gone through this process.
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Upgrade to Gold Membership, or better, and start here, in the Exchange. That way, you can move at your own pace and see what THIS market will do for you....if selling on your own doesn't work, and you have time...e-bay can be great...otherwise, try Dave Harvey at Nordic, or Les Robertson.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
yitz said:
I'm thinking about thinning out my collection. I still love my knives, but am finding it harder to maintain them properly than I had originally imagined. I also have less loose money lying around than I once did.
What's been your experience selling knives? I have many really fine and classic pieces. Where's the best place to shop 'em? What's been your experience with higher end knives selling on this forum? Through purveyors? Bruce Voyles auctions? Ebay? I'd appreciate your feedback and any other suggestions or comments. Thanks.
Click to expand...

My ten rules for selling custom knives.

First, don't let anyone know you need or want to liquidate. The savvy collector will be finished liquidating before anyone knows they have started.

Second, don't listen to collectors and makers telling you that you always lose money consigning through dealers.

Third, realize you can make money on custom knifes.

Forth, sell them individually not in lots. If you are in a hurry to sell, list them at multiple places. Don't list 6 knives for sale on the same day on the same forum exchange.

Fifth, find which web dealers have a following for certain maker's knives you own. For example web dealer X may have a strong overseas market for say Fisk knives. Even after paying consignment fees you could very well come out ahead over finding buyers yourself. You have a much smaller buyer pool than dealers do.

Sixth, send photos to other collectors you know that collect the makers you do.

Seventh, I love this forum, however IMO the exchange is in many cases for buyer's not sellers. You may do OK if your knives are from the right makers and you acquired them at the right prices.

Eighth, use eBay only as a last resort unless you are OK with discounting your knives.

Ninth, take your knives to the larger knife shows. Many collectors go with the intention of buying, however are at left empty handed but with full wallets when the more popular makers sell out, thus creating opportunities for sellers.

And finally tenth, since you don't seem to be in a hurry, make a market for your knives by getting good photos taken and posting them on forums or anywhere collectors will see them. I have sold knives when they were not for sale just by collectors seeing photos. Good photos are very important in selling custom knives.

Here's a past thread that has many opinions on selling custom knives.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504570

Here's a past thread that has many opinions on liquidating custom knives.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=458501

Hope this helps. Some will disagree here. However, just my opinions based on my own experence.
 
yitz said:
Thanks for your quick response. I'm not ready to sell anything, yet. I don't even have pictures ready to post. I'm just thinking about it, and may begin the process slowly over the next few months. (Even when you have too many knives, it's not easy letting go of any of them.) Among those I'm thinking of moving are Morans, Scagels, Henrys, Bagwells, Hibbens, etc. One of my problems is that the ones that would likely sell most easily, are the ones I least want to part with. So, at this point, I'm just looking for ideas and impressions, and shared experiences from others who have gone through this process.
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I may be interested in your Morans. Send photos if you like.
 
I think Kevin has hit the nail on the head, what a terrific set of "rules". You have mostly high end, most likely desirable pieces, the BF Exchange is probably not a good place to start.

The best thing you could have done is made this post. Dealers and collectors will be contacting you! I'll PM you a list of dealers that might be a big help.

Win
 
Yitz,

Great points by Kevin.

#10: If you choose to work with a reputable dealer they may be equipped for photography. If not, I stand ready, and I am less than an hour away.

"Having your knife photographed does not cost--it PAYS!"

BTW, guys, I know yitz personally, and he is right on. :thumbup:

Coop
 
You need to sell Morans, Scagels, and Henrys? Hmmmmm......lookin' to buy that new Bentley Flying Spur and fiding yourself a bit short?:D I be broke currently, but i can't wait to see the pics:thumbup:
 
SharpByCoop said:
Yitz,

Great points by Kevin.

#10: If you choose to work with a reputable dealer they may be equipped for photography. If not, I stand ready, and I am less than an hour away.

"Having your knife photographed does not cost--it PAYS!"

BTW, guys, I know yitz personally, and he is right on. :thumbup:

Coop
Click to expand...

So true Coop.
I have often looked at a poor photo of a knife I was considering for purchase and wondered "the owner didn't appreciate this knife enough to give it a decent photo yet he expects me to appreciate it enough to buy it?" :confused:
 
Thanks for all the helpful responses (especially you, Kevin). (and Coop, you da' Man. I don't know if I'll have my knives photographed, but if I do, I certainly know who to contact!) I just wanted to reiterate, I'm not looking to sell any knives right now. It will be at least a month or two till I get around to getting some photos and deciding what to sell and for how much. In any case, it will only be a few out of a rather large collection. When I do sell, while I'm not looking to make a killing, I do hope to get more for a good knife than I paid a few years back. So at this point, I'm just tossing ideas around and appreciate people sharing their thoughts on the topic.
 
Interesting thread.............

First of all........You have to do a lot of homework.

Like selling a house in Southern Cal......you need to know the market, whether it is going up or down, and especially what similar pieces are going for. Morans and Scagels keep going up, and they are pretty easy to sell, but a lot of the buyers for high end stuff like that are very saavy shoppers.

Then, as mentioned above, you need to choose the medium you want to use to move them
In my opinion, the best bet is a big show, like Blade, where people can look and handle the pieces, and examine them closely.......If you have all the stuff you list.....choosing which pieces you want to let go off will be another hard choice.
 
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