Invest in Sebenzas?

flash900 · Oct 21, 2011

As a new (and very modest) collector, I'm curious: How is it that a few people on the forums seemingly have access to so many Sebenzas -- including the hard-to-get large Regular variety?

I see the same posters selling a steady stream of these models at ever-inflated prices.

If someone is smart enough to make a comfortable living doing this, god bless, and they have my admiration. With my 401K continuing to shrink, I'm wondering whether to invest in Sebenzas!

scarysharp · Oct 21, 2011

flash900 said:
As a new (and very modest) collector, I'm curious: How is it that a few people on the forums seemingly have access to so many Sebenzas -- including the hard-to-get large Regular variety?

I see the same posters selling a steady stream of these models at ever-inflated prices.

If someone is smart enough to make a comfortable living doing this, god bless, and they have my admiration. With my 401K continuing to shrink, I'm wondering whether to invest in Sebenzas!

I dont think any posters here are "making a comfortable living" selling 2nd hand Sebenza's, but if you're curious about how to obtain hard-to-get Sebbies I can only conclude one thing:

$$$$$$$$$$$$$, and lots of it

Output · Oct 21, 2011

Either you have the money for one or you don't...it's that simple. Really.

Poez · Oct 21, 2011

If thinking about investing, Sebensa probably would be the last thing which would come to my mind. Or rather would not at all. I do not say it is a bad knife. But it is just a production knife - turned up in steadily and considerable quantities. And the only people being able to make a decent living on Sebensa are probably only CR and his employees. I have seen two or three months ago a new one in a regular knife shop for 500 dollars. Not a big mark up for a real shop. And how many do they sell - I am sure it is not the best-seller. The fact that it is so popular here does not mean that much. There would be a hype anyway here in BF - if not for Sebensa, than for some other knife for sure. People always want what "everybody" has - that "everybody" is obviously vary famous for his exceptional taste for everything.

marcinek · Oct 21, 2011

flash900 said:
As a new (and very modest) collector, I'm curious: How is it that a few people on the forums seemingly have access to so many Sebenzas -- including the hard-to-get large Regular variety?

I see the same posters selling a steady stream of these models at ever-inflated prices.

If someone is smart enough to make a comfortable living doing this, god bless, and they have my admiration. With my 401K continuing to shrink, I'm wondering whether to invest in Sebenzas!

Its just like anything else...if one has amassed a large number of things (like Sebenzas or Randalls, etc) by collecting over many years, then one has a large number to sell. And that money from selling goes to buying new examples of the same thing.

It all takes time and is not a very profitable venture. Its about acquisition of new "whatever you are into"s.

Flash Owl · Oct 21, 2011

i think from person to person its different.

if your the type of person that wont be satisfied until you have the best, or exactly what your looking for, then maybe itll actually save you money in the long run.
I myself, dont have a sebenza, but im having a difficult time finding my perfect or close to perfect everyday carry folder. i keep buying different knives, and after a few of them i could of used that money on a sebenza.
sometimes i wonder if i should get a small sebenza, and skip all the trials and errors.
ive been fortunate enough to handle both large and small sebenza. and i like'm alot! but still cant spend that much on a folder....
a hinderer XM-18 seems absolutely perfect for what im looking for, but i cant get 1 at a decent price....

Franz_N · Oct 21, 2011

In my opinion knives are not a good investment if you are looking to make money off them, there are better things to invest in for monetary gain. The one exception is sprint run spyderco's, not all but some of them, people sell those at a huge mark up price after there are no more available and people buy them, but overall i would say buying knives is best done as a hobby, and because you love knives rather than trying to make a buck off them.

creativeoutlethobbie · Oct 22, 2011

Don't consider it an investment. If you like knives and are curious about a Sebenza I recommend looking at the used market. I've bought 2 used mint ones at very good prices, for a sebenza..

Magnaminous_G · Oct 22, 2011

I agree with all the above posters. Investing in stuff like antique guns or high-end knives or classic cars or whatever is highly speculative (i.e., risky). If you buy $100,000 worth of Sebenzas and a few years later suddenly they're not popular anymore for whatever reason (they just fall out of vague and get old-fashioned, something newer and shinier comes along, or whatever) and suddenly you *need* that money because someone needed emergency care, and then you might find yourself having to unload them for whatever you can get... and then, what if you can only recoup $20,000, making a return on your investment of -%80?

That sort of thing happens to people all the time. Steer clear of hobbies as investment vehicles. Now then, if you are rich and have $100,000 to play with (and don't care if it gets lost), then it might be fun to invest in a speculative hobby.