Investing in raw materials

Shing

Shing

Joined
Feb 2, 2003
Messages
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Theres been quite a few threads on investing in knives but what about raw materials. We have all seen the price of some materials like best quality Sambar stag and ivory increase in price due to shortages and a finite supply. The sellers of desert ironwood and now saying its getting rarer although they have a vested interest in creating a reason to keep prices high.

I was wondering what raw materials would actually increase in price and worth "investing" in either for ones own knives or for sale to others later?
 
I find that quite a few makers want to choose the materials that they use to make knives. Some are nervous about using a client's ivory or other expensive material and destroying it. Others want to get the chance to look over what is available and pick the best piece of stag, ivory, MOP, etc. themselves, so that they can be guarantied of getting something that will be of high quality.

All materials are going to go up, but there is going to be a big increase in the price of mammoth ivory. The Chinese are buying up all that they can get, and that is driving the price way up. It is also reducing the selection. I sure hope makers that use it have managed to build a little reserve.

Unless you go to shows, or have a company close to you that supplies knifemaking materials, you are not going to get the chance to go over the materials you purchase. What happens if you spend $400.00 on what looked in the photo to be a beautiful piece of ivory, just to find out that because of some structural flaw it is unuseable for making a knife handle? Believe me, it happens.
 
A bit off topic but after a year or so of reading on the forums knifemakers lamenting the rising price of steel, it dawned on me that what they're feeling is a higher demand for steel in general throughout the world. So I invested in some steel/metal stocks about 7 months ago and am doing quite well with them.

Okay, I know that's not the investing in raw materials idea that the thread was aiming for, but I just wanted to pass on another (and different) testimony of how the custom knife forum here has helped me.
 
Here is my stockpile

.375" F22 Raptor CF

I wish I could find more.

Its harder to get than ivory and almost as expensive.

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The attached picture shows some of the fossilized tusk and bone material
found in Andre and Michael Andersson's workshop in Sweden.
The picture is taken from Andre's section in my third book, "The Art of Custom Knifemaking".
Talk about valuable stock.......

David Darom (ddd)

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I haven't done much shopping for materials for future knives, but I know several collectors that have and do. Makes good sense to me - if I could stop myself from spending every cent I have at shows on knives themselves, I am sure I would do likewise. There was some gorgeous mammoth and walrus available in Chicago. DHIII snapped up these, but there was a good bit more:

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Roger
 
Sorry Keith - I didn't see it until it was already tucked away safely under Don's table. I expect he would know.

Danbo also picked up a great set of red mammoth scales at what I thought was a VERY good price. Then again, he's just about the king of "I'll supply the handle materials!" among collectors.

Roger
 
Stocking up on handle materials can get VERY expensive quickly and return on investment can take years.

I took inventory once on raw materials at the insistance of my accountant, shocked myself badly and vowed never to do that again. I do have what I believe is the largest stock of pre ban Sambar in any knifemaker's hands but since people believe that none is available they have to be coaxed to buy a sambar handled knife. Odd situation that.

George
 
george tichbourne said:
Stocking up on handle materials can get VERY expensive quickly and return on investment can take years.

I took inventory once on raw materials at the insistance of my accountant, shocked myself badly and vowed never to do that again. I do have what I believe is the largest stock of pre ban Sambar in any knifemaker's hands but since people believe that none is available they have to be coaxed to buy a sambar handled knife. Odd situation that.

George
Click to expand...

I've seen at least a portion of that stash - some VERY nice stag indeed. :)

Roger
 
I think it wise for makers to invest in quality ivory and stag when they run across the special pieces at fair prices.

Don't think collector's can expect much of a return, and can be VERY risky if you don't know what you are doing as a $500 piece of premium ivory can turn into a $50 piece very quickly.

I love to shop and buy ivory because the material fascinates me. When you hold a piece ancient ivory in your hand, think of it's age, where it's been, it's original environment. Yes, quite fascinating to me.

Here's some slabs I have had for about 4 years and will go on a piece soon.

DAltonHolderBuffaloHunter2004.jpg
 
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