Is engraving a good investment?

J

Jason Fry

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Jun 5, 2008
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Simple question... is engraving a good investment?

Say a 7 1/2" hunter, 416 bolsters, sambar stag. Out of my shop, it's maybe a $250-275 knife. If I were to have it engraved (at a cost of about $200), would I be able to make my money back plus a little? I'd like to have a good looking engraved knife out there with my name on it, but not bad enough to lose money on the deal.

Any comment on the going prices for a well made knife with good fit/finish and engraving from a basically unknown maker?
 
Many knives will benefit aesthetically from the correct style and amount of engraving, however sometimes may not increase the overall value of the piece enough to recoup the cost of the engraving. This would be especially true of knives in lower priced ranges. On the other hand, many engraved knives will benefit aesthetically and will raise the value of the piece well over and above the cost of the engraving. In my opinion, engraving also highlights other detail or features of the knife. In some cases, engraving can be used to cover flaws or to add a little pizzazz to an otherwise plain piece. I have found that engraving adds a little durability as engraved areas of knives (particularly bolsters) generally don’t show scratches as much as polished or hand rubbed satin finished areas.

If I were a knfemaker, I would use the general rule that; if a knife seemed suitable and would be improved by engraving and I felt that I could recoup the cost of the engraving while making the knife more desirable and easier to sell, I would have it engraved.

A lot of times it doesn't take much engraving to bump a knife up a notch or two. I would suggest your directing your dollars more towards quality than coverage.

Hope you don't mind my long drawn out answer to a simple question. ;)
 
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"You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" - ever heard that phrase? I can think of quite a bit of top-notch engraving on knives that were not really deserving of the engraving job (by top notch engravers) - and no way could the cost of engraving ever be recouped.

It's my experience that top-notch knives with top-notch engraving retain top-notch value, or see an increase in value. But mediocre knives (ie, by mediocre makers) with top-notch engraving generally never seem to recoup value.

Just observations based on secondary market experience, and pretty much in agreement with Kevin.
 
^^^ great points made above. I agree.

I'll also add; engraving tends to enter the area of collector piece, than user knife. On a base $250 piece is your target market collectors or users? That engraved knife will reduce either of these two client bases, although the sum of the two may surprise us.

No easy answer. The complexity of the engraving should be commensurate with the ability of the knife. Simpler is better--or none!

Coop
 
betzner said:
"You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" - ever heard that phrase? I can think of quite a bit of top-notch engraving on knives that were not really deserving of the engraving job (by top notch engravers) - and no way could the cost of engraving ever be recouped.

It's my experience that top-notch knives with top-notch engraving retain top-notch value, or see an increase in value. But mediocre knives (ie, by mediocre makers) with top-notch engraving generally never seem to recoup value.



I have more expierence with guns that are engraved and my sentiments are with Bob on this one.
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If you're making knives at the $250-275 level, engraving that nearly doubles the cost of the knife is likely not a good investment, for the reasons given above.

Roger
 
I tend to agree, a top knife can be super with top engraving. Let me ask about the other side. Can engraving put a knife into a top category? Can a new maker (184 knives) with little collector following help his market position by taking one of his better knives and adding some engraving? Not trying to self promote here, but since the answer is usually "depends on the knife" let me post a pic of the knife I'm basically talking about. Same model, same bolsters, but stag instead of the blackwood. As collectors, is this knife of a quality that would benefit from some embellishment?

IMG_1686-e1326593626697.jpg
 
jkf96a said:
IMG_1686-e1326593626697.jpg
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I love engraved knives (as my collector website indicates) however your piece above is a nice and well thought out design for a small user/EDC and does not need engraving in my opinion. Stick with what got you to where you are now and revisit the engraving down the road a piece. "If it ain't broke"

I would suggust your using your real name here as opposed to a screen name.
 
Since you've asked, I'll offer my opinion - unless you have your own following interested in engraved knives, I would not expect engraving would net you more income.
 
From one who looks at a variety of knives for a living, that giant fish and logo overwhelms such a small knife. Any engraving would be competing with the visual cues already on this.

An engraver could advise better, but the superbly rounded bolsters don't lend themselves as an artist's pallet as easily as a flatter panel.

I have a few knives where the maker created a framed panel on the bolster of stippled texture to create visual interest and add complexity. This they were able to do on their own, and (I think) it added to the knife.

orig.jpg


orig.jpg


That's a possibility you could do and save yourself a couple of hundred. :)

I like that you are asking these questions and are willing to provide examples. It's a long road to the top, but you are getting there step by step.

Coop
 
I think that the advise you've received is valid. But let me add that you need to look at how you'll recoup the cost of the engraving. At your price point there's little chance that by doubling the cost of the knife (to you) that you will also be able to double the profit on the sale. Therefore the best way to add to a higher price point or profit margin is to expand on those items where all the profit is yours. Any embellishments must be done by you. The stippling Coop has pictured is one such technique.

Even more, if you are going to do such work (engraving, stippling, use of other materials, etc) you need to think about what the final design is going to look like. I agree that the knife you posted is not going to be a good candidate for engraving, but I doubt you built it planning on having a scroll pattern worked into it. Knives that don't match the embellishment won't sell for top dollar.

That being said, you may want to consider having a knife engraved as a marketing piece. In this manner you can use the cost of the engraving, and the cost of professional photography, to increase your business. I have several knives that have been used by their makers for brochures, flyers, and business cards. You may want to look into whether such a cost would be deductable as a business expense also; that will give you a bit more margin.

If you do decide to build a knife with engraving in mind, take the time before you start and talk to the engraver you're going to use. Have him sketch out what he see's as a good pattern. Get his opinion on the shape, style, and materials you'll use. In my experience engravers have a good eye for what will work, use that.
 
Adding texture or even filed grooves adds to the knife and it is something you can do yourself. Even the simplest embellishment can add to the value of the knife and shows the extra attention to detail that a maker takes.
 
Thanks for the honest feedback. Looks like I'll flute the next one and order some smaller stencils. What eisman said about a marketing piece is what got me headed in the engraving direction in the first place.

Thanks,
Jason Fry
 
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