most expensive knife

It depends on what are you talking about.

There are some antique japanese tantos worth more than US$100.000,00... :D

On modern knives, I think you can find some very expensive customs in the US$5000,00 range.

For a true user, I don't know how a knife can cost more than US$1.000,00, but that's MY opinion....

regards,

Andre Tiba - Brazil
 
That I have physically seen and handled, seen on the internet or in a knife rag or own?

For ownership it's probably a brass framed engraved Ron Lake Interframe, but it could be a Warren Osborne gold inlaid auto, with a diamond stud on the release bar...tough call. $4-5,000 for either one.

That I've physically handled....CLEARLY a Sheffield Exhibition Knife owned by my buddy Howard Melnick, who lives down the street, appraised value $150,000. That would be the winner.

On the net, Prince knife collection by Rick Eaton.
 
In person the most expensive knife I have ever seen would be a Loveless Big Bear fighter and a Ron Lake folder. Either one of these knives would have been valued at over $5000.00. The Loveless at well over.

The most expensive modern knives I have seen in magazines, books or on the internet would probably be a couple that were made by Buster Warenski. One was a reproduction of the King Tut dagger and the other was called The Gem of the Orient. Both of these knives would be worth well over $100,000.00.

The Sam Houston bowie that sold at auction for $297,000.00 including fees went for the highest price of any that I know of.
 
Handled? Joe Kious folder engraved by Adone Pozzobon - about C$14,000.

(Bonus? Got to play with it in Adone's rec room! :D :cool: :D )
 
I don't know the exact number, but at a couple Solvang shows I've handled some wildly expensive stuff. Some of Buster and Julie Warrenski's stuf that was probably inthe 10K range. A couple interesting Joe Kious pieces, although never handled any of the magazine pieces. Van Barnett had a pretty wild diamond inlaid piece a couple years ago there that he let me fondle. It was awesome, but in a price range I'll never see unless I get that lotto jackpot I've been wanting.

Ahhh, the stuff dreams are made of........ I love that Solvang show.

John
 
Hey All,
Not to discount knives and/or guns, but the bottom line is how well does a knife cut or how well does a gun shoot? The end result is pretty simple. Surely, many $50 knives cut as well as a $10,000 knife. Is the difference in materials? Do the $10,000 knives have diamond handles? I don't have a problem with a $100K Lamborghini vs a $20k Pontiac Grand Prix, 0-60 in 4 seconds, automatic co-pilot ;) etc., etc. advanced technology worth paying for. In all reality how much better is an expensive knife previously listed vs. a Spyderco Military when it comes down to cutting properties. Or an English H&H double vs. a Browning field grade double when it comes to pattern. I guess if the market's there, take advantage of it, but I for one will never be in awe of products that are drastically overpriced in comparative value or because of brand name vs. actual performance. Just my $.02
 
The knives I described far transend their value as a cutting tool and enter the realm of pure art. I don't know any makers, even the best who drive around in Ferraris. The price asked might be high, but the hours, or sometimes years, that go into a piece like those pieces are what afford the maker and his family a living, put food on his table and hopefully have enough left over for decent insurance and a retirement fund. The same stuff we all want. I'd bet a fellow like Chris Reeve makes a bunch more cash on an ongoing basis that the folks mentioned above, and delivers a great product too, just a different kind of product.

I don't believe that to be an artisan, one needs to live in abject poverty.To look at some of these art knives as just a tool is to miss the point of them entirely. They are a celebration of the form and the artist's devotion to it.

I understand not being able to afford them, but I can certainly appreciate them on their own terms. If you can't, that's a bummer, but a lot for you than for me.

John
 
Saw an $88,000 Rick Eaton piece marked SOLD at Bladeshow a couple of years ago. And that was Rick's product for the year. So, in addition to the materials, you were paying his salary for the year.

You can see this knife by clicking here

But, I've got to tell you, the pictures are not the same as seeing the knife in person.
 
wsyocum said:
Hey All,
Not to discount knives and/or guns, but the bottom line is how well does a knife cut or how well does a gun shoot? The end result is pretty simple. Surely, many $50 knives cut as well as a $10,000 knife.... I guess if the market's there, take advantage of it, but I for one will never be in awe of products that are drastically overpriced in comparative value or because of brand name vs. actual performance.
Click to expand...

Actually, some $50.00 knives will cut better than some $10,000.00 ones. Many expensive knives have blades that are not meant to cut. Quite a few do not come very sharp.

You are looking at this from a completely utilitarian view, and from that perspective you are correct. The fact is though that most really expensive knives are works of art meant for the collector. That or they are from highly saught after makers. These knives are almost never going to be used to cut anything.

The knife community is made up of a conglomerate of people with different interests. Some like yourself don't see a need to pay more than $50.00 for a knife, some are willing to pay a higher price for higher quality and some will pay whatever it takes to get the knife they want. It is a darn good thing for the knife industry that all these types of people do exist. Without them all the world of knives as we know it would not exist.
 
I think the most obvious analogy for collector grade knives is likening it to fine art - paintings, sculptures etc. As the price goes up the utility goes down. Once in the realm of the collector, any practical, rational argument for spending the $$$ goes out the window. The bottom line is - the high price tag is at least partially driven by the demand for it and the price will be paid, and the item sold.

I haven't handled or considered too many expensive knives myself. I've handled some superb Japanese tachi and katana's from 2-3 centuries ago valued in the $60,000 range, and I've seen several $5000 - $10000 modern liner-locked mosaic damascus, pearl-handled, diamond-encrusted, carved, fileworked folders. Again, these were showpieces.

The most expensive "using knife" I've ever handled was a friend's Busse Battle Mistress which he paid $1700 for SECOND HAND. He is in the process of using it to death. Why he paid $1700 for it, I have no idea, but it further demonstrates that some are willing to pay more $$ than others for the same thing. My 2 cents. Jason.
 
jmxcpter said:
The knives I described far transend their value as a cutting tool and enter the realm of pure art. I don't know any makers, even the best who drive around in Ferraris. The price asked might be high, but the hours, or sometimes years, that go into a piece like those pieces are what afford the maker and his family a living, put food on his table and hopefully have enough left over for decent insurance and a retirement fund. The same stuff we all want. I'd bet a fellow like Chris Reeve makes a bunch more cash on an ongoing basis that the folks mentioned above, and delivers a great product too, just a different kind of product.

I don't believe that to be an artisan, one needs to live in abject poverty.To look at some of these art knives as just a tool is to miss the point of them entirely. They are a celebration of the form and the artist's devotion to it.

I understand not being able to afford them, but I can certainly appreciate them on their own terms. If you can't, that's a bummer, but a lot for you than for me.

John
Click to expand...

JMX,

I definitely agree. Like Keith said I was looking at it from a utilitarian sense because that's all knives are for me, tools.
On the other hand dogs, specifically hunting retrievers are my game. I wouldn't think twice about paying $1500.00 for and 8 week old pup of the "right" lineage and have seen accomplished dogs go for nearly six figures.
I suppose it's all what turns you on. What one thinks is a sane price to pay for something is directly proportional to that factor. I guess I can appreciate it when I look at it that way, just wouldn't act on it. :D
 
Wys, I understand about the dog analogy. If you saw my Alaskan Malamute pup, Blade, you'd cry (he's 2 now so nearing the end of puppyhood). Being a hound guy, you might not appreciate the full coat of an Arctic breed like I do, but you'd surely appreciate the dog, just like I would one of your prize hunting hounds. My boy's a freighting dog in the working class, so it's a different job description, but he's a working dog none the less, and with a wonderful pedigree and awesome lines.

The same distinctions exist in the knife world and some knives just command a higher price because of their beauty and lineage.

John
 
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