New collector

E

Expatriated

Joined
Jan 19, 2004
Messages
551
Although I don't own one yet, I love these knives. I've jumped in with both feet, ordering every 3 months. I currently have #1, #8, #14, and 2 #12's on order. I even went down to visit the shop last August. Awesome history there. I debated about ordering from current dealer stock but in the end, just decided to order from the source. I think there's an inherent cool factor, too, in having to wait 5 freaking years for anything in this mass-produced instant chinamart culture.

While I'm planning on keeping most of what I continue to order over the next few years for myself and kids, I'm sure I'll be ordering some just for future collectability and resale.

What advise can you seasoned collectors offer when placing current orders now that are intended to be put away for future collectors? I understand it's hard to say what the future will bring and if there are a bunch of people out there like me ordering every 3 months, maybe the future demand won't be as high, I don't know.

I have taken the time to read the last year's worth of thread in this forum so I have a good knowledge base but any advise you could give regarding preferred models, options, long-term care issues, etc would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your help and I've really enjoyed reading all these threads!
 
I've been told to collect what you like. That trying to collect for future resale is a big crap shoot because you'll never know what future trends will be. I started out collect model 12's and have since started to collect #2's and ivory handled models. Oh, and welcome to the sick world of Randalls, the only cure is to purchase more and more and more.

Dan in Kalifornia
 
Expat,

Welcome to our hobby, and wishing that it'll be as rewarding for you as it has been for countless other RMK collectors. Yes, our hobby is probably as diverse as the collectors themselves - as such, there are very few hard and fast rules.

I've been collecting RMK's for roughly ten years, wrote a few magazine articles, reference guides, and a hard cover book on the subject - I used to say I'd (once) owned over 400 Randall knives, but after buying another 80+ last year, and roughly 30 more this year (including six new arrivals today), I've lost count...which probably doesn't really mean diddly squat in the greater scheme of things.

Yet, in that time and through those purchases, I've found these few rules do have merit...

#1. Buy Randall knives in original unused 'new' or 'like new' condition where possible. As tools, knives get used (and often messed with); an unused original condition knife will command and hold its value. Junk today will be junk tomorrow. #2. Buy older knives, military knives, and those with provenance. #3. Buy options - highly optioned knives will almost always bring a higher return than baseline variations.

Also - know your knives, i.e. do your homework before buying; take your time, and if it seems too good to be true it probably is; if you pay too much up front you may well end up selling at a loss; buy what you like, but buy with resale value in mind - you never know when the economy might tank; diversify - if you niche buy, you may very well end up holding the bag if your niche falls out of favor.

And finally, don't rationalize - see #1 above...that one alone will save you a ton of headaches down the road.

Hope that helps,

Shel
 
Thanks for the info, guys. I will take it to heart.

I envision just continuing to order direct from RMK, although I will be on the look out for the off chance that some dealer has a screaming deal that I can't pass up. And yes, I had already decided on new or like new with good provenance. That is one of the reasons I'm so fastidious with keeping every scrap of paper I receive related to my orders. So that if I ever sell a knife, I've got all of the accompanying documentation.

Any reason why it seems so hard to find the Model 9 (the thrower)? Just not much interest in it? I've done a bit of that in the past and was thinking of buying one of theirs to actually use so I wouldn't mind that particular one being used as long as it hasn't been too beat up, like chipped or something.
 
I don't think the model 9 is collected too much since it has such a limited use. I've got 2 in my collection, unfortunately without sheaths. One has been used and resharpened and the other hasn't been used. I guess it's just a personal thing as to collect model 9's. If you are interested in a used model 9 let me know, I can make you a deal on the used one I have.

Dan in Kalifornia
 
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I'm not feeling especially smart right now, so I don't know what my two cents is worth. Thanks to this recession, it's a mighty depressing time to be a Randall collector. Hopefully, we'll come out the other side of this sometime; whether we ever see a return to the "glory days" of a few years ago, I don't know.

I guess my best advice would be that this is the wrong place to try to save a few dollars. When in doubt, go for the most expensive configuration on your knives that you can come up with. As Sheldon pointed out, that usually means lots of options.

Good luck to you, and remember that, even if your knives aren't going to make you rich quick, you'll always have the pleasure of owning some truly beautiful knives.
 
I disagree...

For a COLLECTOR these times seem to be peachy-keen!! Now, for those who buy and sell... not so good right now.

E-Bay prices are down, down, down right now, so as for the collector, this has to be the best of times!!, because we all know the economy will return sooner or later... IMO...

---DW---
 
I hear what you're saying Sam, but I've got to go with DW on this one - as a hardcore collector, now in my 11th year of buying roughly one RMK per week, times have never been better...yet, as a reseller, I'm probably breaking even at best.

So, what does all that mean? Well, at this rate I'm probably on track to end up with more RMK's than SJJP to say the least...lol

Seriously though, while my purchases to sales ratio is probably six to one at this point, I still have to believe in myself - much as I had to believe in myself when I coughed up $30k to self-publish my book (I will admit though, I was pretty darn stunned when the flatbed truck rolled up with seven pallets of books)...that deal worked out pretty darn good in that we broke even in less than two months. :cool:

Miles was on me to do what I do best, flip knives, and take the associated risk in stride; Rhett was on me about selling too low, and he was right; but the best advice given to date came from my friend A.G. Russell 'Don't worry about the number of buyers you might have, that doesn't matter - what matters is that you find the one buyer, the buyer that wants what you have and is willing to pay your asking price' (paraphrased)....he too was right.

So, while I turn down buy/sell offers every day now, the volume of my purchases has increased dramatically - hopefully, in time, it'll turn out I made the right decision...:thumbup:

Shel
 
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I think this is a real buying opportunity for an optimist. Get Sheldons book, do your home work, with over 1200 items on E bay Randall.... buy one now, or hit a local show....ASAP!!! I could not face a day knowing I did not have a Randall!! Then wait out your special orders. Bart RKS#132
 
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