New Knives worth collecting?

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unky_gumbi

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Aug 28, 2009
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With the exception of some of the higher end knives does anyone really feel that the standard production knives they have will really be worth something in the future? I don't consider myself a knife collector, I am a knife user and I don't think that any of my knives will be collector worthy at any time.

Are there any production knives that you think may be worth something down the road? Not counting things like CRKs and such, I am talking about common good knives in the likes of Benchmade and Spyderco like comanies.
 
buy use collect the ones YOU like, knives IMO are a matter personal preferences, opinions are good, but they are not everything
Maxx
 
Maybe try and get your hands on some of the RAT Cutlery knives still stamped "RC". Soon they will all be gone due to there name change. All the new blades are stamped ESEE.
 
I am not a collector and am not looking to collect, but I was just sitting here thinking about knives and the question popped into my head. I am sure that some of the old cases that are sought after today were just run of the mill average knives at the time they were produced, but now are highly prized.

I am sure that the quality of a knife has a lot to do with it being sought after by collectors, and even though the RC/ESEE knives are high quality I don't know if they will make it to collector status, unless the company goes under unexpectedly. I do intend on picking up a RC/ESEE this year just have to narrow what one I want. Right now its between the RC4,5 and the H.E.S.T. I like the Izula too but it would be more of a second purchase for me.
 
Knives are a terrible investment to make money. If you are lucky you will be able to sell it for what you bought it for.

The sprint runs from the different companies are probably the best bet. But even those you don't know which will be popular and which won't sell well, as some do. And buying Busse direct from the factory might be a good way to make a little but those sell out quick. Plus you never know if the Busse craze will die off.

I have a bunch of knives sitting new in the box that I bought to see if I like it as I have no way of handling them first. I have some pretty sought after knives and I would be surprised if I broke even if I sold them all. I think I would go to a financial adviser if you want to make investments to make money.
 
I agree- it is nearly impossible to forecast what people will be looking into buying in the future.
I was big into high end electric guitars at one time and found that it was huge risk betting on a "collector series" or "limited run" increasing in value. Maybe in 50 years, maybe not.

I imagine high end automatic knives would be your best bet for long term collectibles, if made illegal, that is. 2 cents
 
Collecting is for people that have the time and money to do so. I wont buy a knife that I wont use. I don't think I have bought anything with the thought that it may be valuable some day
 
It is like trying to figure out what cars will be collectable in the future. A BOSS Mustang cost about $6000.00 in 1969. A 429 BOSS now will cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Look at microtech knives some of their discontinued models are going for more than twice what they were new. I do not think that any factory knife not made in the U.S.A. will ever be collectable (at least not here, no offense to my Canadian fellow member). Customs are a different animal all together.
 
very very few knives increase in value.

some will hold their value (randalls, some busses, etc).

most decrease as soon as they are purchased.
 
I think the op is more interested in a discussion on which models will be sought after, not necessarily making money off of them. At least that is how I took it. I agree with flamtnbkr, I would have to think the sprint runs is where the collectibles will be. Spyderco's new manix sprint runs seemed to fly off the shelves pretty quick.
 
Generally Busses and Bussekin go up in value as they are limited runs. The numbered Limited Editions are worth it if you get them from Busse if you hang onto them awhile. The Standard Combat Grades Like Black blade and black Canvas tend to increase in value faster. The Ganza and Show Models increase in value fast too.

For other knife brands if they are going to be discontinued and on close out they might be worth it depending on the knife.
 
I would think some fo the collaborations - like the Spyderco Gayle Bradley - might be desirable somewhere down the road.

Also - models that win the "Blade Show" award or other types of accolades may be collectable.
 
Hard to predict what will be sought after. I was recently surprised by a fellow who is at this moment offering me twice what I paid for my Bench Made modle 42 balisong, that I myself purchased less than a year ago.
 
You'll go broke and nuts trying to find the "next big thing" in the knifeworld, or in any other pop culture trinkets around. It's been said before, but BUY WHAT YOU LIKE FIRST. There is a great article in last months BLADE magazine about collecting, but it basically says the same thing. Be consistent and find the styles that appeal to you personally. I would say that 90% of today's hot models will be just fond memories in 5 years.
 
Spyderco and Benchmade do the best of the production knives, I've found.
Anything that's popular made by them when it's gone goes up in value and sometimes even the models that weren't will.
No you won't get rich, but if you enjoy knife collecting you can collect, have fun doing it and if you keep them NIB, at least get your money back (plus maybe a bit more) should you ever sell.
 
I had quite a few Dalton pre productions and SOF versions from the 1990's (about 30) and sold them in early 2000. So far they are the only knives I have made any money on. I tripled my money on a Dalton M6 and a few others but that was never my intention. I wasn't using those knives and needed the money for something else but was pleasantly surprised to get a nice return on that investment.

That being said I took the money and ran and would not think that I could get that lucky again. I'll invest instead.
 
Take a look at the catalogs from years past every example from most manufactures have examples of many knives that have increased in value. However if your going to try to look at a current lineup and try to pick the knives that will increase in value…good luck.
 
If you find that great deal on a sure to appreciate knife make sure you put it on your credit card and pay the minimum payment so that when you sell it in five years for triple the price you will only have 3 more years to pay it off on your credit card before you break even.
 
Not a huge profit but i have noticed whenever Benchmade or Spyderco discontinue a model it seems to fetch a good price a year or so later when the supplies dry up.

I have seen several Chinook 1s go for 250-300.00 on e-bay.
 
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