NEwb question- Do blades appreciate in value?

My prediction is that GEC's will go down significantly since they're so massively inflated right now. That could take a while, though, since that particular type of knife is handmade with old methods, so it would be extremely difficult to scale up production.

As long as traditionals stay popular, what I think is really being overlooked right now is the Case / Tony Bose annuals. They're considered as close to custom as a production traditional can get, plus they have the association of two huge names in that world. Add in that they're American-made, have a few atypical qualities, were highly limited in production, and are no longer being made with nothing comparable to replace them. I think it's only a matter of time before they start going up.
 
Tsujigiri said:
My prediction is that GEC's will go down significantly since they're so massively inflated right now. That could take a while, though, since that particular type of knife is handmade with old methods, so it would be extremely difficult to scale up production.

As long as traditionals stay popular, what I think is really being overlooked right now is the Case / Tony Bose annuals. They're considered as close to custom as a production traditional can get, plus they have the association of two huge names in that world. Add in that they're American-made, have a few atypical qualities, were highly limited in production, and are no longer being made with nothing comparable to replace them. I think it's only a matter of time before they start going up.
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Agree. None of the gecsters want to believe it, but then neither did those beanie baby people. Short term its entirely possible to turn a profit by flipping albeit with much weeping and wailing on the part of those paying flipping prices. I do wonder how those flipper profits compare in dollars per hour against say delivering pizzas or ubering but whatever.

That said maybe gecs will be highly collectible for decades to come, but with so many people collecting them now and putting them away for later it seems like the supply will outstrip demand when the fad wears off.
 
In general, knives don't do well as investments. Sometimes people get lucky here and there, but for the most part they lose money. Everyone tells you about the wins, seldom the losses. The only guys that consistently make money are the constant flippers, but that is really just turning a hobby into a job at that point.

Also remember that knives take up space, and come with their own challenges - Humidity change cracked your scale? Knife rusted? New law on handle material XYZ causes people to dump them? No one likes maker XYZ?, Maker XYZ died 20 years ago, and no one collects him anymore? All of those are things that happen, have dropped prices like a rock.

The best advice I ever got on trying to play the knife market like the stock market came from Bruce Voyles years ago - It was to get a stack of old Blade magazines, say 10-15 years old, look at what was hot then, and price it now. You'll see that most things can be bought at a deep discount.

Buy what you like.
 
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The market is nuts and you have to be, as well, to understand it. I know they're not knives (I'll get back on track, I promise) but I was dirt poor when Dracos were fetchin $349. A friend asked "should I buy one?" My answer was "NO! You should buy TEN!"

As for knives - I have a Benchmade model 42. I doubt it would last an hour if I listed it for $500 (I wouldn't). That one cost me $180. I also have an old PCC balisong (Benchmade before they were called Benchmade). That one would be an easy $350 (again, NOT for sale). My Father (RIP) and I bought them (2 PCCs) brand new - $65 for the PAIR. Not sure how crazy someone would get for my U.S. made Carbon V Recon Tanto but bet it is more than the 70ish I paid for it.

Kn8fe values are more rhythm than science. Not something that can be learned, something that has to be FELT. Short version - if knives don't talk to you, you will never know which ones are going up in value.... and congratulations, it means you're sane 👍
 
tltt said:
In general, knives don't do well as investments. Sometimes people get lucky here and there, but for the most part they lose money. Everyone tells you about the wins, seldom the losses. The only guys that consistently make money are the constant flippers, but that is really just turning a hobby into a job at that point.

Also remember that knives take up space, and come with their own challenges - Humidity change cracked your scale? Knife rusted? New law on handle material XYZ causes people to dump them? No one likes maker XYZ?, Maker XYZ died 20 years ago, and no one collects him anymore? All of those are things that happen, have dropped prices like a rock.

The best advice I ever got on trying to play the knife market like the stock market came from Bruce Voyles years ago - It was to get a stack of old Blade magazines, say 10-15 years old, look at what was hot then, and price it now. You'll see that most things can be bought at a deep discount.

Buy what you like.
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Great advice!
 
Put your investment money into the bridges around Brooklyn, and appreciate your knives for what they are at that moment...
 
I understand that everyone is looking to make every red cent possible from every corn chip they can possibly flip for a profit. Yea yea capitalism blah blah, I also understand the current financial predicament the US finds itself in which is partly why everyone is doing it. I'm a capitalist as well, the greed ends up F'ing over the hobby though. Any time a good knife comes along it becomes extremely hard for regular guys to get ahold of them to use them. The purpose of these well made knives beyond being a business is for actual use... well the people who would see the benefit and appreciate the knives and be able to realize the actual performance get priced out of the market by flippers looking for a profit.

I know the flippers love this, but regular guys don't. It's like old school scalpers for tickets to events. Sure, legal, but slimy af. It's a hobby for us, and people are treating it like their business, without even buying a dealer membership. Buy a damn dealer membership and out yourself as what you are if you wana sell knives for profit.

Well... there's my 2 cents lol
 
Triton said:
Agree. None of the gecsters want to believe it, but then neither did those beanie baby people. Short term its entirely possible to turn a profit by flipping albeit with much weeping and wailing on the part of those paying flipping prices. I do wonder how those flipper profits compare in dollars per hour against say delivering pizzas or ubering but whatever.

That said maybe gecs will be highly collectible for decades to come, but with so many people collecting them now and putting them away for later it seems like the supply will outstrip demand when the fad wears off.
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That's it, I'm selling my GECs now. Any takers?!
 
Jacques Mi said:
That's it, I'm selling my GECs now. Any takers?!
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Help you realize those short term profits? Nah. Look, I'm not saying you should not collect them for fun and profit, if that's your thing, good for you, makes more sense to me than collecting stamps or pottery.

50 years from now if your GECs let you retire in comfort and buy that Caribbean island you can come laugh at me and tell me I was wrong, that they actually did hold their value. I will be dead (probably) but you can come tell me just the same.
 
Jacques Mi said:
That's it, I'm selling my GECs now. Any takers?!
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Trading-Places.jpg
 
Fanglekai said:
S&P 500 index fund is an investment. Knives are a hobby.
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Both are crapshoots ! In the long run .

Until you have cash in hand , your "profits" are notional .

Cash ain't much good to keep , either ! 😒
 
Triton said:
😄 Alright so if I can be nosy. A couple of questions. Have you ever opened them? Do you ever intend to sell them? Is the rest of your portfolio in Busses?

Just curious and not trying to be a jerk in any way. I should note that I have a whole safe full of things that just sit there.
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Full Disclosure 🤣
That's only a third of them! I've opened every one for inspection when they arrived. I started collecting in 2006. I sell one or two a year(maybe). I'll eventually decide to rehome all of them🤔
Marfione customs are my other habit!
 
There are "art knives" out there but they cost a lot to begin with. You will rarely if ever find one for sale here, you'd have to commission one or buy it from Sotheby's or a Rock Island Armory Auction, someplace like that. Google "art knives". Like this. That ain't tin and brass, lol. You get the idea.
Most of these never leave a safe and only get handled by hands in cotton gloves.
Hansen-Shaun-Sharla-AKI-2023-SITE.jpg
 
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