Opinions wanted

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Mitch W.

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Aug 11, 2010
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I am wondering if have Chuck, CJ, or Josh "sign" a knife helps or hurts the value of the knife? Personally, I don't think it hurts it but, someone else might and am curious.
 
Is it a collector or a user? Most folks want a collector knife to be as it was sent from the factory. The signature on the knife is a personal thing and the fellow who had them sign their knife has the memory not the guy who may buy the knife at a future re-sale. So it adds no value at all IMHO and most of the time makes the knife worth less.
jb4570
 
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I know I'm a minority on this but I don't care for the blade signatures. If you consider a knife to be a work of art, the signature is a "scratch". The family name on the tang is enough for me. As for added value, the market in general seems to think it adds value if you have one to sell....;). If given the option, I would take the "cheaper" knife without the signature. Unfortunately there are a few nice custom models that only come that way. My list of three things I think make a knife visually unappealing are blade serrations, gut hooks, and signatures, but sometimes you have to accept these features for their collectability.
 
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Well, I would never buy one, so I guess if there are a lot more like me the value would go down.

On the other hand, there are always a few who like the idea and might be MORE likely to buy the knife with a signature. Lots of people just ASSUME that a knife with a signature is worth more.

My guess is that it doesn't make any difference on most knives.
 
I thought of the example where a truly valuable baseball card (say a '54 Bowman Willie Mays) loses value if it is signed...seen, as noted above as "scratch",. to mar rather than enhance the card. At best, if you think to resell it, you have to connect with somebody who thinks that's great. With that thinking carrying over into knives, I wouldn't do it. The "logo" the maker uses is enough. I think sometimes the maker signs the sheath, which makes a lot of sense to me. So with a folder, you may get a leather sheath and have that signed, leaving the knife as is - the best of both worlds.
 
I would prefer a sheath, COA or box be signed.

I always thought I was in the minority of having signed blades. :)
 
CJ was at the 2005 NRA convention in Houston and brought 100 119's with NRA cutout and engraved handle.
He singed them.
I think it helps the value, that he was right there signing them. Sarah was with him and I just missed her or would have had her sign them as well.

Its one of the ones in my avatar. Mr. Chuck signed the other NRA one.

So yes, I think it is value added.
 
jb4570 said:
The signature on the knife is a personal thing and the fellow who had them sign their knife has the memory not the guy who may buy the knife at a future re-sale. jb4570
Click to expand...

I never thought of it in this way but agree with you on this. The signature is only a momento for the person who experienced the meeting and that momento is meaningless to a future owner of the knife.
 
DeSotoSky said:
I never thought of it in this way but agree with you on this. The signature is only a momento for the person who experienced the meeting and that momento is meaningless to a future owner of the knife.
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Yep,

Chuck signed my Tempest and my daughters Sirus when my wife and I met him at BPS. I use this knife every day and the chuck Buck blade art is just for me!
IMG_2147.jpg

jb4570
 
I will say one of the reasons I bought the GEN-5 w/ a Snakewood handle was because Josh Buck had signed it. Unless I'm able to make it to the Blade Show in Atlanta one year, the chances of my getting them to sign any knives is remote. I don't think anyone will get them to come to the Gator Show in February down here!
 
I understand having a knife signed for you. I would like that, but I see lots of signed knives for sale and those just aren't what I'm looking for in a knife.

I would be proud to own one signed to me personally though. That would be a keeper!! :thumbup:
 
I have had more signatures taken off of knives, than put on. I think the signature lowers the value especially if the person who signs the piece wasn't involved in the making of the knife. Again, if you have an experience having a knife signed and you have no intention on ever getting rid of the knife, it's personal and a memory you can keep. But value is definitely effected.
 
Whenever I come across a knife on auction, if it's got hen scratching on the blade, I'm gone...Don't like it at all...
that being said, if I personally met the man and had an EDC knife signed, that would be different. It would be a personal momento, and treasured...
 
On a somewhat similar note: My pet peeve is knife manglers who are so proud of their work that they make their mark into a huge and ostentatious billboard on the knife.

Yes, you are an artist.........leave your mark......but do it with some class. Make a small footprint. Don't make it an advertising campaign. Good grief!

:)
 
I suppose it's time for a minority response. I collect Buck knives and have as many as possible signed by Chuck. I don't collect them for future value, but for my own enjoyment. I don't collect a "theme" unless you would call collecting "what I like" as a theme. The signature of "Chuck Buck" on the blade, is to me the same as an artist signing his painting or a potter signing his vase. I gave each of my twin sons a 113 for their birthday, and since I have most of my collectables signed, they have asked if I could send them to Buck for Chuck to sign. They will go to Post Falls with my WBC Prickly Pear and my Damascus Paradigm for signatures as soon as I receive the Paradigm.

To each his own said the lady as she kissed the pig.

wildbillw
Life Member#1341
 
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I have quite a few signed knives. Most have both C.J and Chuck signatures.

I also have several that aren't signed.

I sent a custom 110 to my old mechanic in Carson City. Blade was signed by C.J. & Chuck. I expected him to use it. When I talked to him a few months later, he said "Use it? No way! I'm passing that collector's piece on to my grandson."

My EDC Vantage is signed. The backup for it is unsigned.

When Chuck went in for heart surgery, I thought about the knives with his signature . . . and decided those would not be for sale. It may not boost the value of those blades, but I didn't buy them with that in mind.

An autograph may not be for everyone, but I'm happy I have the ones I've got.

 
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Yeah, how you feel about this probably has to do with how sentimental you are.

When it comes to knives, I'm not.

I do have a book signed by Chuck. It works for books.....they're usually worth more with a signature of the author.

The book signature is neatly tucked away inside.......not scrawled across the cover, thus spoiling the looks of the book like the blade signatures spoil the look of the knife.

I'm not sure how that works in this case since he's not the author.

:D

Complicated.
 
Awhile back I went on the hunt for a Desert Ironwood AG110.I started with the main web page and called the retailer,they're response was they were long sold out.Knowing how big companies don't always know what may be in back on a shelf in one of the many stores,I took to the phone and made some calls to stores around the country.Well it paid off and I found one back east.The clerk called me back and said I have one but you may not want it.Why so I asked?He went on to explain that this one had a blade that was signed by Chuck and I think C.J. at the grand opening of the store,so if I still wanted the knife he would sell it to me at a substantial discount.I guess to a retailer the sigs made it worth less,so there you go.To me it was a huge plus because this knife will hopefully be handed down when I'm long gone.I'm not what I consider a true collector,just a guy that loves quality knives and has the utmost respect for the Buck family and the values they represent.BTW,I got one heck of a deal!:):D:):D
 
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