"Paying For a Name": Will Contemporary Bladesmiths' Knives Hold their Value as Art or Tools?

My SBT MK1 in 3V keeps climbing in value. One day, when no more will be made, I’m sure it will head somewhere towards mythical status.

That would be due is some part to how great the knife is on its merits, but for the most part, due far more to social media keeping SBT scarcity in the public eye. Potential buyers know exactly what they’ve been missing out on and exactly how long they’d have to wait to save a bit of money.

Not a bad return, (on paper so far), for $225 spent nine years ago.
 
Buy it because you like it and you can. If it happens to be a good investment later, fine.
But don't count on it and you won't be disappointed.
 
😬 Jeez.
Just go for whatever you like. Y'all seem more concerned about labels than Twitter, "What's a woman, get a biologist". You know that feeling a way does not automatically change biology, but folks don't want to conform to XYZ because they look like X. Some of you would definitely be "Begbies" in Trainspotting, if ya know what I'm meaning.

On topic, I think the hype is real, that is at least part of the reason for why perfectly serviceable and pretty antique knives can still be had for cheap. Personally, I'd be interested in some!
 
When an artist dies, his works increase in value because of supply and demand. They didn't suddenly get better.

If you buy a collectible because you expect to sell it at a profit, you are gambling on the greater sucker theory and eventually somebody will pay more than it's worth. Hope he enjoys it for other reasons.
 
Yeah, of course man, I said that's a given - this isn't about judging what you want and can afford, but how this is a very unique space.

And it's rare that I agree with pretty much everything everyone says on such a subjective topic, but I do here.
My point is that this interest is weird in ways I haven't seen elsewhere, and I have had my share of hobbies and interests.

I'm guessing a lot of you collect or at least have an equal fascination with other "hobbies"... this is a strange one.

What is closest to the knife collecting/fascination in other things you are involved in?

I would guess the wristwatch folks have a similar experience? Which is kind of funny to me because I wouldn't spend a dime on a watch. My first love was custom traditional bows and firearms, but knife stuff is WAY stranger in a lot of ways. For one, unless you get into truly high end safari rifles and shotguns, firearms are tame compared with the volatility and prices of knives... And unlike traditional archery people who not willing to pay more than tops about $2k.

This is not about buy what you want to, it's a bizarre market and I have earned that subjective viewpoint from being involved in many, MANY different things.

I personally don't have experience with similar which is really my question. Anything else you do as odd as the knife world?
 
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