pricing question?

T

thewerewolf

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Jan 4, 2006
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Hello there, I am currently working on making 6 wsk (tracker) knives. They will be made of L6 steel and look just like the Linger version. 3 of them have titanium coating and three have black epoxy. These knives will be awesome!:D Anyway, I was wondering what you guys think I should sell them for. I may be a rookie maker, but they are top of the line. Seeing as the lesser TOPS version is a few hundred, one made with better materials and attributes ( in my opinion) should be higher priced? What do you thinks.
 
The obvious answer would be As much as you can get for them. The realistic answer is not so clear cut. Much depends on what your reputation is in the knife comsumer world as a whole. Have you made/distributed enough knives so that people are familar with them and you? Have you received good reports back from those who own your work? Have you had your face out there at knife shows so the public knows who you are? Lots of questions, none with exacting answers. The truth is that you can ask whatever you wish for your work. If it doesn't sell, then that's an indication that the price is too high. If they sell too quickly, the price MAY be too low. There are so many factors that go into selling a knife....I've been at it for over 20 years and still get wrapped around the axle when it comes time to price stuff.
 
I can't give you a clear answer either but what I did and still do is figure out your costs to make the knife - steel, handle, other materials, belt wear, shop consumables (I estimate) etc.. Then figure out how long it took you to make the knife also decide on an hourly rate that works for you. Add it all up and you've got a price to start with. Now if it is taking you a long time because you are new to knifemaking then maybe the number of hours isn't fair and you have to lower that part of your price..

When I got started I wasn't selling any knife for what that all added up to partially because I was slower than I am now but also because my name wasn't out there. After doing shows, advertising, etc. I am now more able to charge what it costs me to make including labour.

This is just me though, you do what you feel is right for the knife. You could ask a local more experienced maker to take a look at them before promoting them.

Good luck, pricing is a real pain in the butt.

Sean
 
ED took the words out of my mouth
you have a good attitude I hope it stays that way as time goes on..:)
if we could get loveless prices starting out that would be great BUT.
the so called dues are at bay for most..

you can say they are top notch but who knows this but you right now..?
if they are,you'll want to make sure of what you say is true
, bad advertisement is not good advertisement in this bis.. if they are you'll do ok but don't price yourself so you can't sell your knives, some guys give them away to start word of month going..and some guys studying under the right guys start out at $1500.00 for their first knife, yes it's happened,
I'm not sure what the 2nd one went for :confused: :) good luck:thumbup:
let us know how you make out..

edited to add
looking at your profile one might wonder who you are too? if you want your name out you are starting out in the wrong direction so far.. JMHO who are you?

Join Date: 01-04-2006
PostsTotal Posts: 10 (0.18 posts per day)
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pricing question?
Today 03:42 PM
 
Also, before you get caught up in the idea that a better knife is worth more than a lessor knife, you should consider what it is that in fact makes Tops knives "good". Obviously as far as the creation of a sharp bit of metal is concerned, if it was made in china and imported at say a cold steel quality level, it might be 5 or 10 bucks, so what are they selling that makes it worth 300 dollars?

Well they are entitile to the name, the have Brown's support; they do advertising which establishes them in the market and supports resale; They have a brand, which makes them instantly recognizable; they are likely to be around for some time to follow up on warantes or provide replacement or ancilary products. I'm sure one could add to this list.

In other words, the real value of the knife they are selling might be 30 bucks, or 50 bucks, maybe 100 bucks, though that seems way out of line. So if they are charging 300, there is added value there that anyone simply copying the knife can't provide unless they have their own, equal value proposition. On that basis is the real bottom line price you are up against 6 bucks, 100 bucks, or 300 bucks?
 
it's a bal act with that said above with a lot more to it involved with mass manufacture too.
if you are looking for edge and edge only , it's the steel, H/T, and the grind,
the rest is who's who and why you want it from them..

I can make a knife that will do the job for say $10.00 but it won't be purty:)
and you may have to replace the ele tape from time to time but it will do the
same job, as well as any other I make, there is a lot more to it for sure, if you want it to be.

food for thought

what's worth more
a Tom Brown hand made
or a tom brown pattern made by Tops ?

The tops Tom Brown, is worth more to Tom Brown :) (volume with name on it)

a Tom Brown hand made by him is worth more to you,
(less volume with only his name.)

it gets more involved but that's the jest of it.
 
Thank you very much. I'm really just a lowly college student that likes knives. I will definetally take all of this into account. Secondly, the reason I am not promoting myself is that I really don't have the time to make this a career. Some guys just asked me to make the blades at my leisure so I did. As it turns out, a local guy made some similar knives and sold them at 800 a piece. They went fast, so I'm thinking that $800 may be a fair price. What do you guys think? Thanks Again.
 
Hard to say. I dont think anyone is going to price them but you....People buy production knives so that they dont have to research its fabrication and worry if the maker did his HT correctly, used the right epoxy, etc etc....if you are a rookie maker, that could mean anything! how are you doing your HT? How are you testing these knives? Simply pricing by something that looks similar is not a good method. Most makers could grind somethign that "looks" like anything out there, but that doesnt mean its the same. I could make a knife that might resemble something Ed made, but that doesnt mean I can slap a pricetag similar to his and expect it to sell. If you want a more realistic view of selling prices, I'd check out the makers for sale area and look for makers of a smiliar background using similar materials.
 
thewerewolf...do you have any pics of your knives?? If so, could you post them here or zend them to zenlectroslito@yahoo.com ? I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks for your time. Hope you figure out how you are wanting to sell your pieces. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask by email.-Damion
 
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