Probably a stupid question...

Amnesiac

Amnesiac

Joined
Jan 15, 2009
Messages
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I'm going to the East Coast Custom Knife Show in New York next weekend. I've come close to buying my first collector's knives recently but decided I needed to feel more knives in hand first.

So, my stupid question is will their be knives for sale to walk with or do the majority of makers take orders at the show?

I'd assume it's some of both but more order taking than moving actual knives?
 
There are lots of knives for people to purchase at shows. If you are after a knife from one of the hot makers then you will likely come away disappointed, unless you happen to win a draw. However, there will be hundreds of knives on tables just waiting for someone like you to take them home.
 
The only stupid question is the one you don't ask. You will not have a problem spending your money should you choose to do so - of that I am pretty sure. :) Enjoy!

Roger
 
I think I'll be there Friday, short gray beard, big wooden cane.

Say hi if you run into me. :)

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Amnesiac said:
I'm going to the East Coast Custom Knife Show in New York next weekend. I've come close to buying my first collector's knives recently but decided I needed to feel more knives in hand first.

So, my stupid question is will their be knives for sale to walk with or do the majority of makers take orders at the show?

I'd assume it's some of both but more order taking than moving actual knives?
Click to expand...

Actually, a very good question as there's this perception that ALL good knives get bought before or in the first hour of shows. Simply not true.

Even at the BLADE Show there will be excellent examples available late Friday afternoon and Saturday and some good deals on Sunday. As Keith said, there's a handful of super HOT makers who have drawings/lotteries and others who have folks lined up for their knives as soon as the doors open but there's still hundreds of knives by very good makers available to handle and purchase. Actually, if you are a new collector you probably aren't in the market for these ultra hot knives anyway considering their prices.

Now having said that, don't think you can leisurely stroll into a show late Friday and still get pick of the litter. If there's specific makers or knives you are interested in then you need a plan that includes contacting the maker a couple weeks before the show to see what he's going to bring, finding exactly where his table is located, and getting to the show and in line early on day one.

Speaking of plans, going to a show to handle and examine knives and getting to know makers before randomly buying knives is an excellent one. You are already ahead in the game.
 
You will not be Disappointed. You won't know where to start, and actually might be a little overwhelmed. Some people go around the room once and do a quick overlook. Then they go around again taking their time, narrowing down their choices. Then they go around again because sometimes you might have missed a knife that someone was holding. Then they have narrowed their choices down to 2 or 3 knives and they go back an fourth till they finally decide on which one.

It sucks when you go back to buy the one you have decided on and it's been sold.
Time to start over.
 
One thing I've learned over the years is to set a budget and stick to it. Usually, after a big show you'll see knives from the show for sale at a lower price because people over spent. Unless you've got unlimited resources think wisely about what you buy.

ECCKS is a premier show and you'll see some of the best makers and some of their best pieces.

Have fun,
Win
 
Hi Amnesiac,

Two questions:

Are you more interested in folders or fixed blades?

What is your budget?

This will narrow your focus for the ECCKS.
 
Amnesiac -- here is an idea. go to the CKCA site.

www.customknifecollectorsassociation.com then proceed to the Forums. From there proceed to Knife Shows. you will see hundreds of photos of a number of shows including Blade, Guild, AG Russell, Chicago etc with table shots showing knives and lots of closeups of knives for purchase.

Here are some images of knives I purchased at these shows in 2008 direct from the maker and his table.

WC Johnson

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Daniel Warren

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Stan Wilson

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Jerry Corbit

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Jerry Lairson

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Jim Elliot

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Harumi Hirayama

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Karl Anderson

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Kyle Royer

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These are all knives on the tables and not necessarily the first day so take your time, enjoy the show and hopefully you will find something nice to enjoy. Don't feel you have to hit a winner as that takes the fun out of collecting.
 
Hi Murray:

Don't feel you have to hit a winner as that takes the fun out of collecting
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I had to re-read that a couple of times.

I couldn't disagree with you more.

Id be curious to see what the opinion is of those people selling (or trying to sell) their "non-winner" knives at a big loss.

Most collectors do not keep every knife they buy. For many to buy the next knife in their collection they have to sell one. Consistently selling for a loss is not the best way to enhance your collection.

As most of the US Banks and Mortgage lenders how selling at a loss worked out for them. :D

BTW, I really like Bill Johnson's Chute. Nice to see him showing off his skills.

Amnesiac, I do agree with Murray and Kevin is that there will be plenty of very nice knives on the tables on Saturday.

Be leery of "good deals" on Sunday. A maker that will lower their price on Sunday is telling you that their work is considered overpriced by the majority of the collectors. Also, they have no problem in lowering their prices. This of course resets the "actual price" for the knife.

Imagine you were the collector who paid full price on Saturday only to find out a similar knife that you bought sold for $50 less on Sunday.

Yes, the collector will let every one know he got a "deal" on the knife.
 
Murray White said:
Amnesiac -- here is an idea. go to the CKCA site.

www.customknifecollectorsassociation.com then proceed to the Forums. From there proceed to Knife Shows. you will see hundreds of photos of a number of shows including Blade, Guild, AG Russell, Chicago etc with table shots showing knives and lots of closeups of knives for purchase.

Here are some images of knives I purchased at these shows in 2008 direct from the maker and his table.


These are all knives on the tables and not necessarily the first day so take your time, enjoy the show and hopefully you will find something nice to enjoy. Don't feel you have to hit a winner as that takes the fun out of collecting.
Click to expand...

I've been lurking over at that site but I on't see a Knife Shows topic in the Forums. Is that only available to members?

Thanks for your great images.
 
If you are looking for folders up to $900...it is best to do some homework.

Speaking for myself I would want all of my almost $1,000 knives to be winners! :D

The good news is there should be several makers there with what you are looking for.
 
Okay, what are you all referring to as "winners"?

As for homework, I imagine that's a life long process. I do know what is appealing to me. I've been through all of the exhibitors that are listed and looked at work that I can find on-line. I've narrowed that down to about 20 makers I'll be especially interested in.
 
Les -- I don't want this to become another discussion of ROI.

Hey, I have a few knives for sale and maybe they won't make a lot of $ now and that was never the intention. Some collectors make $ on knives and some make a lot and some lose.

A collection should not be the same as investing or saving for retirement or vacation or a new car (which geneerally never has a positive ROI so one should never own one). Most folks that collect don't do so with the idea of creating wealth.

Too often if one just cruises a show and hopes to find the winner will more often never purchase a winner because the search will mean either the knife he may like is gone after he has viewed it or he runs out of show time and may either go home with nothing or just take a chance and try to buy something that might be a winner but may not be a knife he really likes. Buy what you like as if you miss the winner, at least you have a knife you like.

I can look at a few of the knives that I bought and posted and don't expect to make a positive ROI on some of them but that does not mean I don't like the knife and enjoy it daily.

Heck, if I was smarter at getting a great ROI I would have sold my mutual funds in April and be worth a third more than I am today.

Actually, when I think of the knives I first bought 28 years ago, I did not lose $ on any one of them and I had no idea about knives other than the love for them which I still have today and don't want to lose.

Amnesiac can do as he likes and as I have no idea as to his financial status I can't really advise what knife he should buy or whether he should buy one or none.

I merely want him to understand that he will have lots of opportunity to look at fine knives, handle fine knives and meet lots of great knife makers and collectors. Whatever knife he might come home with I hope he enjoys it for as long as he wants to keep it. Hopefully he will not be disappointed if it does not turn out to be a "winner" and if it does he does not believe that all knives are "winners" as either event can lead to future disappointment.

Knives should lead to excitement and joy. No day goes by that I don't go around my home and look at my collection and handle a knife for a short time or many hours and no amount of ROI can make up for that. I hope that Amnesiac can find that same joy.
 
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