Prototypes

martinr

martinr

Joined
Mar 28, 2008
Messages
315
what are your thoughts regarding the value of a prototype vs. a knife with a serial number. is a knife marked prototype more valuable than a knife with serial #15? if so, why is this the case? obviously there is only one prototype but in terms of the knife being the best it can be wouldn't a later version be more likely to have improvements by the maker? if a prototype is more valuable as a collector piece by what percentage would that be? i am speaking mainly about tactical folders as that is what i'm familiar with and also the kind of knife that sometimes is marked prototype or with a serial number. at a show recently i saw a maker sell the prototype and keep the serial #1 for himself, that is what prompted my question. that and the fact that people selling in the secondary market often note that the knife is a prototype.
 
I am kinda wary of proto marked knives. Since most custom/handmade knives exibit some sorta differences one could argue that they are all protos. Another thing that to me kills the proto status is companies overusing the word. I haven't seen a single BRKT knife that wasn't a 1st production run or a proto. Saw a lot of similar stuff when I worked in the knife industry. I have seen some real prototypes at shows and they looked like real protos. Knives you could see were the first of their kind with new features not seen from that maker/factory. When I can see a knife is a real proto, it would make it more desirable. If it looks like it was merely one pulled off the run and marked "proto" then I dought I would be willing to spend more for the marking.
 
I know what you mean Bill. Case was one of the first to cash in on that Cow! Not so much with them marked proto. But with a lot of special runs. Etching something on the blades on otherwise regular knives and charging higher prices on them. The collectors fell for that one for years. Some still do. Hard to be collectible when there are thousands upon thousands of something out there.

Proto. Knives can be different, or sadly the same. I have seen protos from manufacturers out there that were make in the thousands.

I've seen Proto marked knives from custom makers that were truly one of a kind. Others that were pumping them out by the dozens. Some have been known to make a dozen or so, and claim that each one was the proto. What even more disturbing, is when every knife in a given style is changed a little with each one. And each is then called a proto. by the maker. We are supposed to improve with each knife we make. Its the evolution of the maker. They aren't prototypes at all. There are some very "Big Names out there doing it. It is especially prevalent in the Tactical Knives being offered. And the public falls for it in a big way.

Heck. I've make hundreds of prototypes. But I have never marked a knife as such. That is what a Custom Maker does. We make a lot of one of a kind. Some we or the customers like so well, that we make more of a given type.
some have suggested that I start marking them Prototype. That they would be worth a lot more in the Collectors Market. "Now what is bring all the extra money? Not the knife being the first, because makers are using prototype for the first, (and many times for a few-lot-there after), when we use to mark the first with a #1. I always thought #1 meant #1. Now it can mean what ever.

It is all just another way to pry the money out of a customers hands. Many times way more money.

Most of us custom makers make many knives one at a time, for a individual. There is only one like it. It has gotten to the point, if the maker has a name, that a customer, or collector can send in the knife and the maker can spend a few minutes etching "Prototype" on the blade and it will bring another thousand dollars. Isn't it the same knife it was before the maker turned on the etching machine? Wasn't it already a one of a kind? Beats me!

Seems to me that the makers have learned a little slight of hand from the manufacturers. and the customers are still falling for it!

I think I'll order a 15 dollar Prototype stencil. I could use a raise!!!

Mike
 
I don't think that most tactical custom makers are marking their knives 'prototype' because of a supposed financial desireability. Like Martin mentioned, and Bill supported, models down the line might be that much better.

If the knife turned out to be a HUGE success, then the prototype would be a hallmark. If it didn't, it wouldn't much matter. And.... if the prototype ended up being surpassed by the conventional model in F&F and design, the maker can happily shrug: "Whattdya want? It was a prototype!"

Serial #1 would be my call....

Coop
 
coop, i totally agree with you. serial #1 would be my choice. a high quality tactical folder from one of the best makers that is marked prototype would probably have more value to someone that has a large collection from that particular maker. in terms of quality i don't think there would be much difference but for my money i'll let the maker learn on the prototype and i'll buy #1 or #2 or...........whatever. here is something else to think about. what about a maker that makes a prototype and then only three or four more of that same knife? isn't the prototype really #1? anyway i think mike lovetts got the right idea. mark them all prototype and charge more! ;)
 
Hey Coop! Well i didn't say most. But many are. We do talk you know. It is way more common than you would think. Whats more, I have seen more than one knife marked prototype after several have already been made and sold. Seems if a model is very popular, the maker can cash in by making a knife and mark it prototype. Way after many have already been make and sold of a given model. For the most part, for makers making knives one at a time, not in huge batches and or by CNC, water jut cutting, Laser cutting, EDM, There is really no such thing as a prototype. We call it one of a kind Custom. Prototyping is generally an industrial term. It is done before production runs to get the bugs out. Something to think about. Hint! Hint!;)

Certainly not always, or even most times. But way more than you think!

Mike
 
ok, if makers are saying a knife is a prototype after already selling some of the same model how about a maker putting serial #1 on more than one knife? coop, we could end up with the same knife with the same serial number! then what? send it back and have it marked serial #1A ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top