Question for collectors?

B . Buxton

B . Buxton

Joined
Jul 8, 2001
Messages
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I see many mastersmiths don't mark their blades with an MS, does it matter to collectors if the MS is on the piece or not. I was just curious if it makes the piece more appealing to the first time buyer to have it marked, and if it would have any effect on the secondary market if the first buyer wanted to sell it.
Just something I've been wondering about.

Thank You,

Bill
 
To me it does not matter, I buy a knife for what I see in it's make up, fit, finish and if it appeals to my eye, not what's stamped on it. I have knives that I have paid only a few dollars to knives 5k plus and like them all.
Other collectors I guess have different views.
 
Personally I like to see a piece of paperwork that describes the knife in detail with all pertinent info like date made, materials used etc....

This can accompany the knife where ever it goes..on the paper you can say when you became a mastersmith and other details about yourself, which of course then tells if blade was made while you were just a beginner or a journeyman or mastersmith....
 
As a long as a maker is consistent in his approach, it's fine either way. Having some MS knives stamped and others not is a situation I would avoid.

I generally prefer to see a knife marked with the JS and MS stamps as it removes doubt as to that aspect of the provenance of the knife further down the road.

I also particularly like the year stamped around the MS designation, such as Tim Hancock, Burt Foster and precious few others do - eg: 20MS10.

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Paperwork can be lost and is absurdly easy to fraudelently replicate. When the knife itself tells you who made it, when, and at what level of accreditation, it is self-authenticating to a great extent.

Roger
 
I prefer the stamp, since it removes any doubt as to the time frame of its creation. I don't make too much hay between JS and MS since there are now just so many talented journeymen, but if I'm buying a knife made by a (then) apprentice or unaffiliated smith, I like to know about it, since I personally view them as less desirable.
 
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B . Buxton said:
I was just curious if it makes the piece more appealing to the first time buyer to have it marked.
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It is nice to see I guess, but it would not make one bit of difference to me as to whether or not I would purchase a knife, or how much I would pay for it.
 
BowieBooster said:
I prefer the stamp, since it removes any doubt as to the time frame of its creation. I don't make too much hay between JS and MS since there are now just so many talented journeymen, but if I'm buying a knife made by a (then) apprentice or unaffiliated smith, I like to know about it, since I personally view them as less desirable.
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Thank you for the comments,
BowieBooster posted exactly what I was wondering.

Bill
 
I don't care if you stamp it or etch it; but, if you're a Mastersmith and you hammer forged it out, I want it marked on the blade.
 
Bill, although I don't get overly concerned about this stamping, others do so I prefer to have it if possible simply to facilitate things for any potential resale. Folks that have no preference will not care if it is marked but those that want the mark will be concerned if it is not. Hopefully, all collectors prefer to have a nice knife that is well made. Heck I knew one collector that would not buy a knife it it did not have #1 stamped on it.
 
Bill..my opinion for what its worth. You have reached that level and the blade should be stamped accordingly.
( I always maintained that your worked was MS caliber long before you were awarded the title.:D)
 
Hi Bill,

The other answers here are all valid.

I'll say that the small MS or JS marks identify you have gone through the learning, training, and successful graduation with the ABS, and long-term commitment to your craft.

To not stamp them as such is an opportunity lost. I would wholeheartedly suggest that (and especially as a Mastersmith) you mark your blades with this identifier.

Unlike the others, however, a date on a blade is certain to be a clear indicator, but it's kind of like leaving a price on a for sale item (Let's face it: Old = old value). It generally helps the buyer, and not necessarily the seller.

This is where others will offer their opinions. ;)

Best,

Coop
 
BURNSY56 said:
Bill..my opinion for what its worth. You have reached that level and the blade should be stamped accordingly.
( I always maintained that your worked was MS caliber long before you were awarded the title.:D)
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Thank you Bill I really appreciate that.

Thank you, to all for your comments and opinions. My reason for this question is because I feel my present mark with the MS is to big for folder blades and since I still have smaller stencils left with just my name - no stamps- I didn't know if I could get by with out ordering a new smaller stencil just for folders. After reading your comments I do believe it to be a wiser move for me to order a new smaller stencil.

Thank you,

Bill
 
As soon as a maker starts stamping JS and MS on their knives, they potentially devalue all of their previous knives. For some makers, that's not an issue, but for a knifemaker with a reputation independent of the JS/MS stamp, that could be a problem for his collectors and thus him.
 
brownshoe said:
As soon as a maker starts stamping JS and MS on their knives, they potentially devalue all of their previous knives. For some makers, that's not an issue, but for a knifemaker with a reputation independent of the JS/MS stamp, that could be a problem for his collectors and thus him.
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I'll agree with you on this. Glad you used the word 'potentially', because it mostly, or at worst, may have a negligible effect.

I say it's important that a maker keep his eyes looking ahead, continue good business practices and promote himself and his work to the maximum. Having done this (and utilizing his earned mark), he has done all in his power to continue demand for his knives.

Coop
 
Bill, I feel ABS makers should mark their knives if for no other reason (which there are others) identifying important milestones for which they should be proud to have achieved.

Have always been intrigued by the potential devaluation of maker's older knives, as this is opposite of some other collectibles.
I would like to see a knife's value stand on it's merit rather than when it's made.

I have mixed feelings on maker's dating their knives. A collector who truly knows his favorite makers work should be able to date an older knife within several years either way.
 
This is beginning to sound like a win/lose situation. I don't know any makers that doesn't welcome and appreciate every sale they get and will try to do whatever it takes to attract and accommodate their customers, yet some customers won't buy unless it has the MS mark and some customers that have supported that maker in the times before obtaining the mark might get upset because it causes knives they bought years earlier to decrease in value, therefore the maker could lose a valued customer. I'm beginning to see why some makers never marked their blades with JS or MS..

But heres another throught, don't you think that obtaining these accomplishments by makers also helps their work stay more attractive in the eyes of collectors, therefore causing their newer marked knives to increase in price which in turn causes their earlier knives to most likely hold value better?

Thanks guys,

Bill
 
Danbo wrote:

I don't care if you stamp it or etch it; but, if you're a Mastersmith and you hammer forged it out, I want it marked on the blade.
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I agree 100%. Why go through all the effort to become a Mastersmith and not use the stamp?

Jim Treacy
 
B . Buxton said:
But heres another thought, don't you think that obtaining these accomplishments by makers also helps their work stay more attractive in the eyes of collectors, therefore causing their newer marked knives to increase in price which in turn causes their earlier knives to most likely hold value better?
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SharpByCoop said:
I say it's important that a maker keep his eyes looking ahead, continue good business practices and promote himself and his work to the maximum. Having done this (and utilizing his earned mark), he has done all in his power to continue demand for his knives.
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I guess I'm being redundant. When I said 'demand for his knives', I was including past work.

Coop
 
If a stamp of MS or JS increases the value of a maker's knives, or if their knives increase in value because of the stamp, then the maker's buyer base is more the "collectible" type of buyer than the "collector" type.

A knife is what it is...the stamp doesn't change that.

Take Sunfish Forge for example. A maker established as a forger before JS/MS attainment, who doesn't put his name on some knives, but still commands good money and provides real value both before and after the JS/MS experience.
 
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