Refurbishing a handmade/custom made knife?

3

3nails

Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
392
Ok, you buy the custom made knife of your dreams with the intent to use it. When it arrives it is just toooooo awsome/beautiful to use so you admire it and put it away. Finally the preasure is to much and you breakdown and use it, cut some package,fruit,whittle,maybe even field dress a kill with it. The knife is now used with some marks and maybe even some stains on it. You want it back to that fresh new look it had when you first got it so you send it back to the maker who makes it like brand new.

How does this affect the value of the knife? Can a refurbished knife be worth as much as when it was new?


Thank You for your imput...
Dean
 
Yes it can be worth just as much but integrity dictates that you let the buyer know it was was refurbed IMO.
 
Agree with the above but also wanted to add that before refurbishing the knife, contact the maker to see what method they suggest using to do so. Many makers include 'care and feeding, and try to avoid prying off hubcaps' information with the knife when it is sold.

How easy your job will be depends alot on the origional blade finish.
A knife that is used will age, but can be made to age gracefully.

edited...
I just reread your origional post, and apparently mis-read it the first time. It doesn't really apply to your question, but I'll leave it there anyway. Sorry about that.:)
 
I would have trouble buying a refurbed knife for $X if I could by one brand new and never used for $X. That woudn't make any sense to me.

I don't know how much of a discount I would want from the seller of a refurbed knife, though.
 
Originally posted by RWS
I would have trouble buying a refurbed knife for $X if I could by one brand new and never used for $X. That woudn't make any sense to me...
Click to expand...

If the wait list is long enough for a brand new, from-the-maker knife, folks will easily pay $X + $$ for that refurbed knife.
 
Originally posted by Architect
If the wait list is long enough for a brand new, from-the-maker knife, folks will easily pay $X + $$ for that refurbed knife.
Click to expand...

Maybe your right.

I didn't read the post correctly to begin with. Basically, The real question is, can you recover your original investment after refurbishment. I originally thought it was asking if a refurbed knife could be worth as much as a new one.

If there has been an increase in selling price by the maker since the time you bought it, then I think definitely you could recover your original investment after refurbishment. For example, If you originally paid $400 and now they are selling for $550 from the maker, sure you could get your money back, IMO.
Could you get $550, the maker's current asking price? Unless there was a substantially long long wait and the maker was truly a superstar in the industry, I know I wouldn't pay it.
 
A lot of good points. One of the main reasons that I posted this question is that I'm watching an Ed Fowler sell on ebay. The seller states that the knife was refurbed by Ed. In the class of collecting old slipjoints (not customs) a cleaned knife goes for alot less. With custom knives, in the makers hands, the knife can be brought back to fresh or near fresh condition without obvious harm to the knife. Therefor the knife seems to retain most if not all of it's value.

RWS,
I agree that if I could buy a new knife and get it in quick time then I would go for new. However, as has been pointed out some knives have a several year waiting list and getting one can be very hard.

I guess a big factor is how popular the maker is and how well his/her knives sell on the aftermarket.


Thanks Dean
 
Hi fellas,
I don't want people to be afraid to use one of my knives. Some knives are obviously presentation pieces that will never be used for anything more than opening mail or cleaning fingernails. For the rest, I encourage the buyer to carry and use the knife. If he or she decides to retire the knife, I will gladly put it back to its original condition. For dealers who are selling one of my knives that they got through trades or whatever, I don't mind cleaning them up. I would much rather have a fresh knife representing my work.
Also, I don't think you can put a custom knife refurbished by the maker in the same category as an antique Case knife or Colt revolver. I expect them to retain their value. And if you would rather have a brand new knife, just give me a call.:D
JP
 
Well said John.

This one went to owner number 3 at todays market plus engraveing cost.
I cleaned it up between owners 2 and 3, and replaced a few screws etc.

The bolster work was done by a man in SanAntonio TX for owner # 2. If any of you are thinking of haveing something engraved, his name is Foster. The central Texas Custom Makers will likely have a better handle on the contact info for him.

Pete

Guess I didn't get it all in a bag the first time.
 
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