Results Premier Knife Auction 2009 - what do you think?

Marcel54

Marcel54

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Jul 30, 2005
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I checked out the results of last night auction and I must say it looks like there is still money out there for the right knife. I emphasize the right knife because on the other hand quite a few knives were sold far below their minimum estimate or were passed on.

A couple of very nice Bennica's did really well. "Stars" of the show, at least given their result, were a very very nice Bennica that went for more than twice the maximum estimate and a beautiful Loerchner folder that went for more than 40% over the maximum estimate.

What do you guys think of the results of this auction?

Marcel
 
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Marcel, can you post the relevant link?

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
Marcel, I followed the auction all the way until conclusion, though I missed about 1/4 of the knives because I had to leave for a short period.

Your assessment parallels mine - it seems the right knives sell or excel. And I, too, saw some of those lots that sold well over estimate.

Beyond that, though, it's hard, at least for me, to draw any conclusions about the state of the market, because the auction was only a tiny cross section of the market.
 
I was there, and it was exciting and powerful. A relatively small audience for the amount of knives offered, and if it wasn't currently desireable, you got a super deal or it was passed.

How do you judge 'currently desireable'? (Example only) Well, a Paul Fox folder wouldn't even entertain an opening bid at the $1000 entry lowest point. Paul Fox is not a current collector's target. Many of the bidders went for multiple knives.

In the case of the Bennica with Torcoli engraving, all it takes is two anxious bidders and you have a ratcheting effect. The buyer paid over 25k for a folder that,, without the engraving, was essentially a 5k folder, at best.

I thought the Loerchner 'Wing' folder would go to 20k, although written estimates tapped it at 18k. As it went, there was a single (unknown) collector in the room who simply waited and wanted THAT folder. He went the distance to 23k.

Maybe it was the SharpByCoop photo that was used in the catalog and on the big screen. :) Nahh, it couldn't affect desire. ;)

Coop
 
I don't try to draw too much from this auction for as Bob said, it's much too small a cross section of buyers and they are bidding on so small a sector of the overall custom knife market. Also cost doesn't seem to be much of a factor for some collectors who attend this auction if a piece tickles their fancy.

One thing which I found pretty interesting is that Steve Johnson knives sold in or above their estimated ranges where Loveless knives sold considerably under their estimated ranges.

Here's a link to the knives/results:
http://www.proxibid.com/asp/Catalog.asp?aid=20181
 
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Coop, maybe you can give more info but info I have gotten leads me to believe that most of the knives were obtained by dealers. Tim Herman, Fox, Jim Ence, C Gray Taylor don't seem to have staying power in the secondary market and the passing of Frank Centofante did not cause any movement upward of his knives. Generally, all those mentioned either went below estimate or not at all.

Anyone have info on how the sales at the show were? I understand, at least on Friday, the crowd was sparse. I wonder if the new location was a factor. Did not seem to be a lot of makers in the list of tables and the list was a bit difficult to get a read on the tables as many or most had names twice listed either as individual or as company name.

Any other info would be interesting to hear. i wonder, too, how Blade West did?
 
Kevin Jones said:
I don't try to draw too much from this auction for as Bob said, it's much too small a cross section of buyers and they are bidding on so small a sector of the overall custom knife market. Also cost doesn't seem to be much of a factor for some collectors who attend this auction if a piece tickles their fancy.

One thing which I found pretty interesting is that Steve Johnson knives sold in or above their estimated ranges where Loveless knives sold considerably under their estimated ranges.

Here's a link to the knives/results:
http://www.proxibid.com/asp/Catalog.asp?aid=20181
Click to expand...

Thank you Kevin for the link. I didn't hear about this auction here. Quite interessant indeed. Regarding Loveless knives, it seems to become an actual trend and a relevant illustration : only the right knives reach their estimate, which remain quite high.
 
Thanks for the auction link. I find it extremely educational to see the results, and there were some exceptional knives to view.

Peter
 
Nothing particularly interesting about those auction results. The few really high end, hot makers knives did well. There is no shortage of money for that special
knife, never has been.

Hope someone reports about the show. That's of more interest to us poor folks.
Who sold, who didn't, how were the crowds? Where's STeve when we need him?

Win
 
Glad to learn that Bruce had a good show. From what I hear it was all but absent of forgers this year.
 
thanks for that link, Kevin:thumbup:
It was informative.

I'm very pleased to see Wolfgang kicking some ass. He is a genius.
 
Murray White said:
Coop, maybe you can give more info but info I have gotten leads me to believe that most of the knives were obtained by dealers. Tim Herman, Fox, Jim Ence, C Gray Taylor don't seem to have staying power in the secondary did?
Click to expand...

I know one individual spent over $100,000. The C Gray Taylor knives were some of his earlier work. I saw 2 dealers that purchased knives from him at the AKI then turned around and sold for at least 30% more. Check the dealer pages and see how many of his knives are out there for sale or been snatched up by someone who wants them. As far as Paul Fox was also one of his earlier work. Jim Ence has not been making knives for a while due to ill health. In fact there was a Lake, couple of Walker's, a Osborne, a Kious, a beautiful Larry Fuegen folder that were not sold or passed on.
 
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any update on show attendance or sales?

the show last year was the weekend before the Lehman bankruptcy and the financial meltdown so it would not be a shocker that sales/attendance would be off.

did the moving of the tactical invitational make it a less desirable show?

as far as auction results, they are what they are. in realms where hard data can be elusive, auction results provide valuable insights into the state of a particular market at a particular time.

peoples interpretations of the results are informative as well
 
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