Serial Numbers or Your name on knife?

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Which has more value to you? A low serial number on your knife or having your name engraved on your knife?

Examples:
1. Limited edition Elishewitz Diablo - small number made and serial numbered.

2. Scagel knives - having a specific owner's name engraved on the blade.

Once you've declared your choice, how do you justify your decision?



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Harry

Toujours l'audacite!
 
Serial Numbers for sure! Not always lowest numbers are worth the most either.
Number 1 and usually the last number of a serial numbered knife are the most valuable to a collector. Such as: If only 20 were serial numbered, #1 & #20 would be worth the most, first and last! Two, if you have something special added to the serial number to signafy it's uniqueness, that makes it even more desireable to a collector, especially down the road.
For example: My DR XL Apogee's were numbered #19S and #20S. 20 being the last to be numbered and S = special twin set.

Course with all serial numbered knives, most of the time they will be worth more than non serialed knives in that pattern or model!

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" Knife Collectors Are Sharp People - Most of the time that is! "
 
Actually, neither.

A true custom is one of a kind, and doesn't need a serial number or other "personal" identifier. If I commission a custom, my personal "mark" is in the design. I'll know it if I see it, and the maker will know it if he sees it.

I don't mind the maker numbering all of his pieces, to later identify them to himself or a future customer, but again, I don't take any value from this practice. I don't mind seeing that my knife is the 107th that the maker has ever made, but if it's the 107th out of 200 of the same knife, it only tells me that there are 199 other knives out there that are pretty much just like mine.

If I buy a production or series knife that happens to have a serial number, it's because I liked the knife, not because I can envision any sort of special value owing to a particular identifier. True, I get a kick out of very low numbers, or numbers with a lot of zeroes, or repeated digits (333, etc.); and also true, I like the matching numbers on my Spyders. But these things are for grins - ultimately I see no "worth" in the numbers, and would be just as happy to get the knife bare.

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AKTI Member #A000832

"Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes, the bear eats you."
 
Brian is sort of right when it comes to a custom one of a kind! Of course that will be worth a whole heck of alot more than most serial numbered knives. Heck, if there is only one, you could just about put your own price on it. Remember what was taught in school: SUPPLY & DEMAND!
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Mark
AKTI Member #A000003

 
Serial numbers have a value to collectors of limited edition knives.A name engraved on a knife may ad value depending on circumstances like a way to date it,or some historical implications.If some one famous owned it,then that to would have value.If I get a custom with my name engraved on it,I doubt it would ad any value down the road,if anything it would possibly authenticate the timeperiod and piece as being an original.Well thats my take on the subject.Ralph
 
I guess I forgot to answer the main question.What has more value to me.A serial number or my name.A serial number for me personally.One reason is that if I sell the knife,not to many people are going to want to have Ralph written on their knife.Secondly,I may not want that blade to have an identifying mark on it that leads to me owning it.This is not to insinuate any seedy ideas I have for a knives use,I just don't always like airing my personal information.Just like I would never put my name on my license plate.Ralph
 
I have always thought that a serial number was a nice touch. Also I prefer the makers mark or name to be tasteful and not cover the entire blade. I don't want to carry a billboard for the maker. I think Kit Carson's knives are perfect but then again you don't have to see his name to know it is his. Another nice touch is when the maker includes a certificate listing material, date made, etc. I know I will remember, but I want to make sure who ever gets it after I'm gone has a record. Hell, they don't deserve it, I'll take them with me!
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It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Terrill Hoffman Knife Photography http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=243110
 
I personally don't really care for a name on a knife, and serial numbers don't mean too much to me either. Sometimes I wonder if I'm in the right place, as I don't really collect knives. Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything agains it, just don't do it myself. My main thrust is a good all around user. Although I think I'm going to have my name engraved on my Sebenza....but then it won't be worth much to anyone but me, and my son when he is old enough
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Brandon

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I've got the schizophrenic blues
No I don't
Yes I do...
 
I think a serial number might be nice, so that if the knife ever had a new owner (personally, I would almost never sell a custom knife, but I might give one as a gift), that owner would have a way to identify the knife to the maker to find out more info. Of course, this only works if the maker keeps info based on serial numbers. Generally, my reasoning for paying so much more for a custom than a production knife is that it will be customized to my specifications, with the makers artistry (like asking a painter to paint a picture of a certain vista, but leaving the actual execution of the painting to the painter), so I have little interest in knives that are part of a 'set.'

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
I'll give my 2 cents worth on this. To me, serial no. OR my name is equally valuable. It's because the knife with a serial number that I have specifically chosen(yes, i do that!)always bares a significant meaning to me. Ie; Birth date, favourite no. or as a chinese, the No.8 is very popular. It has the same pronounciation of prosperity in Cantonese. So the knife that bears the No.8 will hopefuly bring luck to me.

My name on the knife? Well, only if the knife is custom made to my design or at the very least; my specification. What good is the name on the knife if you contributed nothing to it? Just my MHO.....
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ERIC WONG.
 
My personal opinion is that serial numbers are worthless unless the maker provides lists of who got what to collectors to reference this information. The other reason is that I am not a serial number, I am a person.

I favour having my name on my knives where possible to indicate my ownership. Having the maker's name or initials on the left side and my name on the right side suits me to a T. The Scagel approach is also nice.



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Harry

Toujours l'audacite!
 
On putting your name on knives..... if you bought one, then somehow you were searched, imagine trying to explain to an LEO why your knife had someone elses name engraved into it
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The beast we are, lest the beast we become.
 
Here, let me explain further.

Kozak quote- "The other reason is that I am not a serial number, I am a person."

True that no one wants to be identified as an "In-mate" but then again, birth date and all other formal documents would be meaningless if not for numbers. If you have a set/sets of knives that has matching serial numbers, it makes more sense. OR like I have stated; birth dates or lucky numbers that have significant meanings ONLY to you. It's a private satisfaction, BTW, no one calls you by your birthdate nor do they reconise you with it. Other than that IMHO, serial numbers are used as marketing tools to lure collectors into a buying frenzy. NO PUN intended but let's face it, it's true isn't it?

LEOs? Why would you want to sell the knife that you like SO much that you've PERMANENTLY engraved your name on it? And why would anyone buy a knife from with SOMEONE else’s name on it? Other than the maker's or the designer's name, it's worthless to others. By the way, it would be smarter to have engraves like "Design by Paul" rather than "Paul's", like kids in Kindergarten would tag their belongings just incase if they lose it.


[This message has been edited by keninshiro (edited 05-11-2000).]

[This message has been edited by keninshiro (edited 05-11-2000).]
 
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