Suggestions for "Investment" Knife

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mobenzowner

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Oct 17, 2010
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I would like opinions on what the more experienced hardcore knife afficianados would recommend for a knife that would be good to buy & hold for price appreciation. I not talking for a buy & quick turn as I really dont want to knock someone out of a deal that would be buying the knife for a user. Would it have to be a custom knife? If so what maker? Would it be a sprint run of some sort. The knife that come to mind for me specifically are Sebenza's.
Thanks for the help!
 
I'm not sure that there are many knives that would be "investment" worthy.

The great majority of time you would lose money in the resale. There are a few exceptions, but those are high-end one of a time customs by famous makers: some of Chris Reeve's customs would probably fetch a higher-price in the future, and Ron Lake's pieces would also probably increase in value. These knives, however, are probably in the upper four to five digit range.

Some of Spyderco's sprint runs have increased in value as well, but, as in anything, the price will be determined by how much desire there is for the knife.
 
Some Busse kin can be sold for more than they were new. Right after the production run is over, some start being sold with a markup. The Swamp Rat Waki's are now being sold for $450, no sheath. I've seen a Busse Gladius range from $900-$2000.
I'm sure there are other customs that will fetch even more, but you could have a limited intrest in some exotics.
 
If you can find a way to get a Hinderer for MSRP ($385) those routinely sell on the "E" site for upwards of $750 and that's now. 5-10-15 years from now... who knows.
 
Hinderer knives seem to be a safe bet, as the market price is higher than Rick's direct price.
 
looks like Hinderer might be a good way to go. I have been keeping and eye on his work. Can those be ordered direct from Rick? Which model would you suggest?
 
Spyderco has a very devoted fan base that will pay for rare specimens. Some will even pay hundreds for old unopened catalogs. If you buy some recently discontinued items at discount price or get a bunch of sprint runs and wait, you'll be able to sell it for more later.
 
Just buy Spyderco sprint runs. They seem to go up. Old style Victorinox alox as well.
 
mobenzowner said:
I would like opinions on what the more experienced hardcore knife afficianados would recommend for a knife that would be good to buy & hold for price appreciation. I not talking for a buy & quick turn as I really dont want to knock someone out of a deal that would be buying the knife for a user. Would it have to be a custom knife? If so what maker? Would it be a sprint run of some sort. The knife that come to mind for me specifically are Sebenza's.
Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...

I would look at Spyderco 'sprint' editions, which seem to appreciate better than the equities market does. That said, depending on how old you are and your 'risk tolerance', you are better off paying down your mortgage, adding to your 401K (I believe you call it), or investing in a well diversified investment fund. Just my opinion.
 
Maybe not really high-end knives, however their special/limited editions are widely appreciated and very sought after by some collectors.

The 125th anniversary editions are still easy to find and some are already worth a couple more dollars than when they came out.
 
I think Emerson customs have the biggest increase from original makers price compared to secondary market price, but you have to win them at the auctions at the knife shows.

Spyderco sprints seem to almost always be worth more after the fact, sometimes regular productions too.

Never really saw knives as a great investment idea though, the market goes all over the place trend wise.
 
mobenzowner said:
looks like Hinderer might be a good way to go. I have been keeping and eye on his work. Can those be ordered direct from Rick? Which model would you suggest?
Click to expand...

Not anymore unless you are Military/LE or First Responder. That's why I mentioned a finding a retailer that will sell for the MSRP of $385. As for recommended piece XM-18 as for length and flipper/non-flipper and color that is personal preference.
 
My take is make your profits elsewhere. I have had up to 80+ knives and half of them were highly regarded and/or Sprint run type knives with never more than 1200 pieces made and I never made a real dime selling them. These types of knives do work well as trade bait or easy sales so you can exchange them for another knife which is always my motive to move knives out anyway. I just like perpetuating this hobby that way. I don't flip knives for any special profit in general.

But I will finish by saying that when you save knives to sell as an investment you also reduce the number of interested buyers too since you are only likely to realize a big profit from any knife from collectors trying to fill a gap in their collection. If you're talking a real nice profit anyway. These may not be the buyers who care about the latest super steel or any other specific element about the knife. If often just comes down to filling a gap in their collection.

If you don't reach out to that crowd then you are really relegated to selling to us regular knife enthusiasts who are more interested in using the knife. And to those of us who fit that mold, we want the super steels or another specific design element about that knife and that is why we might buy it. Problem is, a fair selling price matters much more to most of us when you plan to use the knife and the "super steel" on the knife in question may not be a super steel by the time you want to sell it. New stuff is coming out left and right these days . . . That's why I keep buying . . . I have no intertest in the "super steels' of yesteryear as much as I do in the "super steel's I haven't used yet.
 
Only knife I would buy for the pure sake of an investment would be from Randall Made. They've been selling for 70+ years and have a world-wide collector base.

I'm not saying that they won't hold or go up in value, but Busses, Hinderer, CRK, Spyderco rarities, etc. have not-yet stood the test of time.
 
If you really want an investment, a knife isn't what you want. If you are employed and have access to a 401(k), put the money there. If not, put it in an IRA. You will save 20% or more of your deposit this year in taxes and it will be likely to grow over time.
 
i think knives are a very risky investment if it's a capital gain you're after.

it seems that collectors will pay well for a knife that's been owned by someone famous and if there's a solid provenance to go with it.

i seem to recall a knife owned by Abraham Lincoln sold for a very pretty penny.

for new production knives, you're after rareity and exclusivity in design, materials and production run.
 
yep, my advice is to not invest in knives.

buy them, use them, store them, look at them, enjoy them.
 
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