The Blade Show-A LOT of Overpriced Customs

WoodWorkGhost said:
Hi Kevin,

Ok, I get it. Your guarantee on the value of your knives is two weeks.
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Actually, you evidently didn't totally get it. :rolleyes:

I make no guarantee on the value of the knives I make whatsoever, I do guarantee the customer's satisfaction with the knife they purchase and allow them to return the knife if they are dissatisfied. Additionally I guarantee the knife against defects in materials and workmanship for two years and I resharpen any knife I have ever made for free. That's all I am in a position to do.

You did correctly understand that I find my customers to be mature adults who take responsibility for their lives and their decisions. I like that about 'em and it makes doing business a pleasure.

Which knifemker out there gives a written, contractually binding guarantee that the buyer will always be able to recoup their purchase price on the knife they buy? None that I have ever heard of and who would believe them if they did?

One aspect I have always enjoyed about the custom knife world is the lack of retail (Buy one and get one free!!) sales tactics. Consumers are bombarded every day with all the sales pitches, price razzle dazzle and what have you they need and I don't have the feeling they want any more of that from me regarding a knife purchase.

I've never had a bad experience with any knife dealer, only positive experiences, so as I said, I'm not doubting the integrity of any dealer including Les Robertson.


Joss: excellent points and I agree 100% with you.

Wulf: also excellent, I loved the movie quote... that must have been written by an old Ad Man. I used to joke with client's we should run a giant banner headline: "Save 100%!*" then in fine below: "*Don't buy anything"
 
Kohai999 said:
To the right person you THINK you MIGHT be able to turn it at a significant profit, but you should KNOW.

I can relate to the good friends part. I have some knives that I could care less if I sold, as I have said before, some are VERY special to me.
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Bottom line, if I keep the knife forever, I'll be perfectly happy. It is my favorite design from Herman, aside from the Cobra knife, and a one of a kind variant. (longer and thinner, I like the change)

Herman has work in the Smithsonian collection, so I know he won't be forgotten. Knife collectors have a bad short term memory, but the really skilled makers are remembered, even if it is a while down the road.
 
WoodWorkGhost said:
1) Custom knives should only be bought for the pleasure of owning these knives.
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I've been thoroughly enjoying this thread and learning some, too, but thank G-d the above is the only reason I buy custom knives.
 
Kevin Wilkins said:
Additionally I guarantee the knife against defects in materials and workmanship for two years and I resharpen any knife I have ever made for free. That's all I am in a position to do.
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Ummmm, you should be in a position to guarantee against details in materials and workmanship for as long as you are actively making knives, not for a finite period of time.

I EXPECT that if there is something WRONG with the knife, that the maker will fix it. Not guarantee against natural materials........but geez man, if I roll the dice and get a knife from you, who are in Germany, and the knife is boogered for some reason, then I just crapped my money out the window.

Back to the Chris Reeve Knives example, each knife is shipped with a guarantee card that describes the knife - warranty wording reads:

"This knife is guaranteed for life. It is designed for a specific purpose. Should this knife fail after purchase by original user, due to faulty workmanship or materials, such defects will be made good free of cost. The right is reserved to make good such defects either by repair or replacement.

This guarantee does not cover natural materials, incorrect applications, neglect or abuse. Any modifications that are made to the knife after it has left our workshop will void this guarantee."

I find that to be a very reasonable guarantee/warranty-two years is piffle.
I like your designs, BTW.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
"Lifetime" guarantees are prohibited by law here in Germany.

You didnt crap anything out the window, if I send you defective knife, I'll pay the postage to return it.

If you break the knife and need to return it, airmail post will have it to me in a week. I do repairs at once upon receipt and return the knife usualy the same week.

Glad you like the designs!
 
Kevin Wilkins said:
"Lifetime" guarantees are prohibited by law here in Germany.
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Is the case only for products sold within Germany, or for export items as well? I ask this because Henckles, Wusthof and Viking all have a lifetime warranty in Canada and the US. Of course it could be the importer and not the manufacturer that is providing that warranty.
 
Example of superb value:

http://www.burtfoster.com/available/available_01.htm

Full integral Burt Foster 52100 bowie (I already sent my email on this... alea jacta est).

available-01-large.jpg
 
Joss said:
Example of superb value:
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No doubt a superb value, but also passed over by the forged knife cognoscenti in attendance at Blade.

AN OUTSTANDING knife at an excellent price, but, again, it looks FAR too much like a kitchen knife for my tastes.

It is just one of those things. If I had to make it, all my hair would fall out at one time.:D

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
There are a lot of things I really love about that knife. It really flows and has great artistic merit. I would love it if burt could figure out how to forge a double guard in the thing! I really need a Foster knife.
 
A really awesome project would be a forged integral D-guard. Although it would be very difficult, I suspect that some of the many excellent smiths could do it after a good deal of research & trials. One day I think I'll attempt that. :foot:
 
Joss said:
A really awesome project would be a forged integral D-guard. Although it would be very difficult, I suspect that some of the many excellent smiths could do it after a good deal of research & trials. One day I think I'll attempt that. :foot:
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Joss, get ready to empty your bank account for that one. It would be an immense amount of work.
 
Stephen--I want one of those $300-$500 thumbprint daggers by Bob Papp. Gee he was asking more than that when he used to do CKCC shows in the early to mid '80's. If I find one in that range, I'll grab it quick and be thrilled. However, I'll not hold my breath so please hurry and let me know where one is. I even promise not to sell it for double.

Then again if I didn't do that I would not be a knife investor but just, as I am, a simple old knife collector, who probably has a slew of knives that won't make any $, some that will make a bunch of $ and maybe a few that will lose some $ and seldom find any that if kept for 25 years will ever make a return that would be available from a reasonable CD or GIC. But what the heck, my retirement investments allow me to collect what I like and have a good time with them enjoying not only the knives but the friends and fellow knife knuts at shows an on the forums.

Just a fella that knows squat about knives but trying to learn.
 
Joss said:
A really awesome project would be a forged integral D-guard. Although it would be very difficult, I suspect that some of the many excellent smiths could do it after a good deal of research & trials. One day I think I'll attempt that. :foot:
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The logisitics of having a wide, flat D-guard would be tough, but that would be a cool knife!
 
A really awesome project would be a forged integral D-guard. Although it would be very difficult, I suspect that some of the many excellent smiths could do it after a good deal of research & trials. One day I think I'll attempt that.
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I'm not sure because the pic isn't conclusive but it looks like this has been done. Go to the Ronald Best/Jere Davidson knife on page 133of Knives 2006 and look for yourself.

Marcel
 
Murray White said:
Stephen--I want one of those $300-$500 thumbprint daggers by Bob Papp. Gee he was asking more than that when he used to do CKCC shows in the early to mid '80's. If I find one in that range, I'll grab it quick and be thrilled. However, I'll not hold my breath so please hurry and let me know where one is. I even promise not to sell it for double.


Just a fella that knows squat about knives but trying to learn.
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If you want one for the "I want one now" price, Les has a stag handled one on his site for $825.

If you can do with "just" a dagger, Nordic Knives has one for $450.

I am sure both of these knives are being sold for a profit.:)

Murray, you know as much as anyone about knives, the point of the thread was to talk about "what is good value at Blade", and it went off from there.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
If you want one for the "I want one now" price, Les has a stag handled one on his site for $825.
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I didn't even see that when I was looking for pictures of his work. Looks like a very nice knife, but some things don't seem quite right. First, the thumb depression doesn't look to be very deep. There isn't a spine shot, but from the looks of the grinds I would assume the steel isn't very thick. Some people don't seem to like the super thick steel used on the Schneider fighter, but it makes for a super deep hollow grind that I love. Also, it looks the the bolsters should be holding in the stag, but the stag is still pinned in. Don't care for the pins myself.

I know I'd really have to see one in person to tell for sure, but from the pictures I'd say that isn't a knife for me. On the other hand, if the craftsmanship is that nice, it is a deal.
 
Steven Roos said:
First, the thumb depression doesn't look to be very deep. There isn't a spine shot, but from the looks of the grinds I would assume the steel isn't very thick. Some people don't seem to like the super thick steel used on the Schneider fighter, but it makes for a super deep hollow grind that I love. Also, it looks the the bolsters should be holding in the stag, but the stag is still pinned in. Don't care for the pins myself.

I know I'd really have to see one in person to tell for sure, but from the pictures I'd say that isn't a knife for me. On the other hand, if the craftsmanship is that nice, it is a deal.
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1. The thumb depressions are fairly deep.
2. If I recall correctly, the stock on these runs 3/16" thick. The hollows are not super deep. The super thick steel on the Schneider fighter is a waste of a lot of steel, to produce those grinds, and is VERY circa 1986.
3. The bolsters are dovetailed. If your bolsters are dovetailed and the stag is glue, you have what is called a "chemical bond." I demand at least one pin in handle materials for a "mechanical bond". It increases retention of the scales to the tang.

If you infer from what I write that I don't care for Herman's work, that is not the case. I also TRULY understand your love for a single knife, although I don't share it. I love MANY of my knives. The point of the initial post was about VALUE/QPR, presented by a collector/investor in relation to the Blade Show. I am a collector/investor, and I care about the resale value of ALL of my knives, even if I have no immediate plans to sell them.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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