The Blade Show-A LOT of Overpriced Customs

great thread.... This was my first Blade Show since 1999 and what a great time it was.

My view is that the market will eventually equalize, if knives are truly "overpriced" than eventually the prices will come back down. Heck I dont know whats overpriced or underpriced any more. Im just happy to be back in the shop making knives.

Leatherbird- Fikes wasnt there, although I almost had him convinced to attend.
 
RMLamey said:
Leatherbird- Fikes wasnt there, although I almost had him convinced to attend.
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Matt,
Thanks!
IIRC,you have a new shop now.Congrats. :cool:

Doug:)
 
...I did well at the show. I had over twenty knives on my table, ranging in price from $295 to $1200. What is interesting is that the least expensive knife I sold was $650. All of the others were in the $1000 + range.

I am very much aware that what I make appeals to only a small segment of the knife market, and that I will never be the "flavor of the month." Yet, my sales, except for two knives, all went to new customers, and I infer that the prices for the perceived value were a non-issue.
 
" How do you know when you are paying the correct amount-not too much or too little-for a handmade knife? BLADE went to the people who sell knives for a living-the purveyors-for the answer."

This is the first paragraph of an article by Steve Shackleford entitled "The Magic Price for handmades" They broke handforged blades into two categories $250-$350 and $1,000-$2,000. They self-admittedly, at the end of the article said that prices could and do, change in a flash. Quoted were Les Robertson, Larry Brahms of BladeArt, and Neil Ostroff.

In the $250.00-$300.00 range was Dan Farr, Brett Gatlin, Jason Howell, Jason Knight, Sean McIntyre and Terry Primos. These were for low end (I read hunter) pieces. Jason Knight was mentioned a bunch of times, and can be held up as a hallmark of QPR, I don't believe that any of the 10 knives that he exhibited at the show were over $1,000 (actually one was over=$2,500, but Jason has only made 3 or 4 in that style, and it sold as well) I think the average was around $700, which is a fair price for a top quality fighter/bowie, from someone who skipped testing for MS so he could concentrate on making more quality knives.

Tactical folders were mentioned in this article, prices starting around $400-$450 for Kit Carson, Pat Crawford, Allen Elishewitz, Ernest Emerson, Greg Lightfoot, Ken Onion, Darrel Ralph, John W. Smith, Bob Terzuola, and others.

You can get a great knife from John W. Smith, Bob T. or Allen E. for $450-$500 depending on what is on it, and how ornate it is, but you can say that about anyone's knives.

If you look hard enough you can find some great deals on knives, even at shows, but you HAVE got to know what you are looking at when you see it.

A Sebenza is a great knife, I own two, and have carried one for a year, same with Microtech Socoms. Jason Knight did, however, cut a Sebenza blade in half with one of his hand forged knives with only, (so is quoted) "minor damage" to the cutting knife.

I enjoyed carrying my Crawford Leopard and Kit Carson small model 4 a lot more. The knives all performed well, and carried well, but when you get down to it, it is nice to know the face of the person who made your knife. You can't always do that with Chris Reeve or Tony, because 4 or 5 people might have been involved with making that knife.

To disagree with Kevin, I never forget what I pay for a knife, because I write it down on a data sheet, I keep one for each custom knife that I own. What he is correct about is that it doesn't matter depending on the piece. I own a Fogg bowie that is priceless to me, same for a Cashen Bowie and a Pendray Bowie. These are knives that are truly "museum quality", and I own them. That is the thrill of ownership.

The part that could potentially be a big bummer, and bust the balloon, is if I owned Joe NoNameski knives, and paid over $1,000 and wanted to sell them to finance my sex change operation, and Les Robertson offered me $200.00 for all of them, and acted like he was doing me a favor!:D That can happen if you don't buy right!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
For $200, you only get the first half of the sex change operation. It's bound to be very frustrating...

Would love to see a pic of your Fogg bowie one day (not to mention the rest of your collection...)
 
Kohai999 said:
I own a Fogg bowie that is priceless to me, same for a Cashen Bowie and a Pendray Bowie. These are knives that are truly "museum quality", and I own them. That is the thrill of ownership.

STeven Garsson
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I'd love to see the Cashen. He had a nice spread at Blade. I wish I had brought a camera.
 
He had a nice spread at Blade.

That is a table I missed, sadly, as Kevin always has great knives that are great values.
I think he must have been late in setting up.
 
Joss said:
For $200, you only get the first half of the sex change operation. It's bound to be very frustrating...

Would love to see a pic of your Fogg bowie one day (not to mention the rest of your collection...)
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It is the Clouds Bowie, and worth every cent that I paid Peter for it! Don has it on his site. Come down for the AKI next year, and I will show you every knife that I own. What can I say, my knives are camera shy.;)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Aha... I have its near twin brother, the Shoal bowie. Those two were clearly separated at birth.
 
just thought I'd add my 0.02


The term we knifemakers use is "paying your dues".


Some makers (myself included) are still paying their dues. I purposely lower my prices to help "get my stuff out there". I don't intend to raise prices...rather, I hope to become more efficient. Price-raising belongs on the secondary market with collectible materials, etc.


Anyway, I know a few makers who showed at the Blade Show and did not sell much because of being overpriced. One had only been making a short time and was just starting to pay his dues...the other had knives that looked exactly like everyone else's...(no "personal touch") Then there's my buddy Tom Krein who had an awesome show. He's paid his dues, has perfect grinds and a loyal customer base. He hasn't raised prices for 4 years...but probably will have to now just to "catch up"...adjust for inflation, shop fees, etc.

Also, a few other makers I talked to managed to sell out at the show because demand for their work is intense, regardless of price.

It's all economics....supply and demand, IMHO.
 
...for what it's worth...



...I did well at the show. I had over twenty knives on my table, ranging in price from $295 to $1200. What is interesting is that the least expensive knife I sold was $650. All of the others were in the $1000 + range.

I am very much aware that what I make appeals to only a small segment of the knife market, and that I will never be the "flavor of the month." Yet, my sales, except for two knives, all went to new customers, and I infer that the prices for the perceived value were a non-issue
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I saw your table and although I do not collect your style/type of knife, I would have to say they were very well made indeed. I was also impressed with the sheer number of knives and remember thinking you were well prepared for the "big show".
 
It is very important to be reminded of the first three words of this post. "In my opinion." There is a lot more competion for the small number of collectors in this craft. Economically speaking when there is such an increase in supply and a stagnation in demand there is typically an increase in price before the attriton comes crashing down. We will most likely see more and more makers going back to their "crappy" jobs unless we can establish an increse in demand. That being said, I do not think it is cool to state opinions that so and so is charging too much for this or so and so is a second rate MS, name the names like you do on the ones you feel are good values. Otherwise it appears that you are here to promote the ones you want to promote maybe to flip their work to turn a dime. And keep in mind that many collectors do not collect thing with investment purposes in mind. This is what T bills are for. In the world of handmade art this stuff is dirt cheap. Look at what some of the glass artist charge for something they spit out in a 1/2 hour. In my opinion a lot of the increse can be blamed on dealers. They are the ones establishing inflated markets to cover the 30%-50% mark up they need to stay in business.

If this keeps up I may be forced to come to some of your workplaces and point out overpaid piss poor jobs.
 
Hi Sanchez,

You wrote: "In my opinion a lot of the increse can be blamed on dealers. They are the ones establishing inflated markets to cover the 30%-50% mark up they need to stay in business."

You were quick to chastize those who were giving negative opinions of makers without the names. Then a couple sentences later you wrote the sentence above.

Which dealers, which markets, which knives and which makers are you referring to?

Everything in this thread goes back to basic rules of sales:

1) An item is only worth what someone will pay for it.

2) You don't ask....you don't get.

If you think a maker is charging to much for the knife....don't buy it.

There are several new makers showing up every year doing exceptional work at bargain prices. Seek them out, put some time and effort into your hobby. Who knows you might find the next Loveless or Moran.

WWG
 
Great thread, some very interesting coments. As others have said, the market will generally sort out the pricing levels. Although there will always be exceptions to the rule.
I think most makers, especially those that travel conciderable distances, veiw shows as the best way to get their knives seen by the buying public. More like advertising than a sure way of selling everything on hand. And as a bonus you get to be surrounded by knife fanatics like yourself. A great way to spend a weekend, but for a lot of makers, not always financially successful.

Doug
 
Mr. Lombardo , Thank's for your kind word's .This is great feedback that knifemaker's can use as a building block for the future.
 
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