The current 'Tactical Custom Folder' market = HOTTEST ever?

I've had a fair number of requests for flippers. Need to make one for a friend and see how I like it...

I can't seem to make enough Tacs', slip joints, bowies, fighters, damascus folders...Might as well through another in the mix! :onthego:
 
it blows me away that I'm seeing folders for sale on the secondary that fetched $800-$1100 5 or 6 years ago, going for $2300- $2500 now.
 
Lorien said:
it blows me away that I'm seeing folders for sale on the secondary that fetched $800-$1100 5 or 6 years ago, going for $2300- $2500 now.
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Try two years....Terzuola, R.J. Martin, Tom Mayo.....

Funny thing is that by any measure, the Seattle Show two weeks ago was a success, and there was very little tactical there...Todd Begg and Matt Diskin.....the bigger dollar stuff there was art knives and kitchen cutlery....both expensive categories...and people were BUYING!!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
As far as I know, Bob Lum, Bob Terzuola and others paved the tactical folder road. They made functional pieces of art. A few of the tacticals I've seen on here and elsewhere, commanding top dollar, just don't inspire that same level of awe in me.

I am one of the collectors venturing into the custom slipjoint market. The multitude of my fixed blades are based in the custom bushcraft using knife market. However, I've only got one custom slipjoint right now, I've owned a few over the past year. I am 34, not rich or poor by any means, and I have talked with many around my age, about custom slipjoints. These men and women buy these knives for using, and usually don't have more than a couple. Funds keep them from having more than a couple, but these are cherished tools. I don't see any bubble bursting in regard to slipjoints. I think customers are there for production slipjoints and the production market directs some to custom slipjoints out of interest in attaining the best tool they can. I sold, traded or gave away all of my tactical folders except for my Chris Reeves, two Benchmades and a few balisongs. Of the very few custom tacticals I've owned, none could come close to the craftmanship of my Sebenzas. Once the production tactical owners go through the ranks, and they make that decision to go for either a Sebenza or a custom, when they get that first taste of a Sebenza, they may stop, like I did.

As for tacticals, I don't think Terzuola or Mayo or any that produce functional pieces of art will have issues with their own sales. As for me, they are starting to all look the same. I have seen some from makers like Ray Laconico that get me excited, but that's about it. I don't think slipjoint custom owners are fading away.
 
Just discovered this particular thread. I want to defend Scurvy092's comments and elaborate, if I might. He can correct me if I'm off-base.

People's brains are wired differently. This is fact. And people, based on their mindsets, react to education (in its broadest sense) in varying ways.

Some people have a finely-tuned sense of detail, and can discern and appreciate small and subtle differences in objects - watches, wine, cars, knives, houses, horses, etc (I could go on and on). They appreciate tight tolerances, fit and finishing, and can discern what we call quality. Others cannot, or they can but elect to pay as little as possible and forgo the more costly, higher quality objects. Take wine: to them, 3 Buck Chuck tastes the same as a $500 1951 Chateau whatever. They have not educated their palate, they lack the palate (brain wiring), or are strictly a price buyer.

This same discussion has occurred innumerable times on car forums, watch forums, cigar forums, and so forth. Many people just do not see the subtleties of quality that command high prices, or see them and think they are not worth the cost.

But some of us have an eye for the mechanical watch, the hand-made knife, and take pleasure in the fine details of stunningly high level fit and finish. And are willing to pay a premium for the pleasure of owning, and fondling, and even using these objects of desire.

Others can barely distinguish the difference between a $15 folder and a Sebenza, Hinderer, or a custom knife. They either lack the capacity, or have not trained their eye to see the subtleties of superb craftsmanship. They see a tool, and why pay more than you have to for differences they can't detect, or can, but don't see the value.

I'm biased, full disclosure, and I will pay a premium for a gorgeously-crafted folder, or watch, or car (I owned a 911 once). This is not criticism of those who want pure function at the lowest cost, and feel that expensive knives, guns, cars, and watches are a waste of money. I get that. But the world is a big place, and there is room for all tastes and budgets.

One final thought. Yes, there are trends in knives, especially in the custom world, and makers that are in vogue command huge premiums for their knives (Rexford, Mayo, Cook). This, too, will pass. As will the flipper, and the cartoonishly fat-bladed "hard-use" knives craze (IMO). Participating in knife forums (fora, to be correct), Youtube, and Instagram can stoke the fire and cause people, especially newbies, to get caught up in knife-buying fever. I was one, so I speak from experience.
 
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Kohai999 said:
Try two years....Terzuola, R.J. Martin, Tom Mayo.....

Funny thing is that by any measure, the Seattle Show two weeks ago was a success, and there was very little tactical there...Todd Begg and Matt Diskin.....the bigger dollar stuff there was art knives and kitchen cutlery....both expensive categories...and people were BUYING!!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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I kick myself sometimes for not squeezing the trigger on one of the Martins I've seen out there back then when they were more affordable. Guy's work floats my boat big time.
 
In a few days I am going to post a limited run of Fires with a special hand ground blade that is going to really turn some heads

And just for my buddy Scurvy the Flipper will finally shows itself just in time for Blade :)
 
Knives directly from R.J. Martin are affordable and if your lucky enough to get picked in the lottery you can make some money or know that you can make some money if you need to.

Custom Slip-joints are are stagnant. I see plenty of them from well known makers sitting on websites. Some of these makers such as Richard Rogers have switched gears and are now making gents liner lock folders with synthetic scales and titanium liners.
 
Four years ago RJ and I were discussing the growing trend. He was upset that others were getting big dollars and he was still stuck in the $650 tactical price point at best, even having won Best Tactical at Blade. His knives met every quality standard. Why not him?

And then things started to change. His desire grew and his aftermarket grew even bigger. One success story for him. :)

Coop
 
SharpByCoop said:
Jim Skelton is a YouTube proponent and reviewer.

I'm more interested in the Instagram marketing. I admit I don't know enough. Educate me on how this works?

Coop
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Instead of posting pictures and threads on a forum you post them on instagram. People who follow you can see what you post, like it and comment on it. If they like you or what you are posting they will tell their followers to follow you.

Dustin Turpin has been a huge success on instagram. He just started posting pictures of him building a strife folder. People caught on and became infatuated with his work, how he builds stuff. Now he had thousands of people following him sung to get their hands on his work.

It asked you direct access to your customer base. No forums, no dealers etc. It also builds hype easily if you see a bunch of your followers getting a makers knife, you might decide you want one.

The down side is there is little to no policing. You can have some people talk a big game show some drawings and never really deliver on knives but be mentioned in the same breath as big name makers. There are a lot of sheeple on instagram who will glom on to anything 'trendy'.

I like it because you can personalize it to just what you want to see. Don't like a maker, don't follow them. Don't like a guy who makes stupid comments, block them.

I spend a lot more time on instagram than I do on the 4 knife forums I am on.
 
JParanee said:
In a few days I am going to post a limited run of Fires with a special hand ground blade that is going to really turn some heads

And just for my buddy Scurvy the Flipper will finally shows itself just in time for Blade :)
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shut-up-and-take-my-money.jpg
 
My eleven year old son has Instagram with his schoolmates. It's a hit. He just spent time showing me.

However, I just researched and it's ONLY an app for mobile. I would have to transfer my DSLR finished images to my phone to post them. :confused: It's geared for phone-cameras (which are remarkable).

I can understand the market though. Perfect for WIP and non-portfolio shots.

Again, I'm showing how the 'new market' is happening right under my nose, and I'm unaware. At least I update my Facebook page now and then.

Gotta be a better way.... ;)

Coop
 
SharpByCoop said:
My eleven year old son has Instagram with his schoolmates. It's a hit. He just spent time showing me.

However, I just researched and it's ONLY an app for mobile. I would have to transfer my DSLR finished images to my phone to post them. :confused: It's geared for phone-cameras (which are remarkable).

I can understand the market though. Perfect for WIP and non-portfolio shots.

Again, I'm showing how the 'new market' is happening right under my nose, and I'm unaware. At least I update my Facebook page now and then.

Gotta be a better way.... ;)

Coop
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It is completely mobile yes but a lot of people post DSLR pictures. I think if you have a iphone there are Instagram support apps that will help you quickly upload those DSLR images.
 
Coop, RJ still doesn't really make the money on his folders he should. The dealers and flippers make a killing though.

Instagram is more than a WIP deal. Your random feed changes as you like certain things so you might see makers you've never heard of and see knives you've never seen. I'm a <40 guy and I was blown away and what people are doing in their garage. Not really by the people, but the amount of people making great knives, custom clips, etc. Sure some of the big names are there too and that just whets your whistle to get on their list and wait even longer.

Don, the Skelton effect is what I'm calling Jim Skeltons impact on the custom knife business. He shopping channel personality that sells watches too. He got into custom knives and does 20-30 minute youtube reviews. Has tons of followers on YT and IG. If he reviews your knife, your orders will increase.

I for one think it's cool on one hand, not on the other. I love RJ - I've had some of the best customer service experiences with that man, he just kicks butt. I'm on his list from way back and should hit it soon. But if I were to start now? Those 56+ makers I mentioned, you can't get their knife. You can't even get on their list. I would like to see a couple different markets, the full on customs, and the mid techs. Jacke Hoback is a great example of this. Sure you can wait to get on his list, but he's also doing a mid tech run. That satisfies both arenas! Those who want the 99.9999 knife and those that are happy with the 99.99 knife. I'd also like to see more people come out of the woodwork and hopefully drive the secondary market down so I can afford the ones I want :D
 
so how high up can this stuff go?
Am I alone in thinking that this is a bubble?
The pricing seems to be somewhat arbitrary and in many cases, ludicrously high. I saw a Kershaw folder on the secondary going for $2K+ and meanwhile, you can pick up a Diskin Fire new from a dealer for like 600 bucks.
 
Lorien said:
so how high up can this stuff go?
Am I alone in thinking that this is a bubble?
The pricing seems to be somewhat arbitrary and in many cases, ludicrously high. I saw a Kershaw folder on the secondary going for $2K+ and meanwhile, you can pick up a Diskin Fire new from a dealer for like 600 bucks.
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It's all about rarity. The Kershaw you are talking about was probably the ZT0888. There are a LOT more Diskin Fires in the world than ZT0888s. Secondary market pricing is all about exclusivity and the popularity of the maker.
 
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