the length of time your knives are kept...

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
9,437
I've been thinking about this quite a lot lately.

You sell a knife... somebody obviously bought it. They keep it for XX amount of time and then sell it. What do you think of all that?

It's an odd deal for me. I TRY to be empathetic and open minded... so on one end of the spectrum I feel that a man's money is hard-earned, and he can damn well do with the knife as he pleases.

On the other end- you pour your blood, sweat, and tears into a piece... not to sound too philosophical, but even a little of your soul into it--- so it can sting to find out the buyer tired of it quickly and sold it a month after he bought it.

That end is the one that dictates my gut reaction to finding one up for sale, or sold. It's my rational side that figures money is money and a knife is a knife.

So how do you feel about this whole thing?

Just curious and can't sleep :)
-Nick-
http://www.wheelerknives.com
 
Once I buy a knife,it's mine.I have never sold any knife I've acquired,gave away a pile as gifts and such,but sold one?No.I know some about what you knifemakers pour into your craft.When I buy a new,or previously owned knife,I've usually researched it or just like the design.Why would I want to get rid of it.My .02,Nick.
 
Nick,
You make awesome knives. If someone sells them, at least you know that anyone who would pay 200 Plus dollars for a knife appreciates it!
 
That kinda weirds me out too. I pour my heart and soul into a knife and then the guy sells it. I feel like I failed somewhere along the line, thinking that if he liked it enough, he would keep it and cherish it....some do, some don't. I have seen a number of guys lately around here that will buy a pretty knive and just can't seem to hold on to it...they horse trade knives back and forth with each other. As long as they are trading 'em back and forth, I rationalize that it is nothing against me or the other local makers...trading is just their thing...

Hank
 
I never thought about it before. When I hand over a peice I assume it will be with that person for life. On most of them, you can attach a name or face to them. It sucks to think your work is being orphaned like a worn out hand me down toy after christmas. I stress the fact that I'd like the knife to be used for it's purpose, not stuffed away somewhere. On the other hand, just think how many more people get to see your work.
Off to heat treat two more customer blades....lots to ponder. HMMMMM
 
I think you may be taking it too personal. Some people get off on trade / haggling / exchange. He sees your knife as something of value that enhances his power to deal. Knives can be using tools, cherished posessions or, for some, more like the trading cards we swapped as kids. Think of your knife as a Bobby Orr Rookie Card. :cool:

"In the end, you may find that having, is not so pleasing as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often so."
First Officer Spock
 
I don't worry too much if my knives get passed around....I dont take it personal....

However, I sometimes have trouble selling one that I just finished.....too much blood sweat and tears in the making and I have this problem.....I really like knives!
 
That's the aftermarket.....and it's all good.

Ive been asked if I would mind if someone were to resell one of
my knives. I say no. Three or four things usually happen:

1) The seller makes money.
2) The seller re-orders.
3) I have a new client.
4) The new client orders.

It's generally a win/win deal.

I like the aftermarket!
 
Rob and Russ have the right idea. I think a customer buys our knives and after a while the new wears off and he sees another knife he just HAS to have. He will sell or trade our knife along maybe with others to get that new knife.
 
I'm like Nick, I just don't understand it, and it does play on your mind when you see one for resale. You think what was a matter with it, that the buyer doesn't want it anymore? Did I miss something? Should I have done something different?

I guess thats why I'm not a collector. I never had any luck at making money on resales of anything I've ever bought. I really don't care what people do with with my knives, I'm just glad they buy them in the first place, but it sure does make you wonder, when you send a knife out, hear how fantastic it is from the buyer and then see it up forsale a week later. :confused:

Bill
 
I find myself unable to sell one of my customs. I have bought from a
lot of makers here these blades are in their class of there own. most
go through my EDC rotation but they never get sold.....some of my production
knives however get traded and or sold but there the ones that were a impulse
buy or the ones that I couldnt get used to. I do wish that I did more camping
because I would be begging for one of your blades Nick:D

Zoo
 
I've never been in that situation, I think it might bug me at first, but I'd feel better after I realized that him selling it means a second person liked it well enough to buy, in used condition at that.
 
I see your point Bill and Nick
with me I think most of mine are kept other than the ones I've sold to dealers..from that point I don't know what happens to them..
but I do think if you sell one and the buyer sells it, then that must mean someone else wants it more than him :D remember the almighty buck drives some people too. the key to me would be,
does that buyer still buy from you ?
also he may just have so many funds to play with, and gets tried of his present toys and has to have another to feed his addiction.. :)
 
Just remember - So many knives, so little money. Quality knives in the $200 range and up aren't easily or often acquired by many. A knife guy falls in love with a particular model and tries to figure out how to afford the purchase without losing the monthly mortgage payment. I would guess that the constant movement of knives from one buyer to the next is more about how to get that next great knife rather than about how to dump the last dog. I'm sure everyone would love to be able to hold on to every knife they've ever bought. It's just not practicle. Also, when you're a knife nut you'll rarely ever be satisfied forever with one particular knife. You always have a Jones to try the next new model, design or material. The search for the perfect knife is never over - and I think we generally LIKE IT that way. :D
 
I've thought about this alot too. Tried to watch and see if there was anything going on with my knives that way. I generally sell cheap users though, and people have been holding onto them as far as I can tell.
I think when you make collector quality peices you have to anticipate them being passed around as people build collections. They decide they want to focus on a style of knife and build that part of their collection. Then their interest shifts to another area and they thin out part of the collection to afford the stuff they're looking for now. I really think most folks enjoy the search and the haggling as much as they enjoy the knives. They want to see all the different blades and really get into the wheeling and dealing.

I'd also say that when your work has such a strong secondary market as some you guys have gotten, it really says alot about the demand for your work. Its not that the original buyer doesn't want the knife anymore, its just that they can't pass up the deal they are being offered.
 
Interesting thought Nick. The mind set of most "knife collectors" is buy, sell, trade. I see more selling and trading in the higher end market but it goes on with some users also. It doesn't bother me much, I even help collectors sell my knives and they usually buy or order another.

Nick we have one collector/customer in common that sold one of my knives just hours after he bought it and it was a nice one but not very exspensive, he did make a good profit though, now that I think about it, he has sold every knife he's bought from me and wants more. He will most likely read this :p maybe he'll give us his perspective.

Nothing wrong with the secondary market, it gets our knives in the hands of more people than one could possibly make knives for.

Now if you see one of your knives go up for sale and it just sits there with no interest and takes forever to sale, then there may be something wrong with it :p or it's priced to high.

It's all fun, Don Hanson lll
 
Lots of great points guys! :)

I want to make sure I point out that I don't mean to come off as though it makes me really mad. And I certainly do appreciate that it means there is at least some desire for one's work (to see it actually sell on the secondary market).

It's just something I think about, and wondered what you fellas think about the whole idea.

I can totally empathize if somebody needs to move one for the money. As a knifemaker (in the poor house ;) ) I couldn't afford to collect knives to begin with :D

However, like many of you have said, if you see one up for sale it's hard to not start wondering, "man they thought it was the best thing since sliced bread when they got it, what did I do wrong, why are they selling it?"

I suppose in a perfect world they would love it, and cherrish it forever! But then again, in a perfect world, I suppose we'd GIVE them the knives :eek: :D

Thanks for all the input guys!!! :D
-Nick-
 
Nick/ and to everyone.. if you keep records on who's who
call them and ask what's up.., it can't hurt, and it may help you in the process to keep in contact and abreast to what's going on..some guys will not complain for the life of them until you ask and some time not even then but they'll appreciate it I'm sure of that.. but if this is the case you can't fix the problem
if you don't talk to them
if there is one in this case, I'm not saying there is a problem but just that
some guys are like that,, I've seen it in my small engine business weather
it was my fault or just a misconception..of course this goes hand in had with all the other stuff written here...
 
MikeZ said:
Just remember - So many knives, so little money. Quality knives in the $200 range and up aren't easily or often acquired by many. A knife guy falls in love with a particular model and tries to figure out how to afford the purchase without losing the monthly mortgage payment. I would guess that the constant movement of knives from one buyer to the next is more about how to get that next great knife rather than about how to dump the last dog. I'm sure everyone would love to be able to hold on to every knife they've ever bought. It's just not practicle. Also, when you're a knife nut you'll rarely ever be satisfied forever with one particular knife. You always have a Jones to try the next new model, design or material. The search for the perfect knife is never over - and I think we generally LIKE IT that way. :D
Click to expand...
I think this is a perfect summation of the situation. I've had a number of knives go through the secondary market and yes - I appreciate Nick's and Bill's questioning the value of their work in the customer's eyes. But I don't think that is often the issue. More likely it what Mike said - building one's collection. Personally I feel vindicated when one of my knives sells at a premium in the aftermarket.

We do put a lot of our soul into our work, so it's reasonable to feel a bit of a twinge when our customer apparently loses his attachment to it. Keep in mind that the customer doesn't have as much of his personality in the purchase as the maker has in its creation. Certainly he's invested his hard-earned money in it, but money is a commodity.

My own little collection only grows; it's like pulling teeth for me to sell or trade anything. :D But I wear my heart on my sleeve too.

Good thread Nick, and lots of good responses.
 
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