The right forum to display knives

yitz

yitz

Joined
Mar 5, 2000
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I came across this item on ebay for a Scagel-style knife made by Dr. Jim Lucie:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310162830452&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
It was priced at over $79,000! I've seen it there several times. Finally, I emailed the poster to ask, what's up? A real Scagel like that would probably be in the $20-30,000 range, and the knife by Lucie probably less than $3,000. He responded that it was there for display only. I asked, why not display it on a forum like this one, and he responded that it only cost $1/yr to do it that way on ebay, and the whole world sees it. I still don't get it. There's no context, so what's the point? :confused:
What do you guys think?
 
Not, sure about the Lucie, but that seller is known on the Randall market. Typically, he lists his wares high, and sometimes snags new buyers. He'll also start things off pretty high then let you whittle him down to a more conservative price, that is still a bit more than market.
 
Aside from the absolutely ridiculous price, the handle sucks. It's poorly thought out. With the crown facing the left side of the blade. Not a very comfortable handle.
 
Well, he does have the "Make An Offer" option. Maybe that's the way to go. But Jon is right, it's weird.

He also has 878 auctions going right now, and just about all seem to be Randalls. That might be a little weird too.

David
 
Plus, some one may come along and buy it at the much higher price. Also, he can list it on another sale, on ebay, and some one who has been looking at it, might say, oh, snap, that same knife was on here for 70,000 and here it is listed at 30,000 what a deal.


There are Busse, and Scrap Yard (production) sellers that have a continuous listing for the same knife they are selling also on ebay, with the price set double. Thinking they are doing the same thing.
 
It definately costs more then that. I feel that I get charged a fortune to list knives on ebay. I do it though because sometimes its very convenient. I find the knife ugly but this is an interesting thread though
 
I wonder how many people checked out that knife
after reading this thread.......
 
For other collectables if you don't know the market or what people are willing to pay people will list something at a rediculous price and then take offers. An auction would require you to commit to a reserve which still makes you set a price.

Ever list something and it sells immediately and you kick yourself because it might have been too low?
 
braillediver said:
For other collectables if you don't know the market or what people are willing to pay people will list something at a rediculous price and then take offers. An auction would require you to commit to a reserve which still makes you set a price.

Ever list something and it sells immediately and you kick yourself because it might have been too low?
Click to expand...

Yes, I have but don't think this gentleman has to worry about that. ;) :D
 
$79,643 is the initial offering price? I always get a laugh when I see these oddball amounts. Never mind the statospheric price tag but the $643 part of it? What is he saying...$79,600 is too little and $79,645 is too much?

I understand the whole $19.99 appears cheaper than saying $20 thing (why, I don'tk know) for marketing purposes but this seems particualarly amusing.

Bpman
 
windyridge said:
Aside from the absolutely ridiculous price, the handle sucks. It's poorly thought out. With the crown facing the left side of the blade. Not a very comfortable handle.
Click to expand...

I agree, the price is a bit "out there"

The handle look .... IMHO the antler could use some dye. Other than that, I rather like it :)

The handle ergonomics .... maybe Lucie's a lefty

I would bet real money the knife feels great in the hand.
For 79K how could it not ??? ;)

The blade shape ? Looks to me like it would be nothing short of a wicked, very aggressive cutter, ........ again, MHO

All joking aside, I've had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Dr. Lucie at Kevin Cashens a while back.
Mr. James Lucie is a true gentleman.
He's a great knifemaker with much to give the Custom Knife Community (and he does so freely) :thumbup: :thumbup:

Although I can't ever see myself as being able to afford a custom Lucie, I would d*mn near give my eye teeth to own one :cool: ........




:thumbup:
 
Russ Andrews said:
I wonder how many people checked out that knife
after reading this thread.......
Click to expand...
Yes - a crude traffic-driving tactic that for this gentleman, must've paid off at least once big time or he wouldn't keep doing it. Price high/sell high (not always a successful technique) is part of it too but Russ hit the nail, IMO. Selling is, among other things, a numbers game. The more that look, the more likely the item is to eventually sell.

As for Dr. Lucie's knives, I appreciate the limited impression a 2D image (as on eBay for example) can provide and admit that many times I've made judgements one way or another (publicly) that, had I held the knife in my hand, I probably wouldn't have. So, I'm not criticizing anyone. However, owning one of his knives, having photographed others and all of his Scagel collection, I can say with confidence that when one sees (much less holds) a Lucie knife, one is reaching through time one hundred years - a direct connection to W.W.Scagel who, in around 1910 established the one maker, one customer, one knife way of doing business that thrives today.

Why is that true of a Lucie knife and not others? It's because Jim Lucie doesn't interpret Scagel through his knives, he channels Scagel. I use the word channel not because I believe that actually happens, but to describe a remarkable degree of identification coupled with a fairly intimate knowledge of Scagel's character and characteristics - all of which came together in a way that powerfully brought to mind Jim's father, a man who... it's easier to just say Jim's father was THE MAN. Such emotional connections make a difference in what we humans can achieve. Dr. Lucie's interest in Scagel wasn't about the knives until much later. Something else started it and it has burned like a fire in him ever since. All of this fully informs each knife he makes. He can't help it, no more than any of us can. Nor is he the only knifemaker I know whose knives are infused with a specialness that comes from being emotionally driven to create. We should all be so lucky.

I hope thinking about that knife on eBay with the above in mind helps move the experience beyond simple likes and dislikes.
 
I think Dr. Lucie's handle is right handed and correct. If you hold that crown stag handle in your right hand the long side of the handle (right side) will be against your palm and the fingers on the short side (left side). When you grip a knife handle, your fingers don't take up nearly as much room as the palm side of you hand does. If the crown was facing the right side of the handle the stag (and the whole handle) would have to be much longer to clear the palm. My bet would be that Dr. Lucie's handle would feel just fine in my hand.

Price high/sell high (not always a successful technique)
Click to expand...

At his price it wouldn't have to work very often.
 
braillediver said:
...

Ever list something and it sells immediately and you kick yourself because it might have been too low?
Click to expand...

Noooo, but I have listed a car for sale, got offered a good price from a potential buyer on the first day, turned it down, and then didn't receive another offer! Lesson learned.

Paul
 
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