The value of a knife

Baller

Baller

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May 4, 2015
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Through my collecting I've handled and owned many knives. I know what to look for in a good knife such as build, fit and finish, materials, etc. With that knowledge I have a pretty good understanding of what is a fair price for a knife. With that being said a friend of mine posed an interesting question. A good chunk of my collection is nothing but Kershaw Blurs of many blade materials and handle styles and most of them are very rare and hard to find. The question raised to me was, Is all the money you spend on each of those knives worth it?

This got me thinking, the amount i pay for a single Blur (You would cringe if i told you how much i spent on some of them) i could buy a superior knife with better materials and higher tolerances. Does it make sense to spend so much on a knife simply because there aren't too many around? I'm not just talking about Blurs, but is it ethical to spend a lot on any knife simply because it is rare rather than on a better preforming knife that is not rare at all?

I'd love to hear your opinions.
 
As long as it's still ethical to collect Garbage Pail Kid cards, then collect all the blurs you want!
 
Is it ethical to buy an older rare car for more money then a cheaper one that performs better, saves fuel, etc?

Value is decided by the purchaser/market... If it was "worth it" to you, then it's worth its value, period.

Drop me a message if you ever want to sell a blue/twill s30v model though ;)
 
Collect the knives that make you happy. Weather they are $2,000 one off customs, or $30 budget knives. Why worry about rarity, value, or others opinions. If they make you happy, that is what counts.
 
I am the absolute wrong person to speak about collecting anything. I'm a 'utilitarian' by nature and don't fancy myself making purchases of things I don't think I need.

However, "value" is a subjective term and means something different to everyone. To some, it's the simple cost. To others, collectibility is most important. To me, it's what I can and will be able to accomplish with that blade. The price point on the blades I buy cause some people to cringe [and not in a positive way]. I will not purchase a blade at $200 or more because I'd be less apt to use it to [what I believe should be] it's potential. I'd be afraid that I'd break it, thus being out money and the blade. That means it's going to sit there, doing nothing. If I won't use it, much less to its potential, then I can't see any reason for buying it.....ya know?
 
For many years I've owned a Lone Wolf Harsey Tatical T1 and T3. Always wanted a T2 to complete the series. Recently paid almost $300 on fleabay to add a T2 to the series.

Yeah, it was worth it!
 
Simple economics. Anythings value is determined by what the consumer is willing to pay for it. If someone is willing to buy a rare blur for a lot of money, then the blur is in fact actually worth that much money.

"Ethical" implies a stict set of standards that you compare your preferences to in order to see if they like up. No such universal standards exist in the world of consumerism because everyone is different and values items differently. If it brings you enjoyment to by rare blurs, then buy rare blurs. No one can tell you that your preferences are incorrect.
 
When you are buying a knife because it "fills a collection" or it's "rare and/or discontinued" you can not apply the same
reasoning as regards price, as when buying a knife that you will actually use. There, as you say, materials, workmanship, best bang for
the buck come into play. "Ethics" has nothing to do at all with buying knives. Although, "Morals" may if your family is starving because
you're spending too much money on collecting knives.
 
For many of us, sometimes, enjoyment comes more from the search, or should I say the hunt and capture, of a knife than ownership. It took me years to finish my bayonet collection. Right after I paid a dealer for the last knife in the series, I offered to sell him the whole collection and my wife pleaded with me not to sell. She does not understand the challenge of the hunt and the enjoyment it can bring. Of course, knowing that I have a couple of bayonets that many collectors will search for years to acquire (if ever they even succeed) can bring a smile to my face, too.

I also collect Victorinox Soldier and Wenger Standard Issue knives. Some of them can get up there in price. I once watched a 1962 dated Vic Soldier sell for over $400 bucks. Does that $400 dollar Soldier cut any better than it's thirty dollar civilian brother, the Pioneer? Nope. What price does one place on the right to hold history in their hand by owning a first year issue pattern 61 Swiss Army knife? In this case, it was $410.00. Or how about the rights and pleasures of owning any other uncommon, rare, special, limited or discontinued blade, for that matter. Yes, you can expect to pay more, as you should. How much you value these rights is up to you in the end. No one else.
 
If you have the money to spare, okay. If you have not put money aside for your family's future, if your family is doing without things, and if you have not helped those less fortunate than you, then it is unethical. If you can, with conscience say you have met the above, the go ahead and collect.
 
Complex topic.
Objects, such as knives can have different values.
Only you can deceide.
Sofar you even got an offer for one of your pieces.
It is probably human to apprechiate value. It is important.
red mag
 
Baller said:
Through my collecting I've handled and owned many knives. I know what to look for in a good knife such as build, fit and finish, materials, etc. With that knowledge I have a pretty good understanding of what is a fair price for a knife. With that being said a friend of mine posed an interesting question. A good chunk of my collection is nothing but Kershaw Blurs of many blade materials and handle styles and most of them are very rare and hard to find. The question raised to me was, Is all the money you spend on each of those knives worth it?

This got me thinking, the amount i pay for a single Blur (You would cringe if i told you how much i spent on some of them) i could buy a superior knife with better materials and higher tolerances. Does it make sense to spend so much on a knife simply because there aren't too many around? I'm not just talking about Blurs, but is it ethical to spend a lot on any knife simply because it is rare rather than on a better preforming knife that is not rare at all?
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Everyone has their own likes and dislikes. I have little interest is Blurs, but you do. That is what makes it fun. I would rather have 100 SAKs. Ethics has nothing to do with it other than how your interest impacts the rest of your life.

This is a subject that is purely a personal choice on allocation of resources and the development path of the hobby. I don't collect what I would call historical blades and have some interest in out of production knives made since the 1960's. I have a soft spot for traditional knives, both new and old.

It is all about fun. Knives are intended to cut something. I don't really collect knives but I have accumulated a good number based on my interests at the time of purchase. There really is no "hunt" for knives although I understand perfectly what that means as it applies to firearms very well. A lot of the gun hunt thrill has stopped for me with the advent of online trading. Years ago, I might learn of a particular collector gun in St. Louis, Dallas, or Boston being available. I suspect that less than 100 people (probably less than 10 in reality) are even aware of these guns at that point. That's the hunt.... Now you "google it".... what's the fun there?

At Blade this year, I spent $40 on a Condor Kumunga fixed blade. I wanted to look at their Moonshiner model in anticipation of a purchase. I have already used the Kumunga in the yard. Can't say that about many knives I have purchased. I've already gotten enjoyment from the Condor. I like to pick it up and handle it and find it cool. But it's really an inexpensive knife. Price is not a condition for the enjoyment I get, but I do appreciate a well made knife.
 
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craytab said:
Only you can answer the "is it worth it" question.
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^^^ This.

It's no one else's business but yours as to whether it's worth it or not. ;):thumbup:

My last two knife purchases were over $1,400; none of the knives were anything that I actually needed so it was all impulse buying. Kind of crazy really but I do enjoy the knives a lot. :thumbup::cool::rolleyes::D
 
Baller said:
This got me thinking, the amount i pay for a single Blur (You would cringe if i told you how much i spent on some of them) i could buy a superior knife with better materials and higher tolerances. Does it make sense to spend so much on a knife simply because there aren't too many around? I'm not just talking about Blurs, but is it ethical to spend a lot on any knife simply because it is rare rather than on a better preforming knife that is not rare at all?

I'd love to hear your opinions.
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I have no idea what "ethical" has to do with it. :confused:

That said, I wouldn't take a Blur on a bet, and you have wasted a ton of money that you will never see again.
 
If it bothers you to the point of starting a discussion on BF, maybe it is time to stop.
"That said", think the Blur is one of the most collectable knives out there. I am not too crazy about some of the colors Kershaw uses, but I do love my Blurs. I EDC the blackwashed version, and the S30v. I am thinking about getting the tanto version in BDZ steel from Kershaw Guy, as we speak.
 
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Does it make sense? No. Does it have to? No.
I try to find practical value in every knife I own but I'm not kidding myself. One pocket knife, kitchen knife, and a Machete are all that I reasonably need (probably with a total value around $150).
Where things get tricky is knowing that you've given up something else for the sake of having your collectables. That's the tough part to weigh.
 
Baller said:
is it ethical to spend a lot on any knife simply because it is rare rather than on a better preforming knife that is not rare at all?

I'd love to hear your opinions.
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Your question isn't one of ethics, seriously. But since you're asking the question, then the question would be ethical if you were asking the question along the lines of:

"Is it ethical to spend a lot on any knife when it means I'm taking money that could be spent on the welfare of my family for whom I am responsible?"

"Is it ethical to spend a lot on any knife when I'm not able to pay off my debts?"

"Is it ethical to spend a lot on any knife when I have not done a single act of kindness to my neighbor who is in need?"

"Is it ethical to spend a lot on any knife when I am not adequately preparing for my future such that in the future I will require subsidy from the government or other people?"

Those would be ethical questions. Ethics has to do with right versus wrong moral conduct. Asking whether to spend your money on one kind of knife over another isn't an ethical question. You thinking it is a question of ethics makes me question your ethics. Or maybe you just didn't know the definition of ethics.
 
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