Reeper22,
First of all, let me congratulate you on a fantastic entry into CRK ownership! That UG is gorgeous. I especially like it because it is of the new style that Lisa's started doing in the last couple of years with hue patterning within a given cut. Very nice.
They are indeed one-of-a-kind, custom jobs. Others can request to have her do a design that's similar, but it is as if you asked a painter to duplicate a work of art previously created -- it will not be the same as the original. I don't know how Lisa continues to come up with these UG ideas, but she's taken hand-operated milling, annodized graphics to a whole new level. We are lucky to have her in the knife industry, and on top of that, to have her creating her masterpieces at IMHO, the finest knife company on the planet.
Re: the question of appreciation, like most custom pieces, the value is in the eye of the beholder. Lisa's work is becoming increasingly well known in the industry. I've seen some really striking pieces go for higher than retail, and I tend to believe that the appreciation will in the long run be in the positive direction, especially after her work is no longer available from the factory. Let's hope that her career at CRK lasts for a long, long time.
And BTW, I've been a UG EDC'er for over a decade.
Have a great time with your new Sebbie!
