value of custom etch and numbered

[citytransplant]

A colleague at work has been associated with an outfit (let's call it Acme Hardware Co.) that ordered 50 to 100 serialized knives each year from 1987 until 2005 from Camillus. The knife model varied from year to year, ranging from Western fillet to medium Silversword lockbacks to American Wildlife trapper. In addition to the serialization, the knives also have the name of the obscure outfit etched in the blade. The knives were sold or given to employees of Acme throughout the years. My colleague owns the entire 19 year collection and is willing to part with them at a price. Needless to say, I'm interested.

All else being equal, does the serialization and etching increase, decrease, or have no significant bearing on the overall value of this collection? Let's assume that anyone even remotely connected to Acme Hardware either already owns their own complete collection or has no interest in the items.

In an unscientific poll conducted by yours truly, about half the people I polled said the obscure nature of Acme detracts from the value of the knife while others maintain that the serialization and unique etching adds value.

Your opinion?

BTW, my colleague wasn't interested in selling to me at the price I was willing to pay. :grumpy:

 

[Codger_64]

All of the above. The knives would be of interest to buyers for varied reasons. An employee/former employee might wish to complete their set, or acquire a set issued before their employment. Thus they may be willing to pay beyond the actual market value for the set. A collector of Camillus knives might be interested in them as examples of the type, but certainly would not give a value premium for the etches or serials, possibly hoping for a discount since they are not prime examples from basic production, having been altered for their customer. A reseller might hope to make a profit by finding a person wanting a complete set, but they generally follow the dictum of buy-low-sell-high. Sets, generally speaking, bring less on the market than the pieces do individually.

So... IMHO, all of the above are true to one degree or another.

Michael