What’s your price range for handmade fixed blades?

Joseph Bandeko

Joseph Bandeko

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Dec 9, 2021
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Hey guys and gals I was wondering what y’all’s price range is that you typically stay within and why? for handmade fixed blades.

Seems that most of the knives sold on this forum are in the $120-$350 range and that seems to me to be a bit low, especially since for that kind of money you can go and get a production fixed blade in ”better” materials that will preform the same or better and the fit and finish will probably better. (Knife makers please do not think I am taking a stab at any of you)

anyway I’m very curious to hear all of your thoughts.
 
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If I am attracted to a $200-300 production fixed blade I tend to back away and consider the hand made or custom knives I could get in that price range.

As an example, that is why I have never pulled the trigger on a Bark River (not that I have anything against the company or their knives). There are many great small-batch/custom knives that could be found for the same prices.
 
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Up to $300-ish. The few I own have fantastic materials, fit, finish and heat treat. As good or better than production pieces.

With all of them I've interacted with the maker and even discussed design and features with the makers. Something you don't get with production knives.

Being left handed I prefer hand made/custom. The majority of production knives come with right handed sheaths.

Knives are consumables. I know some manufacturers offer fantastic warranties that cover breakage that most hand made knives don't offer. I use my knives for their intended purpose. Cutting. If I ever had to put one to hard use battoning or prying and it broke, that's on me. I wouldn't expect a replacement or repair. Either from a person making them in their spare time or from Makers like Buck or Busse that have amazing warranties.
 
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I'm kinda not seeing the point of this thread.
You ask what you think your work is worth.
You ask what you ask and you get what you get.

As a seller of handmade stuff, let me tell you though: most folks don't care how long it took you to make or how much time you got in it. All they see is what it is.
You got 100 hours into something, and you figure your time is worth $100/hr no way you're getting $10000.
I look at it two ways: you ask what you think it's worth or you price to sell.

As someone who looks at customs/handmades all the time I wouldn't spend high 3 figures on a fixed blade unless it's up there in Loveless land.
No.1 reason is that your market is super over saturated and there is a limit on the number of consumers willing to spend XXXX dollars.

BTW, compromising the quality of your work to hit a certain price point is just dumb.
IMO, knife making is like what I do. You do it because it's what you do. The money is secondary, and a pretty far second it is.
 
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cmfkdragoon said:
If I am attracted to a $200-300 production fixed blade I tend to back away and consider the hand made or custom knives I could get in that price range.

As an example, that is why I have never pulled the trigger on a Bark River (not that I have anything against the company or their knives). There are many great small-batch/custom knives that could be found for the same prices.
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That being said, I have been quite keen on the White River Sendero Classic lately. Does anyone know makers who produce a similar design?...And I don't mean Jerry Fisk.
 
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To the op, I say make the knives you love, and price them at what you think they're worth. However, I say that with one caveat; don't expect to make a living wage with this route. There's enough people in this world that will appreciate what you're doing and be willing to pay you for it, though, maybe not enough to fully support you financially.

Most of my knives sell in the $200-$500 range, and I'll be the first to admit that I don't strive for a perfect finish. For one, I enjoy seeing that the knife was made by human hands (any cnc can make a perfect knife) and for two, hand sanding sucks 😄. I make the knives I like, and I make them in a way that's fun for me.


Lastly, the guys on this forum selling handmade knives with a sheath for around $100 are crazy. Their shop rate must be in the pennies/hour. I have no interest in competing with those mad men.

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I can't say that I have a "zone" really. I do have to disagree that you can't get excellent fit and finish and some extremely nice pieces for less than the OP suggests. I have purchased several custom fixed blades from makers on BF and a few off of BF that are very close to if not flawless. A big draw is being able to get exactly what I can picture in my mind or getting a makers vision brought to life that is a one of a kind and something different than you find everyday in a catalog. There are several very talented makers who could probably ask far more for their work and in time they very well might demand much higher price tags. The choice handle materials and configurations are things I can't get on production knives for the most part. Steel is another option I like from customs, I'm not always interested in the latest and greatest stainless high carbide steel of today ... sometimes the old carbon stand bys are what I appreciate and look for and they aren't always easy to find in a production knife with many companies always looking for the next best thing.

I am not a knife maker and have great respect for those who have a talent to do so. I won't pretend to know the cost and I'm sure the man hours break down so that some aren't making a lot of profit. I see knives I think are a crazy good deal sometimes I trust that the makers have their reasoning for their pricing and respect that also.
 
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jideta said:
I'm kinda not seeing the point of this thread.
You ask what you think your work is worth.
You ask what you ask and you get what you get.

As a seller of handmade stuff, let me tell you though: most folks don't care how long it took you to make or how much time you got in it. All they see is what it is.
You got 100 hours into something, and you figure your time is worth $100/hr no way you're getting $10000.
I look at it two ways: you ask what you think it's worth or you price to sell.

As someone who looks at customs/handmades all the time I wouldn't spend high 3 figures on a fixed blade unless it's up there in Loveless land.
No.1 reason is that your market is super over saturated and there is a limit on the number of consumers willing to spend XXXX dollars.

BTW, compromising the quality of your work to hit a certain price point is just dumb.
IMO, knife making is like what I do. You do it because it's what you do. The money is secondary, and a pretty far second it is
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I’m trying to ask what your incentive to buy a handmade/custom knife is (especially in that lower price range)
But also what your personal price range that you are comfortable with spending.
No I’m not going to compromise my work quality. And yes I’m making knives because I love doing it, I also get that I’m not going to mack much $$, but with that said I also want/need to make a little money doing it.
 
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I think what a lot of people want is in that up to 200 dollar price range for a standard working fixed blade. As someone else said here, we're kind of spoiled with all the awesome customs priced around there that are posted here. I think the way to make that doable for you, if you wanted to, is to offer knives with just a course belt finish. Many people don't mind that at all and some even prefer it. That way you could get the blade finishing done relatively quickly with as little hand finishing as possible. However that's just an idea. I have not seen your work so I don't know how you go about your knives. I'll check ya out.
 
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LimpCroissant said:
I think what a lot of people want is in that up to 200 dollar price range for a standard working fixed blade. As someone else said here, we're kind of spoiled with all the awesome customs priced around there that are posted here. I think the way to make that doable for you, if you wanted to, is to offer knives with just a course belt finish. Many people don't mind that at all and some even prefer it. That way you could get the blade finishing done relatively quickly with as little hand finishing as possible. However that's just an idea. I have not seen your work so I don't know how you go about your knives. I'll check ya out.
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I make (and want to make) knives for people that want something special, I‘m not making knives that a lot of people can get (even if I wanted to, my output is just not that high)

I haven’t showed a lot of my work here on BF (yet) but here’s my Instagram if you want to some of my work, https://www.instagram.com/bunkerhillblades/
 
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Bunker Hill Blades said:
I‘m not making knives that a lot of people can get (even if I wanted to, my output is just not that high)

I haven’t showed a lot of my work here on BF (yet) but here’s my Instagram if you want to some of my work, https://www.instagram.com/bunkerhillblades/
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I just checked you out, nice work man! I like your Badger design and also the handle on the titanium dive knife is really sweet!🤙
 
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Another piece of advice for Joseph Bandeko Joseph Bandeko
If you're wanting to command a premium price, I'd utilize premium materials. Your "solution" knife looks very nice, no doubt, but it also looks very plain. There's nothing immediately apparent that sets it apart from a plethora of other knives out there (aside from the $1000 price tag.) It's a full tang blade with single piece micarta scales. If you spend some time in the classifieds here, on facebook, or on instagram, you'll find thousands just like it.

Additionally, if you're spending 16 hours in just hand sanding alone on a knife like that, I think it may be prudent to get a higher grit belt finish, and use conditioning belts post grinding so your not spending as much time with the slow hand sanding process. You need to find a process that works for you, that will get your desired finish, in a less time consuming manner. You can spend all day hand sanding, but that doesn't change many of the aspects in a knife that consumers care about (eg. materials, design, grind, etc.)

Again, this is just my opinion. Your knife looks great, but a great $200-$300 knife. I don't mean to come across as negative, just my $.02 and some food for thought.
 
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Bunker Hill Blades said:
Thanks!

That Ti dive knife was actually a custom remake of this knife... https://www.atomicaquatics.com/products/accessories/knives/ti6-knife/?v=7516fd43adaa the customer really liked the sheath the original knife come with so I made the knife to fit that one instead of making one.
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Nice! Yea that'd be one hell of a handy knife for a diver. I've always wanted a titanium knife for kicks but don't have any use for one. Maybe some day I'll take one diving lesson so I feel better about buying one👌Haha.
 
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