Which is "better" prototype: marked or sterile?

[IamMatt]

Any opinions on whether a prototype is better, or more desirable, or more valuable if it is marked with the maker's mark and/or other indicia (such as "prototype") or if it is totally sterile (assuming you have authentication from the maker that it is his)? Thanks.

 

[GigOne]

I won't go as far as saying that the knife is "better."
Typically. . .a knife is worth more and are sought after more when it is marked as a "prototype." Same is true of ones that have very low serial numbers.

 

[APM]

Ditto Jeff and it's only worth what the interest is in that model or maker, so if there is a big demand for any maker his prototypes are in high demand, so prototypes don't mean a thing without knowing the market.

James

 

[cpirtle]

Usually an unmarked knife is ery hard to identify.

I just got into a bidding war for a Harkins prototype at eBay. By all acounts the knife was pure Harkins but it was sterile and not a model I could find anywhere else.

It ended up going for $106.00, the punk edged me out at the last minute

 

[john greco]

Interesting the year I quit drinking I also didn't mark a blade. One showed up in A.G.'s catalog years later and was correctly identified as a Greco, un marked. The new knives are not marked either, nto because I've started drinking again but because the steel is hardened before grinding,ensuring a straighter blade. Powder coating would cover up any etch. John Greco

 

[48harley]

I buy 2 or 3 thousand knives a year maybe more. If a knife is not marked with makers mark I will pay less for it. In my opinion a maker owes a collector a name on his knives. As far as marking a knife Prototype it can go two ways. Some makers are good from the first knife hence marking the knife Prototype might make it a little more valuable. If some other makers are not so good now, they will get better the first will be less desirable. You get my point.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I can see no reason that a marked prototype would be worth less than an unmarked one. Because of the possible difficulties with authentication I can see that unmarked prototypes could end up being worth very little. If a knife is unmarked and of a style that is not easily recognizable as coming from the maker in question, it would be best to have a letter of authentication. Even if the knife is easily recognizable, it would be advisable to have the knife authenticated by the maker if possible.