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Permalink Reply by David Hawkins on July 12, 2010 at 12:37

I am no expert on selling them, but I would think the statement buy low sell high would hold for knives too.

When might a knife go for more money than other times?

If it is a knife from a movie, it might sell for more while interest in the movie is higher, like when the movie is out or a sequel is made.

There is an older model Kershaw Talon that was made with a "bottle opener" cutout instead of a thumbstud. A few years later the "wave-open" knives became popular. Suddenly the the Talons moved like hot cakes on the secondary market because that "bottle-opener" was suddenly very wave-like. Needless to say the price skyrocketed. I suppose it is reasonable to assume some other knives with obscure features became more popular later on when uses for those features were more desirable.

W.R. Case has started to place certain models in the Case XX Vault. It seems reasonable to assume some price fluctuations for certain models just prior to and during their time in the vault. I would be interested to hear from anyone with data on this. This idea also seems related to when a manufacturer stops making a certain model for whatever reason. For example the Gerber Mark II has been discontinued and brought back several times, each time playing upon its previous success and popularity, as well as relative scarcity.

Sprint Runs are another time that people should be able to cash in. Just as the manufacturers use sprint runs to promote sprint buying, a re-seller can generally do better near the end of the sprint run before the specific knife is forgotten.

Another reasonable assertion seems to be that knives that used to be legal, but no longer are may have a higher price tag. All other things being equal, automatic knives seem to command a higher price than traditional slip-joint folders, more-so than just the technology or complexity that has gone into it. If the recent scare in the legality of assisted openers had carried through it would be interesting to see what effect that would have on the value of the existing models already out there.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Scott King on July 12, 2010 at 16:04

Thanks Don- in my case, this well to do collector, whom I have sold some duplicates to before, has approached me about buying what would equate to the jewels and my most favorite knives- they are very hard to find in at least EX condition or better. And while he may not buy them all, even if I priced them, it would leave a hole in my collection to the point, I think it would leave me feeling the need to start selling the rest.

I know this sounds dire, and don't mean for it too, but this is why I asked the question to begin with- is there a time to sell? There is no doubt I'd "make money" over the price I paid for these knives, probably...and I also know the market for many of these he's interested in is limited due to the type of knife involved and their value.

So, do I price them and he either takes them or not, or do I keep them til I have a real reason to sell (who knows what the market will be there too)? We all know that for us collectors to stick a price on a knife we had to come to terms that the guy might actually buy them.

Last point- in real estate- the time to sell is when someone wants to buy, and I know that, but this is my collection we're talking about here :)

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Scott King on July 12, 2010 at 16:06

Good points here David. And good to see you again, btw!

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Permalink Reply by David Hawkins on July 13, 2010 at 10:23

Glad to be back. Sorry I missed this year's club knife. Can I buy yours? (a joke, but a relevant one)

I believe I misread your question somewhat. It seems your predicament is a matter of head vs. heart more than anything else. Of course in matters like this, you are the only one that can answer. But, maybe this will help. Try visualizing things in the future a couple of years. Do you picture yourself happier having sold them or not? Maybe one option is less regretful than the other? What knives or other things would you buy with the money you make from selling yours? Would things really balance out? Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Halicon on January 4, 2011 at 15:53

I try to acquire the 'tools' I have on my list, all tools from master smiths who could leave the world tomorrow (or I could, who knows). But since my needs are always progressing I have sold off all my production knife collection, but that was entirely because I no longer needed them.

 

If I need some money for a set of tools or anything I simply sell one of my current swords. Eventually I will earn the balance through simply working with the tools.

 

I would never ever sell my most precious crafts however. No matter what the price, even if the smith leave our world and the price gets quadrupled I would never be able to live with myself when I know that the smith or maker made it for me, no one else. As such I honor the privilegue I got and the thought of a sale feels like a crime.

 

I have received a free custom from one of my best friends who also happens to be a maker. That is my lovechild aswell as everything else he has made for me. I would never be able to part with any of them, they will go to the next generation.

 

I am collecting tools for the sake of using them. If I get a $1000 custom I won't let it sit alone in a display case but on my waist and ready to use.

 

If I were to collect anything with plans to make money on it I would only be buying Jap steel and age-harden it carefully for 10-15 years. That stuff sells like hotcakes and for extremely good prices if the tool is of high caliber. You need to know which smiths are worth collecting though ;)

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Permalink Reply by Gary Kennedy on January 4, 2011 at 16:20

 That is a good question . I buy and sell to better my collection. There is nothing better to set up at a Gun Show or a Knife Show  to  buy, sell and trade . This is a great place to find out what the market is and what your collection is  worth!! After 40 years of collecting Knives  you change your likes and dislikes .I have went from folders to fixed blades then back to folders. I have also went from  Case to Custom . If  I were you Scott I would   put a price on them to make it worth wild to change what I collect . Bruce Volyes made a statment one time that I think sums it up . He said that you can own and enjoy them  for a while then pass them to someone else to own and enjoy for a while .

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Permalink Reply by John Otis Swatsell on January 9, 2011 at 11:00

I am one of those strange individuals that never sells a knife. 

Even the cheapies that people give me are a true treasure.

But,  what do I know, I am just a novice here.

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Permalink Reply by Halicon on January 12, 2011 at 22:05

Not at all John, I would say that you fit right in with the group that loves their knives so dearly that they would never dare part with any of them (and loosing them is catastrophe!).

I'm with you entirely on that note but only for knives I know are not made by a machine hand. When they are custom and I know the craftsman worked to create what I wished, hoped and payed for then it makes it all that much more emotional and special.

 

Personally I'm a bit odd in that manner since I like to get incredible custom knives but not to pack them in a display case but insted use them with a HUGE smile on my lips.

The picture on my profile is on of those. If I know I'm going to a place where I can't bring a big wood chopper I wear a pair of baggy pants and tuck it inside the pants in the x-draw position.

If it's a social event then I probably won't go or I will bring my 'lil loco (surprisingly nice for daily use and especially if you work with shipping boxes, strings and that stuff).

 

It's a reverse edge knife however in case anyone gets interested made to flow with my martial art training and the intentions are... not so kind (check the last photo on the page I linked and the text above it). Should be considered a martial knife but the small shape along with good steel work well as a backup EDC, or even main EDC.

 

Dang, now I went into rambling about martial art stuff again. Apologies everyone for going offtopic!

 

John Otis Swatsell said:

I am one of those strange individuals that never sells a knife. 

Even the cheapies that people give me are a true treasure.

But,  what do I know, I am just a novice here.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Scott King on January 15, 2011 at 18:52

Wouter- the pain of your experience rings loud and clear. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Wouter de Jong [SERE] said:

I still regret it till this day on. I've never seen it again anywhere for sale nor in anyones collection on the internet.

 

So, is there a right time to sell? No, not for a knife you been loving for years. The same goes for knives you worked and searched hard for, maybe also for years.

 

Just my 2 cents

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Permalink Reply by Steve Mills on January 29, 2011 at 21:56

HELL NO!!  I usualy get knife's that I see other collecter's want or post. These I put up for sale.  But once they go into my show case's, That's it.

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