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Limited, Numbered Edition

I'm of the opinion that practically anything done in a limited or numbered edition is probably never going to go up in value. (yes there are exception to this rule and these are items that are actually of limited release and are numbered.)

I point this out because I have numbered knife that has a number somewhere in the 2000s of only 25,000 that will ever be released. Obviously I didn't buy it for its rarity!

Some times the only thing that makes a knife numbered and limited is that it has a number on it and all the following knives of the exact same make and model will no longer be numbered?

So I ask you guys and gals, In this day and age of mass produced factory knives. when does a "limited" knife actually become a "limited" knife and not just the max number a company thought they could sell?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Scheuerman (Manx) on August 19, 2013 at 13:59

I agree with you, Tobias, alot of these "limited runs" are kinda ridiculous. And it doesn't help when they re-release said "limited editions". However, like you mentioned, there are exceptions. Some LE runs from companies that went out of business seem to steadily increase in value, along with certain knifemakers that release collector editions that they will never make again. A couple examples I can speak on are Gil Hibben's United Cutlery Gold Edition knives, and my favourite...Blackjack Knives. (cue the groans about United Cutlery! *grin*) The Gold Editions I own have come close to doubling in value so far (so says the Ebay pricing, anyway) in the last 10 or less years. Some are incredibly hard to find now, especially with the display cases intact and pristine and the CoA's. Old Blackjacks are the same. Even with Blackjack doing a comeback, their Effingham knives (USA made) and Pre Effingham (Seki Japan) knives are getting harder and harder to find, and the prices are going through the roof. The Viking Raider alone was around $175 when released, and now they are $400+, if you can manage to find them. Others I haven't ever seen for sale online, let alone guessing a price. A "limited run" of 25000 though? Doesn't sound limited to me...lol. 1-3 thousand I consider limited...less than 1000 would be rare, less than 500 I would label very rare. It's a craps-shoot collecting LE's, especially if the company is still in business, since you never know if they will re-release that run. I think it's kinda cheesy slapping a number on a knife *just* to increase value, but that's marketing I suppose. Buyer beware when you are collecting for value! Do your research!

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on August 19, 2013 at 15:28

I dont pay too much attention to the words Limited Addition. To me a limited addition is a run of knives that is less than 50 produced. We have quite a few that are 1 of 3 or 1 of 5. Thats a limited addition that becomes valuable to a collector of that manufacture. But then I dont view our collection as am investment. It is just our collection LOL

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on August 19, 2013 at 15:55

I'm with you, Jan. I don't collect for investment purposes, I collect for my pleasure. I have several Case Collectors Club knives and plan to get more. I suppose they could be considered limited editions. I don't know if they will increase in value but again I'm not collecting them for investment purposes.

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Permalink Reply by Brad T. on August 19, 2013 at 17:42

I have a few "Limited Editions". 3 Benchmade Gold Classes, 3 or 4 of my Lone Wolf Paul knives are of the Limited variety. The Benchmades are 1/100(Pinnacle), 1/200(Pardue) & 1/500(Osborne), the Osborne you can get cheaper now, but I paid $150.00 below retail a year ago. I use it as if it were any other knife.

The Lone Wolf Paul knives on the other hand have all increased in value since the buyout. 5-6 were prototype pieces in the vault when offered for sale. Of the 10 Paul knives I own, 2 Defenders, 1 Perfecto, 1 Prankster, 1 Pocket & 1 Slimjim were Prototypes. Three of them, 1 Defender, 1 Perfecto & 1 Pocket are Limited Editions. My Paul Protector is a "First Production" edition out of the Lone Wolf Vault.

But, limited editions are simply a sales tactic to drive sales. Unless the knife has exotic handle and blade materials and is Serialized. I wouldn't consider it special enough to purchase at an increased amount.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on August 19, 2013 at 19:53

I disagree. If you have a limited edition of 1 and 25000, that's not much of a limited edition. If you have 1 of 50, that's a knife of a different color.

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Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on August 20, 2013 at 6:25

Robert, I agree with you to a point. However, now you have people who are taking an otherwise standard knife (and typically made in China or Pakistan), carving something on the handle or pad stamping the blade with something like "Seal Team 6 - We got 'em!" Then they serialize the first 100 and produce a 1000 more in White Smooth Bone. This in my view is not a limited edition or limited run but a company simply saying "We can probably get a 1000 suckers to buy this, If we sell out quickly, we can always make another 1000! Almost as annoying as "First Production Run" stamped in the blade.

I wonder when they come out with a COA that reads "First production run of knives in this series not stamped or etched with something on the blade"

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on August 20, 2013 at 14:47

They do over do the limited part. If there is only 100 type knives in the world, a collector may want it for that reason. If a company makes another 1000 type knives, well the collector has been taken advantage of. All 1100, may be good knives but the collector paid for a limited edition. Really, not fair.

How long does, First Production Run last? I bought a knife a while back that had been maid for at least 3 years and it was stamped, "First Production Run". That's sure a long "Run".