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Permalink Reply by Kevin D 15 hours ago

In my opinion, collectability is entirely based upon your own personal attraction to the item.  While I am not a big fan of the Remington Bullet knives, they are widely considered to be very collectable.  In the Remington world, I like the RH knives.  The people that view these as collectable is radically smaller then the bullet knives.  

I just got another EGW knife today.  I very much like those.  They were never 'officially' issued to the military, and there were several variants offered.  

In short, If you like it, and want more, then it is collectable to you.  That is all that counts.  Just set a standard by which you are happy with, and go for it.  :)

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by dead_left_knife_guy 13 hours ago

I second what Kevin said.  Now, are they worth much money?  Good question.  But it would seem they're worth something, from your research.  Valor was not classically a highly sought-after brand back in the brand's production hey-day, but certain designs from almost any brand are likely to at least rise in value.  Given the Bowie style of this particular Valor, I'd say you found yourself one of those. 

And of course as time goes on, there's also likely to be some ebbs & flows in the nostalgia factor, which tends to increase value for a time, then after a while will drop off as those with the nostalgia, um, let's say "leave the market."

A Valor knife is unlikely to attain the status & price of a vintage Buck, Spyderco, or Benchmade -- but stranger things have happened -- depending on all sorts of factors (including condition, of course).  

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Permalink Reply by Lars 13 hours ago

Oh man...I'm glad I read my esteemed colleague's comments before entering my own...he literally took the words out of my mouth!

As a brand, Valor is collectible - for those who like Valor. The 559 is collectible - if you like "survival" knives. If your feeling nolstalgic and you finally get to purchase a Valor that you couldn't afford back in the 80's - then it's really collectible! As Kevin points out, if you like it, then it's collectible (to you).

By "collectible", are you really asking if it's valuable, or worh a lot? Well, sort of. There too it depends on how you are framing the value or worth. As you saw on Ebay, they cost as much today as they did in 1987, maybe a little more - but in much wore condition. That's true of anything vintage. 

Valor was a respectable mid-range knife company that made a host of knives that were "influenced" by other makers. I own a Valor 407dagger - a knife heavily influenced by the Kershaw 1007 Trooper. I didn't buy it because it's a Valor, or that it was made in Seki Japan (both collectable reasons). I bought it because I am addicted to daggers - and like you, it's hard to pass up a good looking knife at a great price! 

As is typical with me, I said basically the same thing as Kevin, but took twice as many words to do it. Thanks for letting me chime in. 

BTW - you have a VERY nice 559 there...and yes, it is collectible. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Lars 13 hours ago

Typical...just typical. In the time I spent crafting my original reply, DLKG snuck in there with his. At least we are all consistent in our comments. I would hate for you to walk away dissatisfied or confused by conflicting responses for a a valid question. 

And I still like your knife...well done!

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Permalink Reply by db 7 hours ago

thanks fellas , when i assess collectability ,im not afraid to stretch from my collecting focus for something that is special , but it must not only have value ,but there needs to be value that will increase ,preferably value that out paces inflation

i did some reading , evidently these were part of the survival knife fad after the movie Rambo , im thinking the ebayers are thinking they are selling something thats more than what they actually have , do not think its for me , utility fix blade knives i have the Buck  119 ,and  a Old Timer that  i forget the model 

just wanted to be sure i was passing on something i may have regretted , i had never seen one before 

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Permalink Reply by Lars 1 hour ago

You nailed it DB!

So from the "return on investment" perspective, the Valor is not going make you money. The collectible value would be the personal satisfaction. I have some S&W's, a few Gerbers, and a boatload of historical pieces that will bring me a nice return on my investment - but those are all happy accidents for me. I originally bought them because of my interest - nothing more. The vast majority of my collection is worthless from a $$ investment perspective - but priceless for what each piece means to me.

Great discussion - thanks for starting it - 

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