Folks,
Having enjoyed this hobby for many years I have watch the prices for older pocket knives increase somewhat steadilly. I have found though that the last five years or so has proven to be dramactic in my opinion. I blame "if that is the right thing to say" the cause on marketing. EBAY is now a huge source of product. I can get a good feel for what an item will bring just by doing a quick search on EBAY. The AAPK administrator has done a wonderful job of just that. He uses EBAY to check CASE prices and it is very effective.
My concern is this, are we headed for a stock market crash in the knife collecting industry or is there no end in site. I do get concerned when knives that I felt comfortable saying should sell for $80 to $100, suddenly fetch twice or more than that. Many times I have seen this in fakes too. I recall a Tidioute knife that was a fraud and I tried to tell them so "mistake on my part, they already knew it and weren't interested in my opinions" and it sold for $210.- the buyer was taken. I am sure he thought it was a great deal too!
Not that there is much we can do, other than educate ourselves but I think that the prices are over inflated and those of us that are students of the hobby will be forced to do with out until reality comes back around.
I guess I just needed to say that. High prices don't make a hobby better. "Remember the beanie baby craze" I don't want to see that happen to us too.
Knife Market Has Gone Crazy IMO
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PA Knives
- Posts: 1860
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2005 1:53 pm
- Location: The "Magic Circle" in NW Pennsylvania
Knife Market Has Gone Crazy IMO
Contributions to Knife Magazine ,
Author of "Great Eastern Cutlery: An American Tradition, The History of the Northfield & Tidioute Brands" & "Tidioute: A Town With an Edge" “The Chronicles of Cooper Cutlery”
Author of "Great Eastern Cutlery: An American Tradition, The History of the Northfield & Tidioute Brands" & "Tidioute: A Town With an Edge" “The Chronicles of Cooper Cutlery”
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Bryan
- Gold Tier
- Posts: 2419
- Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2004 5:20 pm
- Location: Illinois
Hi PA,
I have noticed much of the same thing the past five or so years. My theory is this...
I believe that the internet (especially eBay) has played a large role in increasing the prices of high quality collectibles (knives included).
Two reasons for this:
1. The internet has increased the number of buyers / collectors. This of course increases the demand, and in turn, increases the price. I believe there are more buyers because of marketing as PA stated in his post, and the ease in which we can now buy. Prior to the internet, we had to go to knife shows and or find a dealer who may or may not have what we want. Now, we can shop for knives any time.. every day if we want...
2. Knives are more liquid (easier to sell). It has been my experience that increased liquidity always increases the price of an asset. A lot of collectors would be more willing to buy a $500 knife if they would be able to turn around and sell without much loss and very little hassle the next day or week if they wanted or needed the money. The internet (eBay in particular) has made this reality, and more people willing to buy expensive knives increases the prices.
Are knives headed for the same fate as beanie babies???
I would argue that they are not. The thing that sets knives appart (old ones in particular) is that there are only so many, and they have a rich history. Knives are not a fad, and the supply of Case XX era knives for example will never increase.
I would hate to speculate on what is going to happen to knife values. I don't think they can sustain the price appreciation that we have seen the past few years, but there is no way I would bet against continued upward values.
Please note that these are only my opinions. Take them for what they are worth...
Bryan
Has anyone else noticed that I can't spell???
I'm going to have to start running my posts through a spell checker. 
I have noticed much of the same thing the past five or so years. My theory is this...
I believe that the internet (especially eBay) has played a large role in increasing the prices of high quality collectibles (knives included).
Two reasons for this:
1. The internet has increased the number of buyers / collectors. This of course increases the demand, and in turn, increases the price. I believe there are more buyers because of marketing as PA stated in his post, and the ease in which we can now buy. Prior to the internet, we had to go to knife shows and or find a dealer who may or may not have what we want. Now, we can shop for knives any time.. every day if we want...
2. Knives are more liquid (easier to sell). It has been my experience that increased liquidity always increases the price of an asset. A lot of collectors would be more willing to buy a $500 knife if they would be able to turn around and sell without much loss and very little hassle the next day or week if they wanted or needed the money. The internet (eBay in particular) has made this reality, and more people willing to buy expensive knives increases the prices.
Are knives headed for the same fate as beanie babies???
I would argue that they are not. The thing that sets knives appart (old ones in particular) is that there are only so many, and they have a rich history. Knives are not a fad, and the supply of Case XX era knives for example will never increase.
I would hate to speculate on what is going to happen to knife values. I don't think they can sustain the price appreciation that we have seen the past few years, but there is no way I would bet against continued upward values.
Please note that these are only my opinions. Take them for what they are worth...
Bryan
Has anyone else noticed that I can't spell???
I'm going to have to start running my posts through a spell checker.