NOT a sellers >>>>>>>>

**Stabber** · 08-09-2007, 09:37 AM

Market?
Is it just me or are knife sales as a seller down?

Man, I buy a lot of knives!! Not as many lately because I have been trying to bring in some money before I buy a new knife.

When I buy a knife, I tell the seller "i'll take it"! Period. No bickering about the price, can I have 30 more pics ,can you include Paypal, Ect Ect

You wind up getting these VERY INSULTING lowball offers and it's hard to keep your cool sometimes

**desmodus** · 08-09-2007, 09:50 AM

selling right now is garbage. all of my sales have been for non-knife reasons and it's killing me the prices i'm getting. i have to sell a few more now and i don't even know where to start because things are so bad...

**Parker** · 08-09-2007, 10:47 AM

Stabby, I'm with you on this one - a while back I needed to liquidate a pair of Sebs, mainly since Daddy Needed a New Gun or some such nonsense.

$625 shipped for a pair of BG42 sebs is pretty good, and I've got the PM saved from the guy who posted "I'll take it" and then PM'd me a minute later for pics, pics more pics.

I will likely place in a vise and break a Benchmade knife before selling one ever again - 710 with M2 blade is I now know worth $200 NIB - mine was not, it was like new however, and I offered it for $120. I had literally 25 idiots kicking down the doors wanting to buy, pics, etc, will I take....

One retard even had his buddy paypal me money on Sat morn, he changed his mine by Sat night, but since I don't always sit by the computer jerking off while reading bladeforums he had his buddy retract payment. It held until Monday mid-morning and when i found the half dozen increasingly-frantic emails from him, I told him to take some valium and wash it down with whiskey.

That much trouble for $120. Bag it, the amount of trouble it was to sell that was just not worth it.

**BoerBoelGuy** · 08-09-2007, 11:10 AM

economy is tough right now, and WILL get worse, before better, ALL fronts are seeing it. Parker did you here about the potential tax increase proposed , to bail out the SubPrime Lending Market....TOTAL BS IMO.... any how sales across the board have slowed.

BBG

**tmik** · 08-09-2007, 11:15 AM

I'm seeing customs build up in inventory from makers myself. This stuff goes in cycles - just have to sit it out.

**desmodus** · 08-09-2007, 11:18 AM

we will be entering the worst depression ever rather much sooner than later and most of us will be doing many things we never would have considered such a short time ago...

**shakie** · 08-09-2007, 11:31 AM

You said it stab, I made a knife for a guy with a holster clip sheath, He asked for a belt loop sheath, so I made one with a snap strap, then he wanted a pouch type, (I'm a glutton for punishment) I made one, called him last night, He says my wife was in a car accident and I got no money now. Shoulda seen it coming! I just sent one out to Paul Bos for H.T. for Big Mark and I just realized hes been MIA for quite awhile. Oh Well LIBATYD

**silenthunterstudios** · 08-09-2007, 11:39 AM

Bigmark was active on BF.

I am in the same boat. I have had nothing but good transactions on BF and JD, KF also. Stabber, I got your sickness that I buy almost everything I see too! Also on Microholics, if only buying from people. Lots of trades, I hope that none of my trade offers offended anyone. As for sales, nope, nothin'.

**Les Robertson** · 08-09-2007, 12:31 PM

Interesting thread.

The forums help and hurt themselves all at the same time.

So many forums tout the Sebbie or Striders as the knife to buy. People listen to your advice and buy what you recommend. This causes a flattening of the "Supply and Demand" concept.

So many people now have these knives that they are putting them up for sale everywhere.

Consequently, they are not holding their prices like they did a few years ago.

Has nothing to do with the quality of the knife, it has everything to do with the "Quantity" of the knives.

You guys do a great job of educating buyers, to the point that they are getting picky and not buying (for the most part) if they can't get a "deal".

As for customs, 0nce again the internet and schools (like Old Washington Arkansas for the ABS and hammer-in's provide vast amounts of information. Subsequently, those makers with some talent really take off in just a few years. Those who have average talent are now competing in the ever expanding amount of custom knife makers.

As with the factory knives, the custom knife buyers are getting picky. Oddly enough there is a growing group who are at least considering how a makers work sells in the aftermarket.

Contrary to what the majority of the liberal press says, the economy is booming. There will be no bail out of the sub-prime mortgage debacle. However, there will be thousands who lose their jobs. If a democrat was the President all you would read is how inflation is low, unemployment is at record lows, while the stock market can't make up its mind it will more than likely be over 14,000 by the end of the year. At least in Georgia gas is down 23 cents n the last two weeks.

Oil is down almost $4 a barrel this week, which will mean cheaper gas in the upcoming months. Two months into the Hurricane season and only two name tropical storms. Etc. Etc.

Custom knives are selling at all time high prices. Millions of Dollars are changing hands monthy (if not weekly).

If your sales are slow, re-look:

1) Your business plan (if you don't have one write one)

2) Your marketing plan (if you don't have one this is a main component as to why your knives are selling. Do you know your position in the markets you compete in? Are you knives value priced allowing you to compete favorably in those markets? If you can't answer those questions, you are hurting your sales).

For collectors, don't just buy everything you see. Become selective. Since you know that you will re-sell or trade the majority of your knives. Become intimately familiar with what these knives do in the after market. After all this is where you live.

Guys if you are making knives that don't sell (excluding canceled orders) you are not making what the collectors want. Remember it is not about you or the knife...it is about the customer. What they want! Remember, no customers...no business.

If you are a collector and your sales are slow. That means you bought the wrong knife at the wrong price. Again, if you are buying for resale you have to be more specific in your goals regarding the purchase of a knife. Take it from someone who has been buying and selling custom knives for over 22 years. It is not easy.

I am writing an article for Blade on the "Business of Custom Knives" probably be out in November. If you get a chance you might want to pick up that issue. Lots of basic, but very good information.

Oh, one last thing. June 15th through August 30th is the worst time to sell knives. Good thing September is almost here.

**Galloglas** · 08-09-2007, 01:55 PM

I have been making Japanese style swords (and doing full polishes and mounts on blades for other guys..) for about 15 years. In May of 2007 I had a "situation" at my day job and ended up quitting 'cause I'm an asshole and can't allow myself to be cornholed daily.

I figured I had about $10K worth of stuff sitting on the shelves that should have been able to be moved/sold over a 3 month period and by then I'd have another $10K worth of product ready to go. So, while I didn't feel totally confident I could survive indefinately as a full time cutler I figured I could keep the bills paid for 3-6 months with a minimum amount of luck.

I have sold $2K worth of the original $10K and now realise that my market is so low that I'm toast. So, it's back to a day job for me after eatin' a lot of crow. I think the overall market for customs is about as low as I have seen it right now for a very long time. I'm giving up the Japanese sword thing completely and learning to make folders as a hobby.

I'm pretty much done with cutlery as a means of making any real money...I sold a couple pieces for about half of what it took to make them.

I'm done.

Brian

**L R Harner** · 08-09-2007, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by Les Robertson

Interesting thread.

Oh, one last thing. June 15th through August 30th is the worst time to sell knives. Good thing September is almost here.

rebound from blade show spending and summer vacations

i like to add the month before blade as also slow but not just cause the buyers are saving up but also the makers are tiring to get some extra inventory

**silenthunterstudios** · 08-09-2007, 02:04 PM

Custom wise, I think that if you look hard enough, you can find up and coming makers that know their craft for good money.

Makers like Larry Nowicki, Scott Gossman, Butch Harner and David Farmer, to name a few. All of these men are not up and coming, they are solidified in the community. Some have long wait times, others a shorter wait time.

I am in the process of ordering a Bob Dozier KS7. Cost is 255.00. That is standard. If none of the people on here know who Bob is, you should. Not saying he's the greatest maker who ever lived, just that he is well known and respected in the community. A 5" camp knife for only 255.00, using D2 and micarta, thats what I'm talking about!

I am surprised that my two customs have not moved yet. As for the productions, I posted a trade list on BF, nothing. Posted a for sale list, and that I would be considering trades, got an onslaught of emails, pm's etc. I'm working on two trades right now, we'll see what happens.

**Les Robertson** · 08-09-2007, 03:17 PM

Hi Galoglas.

Actually the custom knife market is about the best I have seen it in 20 years. You entered knife making with no business plan. Additionally, you were trying to move into a slow sector of the market. Generally it takes makers about 5-7 years before thinking about going full time.

Hi Butch,

The month before the Blade Show is one of my best months. The week before the show often mirrors what I will do in sales at the show. Obviously it is going to be a little different for makers than it is for dealers, since dealers will have more available knives.

Hi Silent Hunter,

The makers you listed are solidified in the JD Community. They are among a ever growing group of talented makers who only small sectors of the custom knife community know.

As for the Dozier, he is producing a lot of knives (with the 3-4 people working in his shop...according to Bob). He is starting to fill the demand.

Kinda like Emerson bringing 60 folders to the Blade Show, not to many Emersons sold for over $800 at that show. I had dealers trying to sell me Emerson's for less than retail...because they had had the knives for years.

Mitch Lum on another forum is talking about an "adjustment" in the Onion market...prices are dropping. Prices are dropping on Boguszewski's as well. They still are selling or over retail, but not like it was a couple years ago.

Right now it is Bob Lum, Rick Hinderer, Bob Loveless, Steve Johnson, Walter Brend, Jerry Fisk and another 15 on top of that. To include Emerson, Onion and Boguszewski. Are the ones in demand right now. By that I mean, you buy the knife directly from the maker, turn around and someone is waiting there to buy it at a premium. That is of course a very small sector of the market.

One thing I can tell you, that makers who are not spending money on advertising, going to shows, getting a web site and perhaps working with dealers are doing nothing to improve their position in the market.

Again, my comments are for those makers who view their knife making as more than a hobby and perhaps one day want to go full time.

**silenthunterstudios** · 08-09-2007, 03:24 PM

Les, while I am considering resale value when purchasing a custom, I have decided that I cannot make a profit reselling customs or productions, and only buy what I can use.