Investment and Collector's Knives

Custom and handmade fine knives can be a real investment opportunity. Just like fine firearms, jewelry, or artwork, knives that are well-made, unique and valuable, and are made by a known and established maker have good and an often appreciating value.

There are many reasons that people collect knives. The value of one-of-a-kind finely crafted works are substantial, compact, and absolute. Some knives are collected for resale, often at several times their purchase price. In my own knives, I've found that the value of the knife may appreciate by simply waiting for the order to be delivered! There is a huge business in the buying and selling of investment potential knives by collectors and dealers, but mostly, people collect knives because they love them.

In my experience, there is a difference in definition of an investment knife or a collector's knife. An investment knife is purchased for its value, and steps are taken to preserve the value long term. The knife is stored carefully, handled respectfully, and preservation of its appearance is paramount. Just like a fine firearm or work of art, a knife purchased solely for its investment potential is maintained and preserved, and seldom, if ever, used. This does not mean the investment knife is made of inferior or weak materials; it should be made to the same exceptional standards as if it would someday be used and depended on. Though it may never cut anything but air, it is still a finely made knife, ready for use.

A collector's knife can have the same properties as the investment knife above, but may not be purchased for its investment value, and simply for the love of the knife. Some of the collector's knives are used, and though they do not remain pristine, they can and do still have substantial value, as long as they are not significantly battered, used, or damaged. A very finely made knife is a pleasure to use, and collector's knives may fit that desire.

What sets both of these types of knives apart from others are several factors of construction, design, and execution of artistic methods for the knife.

• Materials: The materials of a fine investment or collector's knife are usually superior to working knives. For me and my knives, that usually means fine tool grade stainless steels over common (standard) steel grades, substantial bolster materials, and gemstone over woods or manmade handle materials. Sheaths often have fine tooling or inlays of exotic skins, and stands or cases may accompany the piece. Once in a while, you'll see one of my investment or collector's grade fine handmade knives with a hardwood handle and brass bolsters, but not often.
• Design: Design variances for investment and collector's grade knives are a bit harder to define. For instance, I frequently like to take a solid combat and working knife design and make the knife to investment grade. A good design is always a good design, whether used for a working knife or sitting in a display case. Some designs preclude daily use though, and the design difficulty of construction, size, features, or arrangements of the collector's knife may not make a practical daily carry, working, hunting, or tactical knife.
• Finish: This one is easy to define. Nearly all collector's or investment grade knives have a high degree of finish. Fine finishes bring out the best in materials, and it can take considerable skill and effort to finish fine knife blades, fittings, handles, sheaths, and stands or cases. You don't generally see satin or bead blasted finishes on investment grade knives, though for some materials (like CPMS30V and CPMS90V blade steels) satin is the best that can be achieved. They are the exception, and mostly the blade finishes are mirrored, as are the bolsters, and the handles brightly and finely polished to the best that the material can exhibit.
• Embellishment: Though it is  not an absolute requirement for investment and collectors knives, it does appear frequently. Engraving, filework, carving, and etching are the main processes applied to this type of knife artwork. The artist's design, application, and overall theme can be exhibitive there. Though a knife can be sent out for embellishment from another artist or craftsman, this may not be of the highest value or appeal as sole authorship is over the long term.
• Accessories: I'm describing sheaths, stands, or cases. I believe these should be a part of the whole package, not an afterthought or simply a place to put or carry the knife. They should be commensurate with the quality, theme, finish, and arrangement of the piece, and thus, become necessary to the whole.

Below are a group of investment and collector's grade knives in captioned thumbnail photos. For many more knives in this genre, I encourage you to visit my Featured Knife page, which has links to individual knife pages that detail, describe, and have interesting comments of the knives as well as additional photographs of both sides of the knife, the spine and edgework, handle close-ups, engraving details, and sheath pictures.