Also, secondary market prices can eat you alive. I refuse to get anything secondary market if it was made before 2010 or so, I just can't justify the premiums. These blades are already pretty pricey (especially Busse's) paying more than retail for them is downright brutal for those of us on a budget.
Since becoming aware of these about a year ago, I've had about 30 Busse & Kin pass through my hands already. Most of these got sold or traded out of necessity, but shipping costs have nearly eaten me alive it seems. It really adds up when you count shipping and loss of value for those sold on the exchange.
I bought my first Bussekin during the original Scrapper 5 release of 2008. I ordered two of them (his and hers). Since then I've owned (I'm probably missing a few here - I've spent the past five minutes thinking back over the various color combos, etc):
(3) Scrapivores
(9) Swamp Wardens
(3) Rodent Solutions
(1) 311
(2) Yard Keeper's
(2) Yard Keeper LE's
(6) 411's
(1) Hog Muk LE
(3) 511's
(2) Dumpster Mutt CG's
(2) Dumpster Mutt DC's
(1) Urban Mutt
(5 or 6) Scrapper 5CG's
(2) Scrapper 5LE's
(6) Ratmandu's
(1) Tank Buster
(4) ASH-1 .32"
(3) ASH-1 .22"
(2) ASH-1 .187"
(1) SJTAC CG
(2) SJTAC ETS's
(2) SJTAC SF-1 MO's
(3) 711's
(2) Mil Regulators
(5) Son of a Dogfathers
(2) Chopweilers
(4) NMSFNO's
(2) NMFSH's
(3) Dogfathers
Most of these have been sold. If I added correctly that is 84 knives! You are absolutely correct in mentioning the secondary prices and shipping issue. I have a new Desert Dogfather that I paid $275 + shipping for. I then had Al Welke make a kydex pancake sheath. So I'm at $340 in the package, and have never used it. I have it listed for more than I have invested, but but after their eBay fees, PayPal fees, and shipping I'll end up with around $300 (a loss of $40). Multiply this over all of the knives I've bought and sold, and its unnerving.
Here's what I have left as of two minutes ago (I just checked messages on other forums and a SEVERAL of my knives have sold this morning..to one person!):
(3) Scrapivores
(4) Swamp Wardens
(6) 411's
(1) Scrapper 5CG
(2) Scrapper 5LE's
(1) Tank Buster
(1) ASH-1 .22"
(1) ASH-1 .187"
(1) SJTAC ETS
(1) SJTAC SF-1 MO
(2) NMSFNO's
(2) NMFSH's
(1) Dogfather
After I put the "sale knives" online next Monday I hope to get down to this pretty quickly:
(2) Swamp Wardens
(6) 411
(2) Scrapper 5LE's
(1) Tank Buster
(1) ASH-1 .22"
(1) ASH-1 .187"
(1) SJTAC ETS's
(1) SJTAC SF-1 MO's
(2) NMSFNO's
(2) NMFSH's
NOTE: FOUR of the 411's are being given away at Christmas. I'm keeping two for me and the wife.That'll leave me with no more than two of any one design so I can have a "user and safe queen" for those designs I'm especially fond of.
