What things are worth is solely in the hands/eyes/brain of the buyer. Those are heirloom purchases that your kids will enjoy.
if you can afford to have children after buying one. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
+2
I completely appreciate everybody having their own set of worth and value.
And I understand that many people have more expendable income than myself.
All I can do is speak for myself and occassionally try to figure other people out (?????).
But, I don't actually personally know anybody outside of the bladeforums that appreciates knives that cost over $100 and probably not even $30 - $50 for that matter. - And I know a fair number of people making well into 6 digits.
So, I am already "extreme" for spending over $100.00 on any knife!
I don't (currently) have any kids. If, and when, I have kids, I probably couldn't afford those knives. Kids these days seem to cost a few thousand a month based on the toys the kids have... But, I can appreciate that many people have much more expendable income than myself and can afford 1 - 10 kids plus a bunch of toys.
These days, the number of kids who "Appreciate" anything is getting much slimmer - Let alone expecting a kid to appreciate what I appreciate.
I have a hard time believing that I could give a $600 - $1200 knife to a kid and truly expect the kid to appreciate how much it cost.
Aside from kids, I don't know that I could justify $600 - $1200 knives no matter how I tried - or even if I made $200,000+ a year. At some point, I have to ask myself how else I could have much more wisely spent the money or invested the money for future.
We are not talking about "Jeweled" knives here...
In the end, a knife is a shaped and sharpened piece of steel with a handle - and in the case of Busse knives - a synthetic resin handle at that! Busse knives are just peices of steel with handle material ground with grinders and sanding belts. Sometimes they run it through a bead blaster, sometimes they run it through a paint booth - woo-hoo!
We are still not talking about a Monet or Faberge'.
We are talking about a "Tool". A fine tool, but still a tool.
And truthfully, Busse fit and finish isn't the best in the world - Sorry! But, it isn't.
This is going to hurt or piss some people off, but the "Reality" is that I have seen Many knives from China and other similar countries priced at well under $50.00 that have way better fit, finish and sharpness!
Granted - Busse's blade steel is great! But, there are a lot of good quality steels getting the job done VERY well.
Busse knives are meant to be used - Not locked up in a safe or display case. It is somewhat puzzling to me how they have achieved such collectible status. But, good for Jerry and certain "investors" who have done well with the secondary market. Not so good for me. (... although, I have made a couple of bucks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> - nothing crazy or beyond covering shipping, costs, PayPal fees or similar though...)
I actually do "collect" many knives. But, I have to draw the line somewhere.
Not that I need more guns, but Heck for $600 - $1200 you can buy some very seriously FINELY crafted "performance" guns. (..... Or MANY other things!)
How do you justify spending so much more on a knife than a good gun?
How do you expect to spend $600 - $1200 on a knife and justify it as an heirloom? - Maybe if you are so lucky that Busse knives appreciate in value at about 10% per year.... seems possible at this rate (????).
Make sure you keep your Busse knives lubed up well and locked away tight - white gloves and all! Good luck!
But, I really can't see giving or willing a $600 - $1200 knife to children and expecting them to appreciate it "THAT" much. I would more likely expect them to try to figure out how to sell it... Easier just to put the money in some other type of investment.
To each his own... - My comments are coming from someone who does not appreciate the cost of diamonds and other over-priced pieces of jewelry... - Luckily for me, my wife doesn't either. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
I do appreciate collectible value and having "nice" things. But, my threashold just apparently isn't that high for knives.
I am not trying to start a flame war. I actually really like Busse knives and I wish I could afford them. But, they are just well out of my price justification.
I have already mentioned I think Busse knives are great with great steel. I have also mentioned that is not good enough considering the options (IMO). But, I will say one thing as positive as I can - At least with a Busse purchase, you have made a reasonably "safe" investment. The market as shown a pretty high percentage of profits made on the secondary market from Busse purchases.
But, the market is fickle. I have seen where knives from the past were selling at very high prices (Al Mar, Blackjack, etc.), but many knives that had high values at one time have for the most part dumped because of replacement options.
Busse prices continue to climb from factory. I can somewhat appreciate this as a business move by Jerry. There has obviously been a large number of people buying Busse knives to sell on the secondary market for a profit. Simple economics - supply & demand dictates that Jerry "was" not maximizing profits. Hind-site is 20/20.
People wait many months for Randall knives - Demand exceeds production ability - why not Busse. Busse is better than Randall in my book.
The flip side of this is that Scrap Yard and Swamp Rat are getting neglected! If Jerry can sell $$$$$$$ with Busse name, why waste time making $$ on Scrap Yard and Swamp Rat.
I don't blame Jerry for any of this. I commend and congratulate him. He has successfully impressed a niche market that is arguably hard to impress.
I might be venting because I can't get in on the knives I want at a price I can justify.
Again, good for Jerry and certain others. Just not so good for me.
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