1. What makes a KnifeLegends custom knife different from mass-produced knives?
Art knives purchased from KnifeLegends are always individually crafted one at a time by highly skill artists using the finest materials available. They are not mass produced to a price in a factory by hundreds or thousands. In addition, we chose only the finest most perfect and most collectible models made by the individual artists we represent. Not every knife is highly collectible even when made by an elite artist. We help you select knives that are likely to be most saleable or tradable in the future.
2. Do your knives appreciate in value over time?
Some of the knives we sell tend to appreciate over time, some not so much. If you ask us about the appreciation value of any knife or maker we represent, we will be happy to let you know what we think. But keep in mind non one has a crystal ball that sees into the future. We can let you know what has happened in the past and we can tell you which makers have appreciated most recently, but there are no future guarantees about the appreciation of any collectible.
3. How do you verify the authenticity or provenance of collectible knives?
Fortunately, there is not much in the way of counterfeiting in the custom knife world. Although sometimes valuable knives have been rehandled by someone other than the maker, which is a problem in terms of knife value. We have most often seen this with Bob Loveless and Schmidt knives.
This is because those knives are valuable and sometimes come to us 20-30 years after they were made. If one of these knives has handle material that is warped, scratched or cracked there is a temptation to have the damaged handle material replaced. This absolutely lowers the value of the knife in question and we will not buy or sell a knife where this kind of alteration is present. Most serious collectors will not purchase a knife altered in this way as well.
Generally speaking, someone who is able to copy a top maker perfectly can make and sell knives under their own name just as well. There are some makers who do not always mark their knives, or who use a number of different marks and logos, such as Bob Loveless, but we are generally able to help you authenticate most modern art knives – just ask!
4. Can I request information about the maker’s history or craftsmanship style?
If you request information on a maker’s history or craftmanship style we can generally help you out by answering your questions directly by phone or by sending you to an appropriate website. In this day and age Google is our friend! There is also excellent information on our side by most if not of the artists we represent.
5. Are your knives intended for actual use, or primarily for collection and investment?
We do sell some knives that can be used, but most of the knives we sell are intended for collection only. However, we represent a number of Traditional Slip-joint makers and all of those knives were originally intended for use. However, given the cost, most collectors chose not to use them. Loveless knives, Loveless style knives and Hunting knives in general can all be used, just as long as you understand the consequences.
In other words, once a custom knife has even the smallest amount of use it is no longer collectible and will have very little residual value. And honestly our clients would never consider purchasing a knife that has been used. We know many collectors who can afford to put a $10,000 in their pocket, but our question is why would you want to? In the end, once you’ve purchased a custom knife you may do as you please with it, but once used it is no longer collectible or saleable.
A word about custom knives as investments. Hand made knives are not an investment in the traditional sense. They do not pay interest and do not automatically increase in value like stocks or bonds. Sometimes knives do increase in value but we counsel our clients not to consider them investments because appreciation is not guaranteed and no interest is paid.
If you ask us which knives have traditionally increased in value, we would be happy to share our knowledge, but this is still not a guarantee. And what goes up can also come down as with any other collectible. Generally, a knife would have to increase in value by 30% in order for you to break even on what you paid. Call or email us to find out why
6. Can I reserve a knife before it is publicly listed for sale?
Strictly speaking you cannot reserve a knife before it is publicly listed for sale. We have too many clients and there are too many variables for that to work fairly. However, we do work closely with clients who are trying to acquire certain knives or build a collection of knives made by certain makers.
And generally speaking, we are able to obtain those knives given enough time. We have great direct relationships with most knife makers, and we are also a source for hard-to-get custom knives by makers such as Appleton, Schmidt, Steinau and Walker. Call us to discuss your needs and we will be happy to work out a plan to locate what you want. That service comes with certain conditions which will be happy to discuss with you by phone or email.
7. Do you offer personalized photo or video inspections before purchase?
Generally, we do not offer personalized photos or video inspection before purchase although there can be exceptions. No serious collector buys a knife without examining it in person and as a result we have a money back guarantee. In addition, our photos are taken by Jim Cooper the finest photographer in the custom knife world. No photo we take can do justice to a knife the way one of Jim’s work can. In addition, a knife photo or image will look different on every computer, phone, tablet or monitor no matter how well intentioned a person is. If someone is trying to hide problems it is easy to do. Just call.
8. How should I store high-value knives to prevent aging or material damage?
The majority of custom knives made with modern materials need no special care. Just keep them away from sunlight, radiators and extremes of temperature or humidity. Stainless steel does not need to be waxed or oiled. Most at risk are natural materials such as Stag, Horn and Wood. These may crack, shrink or warp over time no matter what you do, but you generally avoid these problems by staying away from certain handle materials. We can advise you about this matter by phone or email and we generally stay away from the worst culprits as it is. This is also why we love inlays or handles of Jade, Agate, Fossilized materials, Jigged Bone, semi-precious stone, pearl, micarta and carbon fibre, as well as many other synthetic materials.
9. Do you provide care recommendations for rare materials like pearl, ivory, or exotic woods?
We will happily provide care and storage information for any we sell. We do not sell knives with handles of Elephant Ivory as well as any other restricted or prohibited materials. As a collector you should not purchase them either. We support the conservation of endangered species and we will not source knives with handles made from them. Please keep in mind that extinct is forever.
10. Do you offer restoration or maintenance services for collectible knives?
If one of your collectible knives needs restoration or maintenance it is always preferable to contact the original maker or artist where possible. If the maker is not longer living or is on the other side of the world, we can refer you to elite makers who will generally be willing to do the work at a fair price. Just ask us.
Keep in mind that you cannot expect an artist who makes knives which sell for thousands of dollars to repair your knife for a few bucks. They will charge an hourly rate comparable to what they get for making a knife. My experience has been this rate will generally be fair and a lot of makers will charge less for repairs than I feel they should, but that is up to them. The most important thing is your knife will have been properly repaired by the original artist which preserves value for resale or trade.
11. Do you provide discreet or secure packaging for high-value shipments?
We always package shipments securely and discreetly with no value placed on the air bills. We also ship as Paul Shindler and not KnifeLegends. In the last twenty years we have shipped more than 12,000 knives and not lost one!
12. Can you help determine whether a specific knife model is legal in my state or country?
Unfortuately we are not able to provide this service as there are 50 different states with 50 different sets of knife laws, some of which are currently in a state of flux. You must contact the proper authority in your state directly. You might be able to get this information by Googling KnifeRights.com and they may be able to help you directly.
13. Do you offer temperature-controlled shipping for sensitive natural handle materials?
No knife dealer we are familiar with anywhere is the world uses temperature or humidity-controlled shipping methods. However, we recommend acclimating any knife package you receive in two simple steps, first by allowing the exterior shipping package to adjust to your room temperature for three hours and then by allowing any interior packaging or wrapping to adjust to room temperature for another three hours.
We have not had this method fail once since 1976!
14. Do you offer alerts for newly acquired knives from specific makers?
Sorry we are not equipped to do this at the present time.
15. Can I follow the status of a knife while it’s being sourced or scouted for me?
You can do this by calling or emailing us at any time.
16. Can KnifeLegends help authenticate knives not purchased from your site?
Sometimes this is possible if the knife comes from a maker you see on our site. Otherwise, it is best to contact the dealer you purchased the knife from.