Knife Collecting Question

CHIRO1989

I won 4 Benchmades back in 2001 or so, they are all labeled "First Proof 2 of 2", I had stashed them as graduation gifts for my 4 sons, they have not been carried and only have been handled. Son #1 already lost his, so the original group is not complete, I would like to engrave my kids names on them going forward since I did not with the first kid, I cannot find any reference if these have any additional value as proofs above the actual retail value of the knife, I do not want to engrave my kids name on it if there is some value to a collector out there, does anybody know of a group, link, or paper reference for determining value? Benchmade employees only response was " Ebay".







    

Linefinder

Can't answer your question, but I can tell you one thing. The one on the far right is one I've owned since 1998. If I ever have to cut my way through a burning airplane fuslage, I hope I'm carrying that one that day.

Mike

Gene L

I'd put my concerns on iKnife collector,  They've got a lot of knowledge on such things.

CHIRO1989

Linefinder said:

Can't answer your question, but I can tell you one thing. The one on the far right is one I've owned since 1998. If I ever have to cut my way through a burning airplane fuslage, I hope I'm carrying that one that day.

Mike

Yeah, they are all stout an lock up tight, I bought a Benchmade for my self because of these, as I look at mine now, no model # on it?

CHIRO1989

Gene L said:

I'd put my concerns on iKnife collector,  They've got a lot of knowledge on such things.

Thanks Gene, I will look closer at that site.

Linefinder

CHIRO1989 said:

Linefinder said:

Can't answer your question, but I can tell you one thing. The one on the far right is one I've owned since 1998. If I ever have to cut my way through a burning airplane fuslage, I hope I'm carrying that one that day.

Mike

Yeah, they are all stout an lock up tight, I bought a Benchmade for my self because of these, as I look at mine now, no model # on it?

710 Axis Lock, designed by McHennery & Williams.
Doesn't get much better.

CHIRO1989

Linefinder said:

CHIRO1989 said:

Linefinder said:

Can't answer your question, but I can tell you one thing. The one on the far right is one I've owned since 1998. If I ever have to cut my way through a burning airplane fuslage, I hope I'm carrying that one that day.

Mike

Yeah, they are all stout an lock up tight, I bought a Benchmade for my self because of these, as I look at mine now, no model # on it?

710 Axis Lock, designed by McHennery & Williams.
Doesn't get much better.

ooop, sorry, mine in my hand has no model # on it. 

JerryBobCo

Just a guess, but I would think that the collectability value of any knife would be damaged by such engraving.  

CHIRO1989

JerryBobCo said:

Just a guess, but I would think that the collectability value of any knife would be damaged by such engraving.  

Well yeah, I am trying to ascertain if I should engrave them because they have no collectibility with the engraving that is already on them or they are worth something North of the original prices and desirable enough to a collector to not muck them up with my kids names on them, if they are worth something I would just deal with the collector and replace them with comparable knives without the provenance. 

bklysen

Some time ago when we used to do knife threads pretty often, that one you mentioned and that Linefinder knows....seems to be completely off the market/out of production. 
I wonder whether that might impact your thinking? Just curious...

If I'm wrong about the availability, someone who knows...please let me know where you see it for sale?
 
 

Linefinder

The 710 Axis Lock has been unobtainum for years. Can't figure out why Bench Made discontinued the best folder they ever produced.

Mike

CHIRO1989

bklysen said:

Some time ago when we used to do knife threads pretty often, that one you mentioned and that Linefinder knows....seems to be completely off the market/out of production. 
I wonder whether that might impact your thinking? Just curious...

If I'm wrong about the availability, someone who knows...please let me know where you see it for sale?
 
 

Linefinder said:

The 710 Axis Lock has been unobtainum for years. Can't figure out why Bench Made discontinued the best folder they ever produced.

Mike

Yeah, this fact on the 710 in particular gave me pause, the fact that there is a "set" that I have due to the engraving got me on my quest, I have to wait for approval from the mods on iKnife Collector to post my inquiry.

Linefinder

knitepoet said:

Linefinder said:

The 710 Axis Lock has been unobtainum for years. Can't figure out why Bench Made discontinued the best folder they ever produced.

Mike

Probably because of the cost leading to poor sells.
My ATS34 710 is the most expensive knife I own.

Buying it from a truck stop knife shop in El Paso probably didn't help with the cost

$160 two decades ago for a folder is a pretty tough price point to maintain, for sure.

Mike