Holy Cow!!!!!!

The Becker knives, most recently manufactured by Camillus, and previously manufactured by Blackjack Knives, are selling for outrageous prices. Don't get me wrong, I know Camillus and Blackjack have closed their doors and are no longer manufacturing "Knives that work for a living" but before you bid hundreds of dollars on these knives please read on.

Point One:

These knives were made by the thousands and are unlikely to become true collectors items unless there is something truely unique about them (first production run, limited production run, signed prototype, or went to the moon and back - I am not saying these actually exist, I am just trying to make a point). A standard version with the regular handles will probably not be worth much even years and years down the road and then, like now, will be at the whims of the current collectors market. The same is true for the ones made a while back by Blackjack Knives.

Point Two:

In case you hadn't heard, Ethan Becker joined Ka-Bar knives in October 2007 and although nothing is official, it appears likely that these knives will soon be produced under the Ka-Bar name (check out the Kabar website, www (dot) kabar (dot) com, move your mouse to company info and click on press releases; in the next screen, click on the "Kabar introduces Becker Knife and Tool" link for more information). No news yet of when these knives might be produced or if they will be produced at all. I have tried to find out something from Ka-Bar but they are very hush-hush and have not replied to any of my inquiries. Not that I blame them. It would be a major marketing stroke of genius for them to announce this themselves rather than have rumors flying about (although based on the press release already mentioned it seems it is already too late to stop that). I was still hoping I might be able to find out something so I don't have to bid 150 of my hard earned dollars for a knife that only cost 50 when it was still being produced.

Point Three:

Which brings me to my final point. I refuse to bid over 100 dollars for a BK7 that originally sold for 50 or less, or more than 120 for a BK9 that originally sold for under 70. Google "becker bk9" and click on the first link (should take you to an old page at knives plus) or google "becker bk7" and on the second page of the search you can find a link to another knives plus page that shows the bk7 and several other becker knives at their original selling prices. Consider that before you bid four or more times what someone paid for their knife. It still makes me sick that I did not purchase one when they were still being made. Unfortunately, most of the people selling these knives now think they are collectors items when they are not and the people buying them think the same (refer back to point one). Don't get me wrong, some could be (like matching numbered sets with rare micarta handles - again I am not saying these exist I am just trying to make a point). Notice I said COULD BE. What you have to remember is that these may not be worth anything to a collector down the road. Phrases like "rare" or "limited production run" may lend credibility to the possibility that these may be worth something down the road but for the basic production models refer back to point one.

I would like to add something else here. Although I am an aspiring knife writer, I AM NOT AN EXPERT. Not on the Becker knives manufactured by Camillus or Blackjack, and certainly not on their current or future value to collectors. Please do not attempt to contact me regarding the authenticity of a certain knife or whether a claim made by a seller is genuine. Research it on the internet or contact someone, maybe several someones, at reputable knife publications such as Knives Illustrated, Blade Magazine, or Tactical knives just to name a few off the top of my head. Most have regular features dedicated to knives and their authenticity. 

In conclusion I would just like to say that the current going rate for most of these discontinued knives seems to be artificially inflated. I don't know if buyers are willing to pay so much because they hope that they are getting a collectible knife; if they intend to turn around and put it up for auction again in hopes of driving prices even higher; or if they are just someone like me who didn't buy one of these when they were still being made and are willing to pay no matter what the price. Whatever the case, we all need to stop overbidding on these. What I am mostly seeing are the basic production models with phrases such as "rare", "hard to find", "discontinued", or "no longer made" added to the sales hype/description to make the basic production model seem more valuable than it is. It makes it even harder when people like me see these knives for what they really are - useful tools. In fact, it is this vision of these knives as useful tools that I am even willing to go to 100 or 120 bidding on them. In truth, I may just quit and wait to see if any new versions from Ka-bar arrive on the scene.

I hope you have taken the time to read and consider all the information I have presented here before placing your next bid on one of these knives (oh, by the way, if they are so rare or hard to find, why is there always at least ten items when I do a search as well as more being sold in stores - hard to find indeed). As I said I am no expert but I hope if we all think for a minute this will make sense. Yes they are no longer manufactured (at least for the moment) but there appears to be plenty of them around (or at least the same ones keep coming up in the seller's hopes that he can get more out of it than what he paid for it). Don't continue to overbid on these items or the prices will only continue to go up and up to a point that even if one of us manages to buy one we will be too afraid to use it and end up stuffing it in a drawer or locking it up in a safe in some crazy hope that it may pay for someone's college someday. I am as guilty as anyone with a collection of Star Wars toys and a Blackjack Condor with gray micarta handle and matching gray leather sheath, all of which may one day end up on the auction block to supplement my own son's college fund - or buy a tank of gas. Maybe if I add "hard to find" or "rare" to my description I can find someone willing to pay a 300 percent or more markup over what I paid. Maybe ...