Do serial numbers affect value?

[fuzzman1982]

I would like to know if a knife is worth more if it has a serial number? Some of the GEC's have the same type of knives with and w/o serial numbers. Please explain.

[boggs]

To soon to tell.........

The real question you should be asking is ..If GEC makes 25-50 serialized knives of one pattern and only 3 non serialized of that same pattern which could conceivable be worth more?

or

visa versa

or

looking at the resell market there doesn't appear to be a difference.

The real area of interest is in the short runs of 3-8 pieces only and it doesn't matter if they were produced with s/n or n/s.

[mito0]

it depends on the buyer.
personally, i don't like serial numbers, and i'll buy a non-serialized version given the choice.
i think numbers on the bolster look tacky and detract from the knife's appearance.
like boggs said, the actual future value might be determined more by the production run or handle material more than the serial number.
for instance, it's possible that a stag handled version with a run of 25 might well end up being worth more than a swirly plastic handled version with a run of 5.
tough to say.
your best bet: buy what you like, and you'll never be disappointed.

[fuzzman1982]

Good advice. Thanks guys.

[gino]

I agree with Mito, I really dont like when there is numbers engraved in the bolsters. I avoid these as well.

[big monk]

I buy both_______like someone else said___buy what ya' like, first of all !!! I do beleive that the quantity of knives, in the production run,will evenually,make a difference in the re-sale values. GEC,keeps,a "'fairly accurate"" production total list,on their web.site. They,have cut back,to only serializing ,the first 25. They,were serializing the first 50,and before that the 100's____in the last year,I have concentrated,all my efforts,and monies,to the collection,of GEC knives___I have seen the ""short runs"" bring a little more, but not always ??? Lots of time,it is the appearance of the scales,and I say that,because,I,really ""chase"" the stags. I have some burnt stags,that look,better to me,than a genuine stag,on the same knife___I also,have some non-seralized knives,that look,better,than a serialized one,on the same knife ???? It seems to me too,that a lot of the GEC,bone,is dyed different ???? but is listed as the same color ??? I'll pick,the knife ,that looks best to me, As with any knife brand___the harder it is to find,a particular knife___the more it will cost ya' to buy it.___good luck,and happy hunting,Monk

An example of some of this,the Burnt Orange,is a (1 of only 3,with the Bomb Shield)____I paid ,the same price,as a regular run knife ******
the burnt stag,is a non-serialized knife,that I paid, $14 less,than,a serialized knife,just like it ??????

[johnnierotten]

I have traded for some....but I never buy them...not worth the extra $$ to me.

[JAYLUPARK]

I try to buy serial ones. If somehow they were stolen i figured they would be easier to track down or reacquire?

[mito0]

i hadn't really thought of it that way, but that makes sense.

... but i'll stick with my non-serialized.

[bonehead]

I try to buy serial ones. If somehow they were stolen i figured they would be easier to track down or reacquire?

Jaylupark,

No Disrepect by all means, But I have to believe this to be a nice thought at best. If the distributor/Seller of a given serialized knife was to record who bought it and possibly transfered it to, say like automobiles, then sure this would may work out OK. But what would it take to clean off the serial number from the bolster and toss the cert, e.g. GEC. For that matter why go through the trouble? How many knives get sold with the original reciept, and this would only be of value if the seller wrote down which serial number was purchased.

I may be too old, or perhaps a realist, but I don't believe it would be this easy

Bonehead

[johnnierotten]

True

[JAYLUPARK]

BONEHEAD,

All my GEC have been bought through distributors I have all documented sales receipts. My thinking is if I show up @ local flea market or check ebay it would be easy to locate stolen knives with serial numbers? Jay

[johnnierotten]

But what would it take to clean off the serial number from the bolster and toss the cert,

Jay....in a perfect world that would work. .......But as Bonehead put it......it would be easy to buff a serial number off and throw away the COA.
But I think its a wonderful idea to keep as much documentation that you can.
I like taking close up pics of mine.....especially the stag ones. no 2 look exactly alike.

[biglmbass]

Can't say if a serial # will affect value down the road or not, but my gut says not by much if any at all. I much prefer ones w'out digits scratched on them.

[Aimus Moses]

If you take the Case Classic series knives as an example, the serial numbers doesn't effect the price as much as the amount of knives made in a given production run. Very low production run CC knives bring more than other CC knives with a serial number. Then after that, the type of handle material sets the price factor for them. That's just using the CC series as an example. GEC knives could be completely different because with knife collecting, things change with knife collectors opinions, wants, and ect. of the knives themselves and sometimes that effects the prices. This is all JMHO though.

Aimus

[bonehead]

BONEHEAD,

All my GEC have been bought through distributors I have all documented sales receipts. My thinking is if I show up @ local flea market or check ebay it would be easy to locate stolen knives with serial numbers? Jay

Jay,

Hopefully this will never happen. But Keeping as much documentation as possible can only help