It’s challenging to find a knife manufacturer that understands your needs and your materials. Your needs are your craft.
The knife you are about to make should fit your hand, fit your style, and be able to hold up to your life. You want a knife that is a part of you.
A knife is a lot like a car, a designer and a craftsman should always be consulted before building a knife. If you don’t understand what you are doing, it will be obvious in the end result.
If you want to understand how to price a custom knife before getting started, then here are some tips:
1. Know your market and what it’s willing to pay for the product that you have in mind.
If you don’t know this information, then get out there and find out! You can start by talking with other makers or asking around at shows like Blade Show, Knife World Expo, etc.
The more people who ask about pricing will help you figure out where things stand.
2. Don’t be afraid of being too high on prices.
You may think that if you charge £500-£1000 per knife, no one would buy them because they could just go to the store and buy something cheaper. This isn’t true.
People love handmade knives. They appreciate quality workmanship and design. It’s not uncommon for someone to spend over £1000 on their first knife.
I’ve seen many people purchase multiple knives from me as gifts. Some even give away my knives as presents.
Factors to consider :
- Consumer demand for custom knives
1. Understand the value of time.
Time is money. The longer it takes to build a knife, the less profit you’ll see. I’m sure you’re aware of this already but sometimes we forget.
2. Be realistic.
Don’t set yourself up for failure by setting unrealistic expectations. A good rule of thumb is to keep costs down while still making enough money to cover expenses.
Keep an eye on competition. Therefore, try to stay ahead of the curve so you won’t lose customers due to lack of innovation.
3. Understand the cost of production.
This includes everything from raw material to labor. Labor is probably the most expensive component of any project.
4. Be prepared to invest in tools.
There are lots of different types of bladesmithing equipment available today. There are also plenty of online resources to learn new techniques.
5. Have fun!
- Demand via hype for custom knives
The market is saturated with cheap, mass produced knives. The consumer has become accustomed to the idea of buying a knife that will last them years and be able to do everything they need it to do.
This means that there are many people who want something different than what’s available in stores or on websites like Amazon. These people have been waiting for someone to make their dream knife come true.
How does a beginner go about pricing their knives?
When it comes to knives, there are a lot of things to consider when setting a price. One important thing to think about is the material, and where that material is from.
Price is also very important when it comes to the size, weight, and style of the handle. And what is involved in the manufacturing of the knife.
What does a custom knife really cost in UK?
- Damascus Knife
The Damascus knife is a specific type of knife made of steel with a pattern on it. The pattern is either a hand forged pattern, or a machine made pattern.
The pattern varies in complexity and the highest price point of a Damascus knife is UK £3,000.
- Handmade knife
The average price of a handmade knife is between £50-200. Knives are very common in Britain and you can buy handmade knives from craft markets, flea markets, and antique shops.
- Hultafors outdoor knives
Hultafors Outdoor knives are sold in UK, price depends on the blade material. Prices range from 71.24 GBP to 188.53 GBP and higher depending on the handle material.
- Average knife
The average price for a fixed blade knife with a handle or sheath is between £10 and £200, while the average price for a folding blade knife is between £5 and £15.
- Bespoke knife
A bespoke knife is a knife that has been custom built for the buyer. Prices for bespoke knives vary widely, depending on the type of knife, the maker, and the materials used.
Normally, the price can go anywhere from £100 – £500, and that doesn’t include shipping, import fees, or taxes.
- British custom knife
The British custom knife common price in UK is $200 – $1500.
- Hand-forged Damascus Knife
Hand-forged Damascus Knife is a type of knife that possesses a layered blade that is commonly used in the Middle East. The higher quality of the knife the more expensive it is.
The average price of hand-forged Damascus Knife in UK is about £150.50.
- Handmade kitchen knife
The price of a handmade kitchen knife depends on the material it is made of, the size, the blade shape, the color and the handle. Handmade knives are made by master craftsmen who charge a premium price because of their attention to detail and the quality.
- Handmade knife blades
Prices vary depending on the manufacturer, design and quality of the steel. Something like a small folding pocket knife made of 440C steel will cost £30 to £50.
- Industrial knife
Prices can range between around £15 to £70. If you prefer to purchase a UK made knife, you should expect to pay around £30-£40.
Who are the potential buyers for selling blade knives?
The only reason to use a blade knife is for a real-life, mortal purpose—to kill an animal, slice an apple, or even cut up fruit for the sake of cooking.
However, blade knives are usually only used by enthusiasts who have a passion for knives or hunting, or by military personnel and law enforcement officers. Yet, the market for selling blade knives is quite large, producing six billion dollars a year.
Knives are one of the most popular products sold at flea markets, cutlery showrooms, and online. In fact, the global knife industry is expected to grow from £13 billion in 2014 to £14.7 billion in 2017, and £15.7 billion in 2018 cost per knife.
The knives industry has a focus on retailers and wholesalers, with many vendors selling knives online.
When thinking about who may buy your blades you have to think of the three main groups of people.
- A newbie knife enthusiast, who has never purchased a knife before and is looking for his first purchase.
- An experienced knife enthusiast, who has decided to upgrade his/her collection of blades.
- A collector of blades and knives.
Basic materials for making custom knives and material cost
To make a knife from scratch you need steel, wood and handle material. You will have to decide whether you need a full tang or a hidden tang knife, and how you will finish the blade. The best material for making a knife is high carbon steel.
The basic materials for making a custom knife are steel, nickel, copper, cast iron, and wood. It costs £0.56 per inch for steel, £0.18 per inch for nickel, £0.14 per inch of copper, £0.75 per inch of cast iron, and £0.50 per inch of wood.
Therefore, if you want to make a knife out of stainless steel, then you would be spending £1.44 per inch.
If you want to make a wooden handled knife, then you will spend £2.00 per inch. However, if you choose to go for a forged knife, then you will have to invest £3.60 per inch.
You also need to know what type of handle you want to put on your knife. There are different types of handles such as fixed and removable.
- Fixed handles
Cannot be removed without damaging them. Removable handles can be easily replaced after they get damaged.
Fixed handles include drop point, clip point, thumb hole, flipper, and others. These kinds of handles require more time and effort to create than other styles. They are often expensive too.
- Removable handles
include slip joint, ball bearing, button lock, and others. Slip joints allow easy replacement of the handle.
Ball bearings on a removable handles on knife are a popular choice because they provide smooth operation with minimal friction. They also have an advantage over other types of bearings in that there is no need to lubricate them.
However, if you want your knife to be watertight, then it’s best not to use this type of bearing. Button locks can be used on any blade style but require more work than most people will put into their knives.
The downside to these knifes is that they tend to wear out quickly.
