The last time that you had sticker shock?

[Ron Sabbagh]

When I first got into customs in the late 1990’s I had saved up $2000 to attend the NY custom knife show. I was hoping to buy a Tony Bose slip joint (which were under $2k at that time). Well...even back then Mr Bose sold out before the general public were allowed inside. So I wandered around to see what else was there. I was stopped in my tracks when I came upon a few knives on Ray Appleton’s table. Even a relative novice like me could appreciate the beauty and engineering in his work. When I asked for the price of his “tulip” folder (which was all steel) he came back with $27,000. I thought he was pulling my leg!

the knife sold an hour later for that price.