William Henry Knives (High End): Worth It?

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HJK

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As we all know, William Henry Knives make some very nice knives. They have a line ( or lines) of high end, and quite expensive, semi-custom knives
that cost $1000.00 and more. The ones I've seen appear to be very well made and some are quite beautiful. But, reflexively, I would be ( and am) more than a little reluctant to invest that much in a knife that isn't a full custom made by a custom maker with a name and a face and a reputation.

Does anyone know who makes these knives, and does anyone have an opinion on the quality and value of these knives?

i know some forumites don't think any knife is worth that much money. Certainly some knives are worth it both as art and as investments, so I don't want to have a flame war about that issue.

But are these particular semi-productions worth it, in your opinion, and why or why not?
 
"Worth it" is always a hard question.

They are extremely nice knives, attractive and well made.....sometimes artfully made. Typically of unusual and or high end componets.
Excellent gentlemens folders and that is the main direction they take in their marketing. There is a reason most are sold in jewelery stores.

Invest? Not sure about that one. IMHO they should hold their price fairly well, but I have doubts about them increasing in value, even though almost all the line is limited production. I'm just not sure there is sufficient collector interest for them to increase much...but I will stand corrected by someone more knowledgeable with WH.

Like you, I can't quite see myself buying one. So far I have not seen one that rang my bell enough for me to pay the price, but if I saw one that really appealed to me I might take the plunge.
 
One of the things I have always liked about buying customs is supporting individual makers/artists/individuals. In the old days ordering and buying knives was a more personal thing. It was even a little bit like that with some production knives like Busse, and certain dealers, before they become so popular. I know nowadays that's seldom the case even with custom makers.
Still, it just doesn't feel the same to me.

Maybe that was always a bit illusory and I'm just old, deluded and decrepit. Maybe there ain't no maybe about it ;)

More seriously, maybe there isn't much real difference anymore between a full custom and one of these high end semi-customs, unless it's a really special knife like a Walker or a Moran etc?
 
You may want to do a search - I believe this very topic was recently discussed.
 
Jiggy said:
Why do people keep asking if certain knives are worth it? That's up to you and you alone.
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With respect, no. Whether something is worth it is not completely subjective. There is the question of workmanship, quality of materials, market value and so forth. I know why I would pay more for a Yoshihara than a Cold Steel and why only a fool wouldn't,
and my question is along those lines, Jiggy.
 
AG Russell describes them on his site as semi-handmade, semi-production. The company is William Henry Studio (changed from "William Henry Knives" a while back) and their target market is the high-end executive type knife purchaser (who just may want a set of matching cufflinks from WHS to go with the blade). They are truly beautiful knives and the ones I've used and handled (on the low end, of course) are good cutters and I felt worth the money. Along with Allan45 I don't think they're good investments, and neither meant or marketed that way. The Tom Brown tracker guy opted to use one of their models (titanium without much decoration) for his school a couple of years ago and if you search around you'll find a review somewhere.

So it depends on what you want (I'm working to master the obvious with that statement). I think you'd really need to compare a similarly priced custom with one of the WH's. I think the biggest thing for me is that with a custom maker you have a wider range of styles to choose from and more fun talking with the maker to plan the knife. For a busy executive with a lot of discretionary money and not a lot of time, that person wouldn't go wrong with a WHS knife and that's probably all they need to know (which brings us back to the "target market"). Sort of like them just getting a Rolex and a BMW without reading the ads, consumer reports, etc.
 
Toyz said:
You may want to do a search - I believe this very topic was recently discussed.
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I did a couple of quick searches and I didn't find a discussion that addressed the issues. If you have any substantive input on the subject I'd love to hear your opinion.
 
Gargs said:
AG Russell describes them on his site as semi-handmade, semi-production. The company is William Henry Studio (changed from "William Henry Knives" a while back) and their target market is the high-end executive type knife purchaser (who just may want a set of matching cufflinks from WHS to go with the blade). They are truly beautiful knives and the ones I've used and handled (on the low end, of course) are good cutters and I felt worth the money. Along with Allan45 I don't think they're good investments, and neither meant or marketed that way. The Tom Brown tracker guy opted to use one of their models (titanium without much decoration) for his school a couple of years ago and if you search around you'll find a review somewhere.

So it depends on what you want (I'm working to master the obvious with that statement). I think you'd really need to compare a similarly priced custom with one of the WH's. I think the biggest thing for me is that with a custom maker you have a wider range of styles to choose from and more fun talking with the maker to plan the knife. For a busy executive with a lot of discretionary money and not a lot of time, that person wouldn't go wrong with a WHS knife and that's probably all they need to know (which brings us back to the "target market"). Sort of like them just getting a Rolex and a BMW without reading the ads, consumer reports, etc.
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Thanks for correcting the name. I did see the AG Russell description, and it has some very high praise. No disrespect intended to AG Russell et al, but I tend to take that kind of stuff with a grain of salt.
 
I think it's a good description by AG. I haven't gone to Oregon to visit the William Henry site, but figure their production would be similar to Chris Reeve's though using higher end materials for embellishments.

WH models do go out of production once their run is over and may be collectible based on that, although again, I don't think their market is primarily aimed towards "knife guys" so there's probably not a lot of trading, re-selling going on.
Steve
By the way, the name of the knife Brown recommended was The Quest.
 
HJK said:
With respect, no. Whether something is worth it is not completely subjective. There is the question of workmanship, quality of materials, market value and so forth. I know why I would pay more for a Yoshihara than a Cold Steel and why only a fool wouldn't,
and my question is along those lines, Jiggy.
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I know about the workmanship, materials, etc. I don't know what you're trying to say but it can't be anything but subjective. Weather you're talking about a $40 case or a $400 hinderer is worth it or not. It is your choice. It is nothing but subjective.
 
Couple things I do know about their knives. Each is a numbered individual member of a pre-determined (relatively low number) lot. Then they are gone. Are they rare like Scott Cook Lochsa rare? No.
Well made, buttery smooth a real treat? Absolutely.
Personally, I would probably carry and enjoy the "not quite so ornate" I believe E6, E10 offering but doubtful they will ever be investment grade. Depends on what you want.
To your initial question, I would say yes because of the craftsmanship, materials and uniqueness of the pieces.
 
Jiggy said:
I know about the workmanship, materials, etc. I don't know what you're trying to say but it can't be anything but subjective. Weather you're talking about a $40 case or a $400 hinderer is worth it or not. It is your choice. It is nothing but subjective.
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This is true. Some people will bend over backwards to have a single $400 knife, while others are more content spending that same $400 and get 2 (not so high end) knives. The idea of "worth" boils down to the individual. Personally, I cannot see why soome people end up paying over $1k for a knife they will never even carry or use. However, in their eyes it was "worth" the wait and money. After a certain amount, you stop getting what you pay for and it becomes a question of "look what I have" or collectability as some refer to it.
As for the WH knives, the only ones I've handled are the EDC models. I really like them, they are well made and have great materials. The steel is heat treated really well too.
 
Jiggy said:
I know about the workmanship, materials, etc. I don't know what you're trying to say but it can't be anything but subjective. Weather you're talking about a $40 case or a $400 hinderer is worth it or not. It is your choice. It is nothing but subjective.
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The difference in value between a Loveless and a Benchmade is not purely subjective. The difference is, in terms of quality, market value, artistry and history is quite objective. Even opinions and tastes can be educated or ill informed and hence not totally "subjective". In a sense, the value of any work of art is "subjective", as is the value of money or even gold for that matter, but that does not prevent them from having established markets and criteria that determine their value quite apart from any "intrinsic" value or being more brilliant or highly regarded and hence valuable according to educated and critical opinion and taste.
Now, these knives aren't Lovelesses or Morans or Rembrandts and my question is less about market value and artistic excellence than it is about the difference between customs and semi customs to people like me who have been collecting and loving knives for decades and who despair a little at the loss of the old personal relationships between knife maker and knife lover.
If you get it, you get it; if you don't, you don't. But don't diss what you don't understand. In a few years, a few more knives and a few thousand more posts, you may come to understand a little batter. :)
 
HJK said:
The difference in value between a Loveless and a Benchmade is not purely subjective. The difference is, in terms of quality, market value, artistry and history is quite objective. Even opinions and tastes can be educated or ill informed and hence not totally "subjective". In a sense, the value of any work of art is "subjective", as is the value of money or even gold for that matter, but that does not prevent them from having established markets and criteria that determine their value quite apart from any "intrinsic" value or being more brilliant or highly regarded and hence valuable according to educated and critical opinion and taste.
Now, these knives aren't Lovelesses or Morans or Rembrandts and my question is less about market value and artistic excellence than it is about the difference between customs and semi customs to people like me who have been collecting and loving knives for decades and who despair a little at the loss of the old personal relationships between knife maker and knife lover.
If you get it, you get it; if you don't, you don't. But don't diss what you don't understand. In a few years, a few more knives and a few thousand more posts, you may come to understand a little batter. :)
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There's no disrespect going on here. I'm still not sure what you're trying to say. Are you saying that some knives cost more because of the craftsmanship, materials,etc? Well of course they do. However it is not up to you, the maker, or anyone to tell me or anyone else if a knife if worth the asking price. Weather the price is on par for what it cost to produce or weather it is inflated. That does not matter. The buyer is the only one that can determine what it's worth to them.
 
I remember reading something about Enron. Remember that company? Something about one of the crooked executive's wife purchasing a four thousand dollar shower curtain. Who needs a four thousand dollar shower curtain. NOBODY! Was it worth it? Well if it was hand sewn with gold thread, the lace was hand made by an artist, and it had matching pearls hanging off the bottom, then yes it may have actually cost around four thousand dollars to produce. The question becomes is there a market? Definately not in this household, but there always seems to be somebody trying to impress someone else that has more money than sense.

From what I've seen, yeah, William Henry may be charging a somewhat reasonable price for what you get. (a hand finished piece of pocket Jewlery that cuts stuff.) I consider it jewlery first, knife second. Will it increase in value, nobody knows? I wish my great grandmother had kept her old Tiffany lamps that I saw in old family photos, instead of selling them at a yard sale when she redecorated. (This was before I was born, 50 plus years ago) On the other hand, her collection of demitasse cups was practically worthless. Ditto for my dad's extensive baseball card collection that my grandmother threw away. whats, going to be collectible and increase in value is often a shot in the dark...although if it was widely sought after when it was made, and rare, it has a good chance of being worth more later. Look for things that teenagers want but cant get, then sell it to them when they are well off in there fourties and fifties. (classic muscle cars, Harley motorcycles, etc.) I don't see alot of teenagers lusting after high end knives, so I'm gonna vote that they will not substantially increase in value.

Some people like Jewlery, if you do and can afford it enjoy.

Grizz
 
I feel it's a personal thing when you buy a knife. When someone asks if it's worth it, they want/need convincing from others. When I buy a knife, I buy it because it excites me not because it will be worth more in the future nor do I care. If you're buying knives for investment its a dangerous game your playing so you better have deep pockets and be ready to lose some here and there. Is buying a William Henry knife worth it, only if makes your heart skip a beat.
 
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HJK said:
I did a couple of quick searches and I didn't find a discussion that addressed the issues. If you have any substantive input on the subject I'd love to hear your opinion.
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This was the thread I was thinking of - sorry - it's a little older than I thought...
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=734810&highlight=william+henry

I have handled several William Henry knives at the local B&M store about 1 hour away from where I live - as a matter of fact I was there this Wednesday and he has about a dozen in the case, including a "custom" that was priced at $6500.

I usually fondle one every time I go in, but haven't brought myself to pony up the cash to buy one.

I'm much more into larger, more industrial looking and acting knives. WH knives look to be more of a true gentlemans folder than not.

The guy who owns the B&M store carries one of their higher end models (I think it retailed around $1200), but he admits that all the cutting he does during the day is delivery boxes and letters.

Their new "edc" line of knives are just too small for me.

Do I think they are worth the money - I think so, as I look at the brand as a work of functional art. I just remind myself that I can have six $200 knives for the price of a nice William Henry.
 
Ive handled a few at my local knife shop. They are very well built but I found them to be almost a bit tacky. A lot like the stuff in mall jewelry stores you see in the mall. A little too shiny and gemy for my taste for sure. So if your into that kind of knife, by all means I think they may be worth it. As far as flipping is concerned, I think you will lose a pretty penny if you decide to flip them. From my observations over the years is that they arent all that easy to sell here on bladeforums, and this is likely to be the case elsewhere. I think they are a real specialty market that is not that into buying used. I could be wrong, as these are just my subjective observations.

Good luck
 
If you like the artsy aspect of knives then I'd say go with it however if your looking for an edc " tool " I'd look at some different brands Strider and chris reeve come to mind with that catogory.
 
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