How to Sell Knives

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 26, 2021 References

Whether you’re a collector or cutler, selling blades can be an incredibly lucrative experience. Knives are always in demand, and if you know the ins-and-outs of selling them, you can make a small fortune.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Selling Knives in Person

1
Check your local knife selling regulations. Before selling knives in person, search online to check for any local or national laws limiting or prohibiting the sale of knives. Some countries, like the US, have fairly relaxed blade laws that permit just about all sales. Others, like the UK, heavily restrict the sale of knives based on the age of the buyer and style of knife.^{[1]
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- Knife laws may differ by county, state, or district, so check the specific area you plan on selling.
2
Sell general knives to family and friends. Often, your first customers will be friends and family members since they already know you and trust your judgement. Though they may not be interested in specialty or collectible knives, there’s a good chance they’ll purchase general-purpose blades, pocket knives, kitchen cutlery, or knives built by you.
3
Sell practical knives to local hunters. If you’re selling knives suitable for hunting or camping, such as joint knives, drop-point blades, belt knives, and multi-tools, try selling them to local hunters. If you aren’t part of the local hunting community, ask your friends and family members if they know anyone who hunts, look for event flyers at outdoor stores like Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shop, or search online for local chapters of hunting organizations like the Sportsman’s Alliance or National Rifle Association.^{[2]
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- Unless you’re already an active hunter, offering really good deals is essential to breaking into the community.
- If you make your own knives and are confident in their build, give a few to local hunters to test out. If they like them, give them the knife in exchange for a review.
4
Rent a booth at a local market if you have a wide variety of knives. If you have a variety of different knives to sell, especially ones that look flashy or interesting, try renting a spot at a community or flea market. Depending on the demographics of the specific market, you may be able to charge more for knives or you may need to cut your prices to move merchandise.^{[3]
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- Before selling at a market, check your local and national business administrations for information on any required permits and business licenses.
5
Sell handmade knives at blade shows. If you’re trying to sell handmade knives, apply for a table or booth at a local blade show. Though pricey, a booth will give you access to customers explicitly interested in knives and will provide an environment where you can meet and mingle with other cutlers. Make sure to bring business cards or other items bearing your name and contact info, that way people can find you down the road.^{[4]
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- To see if you need any special licenses or permits to sell at blade shows, check with your local and national business administrations.
- To apply for a table, visit the show’s official website and look for an ‘Apply Here’ or ‘How to Apply’ section.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Selling Knives Online

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List your knives on social media and classified sites to find local buyers. If you want to sell online without the hassle of packing and shipping, try listing your knives on places like Craigslist and local Facebook groups. Though you may not be able to charge as much, since local shoppers are often on the hunt for deals, you’ll be able to deliver the product by hand. In addition, you can list items that, though legal to sell in person, are not allowed on websites like eBay and Amazon, such as butterfly and automatic knives.^{[5]
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2
Sell professionally-made and vintage knives on general shopping websites. If you want to sell vintage knives or products from popular brands like Spyderco, Cold Steel, Benchmade, and Buck Knives, try using a major shopping site like eBay or Amazon. Though these sites heavily restrict the sale of bladed weapons, they offer access to a wide range of customers. These sites are particularly good for products with specific names and model numbers, since those are easier to search for.^{[6]
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Sell customized knives on homemade and craft websites. If you have the ability to engrave or otherwise customize knives, try listing your products on homemade and craft shopping websites like Etsy. Though these shoppers probably won’t care about retro or standard-issue knives, they may be interested in knives that bear their name, a customized message, or a unique quote. This is a great way to sell new knives that have lost their value or cheap knives that you can’t sell as is.^{[7]
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- Craft shoppers often appreciate extra effort, so include a personalized thank-you note or small trinket in your package to encourage repeat business.
4
List valuable, high-quality, and handmade blades on knife forums. For specialty blades, your best buyers will often be passionate knife collectors and aficionados. These people know how much blades are worth and, as such, are willing to pay more than normal buyers for the right knife. Collectors often hang out on official knife forums, most of which let users list knives for sale. Some popular knife forums include:^{[8]
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- http://www.jerzeedevil.com/, a knife forum that is completely free.
- http://www.bladeforums.com, a knife forum that charges $25 per year to list items.
- https://www.glocktalk.com/forum/, a firearms forum frequented by many knife sellers.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Pricing Your Knives

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Look at the prices of similar knives. To figure out how much you should charge for your merchandise, look at what similar blades are selling for in person and online. If you’re selling vintage, generic, or name-brand knives, look for completed listings for the same product on sites like eBay. If you’re selling handmade blades, browse online knife forums to see what other cutlers charge for their wares.^{[9]
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Examine the quality of your knives. The optimal selling price of a knife will vary based on the quality of the blade and whether it is new or used. Unless they’re extremely rare, worn or scratched knives will go for far less than their high-quality counterparts. New, unopened knives will typically go for around standard retail price, while used knives will sell for less. With few exceptions, knives do not hold their value over time.^{[10]
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Price your knives to sell. If you’re willing to sit on your knives for a long time, you can price them high and wait for someone to come along who’s willing to pay above average. However, if you want to move your merchandise relatively quickly, price them at or below the average. This is especially important if you’re selling handmade knives, since more initial customers means better word of mouth.

Community Q&A

Question

What are some sites where I can order knives in bulk wholesale?

Community Answer

There is a plethora of knife distributors that can be found through a simple Google search. Try to find some that are near you to minimize on shipping costs, as the more you buy, the more it costs to send you. Also, legit distributors will want a copy of your local sales and use tax license. To get this license (assuming you are in the U.S.) you need a federal tax ID number, which can be obtain free of charge from the IRS. You may or may not need to pay a fee for the local license.

Warnings

When selling in person, make sure to follow all local and national laws regulating the sale of knives and weapons.

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When selling online, read through any site-specific guidelines concerning the sale of knives and weapons to make sure you can list your specific item.

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