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Acquisitions from sales

Summer is here and with it flea markets and yard sales. I go to these as often as I can along with esate sales. I have found some interesting and unique finds so I've decided to blog the sales and let everyone in on them. I've learned a lot about going to sales to find knives from reading about methods in "Blades Guide to Knives and their Values"

My latest adventure was a very good opportunity as this was a community yard sale/ flea market. The town has a main drag approximately 2 miles in length and litterally every block had people selling. This could take a week to cover a one day event. How do you cover that much territory with so little time. Everyone has their methods so what I say here is not, by any means, the only way to shop. I eliminate the spots where all you can see is toys, clothing, cosmetics, and food stuffs. I focus on vendors with antiques, outdoor sporting goods, tools, hardware, military, and anything that you would naturally assume may be a knife source. Old/antique sewing vendors may have hidden in their cache small M.O.P. kives that were made years ago for ladies to keep with their notions for cutting thread and such.

Even if I see no knives, I always ask because you never know what someone has but does not have displayed or thought of selling. One spot had nothing at all of interest but I asked if they had any type of knives. One lady said no but a lady who was sitting beside her said her fiance has recently died and he had lots of knives that she was just going to throw out. She said they were at her house and if I gave her my name and number she'd call me ealry this coming week to let me see if I wanted them. "Visions of Sugar Plums danced in my head"!

I stopped at a repair shop that had many tables set up outside as well as in his service area. There I found a Kutmaster camp knife made in Utica. Very good condition. Also a Keen Kutter large fixed blade. Total cost two dollars. While he was making change he said if I gave him my number he would call me next week because he had a bunch of boxes with sets of knives and single knives still in the boxes that his father had gotten over the years and he want to get rid of them. Another spot revealed not visible yet an inquiry had me coming back later to look at some knife made by Case that he had no use for.

Another stop yielded 3 SAK's and scissors made in Sheffield, England. For twenty-five cents each I sprang for them. A stop at a table full of knives I could see from the street showed me where all those 100 knives for $100 ended up.

Getting back to the "some knife by Case" spot. The man brought out a tin box with Case XX on the front. I opend it and found a gift set of honing oil, sharpening stone, leather sheath, and a Case 2159L with 8 dots. I'm not a real dyed-in-the-wool Case fanatic but I do know even with a private company etch on the blade it was worth more that I was going to be able to pay, probably. I took a chance he knew as little about knives as he was leading me to believe and asked how much he was asking. He said $60 would be a good price. I said it would be good for him. I then asked what he would be willing to take. He said $35. I countered with $25. I now have a new Case knife.

Total investment for the day- $28. Yield- 5 knives and 1 scissors with several leads.

I'm looking forward to getting calls from people who said they had knives they wanted to "get rid of" and see how badly they want to get rid of them. I will keep you posted as to the weekly sales I go to and what turns up at them.

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Comment by Chuck Parham on July 13, 2013 at 10:55: This particular Barlow is Stephan Barlow who did Scrinmshaw for over 30 years. He did some fantastic work and is considered one of the best (from my research). My initial thoughts when finding this knife was "This isn't a Barlow!" Well, it's not your traditional Barlow knife pattern but it is a definite Barlow scrimshaw piece. All in all, a nice find that will look nice with my other Scrimshaw pieces. Sorry honey, nothing found for you today.

Comment by Jan Carter on July 13, 2013 at 10:42: Chuck!

That is sweet! Dont forget to tell us about the history. I hope as you step into the new career, will you continue to to go to the sales and look for this kind of history?

Comment by Chuck Parham on July 13, 2013 at 10:18: Found an odd looking Barlow today. NIB with double sided scrimshaw. Have to do some research on this puppy.

Comment by Jan Carter on June 30, 2013 at 6:34: Well as Stanley would say the chain is just just a bunch of dull knives put together to grab the wheel!

Good work looking out for her also Chuck!

Would have been great to see your Grandsons reactions to all the knives with Bling. We have a buddy that buys some and sells them at the bait store. No big deal to spend 3 dollars on a bait knife no matter what it looks like. In the salt water they will last a season and done ...so inexpensive works best

Now they guys will spend $ on thier filet knives, just not a bait knife

Comment by Chuck Parham on June 30, 2013 at 5:22: An interesting weekend at the sales. All I can say is that the Cutlery Corner is really moving knives. I saw so much of their stuff I wanted to cry. A lot of pretty looking "BLING" things but bothing I wanted to waste fuel transporting home. I did however get to see up close some of the stuff they only televise not so close up closeups of. I only wish my grandson would have been with me so as to continue his knife education with first hand examples and visual aids. I did however not go home epmty handed. I have a wonderful wife who is very indulgent when it comes to my being an incurable Knifeaholic. She has had both knees replaced and has hinted for sometime that she would like an exercise bike to help further her rehab efforts. So being the grateful and loving husband that I am (did I also mention my modesty) I picked up a little something for her that was well within my alloted knife budget. Hopefully, next week will bring better results as far as knives go.

Comment by Chuck Parham on June 25, 2013 at 5:55: Well, another weekend without a find. There were lots of sales but time and distance are my foes. Estate sales still tend to be my focus but garage sales in more rural areas are an instant magnet. Maybe the knife gods will smile on me this weekend? Only time will tell.

Comment by Chuck Parham on June 12, 2013 at 5:32: Well folks, this past weekend was a bust. No knives at all! Not even a broken one. Oh well, there's always next week!

Comment by Jan Carter on June 10, 2013 at 5:19: What an amazing day!

Comment by Indian on June 3, 2013 at 11:08: I LOVE FINDING GREAT DEALS....good job Chuck...just love the old classics!!!!

Comment by Ron Cooper on June 2, 2013 at 16:46: See! What a rich history, indeed. I think you definitely got your dollar's worth, if for nothing else but the history lesson alone.