Help Pricing Vintage USA Folders

[kootenay joe]

Thanks Greg. The bone Camillus is a really nice knife, feels so solid in hand.
Tom, yes the blade in the EO without caps is short which is why I am asking only about the value of capped one with full blades.
kj

[kootenay joe]

Question regarding Walden Knife Co. Wharncliffe whittler:
Does it's worn condition which includes blade loss from repeated sharpening remove almost all value from it ?
Or because it is a Walden & a Wharncliffe whittler, both very collectible, enable it to hold reasonable value even though heavily used ?
I think i asked this in an earlier post ? No harm if i am repeating myself because replies can be applied to certain other knives.
Basically: does condition over rule everything, even rarity ?
kj

[olderdogs1]

Roland,
In my opinion condition is very important as far as vintage knives go. That being said a really rare knife can bring good money regardless of condition. I have a Case Bros Gowanda jack knife that is in poor condition but I have been approached about selling it several times. I had a WRCase &Sons 6488 1905-15 that was in fair condition at best, sold it for a good price when I found a better one.
The knives that suffer the most as far as condition are the knives that are not that rare. As an example a 5488 XX 40-64 congress in poor condition is not worth much when better examples are readily available.
Didn’t mean to bring Case knives in the mix but I have had a lot more experience with them as far as condition goes.
Let me stress that this is just my opinion and other folk’s opinions are just as important as mine.

Tom

[kootenay joe]

Thanks Tom. The Case examples are helpful in explaining that extreme rarity can over ride poor condition. This is what i was asking. So, is my Walden Whittler truly a rare knife ? It is the only one i have seen but my exposure to USA folding knives is no where near as extensive as many others here.
kj

[knifeaholic]

Question regarding Walden Knife Co. Wharncliffe whittler:
Does it's worn condition which includes blade loss from repeated sharpening remove almost all value from it ?
Or because it is a Walden & a Wharncliffe whittler, both very collectible, enable it to hold reasonable value even though heavily used ?
I think i asked this in an earlier post ? No harm if i am repeating myself because replies can be applied to certain other knives.
Basically: does condition over rule everything, even rarity ?
kj

That Walden appears to me to be in very nice condition. IMO the minor wear is not a big issue, given the rarity of Waldens and the extreme rarity of Wharncliffe whittlers.

[kootenay joe]

Thank you Steve. I know you have a lot of USA knife experience so if it is rare in your experience it is rare. The tips of all 3 blades are rounded off from sharpening and sheepsfoot has 2 nicks in blade edge. So, $100 knife ?
kj

[orvet]

Thank you Steve. I know you have a lot of USA knife experience so if it is rare in your experience it is rare. The tips of all 3 blades are rounded off from sharpening and sheepsfoot has 2 nicks in blade edge. So, $100 knife ?
kj

I think the Walden would likely bring more than $100. Steve is more experienced than I in these brands but I would personally be delighted to get the Walden for $100. It is worth that to me as an EDC.

Just my $.02 worth...