What should I do with my collection?

Dave O · Post by **Dave O** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:08 am

I am a new member here. This is my first post. I have been collecting for quite a few years. I am Age 64, and started collecting as a boy, but seriously in the 70's when I bought a display of dot Cases from a hardware store going out of business. I have since collected the Bullet Remington Repros and like just about anything with condition that "Walks and talks or has MOP scales. I would guess I have about 400 pieces, most with condition. I live in a small Town in Central Southern Utah that has had a history of some World famous knife makers"Buster Warenski" and others. I have a few Buster knives. He passed on a year or so ago. He didn't like to make folders much, but made me a fine one that is priceless. With black lip MOP. My main question is, When I get ready to get rid of my rather nice collection, How do I do it all at once? I do not have the patience to sell them one at a time. Thanks for letting me join you . Dave O..Richfield, Utah

Sauconian · Post by **Sauconian** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:19 am

Welcome Dave,

It shouldn't be hard getting rid of your collection one at a time.

You'll probably start getting PM's any time now.

If not, just start posting pictures.

Fran

Duffy · Post by **Duffy** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:20 am

to AAPK Dave, I don't have an answer to how you should sale all your knives. Someone that has sold alot of collections will stop by and give you good information as to how to sale them. There are some of the best people on this site that knows about anything you want or need to know about knives and knife collecting. Please stick around and enjoy the good folks on here.

Dave O · Post by **Dave O** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:27 am

I still love my knives and will want to keep them for awhile, I have some nice William Henrys, and some Custom knives so there is quite an investment. I allways carry a nice knife for utility purposes. It is just that I have such an investment here that at some point I will have to cash it out, and I find that I am loosing sleep at just how I should do that when the time comes! PS I do not want my full name to appear here, what do I do to eliminate that?

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:41 am

welcome dave , go back to your profile and change your signature.

we have many people here that can advise you on your question. it's one i have thought myself.

knife7knut · Post by **knife7knut** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:45 am

Dave O wrote:I am a new member here. This is my first post. I have been collecting for quite a few years. I am Age 64, and started collecting as a boy, but seriously in the 70's when I bought a display of dot Cases from a hardware store going out of business. I have since collected the Bullet Remington Repros and like just about anything with condition that "Walks and talks or has MOP scales. I would guess I have about 400 pieces, most with condition. I live in a small Town in Central Southern Utah that has had a history of some World famous knife makers"Buster Warenski" and others. I have a few Buster knives. He passed on a year or so ago. He didn't like to make folders much, but made me a fine one that is priceless. With black lip MOP. My main question is, When I get ready to get rid of my rather nice collection, How do I do it all at once? I do not have the patience to sell them one at a time. Thanks for letting me join you . Dave O..Richfield, Utah

Welcome to the forum Dave.I also joined recently and there are some great people around here.Sounds a lot like me(I'll be 64 next month)as far as collecting.Started young;slacked off a bit;started up again.

Sounds like you have some fine pieces.As for getting rid of the en masse,I would suggest against it for a couple reasons. One: no matter how much the value of your collection has appreciated(current value vs.purchase price)you cannot expect a good return on it.Just a current appraisal will cost a considerable sum;figuring in appraisal fees,transporting items for appraisal,etc. Then if you decide to let the appraiser(if he offers the service)handle the disposition that is another fee(considerable).Another expense you may not(and most do not)figure in is tax liability.Technically you will have to pay taxes on the sale(unearned income).In a large collection,this could be very large.

Selling items on e-Bay would be a good way out although it would still take some time to do.I don't know how familiar you are with selling on e-Bay but it isn't rocket science;and at 64 you are probably going to have(if you don't already)a lot of free time.You can do a lot of your own research by scanning for similar items on e-Bay to come up with some rough pricing guides.Or you can enlist the services of a professional.By doing it this way,you would probably realize a much larger return and a lot less expense. It's something to consider.

Anyway if you find some of that free time,post some pictures of your favorites.
Ray

knowtracks · Post by **knowtracks** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:47 pm

Welcome to AAPK's Dave, you might check in the classified ads in Knife World. There are a few dealers looking there. Just make sure you do your homework first.

Dave

knifeswapper · Post by **knifeswapper** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:18 pm

The only folks that can make a purchase like that are larger dealers. Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountain are a couple, but "real" dealers that have a market in what you are selling are your best bet. The big guys need to make a big profit to clear expenses; smaller dealers do not require nearly that margin.

Having said that, you are not going to get market price for a collection unless you sell it piece at a time. Dealers realize that they will have to inventory your collection over a large amount of time to sell it at a respectable profit, and that gets expensive. Also, rarely does one dealer have a market in such a wide array of knives; and may have to deeply discount the pieces outside their customer base.

Keeping older discontinued knives in stock is a complex market; as they cannot be sold like current production. You can't take a picture, put it on the market, and sell it over and over again. You can't order more when supply runs low. Thus the overhead is 3-4 times what a current production dealer experiences. Anyone can order a couple of each model and sell them, then order more. It takes deeper pockets to buy older collections and build a market for them.

My recommendation would be to find an online dealer that sells what you have in your collection and approach them. If that doesn't work out contact someone like Bruce Voyles that auctions directly to your target market. They are going to take a big piece of the selling price, but you can be comfortable that you got a price as close to market as is available today without handling the sales yourself.

marcinek · Post by **marcinek** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 3:26 pm

Great to have you with us Dave!

Before you start selling those off, I'd love to see some pictures!

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 4:07 pm

Welcome Dave!

I think to get the best bang for the buck is to let a knowledgable soure sell your knives for a commission if you do not want to sell them yourself. Be sure to make a VALID contract in writing. You don't want to end up in court because of a disagreement. Ebay won't in most cases get you book prices. There should be inexpensive legal counsel in Utah to write and Notarize a contract for you and the person selling.

I think 10% is way more than adequate for just listing a knife, but there are sellers on ebay that make a living doing this and they do charge more.
Just a thought and good luck!

TM · Post by TM » Wed Dec 05, 2007 4:12 pm

Ok - I'll say it..... What do you do with your collection? - give it to me

Let's see some pics of that nice collection Dave

9ball · Post by **9ball** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 4:41 pm

If you are wanting to move them quick and easy.......I would say Bruce Voyles. That is what I told The Boss, my better half. His cut was/is !5%. He can do it live or a catalog auction. Catalog would get you more exposure. The contract is on his site to look over, all there in black & white.
JMO

Good luck
9ball

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 5:02 pm

9ball wrote:If you are wanting to move them quick and easy.......I would say Bruce Voyles. That is what I told The Boss, my better half. His cut was/is !5%. He can do it live or a catalog auction. Catalog would get you more exposure. The contract is on his site to look over, all there in black & white.
JMO

Good luck
9ball

Great Idea 9ball! That's the best idea I've heard for a fast sell, IMO!

Dave O · Post by **Dave O** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 5:38 pm

Gentlemen, thanks for your replys. I will have to learn how to post photos and I will show you some pictures of my best knives. I will probably seem like an amature when exposed to real collectors, but I do love knives and have quite a few.

knifeswapper · Post by **knifeswapper** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 5:53 pm

Hukk wrote:
9ball wrote:If you are wanting to move them quick and easy.......I would say Bruce Voyles. That is what I told The Boss, my better half. His cut was/is !5%. He can do it live or a catalog auction. Catalog would get you more exposure. The contract is on his site to look over, all there in black & white.
JMO

Good luck
9ball
Great Idea 9ball! That's the best idea I've heard for a fast sell, IMO!

That is a great idea

Duffy · Post by **Duffy** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 10:34 pm

My goodness Dave, I couldn't sleep last night thinking of how them knives were aggrevating you so bad

so, just tell me when to come pick them up and get them out of your hair

. All jokes aside, these fellers on here know the in's and out's on anything knife. They wouldn't lead you down a dark alley without a light.

LC · Post by LC » Wed Dec 05, 2007 11:11 pm

Hmmmm KnifeSwapper might be interested

Hey Mike no I am not ready to get rid of my stockmans just yet

Dave O · Post by **Dave O** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 11:53 pm

I was under the impression that knives had to be old to be collectable. It appears that you boys are collecting nice new knives ... Maybe I could learn something here! Are Robesons still being made? What about WallKill and all those old New York Makers that I have been collecting so avidly...Looks Like I have been missing out on a lot and will have to start getting educated if I am going to be a collector! We live a life of our own here in Utah.

woseyjales · Post by **woseyjales** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:50 am

Welcome Dave,
Anyone with the type collection you have described sounds like a seasoned veteran, not an amateur. Now there lot's of scholarly
collectors about that know their Ps & Qs backards & forwards that
us mere mortals just can't keep up with.

in th meantime, until you feel more comfortable and less like a newbie,
feel free to use my slogan of choice on such occasions.
"Used to be I couldn't spail Kanife Kollector, now I are one!! "
Have fun, & I look forward to seeing some of your photos.

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:09 am

GEEES guys here comes Dave O wanting to get rid of his knives and you give him good advice. Now less that a day he is looking at our photos and reading post. Soon Dave O will not want to sell but buy more knives...

Well Dave O has been bitten buy the knife bug again and we all can help him out. Just ask and we will help you with your photos too.

Welcome BACK to the love of steel and scales.

rigwelder · Post by **rigwelder** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:37 pm

You need to stop teasing us! OLD NEW YORK MADE KNIVES! post some pictures, get somebody to put them on ebay and give everybody a shot. its getting hard to get nice old vintage knives. you might be surprised by what they might sell for!

Dave O · Post by **Dave O** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 6:43 pm

Finding this forum has sparked new interest for me in my knives. I started looking at my knives last night and saw some I had forgotten about. Even some that had been repaired. A local knife maker put some Asian Water Buffalo scales on an old case Trapper I had and it looks real good. I would have liked to have posted a photo on the Trapper thread, but need to learn how to do photos.. I will work on that and get some photos of MY better knives posted here, and get to know some of you Gents by sharing and bragging a little. What good is a knife if it is not shared with someone who appreciates it! I have some rigid blades made by famous makers. Are we allowed to speak of them on this forum?

Sauconian · Post by **Sauconian** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:02 pm

Dave,

There is a place here for fixed blade knives, as well as instructions for posting photos. Just look around.

Now that you have a renewed interest in knife collecting, and disappointed all those waiting to buy some knives, welcome once again.

Fran