GEC Auctions of Note

[kootenay joe]

I sent the seller a message asking if $1000 opening bid is correct. He replied "Yes it is correct". I then replied saying that this knife is worth no more than $150. He replied again and showed me 2 recent ebay auctions for a GEC #661317 with O.D. Green Micarta (same as his) and they sold for $373 and $466.
Is it the O.D. Green Micarta that people want ?
kj

[FarSide]

I sent the seller a message asking if $1000 opening bid is correct. He replied "Yes it is correct". I then replied saying that this knife is worth no more than $150. He replied again and showed me 2 recent ebay auctions for a GEC #661317 with O.D. Green Micarta (same as his) and they sold for $373 and $466.
Is it the O.D. Green Micarta that people want ?
kj

Wow, okay. There were 266 OD Green Micarta's made. If it was a Maroon Micarta I could maybe (long shot maybe) see since only 7 were made.
If they get a $1000, I'm selling all my GEC's

[RalphAlsip]

When I see stuff like this my first thought is that it is a "decimal point" mistake. For example, this seller might have wanted to start the price at $100.00 instead of $1000.00. This seller has a few other knives listed at "typical" prices so it would seem this is a mistake.

That would be a very logical explanation. You would think they would notice it though before posting since it stands out, but maybe only to knife nuts like me

I sent the seller a message asking if $1000 opening bid is correct. He replied "Yes it is correct". I then replied saying that this knife is worth no more than $150. He replied again and showed me 2 recent ebay auctions for a GEC #661317 with O.D. Green Micarta (same as his) and they sold for $373 and $466.
Is it the O.D. Green Micarta that people want ?
kj

It looks like once again I have incorrectly applied "benefit of the doubt" to an eBay seller. Or maybe I am uninformed. My opinion is the GEC 66 is not highly sought after and OD Green Micarta would diminish the demand even further. If this knife were to be listed at $.99 cents in an auction format for 7 days I'm with Roland and would be very surprised if it sold for more than $150 without shill bidding.

[kootenay joe]

Quote 'Ralph": "I'm with Roland and would be very surprised if it sold for more than $150 without shill bidding."

But i have had to change my idea of value as 2 of these have recently sold on ebay by auction for $373 and $466. I did post this before you posted the above quote, so why do you still think only $150 ?
kj

[RalphAlsip]

Quote 'Ralph": "I'm with Roland and would be very surprised if it sold for more than $150 without shill bidding."

But i have had to change my idea of value as 2 of these have recently sold on ebay by auction for $373 and $466. I did post this before you posted the above quote, so why do you still think only $150 ?
kj

Roland for those knives to have sold for the prices they did, my opinion is there were some "shenanigans" going on with bids (refer to my qualifier "without shill bidding" in relation to the $150 number. The 66 is not one of the sought after patterns and micarta is not a sought after handle cover.

Here is a link to GEC 66 sold knives. You will see the knives the seller mentioned and they are clearly outliers in terms of selling price. You will notice several of the sales clustered around $150. You will also see that $250 is likely top of market.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R ... &LH_Sold=1


Here is a link to GEC sold/completed listings sorted from low price to high price. You will see hundreds of GEC sales less than $150 for many patterns, and you likely find several 66's below $150.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat= ... e=1&_pgn=1

Here is a lightly used 66 that sold for $60.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NORTHFIELD-UN- ... SwSeRfeMd2

Another lightly used 66 that sold for $100.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NORTHFIELD-UN- ... SwSeRfeMd2

[kootenay joe]

Thanks Jerry. I did see your qualifier "without shill bidding" but i don't see shill bidding in the 2 #66 that sold very high. I see these as some GEC collectors being willing to pay however much is needed to get the knife they want. I think there are a few collectors who really want this "OD Green Micarta" more than the #66 pattern.
Our 'old guy, long time knife collector' opinion of value differs from some of the younger, dedicated GEC collectors. This is why we continually see astoundingly high prices for a variety of GEC knives.
$1000 for the seller's #66 is far too high, but i do now believe that there are some collectors willing to pay over $400 for this knife. To me it still is a $150 max knife and actually more like a $90 knife.
kj

[Sharpnshinyknives]

There is currently a second OD green calf roper that has 4 bids and is currently at 140 with 5 days to go. It will be interesting to watch how high that one goes.

[kootenay joe]

There is currently a second OD green calf roper that has 4 bids and is currently at 140 with 5 days to go. It will be interesting to watch how high that one goes.

Yes. Please post selling price here. If it is high then there is a 'trend': after a few sales of a pattern, the prices start to climb and then others jump on board not wanting to 'miss out'.
kj

[kootenay joe]

Here is a Northwoods Heritage Jack with muddy brown Mammoth handles that just sold by auction for $765
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Northwoods-Kni ... true&rt=nc

kj

[Montanaman]

Here is a Northwoods Heritage Jack with muddy brown Mammoth handles that just sold by auction for $765
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Northwoods-Kni ... true&rt=nc

kj

IMO, that is asinine! One could get a handmade puukko from Pekka Tuominen for far less, just one example. Each their own, I guess.

[edge213]

We talk all the time about people getting taken on counterfeits.
To me this is just as stupid. Probably more so, because someone just paid almost $800 for a $200 knife.

[kootenay joe]

I think the very high prices paid for Northwoods and some GEC's is based more on wanting to win a competition than it is because they really like the knife. These knives are made in relatively small numbers and this creates competition to get them and many are not willing to lose so they bid very high.
Eventually some of these collectors will drift off to other interests and the very high prices will no longer be seen.
kj

[Sharpnshinyknives]

The Micarta one that is up for bids is up to 390 with almost 2 hours to go. What is going on?

I saw an 86 w/ Bloodwood handles go for 405 last night. I’m trying to get mine listed tonight, along with a few others, before people come to their senses.

[kootenay joe]

The Micarta one that is up for bids is up to 390 with almost 2 hours to go. What is going on?

I saw an 86 w/ Bloodwood handles go for 405 last night. I’m trying to get mine listed tonight, along with a few others, before people come to their senses.

Amazing, a Micarta 66 with 3 blades now almost $400. Until recently the #66 "Calf Roper" was languishing on dealers shelves with no takers.
What has happened to make these so hot ?
kj

[Sharpnshinyknives]

The Micarta one that is up for bids is up to 390 with almost 2 hours to go. What is going on?

I saw an 86 w/ Bloodwood handles go for 405 last night. I’m trying to get mine listed tonight, along with a few others, before people come to their senses.

Amazing, a Micarta 66 with 3 blades now almost $400. Until recently the #66 "Calf Roper" was languishing on dealers shelves with no takers.
What has happened to make these so hot ?
kj

It sold for 490. Someone please explain this irrational behavior.

[knife_fan]

GEC prices on eBay have gone crazy. I don't even check eBay for GEC finds anymore.

[kootenay joe]

GEC prices on eBay have gone crazy. I don't even check eBay for GEC finds anymore.

Not all GEC's sell high on ebay. Some sell for a littler under their original prices.. The question here is why this #66 Calf Roper pattern ? Until recently it was a hard pattern to sell and now one with Micarta handles sells for almost $500. WHY ?
kj

[kootenay joe]

Here is a Stag 235111LT that just sold for $586: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Great-Eastern- ... true&rt=nc
Nice knife but nearly $600 ?
kj

[Doc B]

GEC prices on eBay have gone crazy. I don't even check eBay for GEC finds anymore.

Not all GEC's sell high on ebay. Some sell for a littler under their original prices.. The question here is why this #66 Calf Roper pattern ? Until recently it was a hard pattern to sell and now one with Micarta handles sells for almost $500. WHY ?
kj

I don't understand, either...but, I surfed the wave and let my 66 micarta go...to someone who obviously loved it more than I would have been able to give it the love it deserved!

[kootenay joe]

A 2017 GEC #66 Calf Roper just sold for $189, Northfield with Hemlock Green Bone.
The only ##66 Calf Roper that sells high, like over $400 are those with the "O.D. Green Micarta" handles. I have no idea why this handle material is desired.
kj

[QTCut5]

TWO (GEC made) Northwoods being sold together. This should be interesting.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Northwood ... 1438.l2649

[cudgee]

TWO (GEC made) Northwoods being sold together. This should be interesting.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Northwood ... 1438.l2649
Northwoods on eBay.jpg

Very interesting.

[kootenay joe]

O.K., how about a little game ?
Guess the final winning bid.
My guess: $1158.
kj

[QTCut5]

O.K., how about a little game ?
Guess the final winning bid.
My guess: $1158.
kj

Well, now we all know how much kj's planning to bid

Actually, I was thinking the very same thing myself. First: How much would I be willing to pay if I really wanted them and had the financial resources, and Second: I wonder how much they'll actually sell for.
I have a feeling kj's guess is going to be closer, but my guess: $1099

[cudgee]

Great idea to keep it interesting-$1,000.