All About Pocket Knives

I have a new neighbor that moved in about 3 weeks ago. He was out spraying off his driveway yesterday so I introduced myself. We chatted it up and talked about this and that. He told me how he collects old pocket watches. I told him I collect pocket knives. He said he had some knives he got when his uncle passed away. He bought them in the estate auction. He showed them to me......wow. He knows as much about knives as I do about pocket watches. NOTHING. He has about 20 Case knives 1940-65 that are mint, another 20 or so misc. knives like Boker, German Eye, Robison ect. BUT he has something that makes all these knives look like scrap metal.....he has a true authentic William Moran custom bowie. Its absolutly amazing. It has a coffin style handle with the most beautiful damascus blade ive ever seen. After showing it to me he TOSSED it back in the box with the others. He has NO IDEA what he has, and I didnt tell him. I have not been able to sleep. I asked him if he wanted to get rid of them. He said maybe. Im sure I can get that Moran for less than $100 but would it be the right thing to do. I mean if he doesnt sell it to me he might sell it to someone else for even less. Should I buy it and rob this guy or tell him hes sitting on a knife worth maybe $25,000 dollars or more????

WHAT WOULD YOU GUYS DO????????

I would rather not sleep from excitement than from a guilty concience.
I would have to do the right thing.

JMO

Jeff

If your looking for moral guidance at this stage in life, first you must look within yourself. If you find no answer there, get a good text on ethics.
Mossdancer

Edit: Didnt see your reply Jeff, excellent.
W.B.

Now this is my opinion only and I am looking at this if it was my neighbor.


I would tell him up front, but let him know if I could not afford them, I would be willing to help sell them. More or less, keeping him from getting ripped off.
I would have a better neighbor and make a good friend who may just teach me a few things.
If he finds out I took major advantage of him, I would have nothing but a collection of old knives.
You can have a lot of stuff, but never enough friends.

Keep in mind, he could be feeling you out.

And the sleep side is a major benefit also

Put yourself in his shoes....

Treat others how you would like to be treated IMO.

If you had a $25,000 pocket watch that you didn't know about, I presume you would rather he told you about it than snatch it from you for $100...

Bryan

Folks.......It's called "The Golden Rule"

9ball wrote:Folks.......It's called "The Golden Rule"

I agree 100% s-k

Yeah,
Apply the golden rule for 1, and 2nd let him know he shouldnt be throwing that knife around like that and why!

SFC ADP, I like that #2. I've seen folks throw knives around like that and I feel like having a Panic Attack

SFC ADP wrote:Yeah,
Apply the golden rule for 1, and 2nd let him know he shouldnt be throwing that knife around like that and why!

I like #2 also, he may be shocked when he finds out and quite grateful. All respones are really great and compliments the integrity of the members of this forum. If a knife was purchased was under such circumstances, it would be hard, if not impossible to enjoy that purchase. I think it would be hard to look at the knife without feeling guilty.
Just in case, I keep pictures and descriptions of my knives so that when my son inherits them, he knows exactly what is there, what its worth, etc. I do plan to postpone that as long as possible. Alas, I am guilty of not keeping my files up to date, need to fix that.

I think you should be honest with the guy and try and work out a deal where you help him sell the knives for a percentage of the sale.

Hi All,
Just back from out trip to the Great Smokey Mtns. Fun, Fun, Fun!!!! One of the many highlights was meeting up with 9Ball. What a collection of knives he showed us ...Ok Hickory Nut I know you will do the right thing. You're a good nut because you're one of us I agree with what everyone else has said on this subject. Besides, at the end of the day you have to look yourself in the face. The one thing in life I have found that is more difficult to find than a rare old knife....is a real good friend. If this guy goes to any watch shows (I dunno if they do that or not) I'd be willing to bet there will be some knives there too!!! Be happy for your neighbor, and like was already mentioned offer to help sell if he wants to. I'll bet he gives his new neighbor better deals, and besides you will sleep better my knife friend. later ya'll, WT3L

Ya'll boys do the Blade Runner real proud!!!

Hey fellas,

I'm new to the AAPK forums and have been looking around and reading some of the posts for a couple of weeks. It is nice to know that there are honest people on here who encourage others to do the right thing, after all, thats all any of us can do.

I think this might work....I sell all the Case knives for him and dont charge him anything but the Moran? Sound fair to you guys? Where in the world am I ever going to find another Bill Moran Bowie that I can get my mits on??? I think he'll get two to three thousand out of the other knives, where he thinks they are only worth maybe a couple hundred. Everyones happy.

Please guys, tell me this sounds fair.

P.S. I dont know this man at all....and my lease is up in June, im leaving this town totally.

P.S. I dont know this man at all....and my lease is up in June, im leaving this town totally

That is a joke...right?

This is just my opinion.
I would tell him what they may be worth, then tell him what I can afford to offer for them.
If he would go for selling the rest and giving up the Moran that that would be OK. But I would be honest with him about the value of it.

Sir;
Why would you ask a question when you were not willing to accept an answer that you didn't want to hear? Do you not realize that your actions reflect upon this entire community? By the way moving your residence is not a part of the morality of this equation.
Mossdancer

Where are you planning on moving Hickorynut?

I'm going to have to start watching out for new neighbors

Carefull of greed. It will get you in the end...

Bryan

One thing I have learned over the years;

Most Folks that ask for advice already have made up their mind on what they are going to do.

They need others to enforce that decision.

JMO

9ball

HickoryNut wrote:I think this might work....I sell all the Case knives for him and dont charge him anything but the Moran? Sound fair to you guys? Where in the world am I ever going to find another Bill Moran Bowie that I can get my mits on??? I think he'll get two to three thousand out of the other knives, where he thinks they are only worth maybe a couple hundred. Everyones happy.

Please guys, tell me this sounds fair.

P.S. I dont know this man at all....and my lease is up in June, im leaving this town totally.

So, you're leaving the neighborhood, is that a reason to justify dishonesty. Anything other than a FULL DISCLOSURE is completely dishonest.
The fact that you have to ask others if your actions are ok, then work around the opinions you were given, to try to work out a SCAM to take advantage of your neighbor by STEALING his knife, you must know you are wrong! Isn't there a commandment that goes something like: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods. Was that forgotten in somewhere in your lust for this knife? You don't have to take anyone's opinion, but you are losing integrity!

Ok, I told him today that the knives he had were worth quite a bit of money and that if he sold them for a few hundred dollars he would regret it. I had two knife price guides with me and we sat down and started looking the knives up. We wrote down top book price and I let him know that some might not bring book value but some could bring over book value. All the knives minus the Moran booked for $5200.00, give or take. Then I told him that the Moran is a very special knife, one that was custom made by a true artist. I told him that Bill Moran passed away a short time back and that this knife is worth more than all his other knives put together. He was in very surprised that I would tell him this knowing that I collect knives. I told him that I would love to have the Moran and that it would be the peak of my collection, I added that I always liked Bill Moran knives and that I would probably never be able to afford one. He asked me what I would give him for the Moran, I was honest and said that whatever I could afford would not be a fair buy and that I could not afford it. He then asked me if I could sell the others for him, I said yes. Then we talked about things other than knives, we talked about the neighborhood and who was who. He then asked if I knew anyone with a good rider mower that he could get at a reasonable price, I told him my dad had a John Deere that he wants $1200 for. He said in a joking manner that he would trade that "ole knife" for the John Deere. I asked if he was serious?? He said yeah, Im serious. I told him I would be back in 20 minutes. I went to my parents, told them I was buying the mower, they asked why...I told them I was trading it to a knife and lets just say, they didnt understand....lol I asked if the price was still $1200 and they said well if you want it we'll sell it to you for $800, I said "SOLD" I loaded it up on dads trailer and came home. I pulled in my driveway and called my neighbor, I told him to come outside for a minute. When he came out of his house he had the Moran in his hand. Without saying a word he started checking out the mower, he got on it and hit the key, it started right up. He turned it off, got off reached in his back pocket and handed me the knife. He asked if we had a deal? I hesitated and told him that he was not getting a very good price for his knife. He looked at me with a grin and said oh yes I am....you are mowing my yard all summer. I said I would, no problem. I still told him that he was not getting the best deal out of his knife but he wouldnt listen, he told me that hes glad someone has the knife that can apprieciate it. I told him I would have this knife for along time. So we made a deal. I told him I was in debt to him and any chores I could do just to let me know, He said ok.

I'll post some pictures either later tonight or tomorrow.

Hi Hickory Nut. Very glad to hear about your honest approach with your neighbour and that everything seems to have worked out. Now everyone really is happy. I am very keen to see the photos of the knife. s-k

Way to go Hickorynut! If this story is true, you deserve such a great knife IMO. Nice life lesson learned eh?!

Looking forward to seeing the pictures