All About Pocket Knives

I am a novice collector but I know what I like. After picking up the vintage bone handled knife I was doing some research and found the blades marked W. Bingham Co Cleveland. My question is this authentic knife and any idea as to value?

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I hate to rain on the parade but very, very few knives in that condition retain much value. I don't believe that one will hold a great deal of value even tho it is a very early brand.

Ray

Welcome to AAPK!

I have to agree with Paladin regarding the knife's condition. On the bright side, you have the opportunity to have the knife repaired, and carry a rather unusual early knife with a clear conscience--the repairs and carrying are unlikely to have a negative effect on value.

Jim

Neat knife though... I guess he got his answer and split. You guys seemed to be the bringers of bad news. Man I would hate for you guys to pick apart my knives. I feel bad enough about some of them as it is. There's a point to where knife collecting turns into a rich mans game,Any idea what the knife would have been worth in factory fresh mint condition (other than whatever someone is willing to give for it)? The best chance a poor guy has at having anything that can't get knocked down to nearly nothing in value is to have it given to him or inherited or find it out of pure luck. And then you couldn't beat the richer knife collectors off with a bat from trying to persuade him to sell it to them. And everyone is surprised that anyone would dare counterfeit or misrepresent a pocketknife when it has become their game (though most of those I've encountered had deep pockets). Knowledge is king and can't be bought. But these guys that swoop in just to get a free knife evaluation and estimated value without a thank you might just need to learn the hard way. Rich or poor winner or loser none is above needing to execute good manners.

Didn't mean to scare the guy off--personally, I like the knife and might have picked it up if I saw it for sale--I do hope he comes back and joins our merry band of lunatics. He seems to have a knack for finding neat stuff! And he stated it perfectly, ". . . I know what I like."

I don't have enough information to hazard a guess as to mint value, but in the current state I'd guess it might go for $25-35 to someone who wanted an example (any example) of that tang stamp, or to someone who'd bring it back to life as a potential EDC.

I wouldn't know what to do if I acquired one of those high-dollar/rare knives, because I'd want to keep it--but only if I could carry it. A knife I couldn't carry for fear of damaging it, or of it losing some percentage of value when I introduced it to Mr. Arkansas Stone, would be of no use to me beyond trading it off. I'd carry a Western dynamite knife if I had one, and have been trying to find a Remington trapper I can carry with a clear conscience ever since giving my old one to one of my nephews. There's just no place in my life for safe queens.

yep you gotta know which side of the fence you want to be on..... I must admit, I like some of those pristine examples of yesteryears cutlery but I will have to settle with having access to photos.... Isn't the interweb great!!! They are tools after all

KlineHund, welcome to AAPK! Swoop in anytime, that's what this site is for. Don't be discouraged, that's a great old knife and to a true collector, monitary value has very little to do with the knives he collects. Enjoy it for what it is, a decent example of an early brand. Don't give too much weight to condition and value, except when it comes to what you have to pay for one.(no sense paying $100 for a $20 knife) I agree your knife on the open market is probably worth $25-$30, if you gave somewhere in that range, then you did fine and you should be proud to own it. If you gave less, all the better, and if you gave more, then it's a valuable lesson learned. Trust me, we've all learned a few lessons along the way. Just stick to the concept of buying what you like and can afford, nothing else really matters. Nice snag and hope to see you back with more finds!

WB

Thanks for the information; I didn't pay a lot for the knife, less then $10, just curious.

Well then, ya done good!

WB

Klinehund, welcome aboard! ... enjoyed looking at your knife.

Klinehund,
It was not my intention to knock you or your knife and it has nothing to do with being rich or not.
I was just trying to give an honest assessment as I saw it. I would have wanted the same from you or any of the other guys if the circumstances were reversed.
You made a good buy of something you like so enjoy.

Ray

reddirtknives wrote:. But these guys that swoop in just to get a free knife evaluation and estimated value without a thank you might just need to learn the hard way. Rich or poor winner or loser none is above needing to execute good manners.

Geez give the guy a chance, not everyone expects an immediate answer, nor does everyone have time to check back every hour.

well said Paladin and ea42.

My apologies klinehund I guess I came across as impatient and seemed to be stereotyping *welcome aboard * I think your knife find was a gem ea42 your right, geez louise There I go again. paladin Sir. you tell it like it is and your direct honesty is admirable...I find the no nonsense blunt truth sweeter than any coating that can be applied, even if it tears you up a bit at first it mellows with time. Nothing directed at you Sir. This is the type of thing that happens when I try to pull an all nighter because I'm afraid I won't get up in time to do certain duties, after about 1:00am I start getting delirious (you should see the things I've bought or bid on after 1:00am). I swore before that I was going to stop commenting because I tend to get off track in the wee hours and the next thing you know I seem to be standing lowly on some soap box I could go on but we all know that NOW is a good time for me to SHUT UP!

KlineHund wrote:Thanks for the information; I didn't pay a lot for the knife, less then $10, just curious.

You did real good!

My thoughts on the knife are a little different. And I am a novice also. I don't see any knife in any better condition. That makes it best in class. I have a knife very similar to the same condition. Only difference is that mine has a black handle. I don't see a black handle knife in better condition than it is. Best in class with a black handle. I was scared away at first for the same reason. A person might not be found to pay a big price, at least not now, but when the time comes and you have the only knife in the best condition, it will be worth more. And if it does not fetch a fortune, you will still have the best in class.

Here are a couple Binghams to compare stamps with. IMHO these two are in at least as good of shape, no cracks or chips, decent % blade left, and they were less than $50 each. I doubt they will ever be bringing the big bucks but been wrong before.

Those appear best in class at this point. Good lookers. In a few years I would bet they will bring in a better price.