All About Pocket Knives

There were three auctions held on Ebay this past week for group lots of what appear to be new-old-stock knives in great condition.

All three auctions were won by the same lucky bidder.

That wasn't me. I did bid, but was going for the absolute low ball kill, but that was probably unrealistic and it didn't happen.

The knives in the first photo sold for $245.05.

The two cracked ice handled folding hunters look to have been made by Robeson, but I suspect they are either unmarked or are marked "Kinfolks".

The knives in the second photo sold for $196.05.

The serpentine two blade cattle knife with the spey master and punch secondary is very rare. The only other one I've ever seen was in the collection of a man whose father had been a Robeson sales representative and all the knives he had were left over samples that his dad had in his possession when Robeson went out of business.

The single blade "half-trapper" with the EZ Open notch is hard to find, too.

And I've seen maize handled swing guards sell for about what he paid for that lot.

The knives in the third photo sold for $205.05.

That strawberry handled trapper is worth more than the price of the lot.

The strawberry handled knife with the liner lock is either another "Kinfolks" or is unmarked and the blade etched, "Mount Vernon Dryer Felt". I've seen Kinfolks versions of this pattern etched, "Hunter's Pride". I've never seen such a knife with a Robeson stamp.

So, twenty-one knives for $646.15 would be about $30.80 each, plus the shipping on all.

Pretty good deal. When was the last time you bought a near mint pre-1960 Robeson knife of any pattern for thirty-one dollars?

I started to publicize those auctions here, but I've been soundly criticized for that before, so I no longer do it.

Charlie Noyes

" Quote"
I started to publicize those auctions here, but I've been soundly criticized for that before, so I no longer do it.

Charlie Noyes[/quote]

Now you will be criticzied for not publicising them before the auction ended.



Thanks for show the knives very interesting.


Grant

Charlie I came in 2nd on all 3 auctions.I was bidding to resell.Poor discription and pictures likely kept the price down.

Well I confess I was the winner on all three. I was kind of surprised, frankly. On lots 1 and 2 I had higher bids in than the final, on the third I was maxed out.

I took a chance like Roger said, poor photos and descriptions. I'm buying to resell, just hope there is not too much rust other than what I saw in the photos.

Charlie, appreciate the comments you posted on the rarity of some of the knives. Those words mean a lot coming from you. I figured the bone trapper (Case 54 style) is a rare one, also perhaps the muskrat. I had no idea on the punch blade knife.

The square bolstered medium stockman looks like it might be a "Flame Edge" knife, but hard to tell.

This is the same seller who frustrated me a few weeks ago (see my previous post) by ending early a super lot of 45 old Robeson knives. I would have gone a lot higher than the "buy it now" price that some lucky buyer talked him into.

He has posted a few other lots of fixed blades that were very rusted. Since he is in upstate NY and obviously not a knife guy I assume that he came across the stash of a former Robeson employee, but who knows?

Steve, I thought you might have been the high bidder or at least a participating bidder.

I did not realize it was the same seller as that larger lot a couple of weeks ago. He used a white sheet as background on that one.

Robeson certainly made that little humpback stockman as a Flame Edge, but they made it plain as well.

The Muskrat would be better if it had the etch, but I don't see it. It's a great etch. It looks like it was made with a military style stencil.

I think the Robeson trapper has better lines than a Case 54. You'll see what I mean when you have it in hand.

BTW; I paid $350.00 for the one I have. Bought it out of Jim Sargent's safe years ago.

You should be able to make some money on those. Get rid of those cracked ice knives as quickly as you can.

I was bidding to resale, also. I was betting on the poor pics and confusing descriptions, so I put a hundred dollars on each lot.

Ridiculously wishful thinking, I know.

Charlie Noyes

Thanks Charlie; I'll post details about them once they get here.

Charlie, I don't know who criticized you for posting auctions, but I am pretty sure it was not anyone currently on the AAPK staff!

Unlike that "other" forum, AAPK members may post a link to an active auction.


And congratulations Steve, you got some real beauties at bargain basement prices!

I was basically chastised for probably causing someone to have to pay more for a nice knife by enlarging the number of active bidders.

It was not a criticism for a violation of AAPK rules.

I respect the individuals that voiced their displeasure, so I will not publish live auctions again.

Charlie

Your respect for the other individual is commendable.

As an administrator of AAPK I wanted everyone, especially new members, to understand that the posting of active auctions is not against any AAPK rules.
I do understand that it does enlarge the potential bidder pool and I have had that cost me money and even a few knives, but I am good with that. I think posting the auctions gives other AAPK members an opportunity to find knives they may have been seeking for their collections, and that I feel is good for our mutual hobby.