All About Pocket Knives

Hello everyone. I’m happy I found this expansive forum!

My father recently passed away. He was an avid collector. I’m one of his three surviving children. We may each keep a knife or two, but none of us are passionate about the hobby. We need help valuing and ultimately selling his collection.

He has a few custom knives, but he mostly focussed on very old folders and straight razors. He knew how easily Case knives could be faked, so he collected two companies that long ago closed their doors, Miller Bros. and Barnsley Bros. It wouldn’t shock me if he has the world’s largest collection of Barnsley, as they’re fairly rare. He had quite a few Miller Bros. too.

How do we start the quest to value them and to get them placed where they’ll be appreciated?

Thanks!

Hello and welcome to AAPK!!

One way to get started would be to lay all of the knives out on a table top and take a few photos - nothing too detailed at first, but just to give ageneral idea of the number of knives and the general condition.

You could set up an account here at AAPK and open an on line store to sell the knives indivudually. Another option of course is to do the same thing on eBay. Either option will require detailed photos and descriptions of each knife, along with a price for each.

If you are interested in selling the knives all together as a group, I buy collections, as do others here on AAPK.

Let me know if I can be of any other assisance.

There's several ways to sell knives.You can do your due diligence and price and sell them yourself,witch can involve a lot of time and expense.That can be listing on Ebay,Facebook or even on AAPK.It takes time to list on these forums,answer questions,pack and ship,going to a .O.etc.Going to gun and knife shows,flea markets etc renting tables,travel and so forth.
Or you can get in contact with a reputable dealer who will buy the collection and do the work to disperse it.This option will get you paid quickly,but remember he/they won't pay retail price as they will have all of the above expenses and also need to make a profit.
If you are interested in selling as a whole,I would be interested in buying.I have sold to many people here on AAPK that I hope would recommend me.

I’ll get a picture(s), a list and chat with my family. Many of them are original, but some have been polished. I remember him telling me with pride that anything that was polished had been done by the only guy trusted in collector circles. He mailed them, I believe to Arkansas, but it might have been Kentucky, maybe neither. Hopefully I can find a reference. More to follow.

eyemgh wrote: ↑Sun Apr 13, 2025 4:36 am I’ll get a picture(s), a list and chat with my family. Many of them are original, but some have been polished. I remember him telling me with pride that anything that was polished had been done by the only guy trusted in collector circles. He mailed them, I believe to Arkansas, but it might have been Kentucky, maybe neither. Hopefully I can find a reference. More to follow.

I made a little headway today. Going through his papers, I found out that the ones that were cleaned were done by Herb Aycock.

eyemgh wrote: ↑Mon Apr 14, 2025 3:18 am….cleaned were done by Herb Aycock.

in his day Herb was the grand master of cleaning, highly respected in his era but controversial to some collectors looking for factory fresh examples. Good luck with your research.

I finally got time to sort these. These are all Miller Bros. The display case (an original MB glass display case) knives are then laid out on a towel. I stuffed the two other rolls. So, the towel, and the rolls, represent 125 MB pieces if my count was right.

Great display, and collection!

eyemgh wrote: ↑Mon Apr 28, 2025 11:55 pm I finally got time to sort these. These are all Miller Bros. The display case (an original MB glass display case) knives are then laid out on a towel. I stuffed the two other rolls. So, the towel, and the rolls, represent 125 MB pieces if my count was right.

I think the amount of drool that your display case will generate here might shock you.

I knew the story behind many of his knives, but I wish I’d have asked him where he found the case.

Amazing collection!
Thanks for sharing it with us.

eyemgh wrote: ↑Mon Apr 28, 2025 11:55 pm I.....

You should post the MILLER BROS pocket knives here also:
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... hp?t=50609

Wow, that display case!!!

Looks like some high dollar knives, but no farmers jacks.

There’s the drawer of Barnsley Bros.

eyemgh wrote: ↑Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:09 am There’s the drawer of Barnsley Bros.

I can’t be of much help, but I do have to say WOW absolutely incredible

Does anyone have Bernard Levine’s email address? The one on his web page is broken. We spoke on the phone, but I haven’t been able to get through since.

If I can’t manage an appraisal with him, who is the next in line authority?

I'm not sure if Levine does appraisals anymore.He doesn't get to any shows other than Oregon if he's still doing it or not.

If I was wanting someone to help sell my knives, I would try to get peanut 740. He has the knowledge, and a AAPK member. Harold

Amazing collection, keep 'em coming.

Helping my mom sort through her new situation took precedence. I was only able to individually catalog the Miller Bros. and Barnsley Bros. They represent about 50%, maybe less of his collection. There are quite a few new custom knives. I know nothing about those. Finishing will have to wait for the fall.

In the meantime, what knife rolls do people prefer? He had two Hickory Hills, but I’ll need at least a couple more.

I’ll also post pics of the remaining drawers.

All Barnsley Bros.

I wish I’d have been able to get to these in detail.

What a wonderful collection of knives your father had!
Treefarmer