$5 and a fleamarket table.

[T. Erdelyi]

Alright here's the scenario, your wanderin' thru the aisles of your local fleamarket, of in the distance you see a low wooden case with a hinged top. As you get closer, you notice, nestled among the costume jewelry, lighters, old mechanical pencils, and old campaign buttons from the 60's, the silhouettes of several pocket knives.

Inside the box are an old Colonial Fishing Knife with Scaler,(in really good slightly sharpened condition), a no name Pakastani/Taiwaneese knock off of a Spyderco Fisherman, a Master, Taiwan copy of an Al Mar Osprey, and a,(no name) brand new multiblade slipjoint Congress pattern.

Each one is priced at $5, which one do you buy, and why?

I personally, went for the older, US made Colonial, because in the back of my head I have the idea that someday these knives will be worth something, considering they are the cheapest most abused knives out there, much like the old Boy Scout knives they are used to destruction, so there will eventually be few mint, or near mint examples left.

 

[dewingrm]

I would do the same and go for the colonial. I guess I'm partial to this style anyway since my Grandfather used to carry one everyday of his life.

Ryan

 

[one2gofst]

Thats easy, take the Colonial because it is the only knife of any value there anyhow. I would not let the others be in my posession.

 

[Jazzman]

Good choice! I go to fleamarkets alot and I find myself in the same situation. I would have done the same thing.
Matt

 

[cockroachfarm]

Originally posted by T. Erdelyi
..which one do you buy, and why?...

The Colonial, of course. But "why"? Because now I am knowledgeable enough to avoid the others. And I gained that knowledge by having my blade interest sparked by a POS from a flea market. Unlike some people here, I wasn't BORN with a Lake in my pocket and a Ferrari in my driveway. So, in my case, I was happy to have that POS to spur my interest into discovering the next level. And I will always remember it with fondness, not disdain.

 

[Warthog]

Thats easy, take the Colonial because it is the only knife of any value there anyhow. I would not let the others be in my posession.

Same

Warthog

 

[one2gofst]

Originally posted by cockroachfarm
The Colonial, of course. But "why"? Because now I am knowledgeable enough to avoid the others. And I gained that knowledge by having my blade interest sparked by a POS from a flea market. Unlike some people here, I wasn't BORN with a Lake in my pocket and a Ferrari in my driveway. So, in my case, I was happy to have that POS to spur my interest into discovering the next level. And I will always remember it with fondness, not disdain.

I too started my lov of knives with a cheapo Coast Cutlery liner lock that didn't lock worth anything. I loved that knife, but I realized it was not good for much of anything. I would have been better served by a SAK of the same price or Buck 110. But it got me started. I imagine there are a good number of knife lovers who started with pieces of crap and realized they were POS and moved on from there.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Just wanted to throw this back up I'm still curious.

 

[cockroachfarm]

Originally posted by one2gofst
...I would have been better served by a SAK of the same price or Buck 110. But it got me started....

Same here. However, when I saw my first knife with a liner lock, I already owned a Buck, a Case, and several SAK's. But it was that first flea market POS that encoured me to find out more about these 'one-handed opening' knives....and thus sent me on my way to financial ruin.

 

[rev_jch]

nothing. If you buy that colonial you'll be lucky to get your $5 back!!!
Even if you find a collecting book that gave it a $10 value (which is unlikely. most books do not rate colonial knives) you more than likley would never see it.
Your grandchildren may be able to get your $10 for you???
I collect, and frequent shows, flea markets ect. and have yet to see a colonial go for much of anything.