"Black Box" Winchesters

I don't have any Black Box Winchesters left I have gifted them all the last one was a Doctor's knife I gave to my doctor. He was instrumental in bringing me back to where I am after I nearly left here in 2014. I've got to build that little missing part of my collection back up. Some very nice knives posted here.
 
3964 '87 Stockman
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From a chart by Clarence Risner. Not sure where he got the numbers... presumably, Blue Grass Cutlery.

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Check out the number made for the 3964 with small shield/highly polished blade.

BTW, the values listed were highly optimistic :)
 
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There are a couple up for auction on a popular internet site.

Not mine, I don't have any.

Probably easily found using the search tool on the site.

Looked mint in boxes.
 
Thanks for posting those numbers Al. C. Houston Price's eleventh ed. (1996) has the same production numbers posted, as well as similar optimistic resale prices. Still, they are fine knives even though the prices have not held up to expectation.

Most Black Box W's were made when Bill Howard was with Queen, and Bill paid homage to the 'Black Box Winchesters' with his run of 73's and 73L's in 'Black Box Brown Jig Bone'. While the color is quite close to the originals, the jigging is not.

 
Lousy pic but I am trying to learn -
but here is a 3971 - I think it is/was called a large whittler.
I found the original receipt - looks like I bought it in 1990 for 42.99 - guess it's been sitting awhile!
Thanx for looking

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did not want to be unpolite. That shows their value in $ did not change a lot, just the money did.
 
yes - copper has held value - but not the US $.02
During 1982 the US cent changed composition to use less copper in order to save money.

But - the knife is still worth something. I have some knives that I have been holding for years - such as this Winchester.
I am glad to see how many others there are that appreciate the knives that came in black boxes.
 
Jolipapa said:
did not want to be unpolite. That shows their value in $ did not change a lot, just the money did.
Click to expand...

$49.99 in 1987 dollars = $67.06 in 1995 dollars

$49.99 in 1987 dollars = $104.26 in 2016 dollars

Source: Consumer Price Index Calculator, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

Now look at that chart again.
 
Johnwye60 said:
yes - copper has held value - but not the US $.02
During 1982 the US cent changed composition to use less copper in order to save money.
Click to expand...

Sadly, we have reached a point at which it is more expensive to produce pennies (and nickels! :eek:) than the value they are supposed to represent. :confused:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...105-million-on-pennies-and-nickels-last-year/

https://mises.org/blog/pennies-and-nickels-more-expensive-mint-use

Minting small denominations has been a losing proposition for a while now. :rolleyes:

That's a dynamite whittler, Johnwye60. :thumbup: Thanks for sharing!
 
MerryMadMonk said:
$49.99 in 1987 dollars = $67.06 in 1995 dollars

$49.99 in 1987 dollars = $104.26 in 2016 dollars

Source: Consumer Price Index Calculator, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

Now look at that chart again.
Click to expand...
The chart is interesting for differences and quantities, surely not for today's values. I paid mine quite the same price as when new (in $) -including shipping-, certainly not that quoted. IMHO that is pure fantasy, as often.


gunstockjack said:
You got it Al! I guess most of these were made with the small shield and a polished blade, but they were also made with satin blades in both large and small shield.
Click to expand...
I wonder if the same applies (large/small; satin/polished) to other patterns?
 
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MerryMadMonk said:
$49.99 in 1987 dollars = $67.06 in 1995 dollars

$49.99 in 1987 dollars = $104.26 in 2016 dollars

Source: Consumer Price Index Calculator, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

Now look at that chart again.
Click to expand...

The black box knives seem to be a good value right now. I think it's because they're hard to find amongst all of the inexpensive imported Winchester branded knives... and maybe not a lot of folks are looking.

I don't think the $50 price tag was typical for all the patterns and years of production. I remember thinking that some of them were out of my own budget back in the early 2000s. Some were over $100... at least from one large dealer.




....Nobody knows what goes on inside the black box. ;)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_box

BlackBoxQuestion.png
 
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