Thanks for being honest in this matter and also for bearing with all us Buckaholics who love a great Buck mystery and the controversy that comes with it! Now given that the nature of the claims of this knife have changed, what are you going to value it at?
Hi Colt,
Sure thing, and thank you for your recognition as such. The corresponding changes have already been made to the listing, along with the new prices.
A final note from my end:
As someone who wears both hats as a collector and a dealer, I get the perception of "spin." However, what too many pure collectors fail to understand is us independent dealers rely on this revenue to in part pay bills and put food on the table. It doesn't do us a damn bit of good if we don't
sell what we have for sale.
I work my ass off tracking down leads and collections from Ventura to the Tijuana border. There is time associated with not only finding this stuff, but in photographing it, putting it online, and answering the questions from a global internet customer base that runs the gamut from really good guys to fecal-oscillating, sub-structural bridge dwellers. And then at some point shipping it.
Not only do I have to generate enough revenue to make it worthwhile, I have to make enough money so I still have money to buy stuff. And of course I have to carry the cycle time it takes for something to sell. Sometimes, I'm fortunate, as an item will be pre-sold before it is ever picked up. Other times, an item will sit unsold for maybe a year. In short, you wouldn't so this if you didn't love what you sell, and
to do it, you gotta sell what you have for sale.
As a collector, I sometimes encounter a perceptible undercurrent of anti-dealer sentiment on forums from time to time. I get it too, as Lord knows I've had my share of bad experiences buying stuff online (As a seller, it's "epay." As a buyer, it's "ep
ray"). But as a dealer, I think what some people don't seem to get is we work
hard to make a buck by getting
you something cool for your collection. And the more honest we are, the harder we work.
Lastly, as a collector, if I come across something that belongs in
my collection, well I guess you don't get to see it then. Call it my reward for the time and effort it takes to build a business - even a small one - in this trade. As I said in my OP, I will always be a collector
first, and a dealer only a distant second.
In the end, the best I can do is represent myself with integrity. I treat every customer as if I would expect and hope for if I was buying something from them.
Anyway, as far as I am concerned the issue with the knife is closed, though I understand the discussion may likely continue. I just don't think I have anything more to add to it.
And it's still a damn fine knife.
