eBay Why Do People Buy a 112 from the 90’s or 2000’s for More Than New

C

Christopher_2

Joined
Jan 5, 2024
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I consistently see Buck 112 knives with recent date codes, 1990 -2025 sell for more than new on eBay lately. By sell I mean with bids. Especially when you factor in shipping and Buck ships for free over $100.00. What am I missing?
 
I bought more than I ever thought possible when I use to get after it with the boos, extremely irresponsible. Sober for over 5 years now and it was the best decision of my life (not because of the late night purchases). There’s also people buying for friends and family for gifts and they may something is actually rarer, vintage or a birth year. There’s also collectors looking for fill out certain dates as mentioned. Lots of reasons really.

You’re also entering into a time when 25 years have passed and those people now have some disposable income to buy things that remind them of their earlier days, nostalgia.

Some people also think some things were made better back in the day and sometimes they are right, not saying this is the case with Buck, just a general observation.
 
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SoDak81 said:
Lol, I've won my fair share of ebay auctions when I was sauced up at the end of a night and threw in overpaying bids! Glad I'm not the only one.
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Now I know who keeps out bidding me!

Actually, no doubt I have won a few auctions in the same beer-inspired state of being. I wonder if there is a direct relationship between the amount consumed and the likelihood of winning?
 
Christopher_2 said:
I consistently see Buck 112 knives with recent date codes, 1990 -2025 sell for more than new on eBay lately. By sell I mean with bids. Especially when you factor in shipping and Buck ships for free over $100.00. What am I missing?
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Collecting. If one has absolutely no proclivity towards collecting, then I believe no amount of words, by way of explanation, will enlighten the non-collector as to why others are so passionate about it.

From a purely utilitarian perspective, most of us could get by pretty well with just one well-steeled knife. Of course, then there would be no purpose in a forum such as this, and that would be a bummer.
 
I have 100's of 112s, I don't get your point. :) Seriously, I would never pay in the order of $100 for a regular production knife unless it's old, in good shape, and comes with the box. But I have paid over $100 for a lot of 112s. But they would be rarer, limited editions, customs, etc. There were a lot of limited editions released in the 2000s by places like C&C, SMKW, SK, etc.
 
I can't say I ever made a ebay bid while drunk. But I have overpaid a couple of times either because a) I didn't carefully read what I was buying, b) the knife wasn't what I thought it was, and c) I got caught up in the bidding frenzy. Having said that, none of it would be true for a regular 112. Here is one example of my idiocy: I paid too much money for an advertising knife with the special sheath. But what I didn't realize is the knife they were including with the deal was a regular knife from 2022. I wanted the special embossed sheath so bad, I neglected looking at the knife. :)
 
Midnight Rider said:
I've noticed this, and I'm baffled by some ebay listings, too. Best I can figure is, the hype words in the heading, like "Vintage! Rare! Limited!" make some folks just lose their minds. I have no other guesses as to why.
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These are my thoughts as well. I think that sometimes new collectors see those words and assume that whatever it costs, it must be worth it. Then they start thinking that if it’s rare and expensive now, just think how much they can get for it in 10 years.

I think this happens more often than it might seem but of course, I am only assuming.
 
I recently decided it was time to finally get a 112 , but I went browsing Ebay for a deal on a clean used one hoping to save a little over a new knife in case I didn't like it.
That's how I got my 1st 102 for cheap.

I remembered the 112 costing more than the 110 ( except the 110 isn't $36 anymore) but hadn't looked at the price in a long time, so when I saw a relatively nice & clean 1992 example for $65 I bought it. It was also coming with a nice looking aftermarket sheath that I told myself would make the knife worth it if not more.
Ultimately I payed a couple dollars more for a used knife without the original sheath and an oversized aftermarket sheath that I can't carry the knife in, so I had to order a sheath which added another $20 to the whole thing.


aside from the blade grind and slightly nicer blade finish I ended up spending nearly $25 more for a used knife thats essentially the same as you can get today.
Unless you want Diamondwood instead of ebony, had wanted ebony instead of Diamondwood 5 years ago, or want your birth year or something, I see no reason to pay what a new one costs for a used example or more for a NOS example.


Btw I love my new to me 112 and that extra $25 I have into it does not bother me, I learned a small lesson and got a good knife.
 
58 Special said:
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Now I know who keeps out bidding me!

Actually, no doubt I have won a few auctions in the same beer-inspired state of being. I wonder if there is a direct relationship between the amount consumed and the likelihood of winning?
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Lol! We probably bid each other up and people wonder what in tarnation is going on!
 
OldHercDude said:
Yup, various reasons to look for things of specific dates.
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That I could get understand, I
Midnight Rider said:
I've noticed this, and I'm baffled by some ebay listings, too. Best I can figure is, the hype words in the heading, like "Vintage! Rare! Limited!" make some folks just lose their minds. I have no other guesses as to why.
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LOL, every year is “limited” to the number sold that year. Next year will be a new “limited” run for that year.
 
I buy old knives out of nostalgie... because I collect knives.

I bought a 1980's Buck off eBay once because I wanted to replace one I lost when moving many years ago. It was worth it to me for that reason - I wanted the tissue paper, the yellow cardboard box, etc... along with the knife because it reminded me of when I owned one and who bought it forr me. Not the same knife I owned of course, but it scratched an itch and I don't regret not buying a brand new Buck or feel it is "better" or "worse" than a new one. It's worth more to me, and that's about it.

YMMV
 
What I finally decided on eBay is it's time verses money..I got a lot more time than money so I will spend the time but other folks value time more. As far as older 112's selling for more in my case it HAD TO BE odd. I never really cared about dots or tang stamps differentces on a basic brass ebony 112 since "They all looked alike" but add a drop point blade, pad print, handle insert, engraving, any odd wood or horn, different steel and I was much more inspired to bid. Looking back a compleat NICE box shieth and paperwork is rare and as a collector desirable. I personally valued looks and 'display quality' more but a odd factory shieth was important for a few years since I did have a separate display of oddballs.
Little things make a big difference to different buyers. Add in time looking and frankly ability to pay and ya see the outliers in prices. I'm living on my Veterans pension but some folks are VERY COMFORTABLE and it really doesn't matter if a Buck that caught there eye costs $50.00 $200.00 or $500.00..KathyJo kept a close eye...
 
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