Estate Knives

[Karda]

A little note about valuations. It is a recent rule :

WHAT IS MY KNIFE / GADGET / SPATULA / TUNING FORK WORTH?!?!?!?!
In order to curtail potential abuse of membership privileges associated with the forums, questions regarding valuation of knives and collections are limited to those with a membership level which permits selling on this site. Accordingly, registered and basic members may not start or post in threads with such requests whether with the intent to sell or for informational purposes only.

 

[Michael Starr]

Here's a link to some Chubby info http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/538937-Chubby-Hueske

The Lile info you got was just that info - the people representing Lile Knives now are making reproductions of some of Jimmy's more popular pieces - they're VERY proud of their work!

Lakota Hawk is a production knife not "custom".
The other makers you list I can't find any references at all.

What are they worth? List them on EvilBay-whatever someone is willing to pay is their worth!

Good luck...

 

[ccjking]

Hi Balislinger,
I have inabled the e-mail setting.

Since it looks like the moderator may be getting nervous let me restate and clarify the purpose of this post. I am not asking for an appraisal on this forum. I specifically asked for information on several knife makers and whether they produced desirable/collectable items. Here's some pics. Thanks, Charlie

 

[The Amazing Virginian]

It seems like you already have information on Lile, Hueske and Lakota.

Gaigl was a New Mexican knifemaker who I believe passed away over 20 years ago. I cannot and will not appraise your knives or pass judgment on what is or is not "desirable/collectable" as that is a matter of personal taste. But as a rough guide, I have seen his knives sell in the $200-$300 range.

Hank Kubaiko made (and may still be making) knives under the name "Alaskan Maid" in Alaska, and I believe also in New Mexico. Last I knew he was somewhwre near Canton, Ohio and still may be making knives. Personally, I liked a couple of his knives very much, especially in Damascus. But the one you have is more plain, and again only as a very rough guide, I have seen those sorts of knives sell in the $150-$400 range.

Good luck.

 

[Les Robertson]

Hi CCJ,

You didn't touch a nerve. As I am guessing whoever you talked to was in fact not a custom knife dealer. Probably some sort of gun auction house. An established and experienced custom knife dealer would be able to look at the photos and give you a "price range". I personally have never asked someone to send me knives to look at so I could appraise them.

Ok, maybe the nerve thing was your "hands out" comment. In the news right now are the amount of people who have their hands out wanting something for nothing...a sense of entitlement if you will. Not that it was you, just the fact that you were stunned that people wanted to be paid for their expertise. After all you contacted them...not the other way around.

As people here and other places throw out numbers...ask them if they want to buy it at that price. If they don't....either they don't know what they are talking about or the knife is not worth what they told you it was.

When people ask me for a price, I give them what I would pay for it. Some sell the knife to me, others figure since I am a dealer it must be worth more than that. Which of course it is or I wouldn't have offered that. What most find out since they don't have a website, set up at shows, take credit cards, etc. Is that about their only option is Ebay. Where of course they have their hands out....and you use Pay Pal....where of course they have their hands out. Ebay won't even tell you what your knife is worth. That is done by default adjunct committee.

One more thing. Remember free advise is worth every penny you pay for it!

Good luck with the sale.

 

[Les Robertson]

Hi Lorien,

Talked with Bruce Voyles. He gave me the green light for an article. Should be interesting.

 

[Lorien]

hey, that's awesome Les!

 

[The Amazing Virginian]

As people here and other places throw out numbers...ask them if they want to buy it at that price. If they don't....either they don't know what they are talking about or the knife is not worth what they told you it was.

Can't agree with that logic.

Knives are a matter of personal taste. Like a lot of things. Just because I personally do not like a particular knife and would not buy it at a particular prices does NOT mean the knife is not "worth" a certain price in the way that all "worth" is measured: in a free market exchange between a willing seller and a willing buyer. For example, even though I personally would not buy a Ford Focus at $15K, I am still confident that I can tell someone that a Ford Focus is "worth" $15K in the sense that a LOT of other folks will pay $15K for one. Similarly, I could (but out of courtesy won't) name a lot of very popular and highly collected knifemakers whose work I do not like at all and would not buy (except maybe at a HUGE discount and then immediately flip). But I can still observe that one of these makers' knives are snapped up quickly at a particular price range all the time. In that case, my own personal willingness to buy one of that maker's knives at a particular price would be a really crappy way to assess that knife's worth in the open market.

What most find out since they don't have a website, set up at shows, take credit cards, etc. Is that about their only option is Ebay.

Gee, it seems to me that there is a website somewhere with thousands of knife afficionados and collectors as members where folks can list their own knives for sale. Can't remember the name of that place right now.

Ebay won't even tell you what your knife is worth

Actually, I think eBay does a pretty good job of telling folks exactly what their items are "worth" in the real world.

Remember free advise is worth every penny you pay for it!

Usually, but not always, true. However most of the good free advice I have received has been from family and friends - not Internet strangers. But every once in a while . . .

 

[Les Robertson]

Hi VA:

Can't agree with that logic.

Knives are a matter of personal taste. Like a lot of things. Just because I personally do not like a particular knife and would not buy it at a particular prices does NOT mean the knife is not "worth" a certain price in the way that all "worth" is measured: in a free market exchange between a willing seller and a willing buyer. For example, even though I personally would not buy a Ford Focus at $15K, I am still confident that I can tell someone that a Ford Focus is "worth" $15K in the sense that a LOT of other folks will pay $15K for one. Similarly, I could (but out of courtesy won't) name a lot of very popular and highly collected knifemakers whose work I do not like at all and would not buy (except maybe at a HUGE discount and then immediately flip). But I can still observe that one of these makers' knives are snapped up quickly at a particular price range all the time. In that case, my own personal willingness to buy one of that maker's knives at a particular price would be a really crappy way to assess that knife's worth in the open market.

Other than the "free market" part of this post makes no sense. Might want to rethink this...how about apples to apples. Say comparing 20 to 30 year old custom knives to say....20 to 30 year old custom knives. Now if he was looking for a price point to sell or trade a Ford Focus, you would make perfect sense. Of course in that case he would just go to the Blue Book. Unfortunately there is no "Book" of custom knife values. However, there are people out there who do have this knowledge.

Gee, it seems to me that there is a website somewhere with thousands of knife aficionados and collectors as members where folks can list their own knives for sale. Can't remember the name of that place right now.

Yep, Bladeforums among others.....but remember that Gold Membership is $20....sadly Spark has his hand out to.

Actually, I think eBay does a pretty good job of telling folks exactly what their items are "worth" in the real world.

Fair enough. However, you may have to re list an item numerous times if you do not have a good "Start" price. Oh and BTW....EBay will have its hand out every time.

Usually, but not always, true. However most of the good free advice I have received has been from family and friends - not Internet strangers. But every once in a while

I was specifically referring to custom knives. In most cases the advise given is by Internet strangers. If you went to most of your family and friends and asked them about the price to list your custom knives that are 20 - 30 years old. Would they be actually "guessing" or would they be giving you advise that you could move forward with as a solid price to work from? I'll go out on the limb and say the later.