Help! Huge stockpile to ID and appraise

R

RedHedKT

Joined
Nov 27, 2014
Messages
7
Not sure if this is the right place for this but I'm in need of some advice. A family member of mine passed away and I inherited hundreds of knives. I'm not a knife collector, so I don't know what most of them are worth. I don't even know what a lot of them are called. I do know there is a little of everything, folding knives, tactical knives, swords, daggers, bayonets, pocket knives, commemoratives, nearly every manufacturer you can think of, seriously, EVERYTHING. Since there is just a ton of them to ID and to find value for, I don't know if it would be appropriate to post all of them here (yes, I would get a gold membership if I decided to do that). I just don't know if it would be that efficient.

I'm hesitant to hire a general appraiser because who knows if they really know what they're looking at. The chances of them being experts in knives specifically are fairly low. Also, they don't do this for free and I wouldn't want to pay a lot upfront if I weren't sure I could sell them all. So far, internet research has mostly been a bust. The best I can do is type in a manufacturer (assuming one is engraved on the knife) and try to find a knife that looks similar and see what people are charging. A lot of things I can't find exact replicas of.

I'm considering selling here (with a Gold membership), assuming I can get everything ID'd and valued. I wouldn't be comfortable just throwing everything out there with "best offer" on it.

Frankly, I just don't even know what to do. The longer they stay in storage, the less money I get from them (assuming I don't have any extremely sought after antiques...which I might).

Any advice or help MUCH appreciated!
 
Post brands. That will be a good initial filter. Then move from there.

I.e. "Spydercos bussees and Benchmade's" you'll be able to sell em off here or anywhere.

"United cutlery, BudK..." Not so much
 
you'll have to get a gold membership to do anything to do with value. You should be able to recoup at least that, if you truly have a huge pile
 
RedHedKT said:
Not sure if this is the right place for this but I'm in need of some advice. A family member of mine passed away and I inherited hundreds of knives. I'm not a knife collector, so I don't know what most of them are worth. I don't even know what a lot of them are called. I do know there is a little of everything, folding knives, tactical knives, swords, daggers, bayonets, pocket knives, commemoratives, nearly every manufacturer you can think of, seriously, EVERYTHING. Since there is just a ton of them to ID and to find value for, I don't know if it would be appropriate to post all of them here (yes, I would get a gold membership if I decided to do that). I just don't know if it would be that efficient.

I'm hesitant to hire a general appraiser because who knows if they really know what they're looking at. The chances of them being experts in knives specifically are fairly low. Also, they don't do this for free and I wouldn't want to pay a lot upfront if I weren't sure I could sell them all. So far, internet research has mostly been a bust. The best I can do is type in a manufacturer (assuming one is engraved on the knife) and try to find a knife that looks similar and see what people are charging. A lot of things I can't find exact replicas of.

I'm considering selling here (with a Gold membership), assuming I can get everything ID'd and valued. I wouldn't be comfortable just throwing everything out there with "best offer" on it.

Frankly, I just don't even know what to do. The longer they stay in storage, the less money I get from them (assuming I don't have any extremely sought after antiques...which I might).

Any advice or help MUCH appreciated!
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I think your idea of getting a gold membership would be worth consideration. You would then be able to take pictures of the knives in question and get help identifying them here, as well as listing them for sale. It would certainly be cheaper than paying an appraiser, and likely be more accurate in determining value.
 
Looks like you know the rules for values and selling with a gold membership. Its only $30 and I am sure you will re coup that on your first sale. You will most likely need a paypal account as well.

I would start by grouping them into brands. Then ask us here if they are worth selling on the secondary market. The thought that most of us have here, whenever we see a post like this (yes you are not the first), is that there was some compulsive shopper on home shopping network, that bought 100 tactical knives for $99.

Here is how I would start.
1-Organize by brand
2-Keep all boxes, sheathes, pouches with the knives. Note model if possible.
3-Group all non branded knives. (this will be the hard part, could be junk, or it could be a valuable custom)
4- Take pictures of each group
5-Get a gold membership and post pics

Then look at a major auction site and see if you can find a knife. They usually give a good value

Or let us know where you are and maybe there is a local member in your area that would love to take a look.

Good luck,
Joe
 
Unless you go with a reliable appraiser like Bernard Levine, your best bet would be to break the problem down by category first, then by maker.

Start by setting all swords in one area, then fixed blades, then folders, then whatever other categories.

Make it easy on yourself, pick a common category with lots of knives, perhaps folders.
Some of these will have locks, others will be slipjoints. Sort by groups with obvious similarities.
Break them down by maker or manufacturer. Take group pictures with a number next to each.
This will help you when you go to sell them.

Post at least one good close-up of each, in an appropriate forum for specific identification and value. Once you've got a group of identified and valued knives to post in one sales subforum, put them up for sale.
 
Thank you everybody. This is all great advice! Well, see you all on the sales pages one day (maybe). I have so much organizing to do.....
 
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