Hey old timer, how much did that knife cost new?

[Bartleby]

I was using my new little Queen Work horse Barlow over the week end, and began to recall the day I purchased my first "real" traditional knife, a Camco 551 Barlow for the then princely sum of $9.99. At the time (around 1980), this seemed like a lot (the sheet steel Colonials and Imperials were "cheap" at around $4.99...) I thought it might be of interest to start a thread about the cost of working knives back in the day (let's say at least ten years ago).

So, what was the first real traditional you purchased new for use (not collecting for its own sake), and how much did you spend on it? Extra credit if you can recall the year with the price.

It would also be interesting if anyone has any ads or price sheets from long ago to see if costs stayed stable over time, adjusting for inflation. Thanks!

 

[Peregrin]

Here's one I carried for many many years. My dad got it through an offer on a tin of tobacco in 1964 or so for $2.00. He gave it to me. It's an Ulster Old Timer.

 

[Bartleby]

Here's one I carried for many many years. My dad got it through an offer on a tin of tobacco in 1964 or so for $2.00. He gave it to me. It's an Ulster Old Timer.

Excellent way to kick things off sir! Any price on that tin? We ought to figure in the price of those five wrappers....

 

[Railsplitter]

I bought a Buck 703 like the one pictured below in 1980 or 1981. I don't recall the price but I think it was around $22. The 703 in the photo is from that same era (1979-1985). I purchased it in 2009 for $34.33.
View attachment 715701

Below is an advertisement from a 1971 issue of Boy's Life magazine. It's the first knife I ever bought. A friend and I saved our milk money and went in on two of them so I guess I paid $1.24 for mine. We were only 10 years old but we both bought them for using.

View attachment 715702

View attachment 715703

 

[oldtymer]

Don't have the knife for a picture- 1956 Camp King. I think it cost $1.50

 

[Bartleby]

Below is an advertisement from a 1971 issue of Boy's Life magazine. It's the first knife I ever bought. A friend and I saved our milk money and went in on two of them so I guess I paid $1.24 for mine. We were only 10 years old but we both bought them for using

Golly, I remember lusting after those in my comic book reading. I would not have been able to get such a tool past my folks. A very sound investment there at a buck and a quarter, although the ten year warranty expired back in 1981. It is in very nice shape.

 

[Bartleby]

Don't have the knife for a picture- 1956 Camp King. I think it cost $1.50

You may not have the knife, but you can nail the exact year, so your memory is better than mine....

 

[supratentorial]

The old catalogs that are in the sticky should have some prices. A lots of things have had effects on prices.

Since 10 years or more is okay for discussion....As one example... I think the September 11, 2001 attacks and resulting airline restrictions have had an effect on prices. It is one (of many) factor that led to Victorinox using a MAP. Before the MAP, a particular large online dealer was selling some Victorinox knives for half of what they are selling at now. Some resellers and small dealers were even buying from that online dealer instead of through normal distributors. That ended fairly abruptly with the MAP.

Some older examples of things that have affected prices... foreign competition and tariff acts, war, economy (depression), manufacturing changes (switch from hand forged to drop forged, switch from drop forged to stock removal, switch to shell handles, etc), etc.

The Schrade 8OT was the first knife that I bought with my own money but I don't recall the year or the price.

 

[Bartleby]

The Schrade 8OT was the first knife that I bought with my own money but I don't recall the year or the price.

Thanks! Have a ponder, it will probably come to mind eventually.

 

[gadgetgeek]

I was using my new little Queen Work horse Barlow over the week end, and began to recall the day I purchased my first "real" traditional knife, a Camco 551 Barlow for the then princely sum of $9.99. At the time (around 1980), this seemed like a lot (the sheet steel Colonials and Imperials were "cheap" at around $4.99...) I thought it might be of interest to start a thread about the cost of working knives back in the day (let's say at least ten years ago).

So, what was the first real traditional you purchased new for use (not collecting for its own sake), and how much did you spend on it? Extra credit if you can recall the year with the price.

It would also be interesting if anyone has any ads or price sheets from long ago to see if costs stayed stable over time, adjusting for inflation. Thanks!

So the question is, if the inflation calculator puts it worth 41.39 today, would it worth that?

 

[jc57]

I know for a fact I bought a Buck 110 and a Parker-Frost (Schrade 194OT with bone handles) in 1979. I have no idea how much I paid for either of them. I still have both. The Buck is in pretty good shape considering I carried it on my belt at work for about 5 years. The Parker-Frost didn't hold up as well but I still have it. I'm guessing less than $20 each. I was working for pretty meager wages in 1979.

 

[Bartleby]

So the question is, if the inflation calculator puts it worth 41.39 today, would it worth that?

I would say so, if you're asking is the price comparable, it seems that it sure is pretty close. As Supratentorial points out there are some variables to factor in, but it does seem the cost so adjusted is indeed close. The Queen Workhorse Barlow cost me about $45 bucks a few months ago when I purchased it.

I did get a Kabar Barlow in 1999 for $17. 99, which I mis-placed or gave a way. I intended to use it as a replacement for the old Camco, but put it up instead. I found the box though, still had the receipt in it, prior to buying the Queen knife....

 

[gadgetgeek]

Cool, I like to know what things cost in relation to their adjusted price since its a hard thing to compare over time if you are not looking for it. Thanks!

 

[blademan 13]

Below is an advertisement from a 1971 issue of Boy's Life magazine. It's the first knife I ever bought. A friend and I saved our milk money and went in on two of them so I guess I paid $1.24 for mine. We were only 10 years old but we both bought them for using.

View attachment 715702

View attachment 715703

Yep, that was the same "first knife" for my brother and me. Ordered ours through Fur, Fish & Game in the mid 70's. No idea whatever happened to it

 

[Bartleby]

Cool, I like to know what things cost in relation to their adjusted price since its a hard thing to compare over time if you are not looking for it. Thanks!

Thanks for calculating! Surprised (and kinda pleased) that the prices are pretty close.

 

[black mamba]

First pocket knife I bought was a Gerber Silver Knight lockback with abalone covers in the early '70s.
Price was $14.99 + tax, if I recall correctly.

 

[22-rimfire]

My first knife cost me about $0.25 (small pen knife size). It was followed by a second larger Imperial at $0.50 at the 5 & 10 store when I was a kid. Think 3rd or 4th grade.... (Post cards were $0.03 or $0.04 each.) I would go to the hardware store and look at the Case display and lust for one. My Dad carried a Case slippie then. I loved the smell of oil on Case knives when you first unwrapped them from the box. Anyway, I bought my first Case, the barlow for the princely sum of about $18. It was one of the lesser priced Case knives. They ran from about $15 to $25 or so each then depending on size and so forth as I recall and $20 was a lot of money to me. But I used that Case Barlow for years and years for hunting, trapping, while fishing, and for general carry. It got retired when the blade was so worn down that it was a little dangerous to keep in your pocket as the tip of the blade was above the liners at that point.

 

[Bartleby]

First pocket knife I bought was a Gerber Silver Knight lockback with abalone covers in the early '70s.
Price was $14.99 + tax, if I recall correctly.

These were beautifully made, underappreciated at the time!

 

[Bartleby]

My first knife cost me about $0.25 (small pen knife size). It was followed by a second larger Imperial at $0.50 at the 5 & 10 store when I was a kid. Think 3rd or 4th grade.... (Post cards were $0.03 or $0.04 each.) I would go to the hardware store and look at the Case display and lust for one. My Dad carried a Case slippie then. I loved the smell of oil on Case knives when you first unwrapped them from the box. Anyway, I bought my first Case, the barlow for the princely sum of about $18. It was one of the lesser priced Case knives. They ran from about $15 to $25 or so each then depending on size and so forth as I recall and $20 was a lot of money to me. But I used that Case Barlow for years and years for hunting, trapping, while fishing, and for general carry. It got retired when the blade was so worn down that it was a little dangerous to keep in your pocket as the tip of the blade was above the liners at that point.

Just to give a ballpark figure of dates, about what year would you have been in third or forth grade? Thanks!

 

[22-rimfire]

That would be in the early to mid 60's.

Sorry.... reminds me of one of my pet peeves with pictures when people don't identify the knives in the picture. Of course some people know, but I would guess that most do not.