Highest price paid???

Gollnick

Gollnick

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In THIS THREAD we received word that this 20" Bowie knife with matching sheath

knife.jpg


sold just recently at auction for $270,000 ($297,000 including fees).

If one were to go to Europe, for example, one might be able to find some thousand-year-old sword or something that might be worth a fortune. And some oriental knives and swords, especially Japaneese swords, are quite valuable.

But does anyone know what the record price paid for an American knife or sword is?
 
$270,000 ($297,000 including fees).
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:eek: :eek: No WAY!!! That's too overboard, unless that was Jim Bowies knife himself, then no knife is worth it. Unless is has some historical significance. Such as George Washington’s Axe.
:)

(EDITED to Add:I didn't follow your link and see it did have historical significance:footinmou )
 
Whoa! And I stay awake nights wondering how to scrimp and save for a $150 Microtech! :eek:

FTC

At the sake of sounding unromantic, just think how many Spydercos I could have bought with that!
 
And some oriental knives and swords, especially Japaneese swords, are quite valuable.
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Most of the ones I have seen cost about $10,000 just for the blade..:eek:

Then you have to get it restored, that could cost up to $2,000 for that..
 
Most of the ones I have seen cost about $10,000 just for the blade..

Then you have to get it restored, that could cost up to $2,000 for that..
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Chump change! This old bowie went for $270,000 without any restoration.

The question remains: What's the record for an American knife for sword?
 
A bit of spare time on my hands uncovered this article:

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George Thomas Sword May Break Record Set by Grant's at Auction

June 3, 2002--In 1989 a sword that belonged to Ulysses S. Grant sold for $325,000, setting the record for an American sword. Sellers hope that the sale today of the sword presented to Gen. George Thomas after his victory at Mill Springs, Kentucky, will break that figure.

Included with the sword is Gen. Thomas' original commission signed by President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton.

Spokesmen for Greg Martin Auctions of San Francisco and New York indicated they thought the price could go as high as $350,000, given the historic significance of the piece and interest in the market.

The sword was given to Gen. Thomas after a Union victory at Mill Springs, Ky., on Jan. 19, 1862 by the enlisted men of the 4th Regimental Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, as noted on the scabbard. In addition to the date and the place, the words "The First Victory Won by the Union Army" are engraved on the blade.

The monogrammed sword has a single-edged, straight, 33-inch blade and gold, silver, bronze and jeweled accents. Its hilt features the standing figure of a female warrior. Its 34-inch scabbard is made of engraved and gilt bronze.
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You can read the rest of the article at:

http://www.civilwarinteractive.com/thomassword.htm

Cheers,
WayLander
 
Butterfield & Butterfield sold a Wostenholm Bowie from the Robert Berryman & Charles SchreinerIII collection for $132,000.00 + fees, back in 1992.:eek: That was the most I had heard for a knife, up till yesterday.
 
Originally posted by Ankerson
Most of the ones I have seen cost about $10,000 just for the blade..:eek:

Then you have to get it restored, that could cost up to $2,000 for that..
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I'm no expert by any means but I would argue that you cannot find a real samurai sword for auction any more making them practically priceless. By real, I mean hand-forged ones that date back to the Edo period of feudal Japan before the Western influence of the late 1800's. Not the mass produced crap that was made for their military in WW II. Those are not real samurai swords.

Both kinds were destroyed as part of the de-militarization process after WW II.

From what I've read, only a few ancient swords survived and they are very, very rare and coveted by Japanese "godzillianaires". The only thing that is traded or auctioned these days are the tsubas or handguards. And those will cost a pretty penny. I've seen pictures of some beautiful ones including one cool one that was a skull! They remind me of Spyderco Q knives; or vice versa.
 
I believe a jeweled Bill Moran, once sold for $1,000,000, I remember reading in Blade or KI.
 
I know I am not allowed to sell because I am a basic member, but if someone wants to break the record, I have a bemchmade or two that I'd sell for $1,000,001:) Josh
 
Originally posted by newknifeguy
I know I am not allowed to sell because I am a basic member, but if someone wants to break the record, I have a bemchmade or two that I'd sell for $1,000,001:) Josh
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LOL...okay, I admit that's a good one. :D
 
Oh my goodness! A mere Basic Member selling in the forum! I think we should ban him immediately!
:D
 
In the August 1991 Blade there is an article about a Buster Warenski knife called the Gem of the Orient. This knife was sold to a Japanese collector for the price of 1.5 million dollars. I don't know if any knife has reached a higher price since, but I doubt it.
 
Yes, Gollnick mentioned other blades, but the question is "highest price for an american blade

WayLander
 
Since Buster Warenski is a maker from Richfield, Utah, I would think that the Gem of the Orient is an American knife.:rolleyes:
 
But I suppose I was thinking of more historical/classic blades than anything brand new, that might just be diamond-encrusted or some such. :rolleyes:

WayLander
 
What would be the most significant American piece of cutlery, if such a thing were to have survived? Is it Jim Bowie's knife? What about George Washington's sword?

I suppose in other countries there'd be even more significant pieces. Joan of Arc's sword I imagine would be priceless for the French. And Excalibur, if such a thing existed, for the Brits.
 
I think if you could somehow prove that it was Jim Bowie's knife it would be almost priceless. If that knife ever came up for sale we would definitely see a new record price set for a knife sold at auction.
 
1.5 Million Dollars! Wow!

If you could authoratatively prove that a piece was Jim Bowie's knife, I'm sure that it would bring down the house.
 
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