how do you tell ?

T

tsosbee

Joined
Dec 30, 2002
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what is a quick way to tell if what you think might be a collectible knife really isn't ?
 
How the heck can anyone answer that question?

If it's a production knife you are wondering about, you need to do your homework. Lots of homework. This area of collecting is rife with fakes and there is no short and fast way to spot a fake. The values of old pocket knives vary widely, depending on their rarity, and the whims of the current market. Your only defense is knowing your subject matter really well..

If it's a custom or handmade knife you are curious about, you still have to do your homework to know the real value of that makers work.

Another answer is: if you like it, and want to keep it, then it's a collectible.

Para
 
If it's advertised as a collectible, most of the time it won't be.

If it's a limited edition, it better be of an excellent make, and the total amount made should be very small. A "1 of 50,000" limited edition isn't going to cut it.

If it's an old knife, buy the best condition you can find, unless it's really rare, most beat up knives don't do well.

Most importantly, Buy what you like, and read up on the subject:).



HTH:D:).
 
Gollnick's response is on the money. I have the Levine's Guide To Knives & Their Values (5th Edition). It is an excellent resource.
 
Originally posted by trane_fan
Gollnick's response is on the money. I have the Levine's Guide To Knives & Their Values (5th Edition). It is an excellent resource.
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The 4th edition is. The fifth is a joke, they basically copied Levine's original book, and added a few more pictures. The prices are all outta wack too. Levine has disowned the 5th:(.
 
Originally posted by bob bowie
The 4th edition is. The fifth is a joke, they basically Levine's original book, and added a few more pictures. The prices are all outta wack too. Levine has disowned the 5th:(.
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You appear to have left out a word between basically and Levine's. I assume the word was copied or something close to that. Am I right? Secondly, when you say the "prices are out of wack too" do you mean the estimated values of the knives or the price of the book? I'm curious, it sounds like I may need to go and get the 4th edition. Let me know what the answers are bb if you would.
 
It's my understanding that the publishers and Levine did not agree on the terms of the latest edition.

Since the publishers owned the name (of the publication), they hired someone else to do the work for this latest edition.
 
At least the book was purchased with a gift certificate. I know that it still is money but at least it doesn't feel like I wasted my own :D :D.
 
Yep, I left out "copied":). They hired someone to redo the pricing section, and they are quite off the "real world" pricing.
Levine's 4th is pretty dead on though:).
 
Originally posted by bob bowie
Yep, I left out "copied":). They hired someone to redo the pricing section, and they are quite off the "real world" pricing.
Levine's 4th pretty dead on though:).
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Hey BB, where can I get a copy of the 4th edition?
 
Bernard sells them himself, autographed, and the whole 9 yards:). Check the website he list's in his Sig. line:).
 
Originally posted by bob bowie
Bernard sells them himself, autographed, and the whole 9 yards:). Check the website he list's in his Sig. line:).
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Thanks for the quick responses BB you're a good guy :) :).
 
but at least it doesn't feel like I wasted my own
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You didn't waste any money. The 5th is jam-packed with good information, most of which Mr. Levine wrote. But, the prices especially are not considered most authoratative.
 
Originally posted by Gollnick
You didn't waste any money. The 5th is jam-packed with good information, most of which Mr. Levine wrote. But, the prices especially are not considered most authoratative.
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Gollnick, just how skewed are the stated values? Are they too high, too low or just plain out there.
 
The 5th's prices range from a bit too high to bizzaro world:D. The history in the book, etc.... is fine, but do not trust the pricing formula's.
 
But the fourth edition, it's the real deal, the 5th editions is not approved by the writer.

Also ditto on the words collectible, Pakistan, China, or Franklin Mint.
 
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