I thought it was too good to be true.

[orvet]

Every now & again a guy can run across a deal that seems too good to be true. I ran across a deal on ebay that I thought was too good to be true, but I took a chance. It was a Schrade Walden 165OT w/o sheath, Buy-It-Now for $12.99 + 6.99 shipping. A 165OT for under $20!

I looked at the picture, read the description & decided to take a chance, but popped the extra $1.75 for insurance. It arrived today. The blade is a bit rusty, so I will polish that up. There is a bit of oxidation on the top and bottom of the Derlin handle, which comes off just fine w/ 1000 grit wet-or-dry, but it is as good and solid as my other SW 165OT.
Bottom line........$21.73 to my door step.

I have been wanting to get one of these knives for about a year now. Since I read Codger's posts touting the glories of Schrade's finest knife, or something to that effect (one must realize that "the finest knife made" is a dynamic & not a static thing......i.e.; it changes).

I have watched with dismay as users sold in the $60-$80 range about 6 months ago & and MIB w/papers crossed the $150 mark.

I wanted to get a good user for under $45, that was my goal. I bid on a lot of them, but was outbid. But I kept trying. Finally this month I had a breakthrough. July 12 I got a great user w/sheath for $36.20 including shipping. Now this one today for $21.73 w/o sheath. To paraphrase an old comic from the 50's "July (baseball) has been verrrry good to me." (Does anyone remember that comic's name?) I have heard it said that summer is the time to find bargains on ebay.......must be true! Or maybe it is a Providential birthday present since my BD is in July.

For those of you looking for a certain Schrade.....don't give up!

Dale

PS- I won't post pics since there are lots of pics of 165OTs, nicer than mine, in the forum.

 

[Codger_64]

I won't believe you really have them if you don't show pictures.
Just kidding!

Really, you don't have to give an arm and a leg to get either the mint early ones complete, or just a decent user. You just have to exercise patience. And not get lustful over one that goes higher than the goal you have set for yourself. For two years I've tried to get a very early one with the earliest choil strap sheath. The one in the first catalog and ad appearances. I've also kept my eyes open for a knife made in the first year. As you said, they went for more than I personally valued them. And I recently got both knife (#0891) and a very excellent first type sheath for less than $70 with shipping.

 

[Sword and Shield]

Good hit.

 

[waynorth]

Summer is the time alright! I just got a Harness Jack (arguably the finest pattern in the universe! This is Charlie yer talking to!)) for $71 bucks, that's worth well over $200! A seldom seen Cattaraugus, in nice shape! Ah those lazy days of Summer!!

 

[waynorth]

Nice find Codger, and nice that you know what to look for!

 

[Rusty1]

Orvet, I thought it was too good to be true also, I saw the knife, went to the page and it had gone, I have been down that road a few times, there seems to be a delay on the e-bay pages before they get deleted after a buy it now situation, well done. It should clean up nice.

Rusty 1