Inherited knife collection - how to sell it?

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GatorMedic said:
Whether you want to believe it or not, this is how it's going to go for most people. Just because you value something and build up a collection doesn't mean any one of your loved ones will want to keep it when you're gone. Honestly, dealing with people's stuff after they've passed is generally a very big hassle for those they leave behind. It's one of the reasons I frequently go through my stuff and pare down my possessions to only those I truly use/need. Even though I'm young, I deal with death enough and had enough close calls on the job to realize you are not guaranteed your next breath. I don't want my loved ones to have a big burden should I suddenly die.
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I"m the opposite. I'm leaving my heirs banker's box after banker's box of papers. What's in the boxes? Maybe something good, maybe a bunch of old cell phone statements. Gotta check it all though.
 
As someone with 500 knives and some idea as to the work involved in trying to liquidate that size of a collection, I am going to suggest that instead of selling them yourself, you find an auction house and have them sell them. You can easily find one that deals in estates or large collections, and if you find one that has a clientele for such items so much the better. Yes, you won't see the entire realized value. But you can expect they will move all of them at the best price they can expect and quickly. Check out some of the international online firms available thru sites like Invaluable.com. There are, in fact, a couple of people on this forum who conduct such sales.

As for keeping 500+ knives, there's no way you'll ever consider that many "special". I'm pretty sure the reason you fell heir to the collection is so you could enjoy the hobby, not not so you'd maintain an accumulation.
 
Danke42 said:
I"m the opposite. I'm leaving my heirs banker's box after banker's box of papers. What's in the boxes? Maybe something good, maybe a bunch of old cell phone statements. Gotta check it all though.
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I agree with this. Let’s face it, your collections, hobbies, and interest should not come as a surprise to your love ones. Most of them have had a lifetime in which to share time with you and your advocation. If they haven’t shown an interest in you, your hobby, or their inheritance then why should you care. Why sacrifice something that brings joy to you, just to leave a bag of loot for someone who couldn’t be bothered to ask you how they should maintain or dispose of your collections when you are gone?

Imagine how different this would be if your kid or grandkid were to walk up to you and express their concern about your collection before you go. Perhaps they could help you and both of you can agree to get a table at the local gun and knife show every few weeks. You can slowly liquidate the collection even as the kid learns about the collection and how to sell it. And you can both spend quality time together before it’s too late.

Unfortunately that seldom happens, and the heirs will have a hard time realizing the collection’s potential value, and as far as I am concerned, that’s how it should be. They put themselves in that position.

n2s
 
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As for the OP’s inherited collection, let see what these knives look like. If they are late night specials, they are not worth much, and certainly not worthy of your time. However, if they are desirable knives, then they may well be worth the effort to document and sell them.

n2s
 
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