I have a Gerber A/F folder that I purchased at the 1996 Blade Show. The knife is signed by Col. Rex Apellgate, who was in the Gerber booth that year. The knife is signed on the blade with a black Sharpee pen. The signature would rub off if touched, so a display case such as a shadow box would be necessary. The knife is accompanied by a signed photo of the Col. indicating the Blade Show '96. I also have the reciept for the knife showing it was purchased from Little River Knives, whos' booth was next to the Gerber booth that year. I'm not looking to sell the knife right now. I just would like to hear any opinions on its' present worth.
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Knife Value Question
- Thread starter whetstone
- Start date
Cougar Allen
Buccaneer (ret.)
- Joined
- Oct 9, 1998
- Messages
- 76,861
You could try the Collector's Forum at this website. I don't think anybody is going to be able to give you a value, though, unless an identical autographed knife has been sold at auction and a record of that can be found. The people on the Collector's Forum can tell you what the knife would be worth without the autograph, anyway.
-Cougar :{)
-Cougar :{)
Gollnick
Musical Director
- Joined
- Mar 22, 1999
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- 29,258
Mr. Whetstone,
This is a forum, not a chat room. There are over 5,000 members here, but they're not all here at once. This is especially true on the weekend as many are out actually using their knives in places that don't yet have Internet. Others have network access only through work so are not on during the weekend. This is also the weekend of the Shot Show, so some are probably in Vegas.
Be patient. I'm sure that, over the next few days, you'll get some more information.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.4cs.net/~gollnick
This is a forum, not a chat room. There are over 5,000 members here, but they're not all here at once. This is especially true on the weekend as many are out actually using their knives in places that don't yet have Internet. Others have network access only through work so are not on during the weekend. This is also the weekend of the Shot Show, so some are probably in Vegas.
Be patient. I'm sure that, over the next few days, you'll get some more information.
------------------
Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.4cs.net/~gollnick
Kodiak PA
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 1998
- Messages
- 2,447
Remember, a knife is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it so a market for that piece has to exist to make it "valuable" in a cash sense. You have a very valuable knife in the sentimental sense since Col Applegate signed it, and I'm sure said a kind word or two to you. The style of the knife you mentioned is quite available, not very expensive and even though we're all looking for that super "find", truth be told that most knives in most peoples homes have a modest value at best. Look at some of the old Case knives worth in the thrity or forty dollar range.
My advice to all is: Collect knives that have an appeal to you and never buy a knife thinging that you will make a mint on it since finding someone with the same taste can be hard....even with the internet. Use your knives if you feel something would be missing by putting it in a display case (sans this knife since it is signed). Start teaching the lore of knives to your kids and family members so you have something very special to pass down. I have never seen anyone disappointed by owning their granddad's old Ka-bar or something similar. Don't ever think you're gonna get rich collecting because you probably won't and those one or two cases a year that pop up when someone finds a Bill Moran or some other famous maker at a yard sale for $10 make it even more fun. Plus the tincture of time has a way of making a knife a bit more valuable, right? Were those Randal Model 1's worth all that much in the 40's?
Sure there are a lot of knives worth a lot of money but for the most part most of the literally thousands of knives out there are special for reasons other than value. Would I wouldn't do to have one of my grandfather's old knives. Or maybe the knife my uncle used in WWII.
The modest amount of money I have ever made on a knife was when I was least expecting it and I just happened to have something that someone else just had to have.
Sorry I can't put a dollar amount on your piece but I would imagine it is worth the retail of the knife and IMHO plus 10 or 15 percent since it is signed. Go to Ebay and see if anyone else is selling signed knives like this and what they are getting for it will more than likely be the fair market value.
Enjoy your knife, you got a good one!
Respectfully,
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~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 01-17-2000).]
My advice to all is: Collect knives that have an appeal to you and never buy a knife thinging that you will make a mint on it since finding someone with the same taste can be hard....even with the internet. Use your knives if you feel something would be missing by putting it in a display case (sans this knife since it is signed). Start teaching the lore of knives to your kids and family members so you have something very special to pass down. I have never seen anyone disappointed by owning their granddad's old Ka-bar or something similar. Don't ever think you're gonna get rich collecting because you probably won't and those one or two cases a year that pop up when someone finds a Bill Moran or some other famous maker at a yard sale for $10 make it even more fun. Plus the tincture of time has a way of making a knife a bit more valuable, right? Were those Randal Model 1's worth all that much in the 40's?
Sure there are a lot of knives worth a lot of money but for the most part most of the literally thousands of knives out there are special for reasons other than value. Would I wouldn't do to have one of my grandfather's old knives. Or maybe the knife my uncle used in WWII.
The modest amount of money I have ever made on a knife was when I was least expecting it and I just happened to have something that someone else just had to have.
Sorry I can't put a dollar amount on your piece but I would imagine it is worth the retail of the knife and IMHO plus 10 or 15 percent since it is signed. Go to Ebay and see if anyone else is selling signed knives like this and what they are getting for it will more than likely be the fair market value.
Enjoy your knife, you got a good one!
Respectfully,
------------------
~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 01-17-2000).]
- Joined
- Oct 2, 1998
- Messages
- 5,461
A lot of good advice has already been offered. All I would add is that you knife is probably worth at least what you paid for it X's 1.5.
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Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
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Mike and Kodiak--Thanks for your replys. No doubt this is a very common knife. 6000 in the first production run. Six thousand! I just wanted to see what others thought.
Frankly, I take a bit of offense at being addressed as "Mr." whetstone, and being admonished to "be patient" as this isn't a "chat room". I post to many BBs. Primarily, I'm a gun collector, although I do own quite a few blades. The "tap tap" post was simply a jab, although perhaps a weak one, at humor. My apologies if it was in poor taste.
Frankly, I take a bit of offense at being addressed as "Mr." whetstone, and being admonished to "be patient" as this isn't a "chat room". I post to many BBs. Primarily, I'm a gun collector, although I do own quite a few blades. The "tap tap" post was simply a jab, although perhaps a weak one, at humor. My apologies if it was in poor taste.