pawn shop bargain

Status
Not open for further replies.
buckgen5

buckgen5

Joined
Sep 28, 2010
Messages
186
i went into a pawnshop in my hometown and was looking at the vintage knives in the glass case when i noticed among some decorative el cheapos on the counter i saw this with a 2.99 price tag on it. i asked the shop keeper if he was seriously only wanting 2.99 for this knife and he said yes, so without hesitation i pulled out 3 bucks and laid it down and trying to hold back a laugh took it and scurried out of the shop with my new find. this knife and sheath are made from pure silver. when i say pure i mean that it is so soft that setting it down hard on the table is enough to slightly bend the blade.
im000270.jpg
 
Amazing score! How much does it weigh?
 
i'd probably say anywhere from 1/2 to 1 pound. not really sure but enough to knock a guy out if hit with it.
 
How did you know it was silver? And how did the pawn shop guy miss that?

Really nice find if it is silver. What are you going to do with it?
 
Cool!

I'm not doubting you .... how would I be able to tell from silver, pewter or something else if I saw something similar ... the color?
 
High Density said:
If it was pure silver the pawn shop would not let it go for $2.99. imo
Click to expand...

+1

Then again my cousin bought a 5oz ingot of silver from a yard sale for a buck. The guy thought it was lead for casting weights.
 
i've been collecting silver items for a long time and can tell by the luster. i sharpened it and the luster remains constant and i also did a scratch test on the sheath. the man from the pawn shop is an old man who has never heard of ebay. i'm sure he didn't know it was genuine as it was on top of the counter with a bunch of decorative cheapo knives. my guess is that it is either an upscale letter opener or possibly an athame(ritualistic dagger) of some sort.
 
this was the same pawn shop i found many rare knives at for dirt cheap. i found an anheuser busch knife there for 2.00. look at one of those on ebay and see what they are selling for. he had old boy scout knives, i found a gerber lockback that was about 5 1/4 inches long closed that was one of the old brass and wood ones for 40 bucks, bamboo fly rods for 35 bucks. i got an old 2 blade celluloid handled camillus with blue, green, and clear handles for 2.00. i got an old fleetwing "levelwind type" 1970s model fishing reel still in the box w/ original paperwork for 7 bucks. you might be surprised what you can find at yard sales, thrift stores, and pawn shops sometimes. last year i found a schrade usa 7 ot golden cave bear in carbon steel with a leather sheath that had never been sharpened for 5 bucks at a thrift store.
 
You better get that up on Levine's forums, I smell money, that scroll work doesn't look faked by machine, it looks old, very old.
 
Yes, i'd *definitely* get it tested at a jewlers to determine how clean the silver is. If it really is pure i'd start some serious antique research (and plan some next purchases!!!!).
 
i wouldn't consider parting with it. it will remain in my knife collection and probably go to my son when i'm gone.
 
if thats the facts, it's a good deal. Most pawn shop folks know what Silver is though................:rolleyes:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top