Pawn Shop Finds?

Rat Finkenstein

Rat Finkenstein

Joined
May 18, 2005
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Anyone ever find decent knives and good prices at a pawnshop? I stumbled upon a few at a local pawnshop today. I picked up a BM Monochrome Brand new for $10, and I will be going back to snag the SS Delica and BM Mini Ambush tomorrow. I didn't buy them today for some reason. (well the delica was AUS-6 and used/scuffed, Mini Ambush had a bit of bladeplay and wasn't too smooth to open.) funny that the three best knives in the case were priced at or below the prices of POS Frost cutlery and beat up Buck 110 knock-offs.

On a side note, this Monochrome is an incredible knife. Locks up like a vault, and is razor sharp. (It is a silver plain-edged one) What a great day!:thumbup:
 
It's been a while since I searched the pawns. I should head back and try it again. Thanks for reminding me!

I've had two, what I consider, good finds.

Boker 2000 Folding Hunter - $10
Had very minor cosmetic scratch on rosewood handle and no belt sheath (I think they still retail around $100).

Cold Steel Scimitar - $20 NIB
Right after they first came out. I gave this one away as a gift.
 
I once found a Randall #1 in excellent shape that I was able to get for $65 bucks. Bought a pair of mint condition DeLeon Custom fixed blades for $75 bucks. In the early nineties I used to see a lot of those great old Puma's in the green and yellow boxes-most were barely used and less than 25 bucks. (Considering what the old Puma's are selling for I wish I had bought a hell of a lot more of them)

Unfortunately, the internet has changed all that. (at least around the Dallas-FW metroplex) A few minutes of searching the net and you can usually find the ballpark worth of most knives now days.

In the last few years I've had better luck at trade-days than I have pawn shops. You have to search through a mountain of junk but you can still find a gem occasionally. I recently found an original Gerber Paul knife for 10 bucks. The scales were beat to hell and the blade had a lot of superficial scratches but was in good shape, and it locked up perfectly. I Replaced the hacked up scales with stabilized black ash burl and put a nice satin finish on the blade and it's absolutely gorgeous now. (yeah, I know-by replacing the scales and refinishing the blade I probably screwed up the collecters value, but I wasn't interested in re-selling it anyway :D )
 
I have found 2 Emersons (CQC7 & Comander) like new $30.00 each Benchmade 630 $80.00 and 3 custom handmade fixed blades all less than $70.00 each. Pawn shops rock.
 
I got a super nice large Hen & Rooster Stockman with gorgeous matching stag at a pawn shop in Nashville a few years ago. Not sure if it's old enough to be one of the super valuable ones made before and during A.G. Russell's ownership, but I don't care. I carry and use it, and it's well worth the $50 I gave for it. :thumbup:
 
I have never once seen a "deal" at a pawn shop concerning knives. I dealt with them weekly when I lived in Florida and every blade/gun/cool item I saw was not a bargain at all , same here in Fresno.
Worked across from a large pawn shop here , guy was selling Chi made Buck clones for over 20$ so you know anything with a name was going for more.
Only bargains I find are at yard sales and those are getting rarer.

you lucky guys...
 
Guy had a Cold Steel Trail Master and Laredo Bowie for well below NIB, I don't think they had the boxes. He also had a satin finish Cuda CQB, again well below retail. They all were in great condition. I should go back and scoop them up, but I ain't go no spendin' money.

I've found some very good deals at flea markets and farmers markets. Most of the stands are Frost Cutlery and other Chinese made crap, but I found a BM 550 Grip SE for about 30.
 
Pawn shops in the Birmingham area seem to have only POS knives. And the firearms are ridiculously overpriced. After years of looking, I have stopped bothering.

We do, however, have a wonderful gun and knife shop within ten miles of my house, Southeastern Guns. I never buy a current model used gun at a gun show before checking with Southeastern Guns, as they frequently beat the used gun price with a new gun of the same model. Their markup on knives is also very reasonable.

Disclaimer: I have no vested interest in promoting Southeastern Guns, other than being a frequent browser there.
 
Update:
Went in this morning, and asked if he would cut me a deal if I bought them both, (delica & Mini Ambush) he said "how about $10 for both". :thumbup: :thumbup: :D
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
Update:
Went in this morning, and asked if he would cut me a deal if I bought them both, (delica & Mini Ambush) he said "how about $10 for both". :thumbup: :thumbup: :D
Click to expand...

You go girl :D.

Seriously, good deal!
 
heck yeah! and it turns out the delica is unused as well, just has some scratches from being flopped around in a case full of maxam and Frost junk.
I bet I could have got them all for $15 yesterday. Of course $20 for all three won't leave me complaining.:D
 
The best deal I've gotten at a Pawn Shop was a few years back. I spotted a mint, stainless handled Gerber Paul knife (with a "2" on the inside of the spine, denoting that it was made the second year of the collaboration, around 1979-1980 I think), with the presentation case, for $60. I asked the salesman if that was the correct price, and he said, "No, if you buy it now, it's yours for $45!":eek: That was a great deal!

Best wishes,
3G
 
I'm glad to see that some of you guys have had luck at pawn shops. I've ducked into a few but have never found any good deals. Usually I find a bunch of Meyercos and beat Bucks. If I find a quality knife that's been used like a beat up Delica the shop wants too much.
 
Yeah, I stopped by a pawnshop across town later today, and the guy had crazy prices. (beat up rubber handle Buck Alpha folder- $60! /No Name garbage rambo type sawback potmetal fixed blade-$30! the list goes on and on) Laughable prices- I didn't laugh, though- I just left.:jerkit: It was obvious to me that he used the internet to find prices for new items and priced accordingly. (for brand name items) for the junk, it looked like he priced at the level he thought he could get a sucker to pay.
 
i've had a few good deals out of pawn shops over the years.buck model 110 100 year aniversary for $7.00,spyderco police w/ serated blade for $20,buck 119 (nib) for $10,kershaw 1660 in new condition for $17 (all cdn prices) and countless others
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
On a side note, this Monochrome is an incredible knife. Locks up like a vault, and is razor sharp. (It is a silver plain-edged one) What a great day!:thumbup:
Click to expand...
Damn you, Fink! :mad: I paid full retail for mine. Super nice little nice for the money, though... ;)
 
canbkr said:
i've had a few good deals out of pawn shops over the years.buck model 110 100 year aniversary for $7.00,spyderco police w/ serated blade for $20,buck 119 (nib) for $10,kershaw 1660 in new condition for $17 (all cdn prices) and countless others
Click to expand...

I'll be darned! Another windsorite. Which pawn shops did you hit?

I occasionally hit the one on the west end of ottawa or the one on Wayandotte by the university, but never see anything decent.
 
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