Pawn shops and Knife stores

[tobyrogers]

I've spent the last two weeks searching the pawn shops here in San Antonio for knives.I had no luck at all.I was told all the good knives went to Ebay.Not a better market just a lot faster turn on their money.The only thing I saw was a Puma White Hunter.First one I was able to handle.I wasn't impressed.It looked to me to much like a paki knife .The one thing I did learn at the knife shop in the mall was they didn't have any Taylor Schrades.Too many complaints on quality.Also they didn't have the Bear sharpfinger they were selling last year.I was glad to hear about the Schrades.Maybe if enough shops quit selling their knives-paperweights they will do something about their QC.Sure wish I could find some knives somewhere besides Ebay.Arnold

 

[Barry E Harris]

I've had the same thought. I am going to start checking out estate sales. surely all the knives you see on eBay are not being sold by the original owners. The guys that are selling multiple used knives on eBay on an ongoing basis, without a storefront source like a pawn shop, have got to have a repeat source for used knives. Just gotta figure out how they are doing it. Flea markets in my area are not a good source; they mostly sell Chinese junk. The guys selling the collectible knives at the gun shows want a premium for them. A lot of times they get top dollar from guys who have not yet got hooked up to the internet and don't know where to get vintage Schrades, etc.. For the most part, at least relative to more common knives like standard 152OT's etc, eBay seems to have become a real efficient market; prices are real predictable. It seems more and more people are figuring out how to find the poorly listed and described items. I don't know if its just me, but it seems that knives are bringing a little more since Christmas, maybe people spending cash they got for Christmas.

 

[cykc]

I have had the same trouble with flea markets, one I went to the lady told me that every time a schrade showed up she called a few collectors she knew before she even made it available for everyone else. Needless to say I havent been back.

Arnold, it is definately good to hear that some people refuse to sell low quality knives, most people anymore dont care that they are ripping off the customers as long as they get their money. I'll have to ask the hardware stores around here that carry the taylors if they have had the same complaints.

Silas

 

[tobyrogers]

Don't get the wrong idea.He still sells a lot of junk.It's just that it seem these were the worst of the worst.Arnold

 

[parnass]

Wish our malls still had knife stores. We used to visit Cutlery World and Hoffritz stores frequently, but I haven't seen any in over 10 years in this part of Illinois.

The local pawn shops usually demand high prices for used knives so they weren't bargains. I had better luck at garage sales and old timey hardware stores.

 

[rifon2]

It seems more and more people are figuring out how to find the poorly listed and described items.

Yes! - It does seem that way, glad to see you mention that.

Also seems that sellers, even first-timers, are getting better at listing their i
items

 

[jetmech]

i went to this hardware store about 80 miles from me,the town is a map dot way out in the country, that has been passed down through generations.I swear you never seen such a disorganized place,words can't discribe it.they must have stuff in there from the early 1900's, and what ever the price was then is what it sells for now.they have 3 buildings just stuffed with stuff.In the one i was in, i saw at least 5 new untouched schrade displays.I got a few knives from them, and the next time I went back,they did'nt act very helpful.some lady in there was yacking about these city people coming up here and buying up all the knives( of course it could have been the look on my face when she opened the back of knife display and my chin hit the floor) any model schrade or case old or new. i guess what im trying to say is you have to get way out to map dot towns and find really old harware stores,they're out there, but as you can see from the amount of displays on ebay it won't be long and they will be gone

 

[Bob W]

The local pawn shops usually demand high prices for used knives so they weren't bargains.

I've never seen a knife at a pawn shop that was worth buying either. Overpriced and never anything in unused condition.

-Bob

 

[Barry E Harris]

Could be the reason that store fronts are not carrying the new Schrades is they are price squeezed between what Taylor is charging for the Schrade name on the knives and the low prices you can snag one for on fleabay. On the other hand, some store fronts and gun show sellers seem to do okay with the off brand cheap China junk. They are buying it really cheap; but, if you notice, there is virtually no market for the China junk on fleabay - just doesn't move. That might be why the aforementioned pawn shop is still selling junk but not Taylor junk.

 

[Codger_64]

My local knife/collectable shop owner does not display his few Schrades any more. He keeps them in the back room for me. He said he would rather sell them to an interested collector than to someone who would not appreciate them and just use, abuse, and loose them. But honestly, how many NIB LB7's does one guy need? I go in and buy one every month or so and give them as gifts to my family. The last one I gave to my daughter's FFA Alumni scholorship auction, and wound up winning it back, so it cost me full retail, but it was for a good cause.

Michael

 

[orvet]

I have found that if I frequent some of the pawn shops and they get to know me I have better luck. Some stores will call me if they get a Schrade in. I got a great 123OT that way.

If you have a local knife collectors club, you might want to join them. In our local club there isn't a lot of interest in Schrades, (just the preferences of the guys in the club). Once a guy pulled out a Schrade & I told him all about it & he said, "Wow, you know a lot about these, you must like them. Here you should have this one." He just gave me the knife.

Getting to know people & going back repeatedly & letting them know I am a serious buyer helps me to find more knives.

Just my $0.02,
Dale