Seeking advice on how to evaluate and sell

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Genin

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I have a couple of custom pieces from a well known maker of Bowies. I have had both of them sitting in my
vault for many years, and it is time for them to move on. I don't want to step on any toes, so I have
deliberately not posted the makers name. However, he is one of the founding members of the ABS.

How would I go about figuring a fair value for these knives, or would I be better to put them out on some
auction site and let the buyer set the value for them? The only real auction site I have had any dealings with
is ebay, but I don't know if that is a decent place to market high end knives like these.

One knife has a stag handle, and about 10.5 inch blade, the other knife has a 9.5 inch blade, and coffin handle.Both knives came to me second hand, so I have no idea if they were used or not. However, I have been
unable to find the usual signs of some goober trying to sharpen them, or hack on something that would mar
the blades. I am not comfortable calling either knife "new" or "pristine" because of how I ended up with them.

I'm just trying to figure out the best way to sell these 2 pieces. Any help will be appreciated.
 
If you have desirable & pricey knives to sell, why not spend some cash and have them appraised by Bernard Levine? Look for him on his sub-forum.
 
CWL said:
If you have desirable & pricey knives to sell, why not spend some cash and have them appraised by Bernard Levine? Look for him on his sub-forum.
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^^This. Also look into putting them on consignment with one of the big online custom knife retailers rather than simply selling them on the forums/eBay/etc.
 
Is the maker still active? Ask him what he would charge to make those same knives today. (Probably a lot more than he charged years ago.)

That's just a starting point for your calculations, though. If he has a waiting list people will be willing to pay more for yours and get them immediately.
 
The maker is still active, and is in great demand. I haven't spoken to him in 20 years. I know that people really want his knives, and get onto long waiting lists, and pay a great deal for his knives.

I really like the idea of consignment, but wouldn't know of any of the large custom knife retailers who would take things on consignment. If people would suggest the top 2-4 consignment houses, I would really appreciate it. The information from people who have actually used these sellers would help me out alot.

I used to do a great deal of collecting, then got into making knives, and stopped collecting other makers work.
 
Who are the better custom online knife sellers to deal with? I'm interested in the sites with the better long term reputations for both ethics and getting me a good price, while not charging an unusually high commission.
 
Les Robertson is one dealer who has been around for many years and has a very good reputation. Depending on the maker you may also want to contact Dave Ellis who besides being a Mastersmith also buys and sells very high end knives. Either of those guys will treat you right and are both long time members of Bladeforums. Just curious who the makers might be and why you wouldn't post the name. You certainly wouldn't be stepping on any toes by saying who the maker is.
 
Genin, you are just sounding really cheap at this point. When you only seek free advice but want the highest prices, sometimes you end up with neither.

I suggest that you consult with Bernard Levine, pay him a few bucks to have the leading authority on knives evaluate your blades (everyone else uses his books), and then ask him for the best source to sell your knives.
 
CWL said:
Genin, you are just sounding really cheap at this point. When you only seek free advice but want the highest prices, sometimes you end up with neither.

I suggest that you consult with Bernard Levine, pay him a few bucks to have the leading authority on knives evaluate your blades (everyone else uses his books), and then ask him for the best source to sell your knives.
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Exactly, and for the love of all things holy, use Google.
 
CWL said:
Genin, you are just sounding really cheap at this point. When you only seek free advice but want the highest prices, sometimes you end up with neither.

I suggest that you consult with Bernard Levine, pay him a few bucks to have the leading authority on knives evaluate your blades (everyone else uses his books), and then ask him for the best source to sell your knives.
Click to expand...

I'm not being cheap, I just want to make sure I don't commit some kind of social gaffe by posting the makers name here. I have had these knives for 17-20 years, and have been out of the knife collecting hobby for a very long time. I just don't want to put knives like these one ebay. I don't have any problem paying a fair and customary commission to whoever sells the knives, I just don't know who takes these sorts of items in to sell.

Most of the firearms I have sold have been through dealers who charge a customary set percentage commission (10%) while other people want 20-25%. I just don't want to end up doing business with people who price gouge on commission. A customary commission is to be expected. If my not wanting to be gouged (by paying over twice the customary commission) appears "cheap" to you, that is some thing you will have to deal with, as I'm quite OK with not wanting to be gouged.

Alex's suggestion of contacting Mr. Dave Ellis, or others suggesting evaluation by Bernard Levine is exactly the type of information I'm looking for. All I want is to know who has given other members here good service at a fair price.
 
Forgive me if I am missing something here, but what possible harm--social or otherwise--could come from posting the make of the knives in question? Is the maker a Nazi war criminal or something?
 
Brian,
I didn't want to post the maker's name as I don't want to get in trouble for trying to sell the knives on the forum. I'm not trying to sell them here. I'm trying to find out what they might be worth, and where a good seller for them can be found. I'm not knowledgeable enough to sell them myself, and would prefer to send the knives off to one of the people who has been recommended here, and have them sell the knives. Sure, it will cost me a commission, but that is only fair. No one should be expected to work for free.

The knives are both Bill Bagwell handmade knives. I have had them (2) for about 20 years. One has a 10.5 inch blade and a stag handle, the other one is 9.5 inches long and has a coffin handle out of what looks like cocobolo wood. The coffin handled blade is a bit wider than the longer one. I have had the stag handled one for around 20 years, and the cocobolo one for around 17-18 years.

So far, I think the smart thing for me to do is first return the knives to Mr. Bagwell, and have him bring them up to his best standards, then contact one of the people recommended on this thread to have them sell the knives. I believe that paying someone who can access the national market, and paying their commission will work out best for the seller, buyer, and myself.
 
I sort of thought these might be Bagwell knives from your description and other information in your first post. Return them to Bill for a fluff and buff if you like and IF he will take them, but you should not really have any trouble at all selling them, and if you consign them they should move very rapidly. This, of course, is said without the benefit of seeing the knives.

Take this to email if you want further information.

Paul
 
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