Swap meets and other places

S

Smebbin

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Dec 2, 2009
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Are swap meets, garage sales, thrift shops a good place to find old slippies? I normally buy most of my clothes from those types of places and the thought never crossed my mind to look for knives there. Just curious.
 
I've had prety decent luck with the Saturday morning yard sales. Sometimes they have old pocket knives in a box with old semi rusty tools, and only want a few bucks for them. Most people don't know what they have, and think of any old rusty pocket knife as a dollar or two junker.
 
It seems like everyone I talk to finds them at those sorts of places, but I never seem to find anything other than bulk made in China junk.

If you are going anyway, may as well keep your eyes open. Never know what you'll find. Good luck!
 
It's a bit tougher than yesteryear for sure. You walk up to a garage sale and there's this itty-bitty 90 year old women sitting in a chair. You ask how much for this old knife? "Those are going for $35+ on eBay" Drop the knife and find someone without the internet!
 
Shore08 said:
It seems like everyone I talk to finds them at those sorts of places, but I never seem to find anything other than bulk made in China junk.
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Basically you gotta do them in runs. When we go to thrift shops, we pretty much hit all of them in the local area to find our gems.
 
Thanks for the tip! I am definitely not consistent with my visits. It's always kind of a hey, it's Tuesday and I'm here, why not take a look! thing with me.
 
Shore08 said:
Thanks for the tip! I am definitely not consistent with my visits. It's always kind of a hey, it's Tuesday and I'm here, why not take a look! thing with me.
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I'd say it has to be somewhat of an obsession, kinda like knives. Even with swap meets it's pretty much the regulars that are out there. But some swap meets are better than others. The last time I checked my cousin goes to the thrift shops everyday.
 
If you are to find a gem slippie at a yard sale/garage sale you better get up with the roosters. In the midwest there are a lot of sharp old retired boys that know about good knives and tools.
 
In the southern central PA, MD, DE region, I have been to lots of flea markets, farmers markets, yard sales etc. You better get there early, you better know what you're looking for (I've passed on great deals that I didn't know were great deals until later, too late). A lot of vendors are at both ends of the spectrum. They either think it is worth all the money in the world, or they could care less about displaying it. I've seen a lot of Imperial, Sabre, Colonial, and countless SAK clones. The handles are either plastic, or literally falling off. Most of the blades are broken etc. Again, this is just in my area. Most of the outside vendors at local flea markets like Morningstar, Roots and Green Dragon will charge an arm and a leg, although there are some who know what they have and will charge fair prices for it. I've picked up some nice slippies and tacticools alike in my trips.
 
Where I live, I don't see many yard sales with knives, unfortunately, but I do go with the wife to thrift/antique stores. I've picked up some.

I have gone to some yard sales where the person seems to think what they have is like gold. Usually, it's not the rare version that is worth a ton, but they think it's close enough. Oh well, it's fun just looking, though.
 
When visiting yard sales, don't be afraid to ask. I've gone to yard sales and seen nothing but baby clothes, romance novels and kitchenware. Just politely ask the person holding the sale:

"I was actually looking for older knives. Kitchen knives, pocket knives, hunting knives. Do you have anything like that?"

Many times knives are tucked away in drawers and forgotten about. They don't always jump out as something to put in a yard sale. I've had people go back in the house and bring stuff out that they never thought of adding to the sale. Usually nothing I'm looking for but it never hurts to ask.

I try to make it sound like I'm looking for antiques. The hunting knives and kitchen knives make it sound like I'm open to spending more and, you never know, they might come out with a nice Marbles or Case fixed blade. Just asking for "pocket knives" (Use that term. Thats what their grandfather called them) might limit your prospecting.

Chris
 
Most of the ones I find at the yard sales, antique stores and flea markets around here are just about ready to fall apart. It seems like the folks around here used their knives, and used them quite a bit.
 
For me it's usually a hit or miss thing the days I go. After going through everything and I find something I like, it's well worth the effort.
 
A buddy an I saw a yardsale last Saturday with some fishing poles out for sale, we stopped and I was able to get 3 Belknap/Primbles (Jack, Stockman, Scout) for $6.00 a piece. All were mint. Anytime I see any hunting or fishing stuff I stop.
 
Community yard/ garage sales are excellent places to find traditional folders. Thrift shops are a great place as well. When you start getting into antique shops, the prices increase to collector levels, but you are more likely to find something that interests you. My family owns a great thrift shop/ military surplus store and I see old slip-joints come through all the time.
 
There seems to be a lot of estate sales recently around here and I always think about stopping in when I see one. They draw huge crowds. Some of the antique collectors I work with say they often see old knife collections.
 
I have had some luck and enjoyed meeting a knife nut now and then, but ya gotta wade through a lot of junk at times. ;).
 
We have a couple of flea markets nearby, and a huge one over in Alabama, that I like to go to.

I've found a few great deals over the years, but most of the vendors know what they have if its a slip joint.

Many don't keep up with current prices(ebay,etc..) though, so you can find some great deals on models several years old.
One example...A few months back I got the Large and Small yellow CV Copperlock at $70 for both NIB.
 
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