The one that got away

F

FLINT77

Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
838
I've been thinking of starting a thread like this for a little bit.
What axe do you most regret NOT getting? either you passed on it, or got overbid, or waiting too long, or for any other reason it did not end up following you home.

Several for me, but I think the one I most regret was an embossed Flint Edge, Best Axe Made Rockaway pattern head. It was a big one also, IIRC ~ 5lbs. The price was really low, so I clicked buy it now, but then paused to check the shipping for a minute, and by the time I clicked to pay, someone else had bought it. I couldn't believe it. Why did I pause? What a dummy. Oh well.

What about you?
 
There was a Plumb cruiser, it’s haft was the best feeling one I’ve ever felt, that was in an antique store in Idaho. It was $55 and I had more than enough, but the friends we were visiting said there was a better antique store we’d visit tomorrow. I decided to save my money for that, and the next morning, when we were supposed to visit the store, plans were changed and we left that afternoon. That haft haunts my dreams still. It was the best handling, best feeling axe I’ve ever felt, and I left it up there. Someday soon I’ll go back and see if it’s still there. Someday.
 
I've got two that haunt me more than any others. Both were expensive as hell but imo, with axes of this pedigree, it's only money. This first one won't leave my brain. Emerson Stevens mast axe. Stamped West Waterville, ME. Mint condition. Due to the town name it can be dated as older than 1883 when the town was re-named to what we all recognize, Oakland, ME.
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And here's the other one I think about often. Pretty self explanatory....
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I posted both of these in the astonishing auctions thread.
This was a great idea for a thread FLINT77!
 
I remember that Oil Wetted and still have pictures of it. I have so many of these regrets that I have a photo folder just for them so I can periodically weep while perusing. Of all of them, this one haunts me. I had the money, could have bid higher, why didn’t I...?
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I freaking hate that. That's the problem with Craigslist, no accountability.

Tip if you're selling: never ever ever drive any significant amount of time towards a buyer. There's a good chance he's gonna use the time sink as leverage to low ball. So only meet as close as you don't care about packing up and turning around.

Buying, it's kind of nothing ventured nothing gained. I try to stay in frequent contact, eta's, developing rapport. Because my suspicion is other people contact seller after me, and when they hear someone is already coming they say they'll pay double, etc. So if there's a human connection hopefully they're less inclined to ghost on the deal. Some people it won't matter. Sometimes people just suck.
 
A plumb Saddle cruiser for $30 a few years ago at a swap meet I wish I had bought, and a tiny little long poll lugged hatchet on eBay earlier this year that went for $27.
I stand by my decision to let it go knowing how high it probably would have went if I had stayed in it, I definitely wish I had been able to get it.

No actual picture but here's a drawing of what it looked like.
 
Hickory n steel said:
A plumb Saddle cruiser for $30 a few years ago at a swap meet I wish I had bought, and a tiny little long poll lugged hatchet on eBay earlier this year that went for $27.
I stand by my decision to let it go knowing how high it probably would have went if I had stayed in it, I definitely wish I had been able to get it.

No actual picture but here's a drawing of what it looked like.
Click to expand...
That's a bummer you couldn't get it. I'm on the lookout for one myself. It's an interesting dichotomy isn't it? You want it but don't want to drive the price up!
Last week I thought I had an awesome score. The 'bay listing for a Jersey pattern stated "2-3/4 lb as found". It had a chunk of haft still stuck in it so it would've weighed less than that. Thought I had a lugged boys axe! I won the auction for thirty bucks including shipping only to find out it should've said 3-3/4 lbs! Once I explained I've already got a half dozen 3-1/2lb woodslashers he, very nicely, cancelled the sale and fixed the typo. I was SO pumped for about 5 minutes... Haha.
 
Yankee Josh said:
That's a bummer you couldn't get it. I'm on the lookout for one myself. It's an interesting dichotomy isn't it? You want it but don't want to drive the price up!
Last week I thought I had an awesome score. The 'bay listing for a Jersey pattern stated "2-3/4 lb as found". It had a chunk of haft still stuck in it so it would've weighed less than that. Thought I had a lugged boys axe! I won the auction for thirty bucks including shipping only to find out it should've said 3-3/4 lbs! Once I explained I've already got a half dozen 3-1/2lb woodslashers he, very nicely, cancelled the sale and fixed the typo. I was SO pumped for about 5 minutes... Haha.
Click to expand...

yeah, I've won a couple auctions only to have the head not be exactly as described. I'm not sure how difficult it is to read a tape measure or a scale. I've seen auctions where the person clearly doesn't know how to read values off of a digital scale. for example an included photo of the head on the scale that reads. 3lbs 8oz, but reported as 3.8lbs. more recently saw one that was 2lbs 2.2 oz, reported as 2lbs 22 oz.
 
Fmont said:
I freaking hate that. That's the problem with Craigslist, no accountability.

Tip if you're selling: never ever ever drive any significant amount of time towards a buyer. There's a good chance he's gonna use the time sink as leverage to low ball. So only meet as close as you don't care about packing up and turning around.

Buying, it's kind of nothing ventured nothing gained. I try to stay in frequent contact, eta's, developing rapport. Because my suspicion is other people contact seller after me, and when they hear someone is already coming they say they'll pay double, etc. So if there's a human connection hopefully they're less inclined to ghost on the deal. Some people it won't matter. Sometimes people just suck.
Click to expand...

I get that 'will you deliver it' often on craigslist, most of the time it ends up being a 1-4 hour round trip. Ummmm... No.
But i will be driving through xxx on tuesday if you want to meet?
Can instantly tell who's serious or not, 9/10 times the buyer is not.
What makes it easy, and is also the way i buy when i want something... I go there ASAP and put cash in hand.
Only had 1 person somewhat annoyed when i told him 'sorry don't come out. it just sold'. Got that feeling when you stall buying for a few days and then want it more once its gone.
 
Have been dealing with some personal issues lately, that's one of the reason why I have not been around.
So----my take on this thread is----any axe, hatchet, adze in my tool box, that will be for sale. Most likely, I am going to finally do the sale some time early 2020. My situation now dictates that my sale list is going to be much bigger than I first thought.
What I would really like to do is put them up for bid first here on the axe forum, that way everybody (except one guy) here has an equal chance. I dont know if this idea is even doable on the forum. I am very sure I dont have the skill, hell, I can't even post pictures! May have to use a ebay contract seller, like I did a few years ago. Open to suggestion on this. I now must do this.
 
Old Axeman said:
Have been dealing with some personal issues lately, that's one of the reason why I have not been around.
So----my take on this thread is----any axe, hatchet, adze in my tool box, that will be for sale. Most likely, I am going to finally do the sale some time early 2020. My situation now dictates that my sale list is going to be much bigger than I first thought.
What I would really like to do is put them up for bid first here on the axe forum, that way everybody (except one guy) here has an equal chance. I dont know if this idea is even doable on the forum. I am very sure I dont have the skill, hell, I can't even post pictures! May have to use a ebay contract seller, like I did a few years ago. Open to suggestion on this. I now must do this.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry to hear you've been having troubles... Sure is nice to see a post from you however! That's very nice of you to offer them here to us first and I know that I'll be bidding. :thumbsup:
Edit; Also perhaps there's a way to do it using the "for sale by member" area on the forum?
 
Old Axeman said:
Have been dealing with some personal issues lately, that's one of the reason why I have not been around.
So----my take on this thread is----any axe, hatchet, adze in my tool box, that will be for sale. Most likely, I am going to finally do the sale some time early 2020. My situation now dictates that my sale list is going to be much bigger than I first thought.
What I would really like to do is put them up for bid first here on the axe forum, that way everybody (except one guy) here has an equal chance. I dont know if this idea is even doable on the forum. I am very sure I dont have the skill, hell, I can't even post pictures! May have to use a ebay contract seller, like I did a few years ago. Open to suggestion on this. I now must do this.
Click to expand...
I do hope the best for you as well.
If I can be of any help (besides just buying them all. LoL) let me know? Maybe cross promoting the sales to Instagram or something.
 
O Old Axeman , since Blade Forums won’t abide by a bid-style sale approach even at Gold level, I’m trying to think of some way to assist.

When you get your pieces together, you can take photos of them and I know guys would help set them for hosting for you (myself included).

You could start a thread without the explicit, “to the highest bidder approach” and guys could contact you. There is a stipulation of having a set price if tools/knives are listed in the for sale section.

Someone could set you up an Instagram account, hand over the password to you and get your pictures up and you could take messages there for bids- huge audience there. I’ve recently seen that done with some older axes from Finland that didn’t require intervention from the powers that be.

Right now there is a push to buy whole collections but that is in the buyer’s favor, not the seller. Unless you need cash now, I think your tools warrant single piece listings or maybe combos.

If you get set up, I also would be happy to draw attention to however you go about it.
 
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