Timberline Combat 7.5" (early 80's?)

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lileadmirer

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Hello. I'm trying to ascertain value on a Timberline Combat (not sure if this is the correct forum -- apologies if it's not) with a 7.5" blade. Sheath has flap on the back that covers the stone.

Both sheath and knife are in mint condition. Any idea?

Feel free to email direct: mwelze4@comcast.net

Thank you.
 
Thanks for the information and suggestion. While I was looking for a more specific price, I'll heed your advice and list this at some point in the near future. Thanks.
 
I wish I could be more accurate for you but the best measure of this knifes worth would be on ebay.

There is an active market there for old Timberline products. Unfortunately, ebay only lets you look two weeks into the past - it used to let you look 3 months. And since these are scarce on the forums and on ebay - with so little to reference - only a current well presented auction will tell the value. Nice knives. Yours is one of the more desirable models. I would pay a couple hundred dollars for this but the right collector might offer you double.

You can become a gold member - a great thing if you have an interest in knives - and offer it here.
 
You could check billsandershandmadeknives.com and robertsoncustomcutlery.com. I believe he was one of the original owners of Timberline and was also the maker. It appears from his website that he is still making the model you have. You may be able to get a bit more as yours is a old timberline model and has collector value.

jon
 
Thanks again. The www.robertsoncustomcutlery site came up in a google search -- there an identical knife apparently sold for $800. As such, I can understand why someone might want to offer $200 for this. Ebay will be the place I'll take it -- a decent reserve should protect me from losing it at a price that's too low.

Again... feedback appreciated.
 
As I said ebay will fetch you $400.00 to $500.00 from a collector.
As for myself, I wouldn't offer you $200.00 for it because someone who has more money than brains paid that much for one from Robertsons.
I would only pay a couple of hundred dollars for this because, if I recall it is bead blasted and I no longer collect blades with these finishes. It additionally is hollow ground and I now prefer flat grinds. It also has a double guard and I prefer single guards.
What I'm saying is, if I had the opportunity to purchase this at $200.00 it would be interesting for me at that price.
In case you understood otherwise, my intention was only to help you ascertain value. I was not making you a lowball offer and as you are aware I did not contact you off the forums in this regard. I did not intend nor did I attempt to take any advantage.
Good luck with your sale.
 
Thanks for the explanation. And, please know that my intention was not to imply that you were trying to "snipe" this from me for a price lower than street value. While I admit my post may have sounded that way, it was certainly not intentional.

We all collect specific knives because they appeal to us. Well, some for appeal -- others for potential profit. Regardless, I'm not here to judge those with more brains than money, or visa versa. I've spent too much on some items because I wanted them (hence: foolish money), but at the same time don't have more money than brains. (some will disagree -- not because of my large pocketbook, but because of my pea sized brain)

Anyway... I appreciate the suggestions to list this on eBay. With luck, someone with more money than brains will want it.

All the best.
 
I currently own and use the 7.5" model. I use it in the wilderness under tough conditions for everything. I have used a wide variety of similar and others and this is the best of the best. I have owned and sold several of them. The 5.5" model is rarer and can bring up to $800 but a more realistic price on the more common 7.5" model in "mint condition is about $600 tops. As for having more money than brains to buy a knife like this - this obviously comes from a desk top collector and not a user of knives in tough situations. I sold my Randall 18 and quickly traded off a Lile model when I got tha Timberline. The Sanders models mentioned earlier would serve as well due to the fact that he was one of the guys making the original Timberlines. I would consider buying it but am cash poor right now, however if you are interested in a trade please email me. I have over 100 knives that I can consider in trading. At any rate I would nnot start this knife below $475 on Ebay if you go that route. Good Luck.

Cheers, Vince.
 
"As for having more money than brains to buy a knife like this - this obviously comes from a desk top collector and not a user of knives in tough situations."

Last I looked, this knife was at $1025.00. If you don't think spending $800.00 to $1000.00+ for this knife as a "user" is excessive, then you may be one of those I was referring to. There is nothing I can see in this knife that would make it superior to any number of knives at a fraction of the cost.
And nothing I can see that would make it superior to a new one at 40% of the cost, especially given Sanders additional 15 years or more of knifemaking experience since that one was originally made.
 
Average Guy,

Written like someone who has never been in a very tough to survival situation and needed a knife that they would bet their life on.

You are the keeper of the motto "no matter what it is someone can make it cheaper". At what price point, for you, does a knife become affordable to bet your life on?

I will agree with you assessment of the Sanders S-3, excellent knife for less money. Then again it does not have the desireablity or collectibility of the original Timberline.
 
Do you have a story about how this model saved your life or were you just bored when you made this post?
Cost?
A new one from Sanders at $400.00 might make sense.
Or you could get one of these for $150.00 and it doesn't have a hollow handle.

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Any chance of moving this to the right forum? This is Blades for trade ya know :D
 
I am not going to try to tell you that the knife saved my life, but it certainly made my life easier. I don't always take it along, but if I have the weight space I do. I bought the one that I use around 1990 for something like $350 and it was already used. I have carried it from Nova Scotia to the Baja and the Appalachian Trail to Philmont Scout Camp and down to the Louisiana Swamps. It's cut open cans of food chopped down small trees for fire and shelter cut all manner of rope and webbing, and dressed some game. I have re-wrapped the handle 4 or 5 times and been through two sheaths. I have broken a Kabar and a Cold Steel and severly damaged several other knives doing the things that this knife performs easily with no damage and little resharpening. A current Sanders model would certainly perform as well, but when I got this one the other choices paled in comparison. I would not hesitate to use any knife I thought would work like this one. I know guys that use Brends, Liles and other $1000+ blades in the field and they are ussually jealous of my knife when they try it. I have some knives for collecting but this is not one of them - it was made to be used. I guess some guys like to use em and some guys like to think about what it would be like to use em.

Cheers, Vince.
 
Vince, you are giving the impression that you are unique in your experience with hard use knives and that this hollow grind - hollow handle Timberline is the ultimate hard use knife and worth a thousand dollars.
While, I may not have had all the experiences you have had, I certainly have read of many similar experiences and knives.
The fact that you are pleased with the performance of your knife doesn't mean this performance can't be duplicated by knives costing less money.
I maintain - absent it's collector value, this knife is not worth $1000.00.
Additionally I would suggest there are inherent weaknesses in this design and that I wouldn't be betting my life on this one.
Mr. Siegles knives are a good example of a knife built for hard use. You could own three of these for $1000.00. All indications are that these are competent knives. Siegle, who commonly makes use of full tang, flat grind and high carbon, mimicks a style of knife that many makers and users feel is more appropriate for a hard use knife.
Perhaps for you, this knife is worth a thousand dollars. But I am not convinced guys who like to use em would place the same value on the utility of this one as you do.


I'm editing this because I'm giving the impression I don't like this knife - which is not true. It is a classic - who doesn't like this knife. I'd love to have one. The above is simply a debate, the origin of which was an attempt to defend against a perceived attack on my character. Inadvertantly, I led a couple owners of these fine pieces to feel slighted. As I would imagine, these owners hold their knife in high regard. (apparently to the tune of a thousand dollars) I'm pleased to continue debating the value of this piece but suffice to say I recognize this is a fine knife.
 
It would appear that my post has indeed stirred up a hornets nest. I just finished reading, and if nothing else is evident -- it appears we all have different opinions with respect to value, etc. Certainly, this has provided a few minutes of wonderful reading.

I don't buy knives to use them. If I was caught with in a swamp with little else but a survival knife, I'd probably be eaten. Or, starve and be eaten. I appreciate the feedback from the person or people who have actually used this knife on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Certainly, there may be other worthwhile knives in tough situations, but it would appear the Timberline ranks up there with the best of them.

I mostly collect Jimmy Lile knives. This Timberline came to me from a close friend, but I have little use for it in my collection. As such (and as recommended), I listed it on eBay. Sadly, I had to remove it because I apparently used a website link without prior authorization. Rather than argue my point with the website owner (his was a very valid argument), I decided to remove the listing entirely (reason: error in listing) to avoid further complications.

At the time I pulled this, the bid was at $1025. Silly money or smart money, at least two bidders felt this was worth quite a bit. Who am I to place parameters on a particular value of a knife? Certainly, an early numbered First Blood or Rambo Mission knife would bring a huge amount of money if offered to the general public. But, it's just a knife -- good in some aspects (collectibility), but not so good in others. (weight) This I know: we all have our individual opinions with respect to use or collectibility.

Ain't life great? Thanks again for the terrific feedback.
 
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