Went to the State Surplus Store in Austin, TX today

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Sep 5, 2008
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Bizzarre quantity of knives. Went in there and the had maybe 12 bins (20" x 10" x 8") on a big table. Each bin has anywhere from 100 of the smallest SAK's to at least 200 horrible gas station folders. One bin nothing but Gerber Multipliers. At least 100 in there and they are $20 each. Probably 6-8 bins with pure Pakistani Craptastics. 1 bin 75-100 medium SAK (Tinker size), I think those were $10. The bin with all of the tiny saks are $2.50, or maybe even a dollar. 1 bin nothing but Gerber and Kershaw, $5 ea. Lots of Paraframes of all sizes in there, and a bunch of EZ Outs.

Off to the side, better stuff, BM, Spyderco, big SAK's. Had an E4 Endura for $55, and just for me, a BM 940 for $85. Grabbed the 940, $92 out the door. It isn't a screaming deal, but not too bad. Almost got a BM 530 for $50, but it was a bit hammered. Had a BM 581 for $90, but I just couldn't fall in love with it. Left my phone in the truck, else I would have pix.
 
92 bucks for...wait we are talking about a benchmade 940 rite? One that coste 139 on a amazing day....man id call that one heck of a deal...
 
Yeah, used, but not much. Still has the factory sharpening job, the black paint clip is scratched some, 3-4 marks on the handle. I think it was only an OK deal, If I had to sell it, might could get 110 on a good day.

Turns out I don't care much if it has marks, it's a user as far as I am concerned. Actually I don't have anything that isn't a user
 
That sounds for all the world like TSA Airport confiscations. The kinds of knives you describe, their condition, and their being in bins is just like what I saw at a gun show where they were advertised as such. I'll bet this place buys them in bulk just like other gov't surplus, sorts them, and sells them. Just a guess.
 
The State Surplus Store in Austin handles all the state stuff that is available for resale to the public. One of those things is all knives "voluntarily surrendered" by travelers at ALL airports in Texas. They don't buy anything. They receive shipments 2 - 3 times per week from each airport of everything "lost" at airports by travelers, including like 1000+ belts by guys at the security checkpoints when they take them of and forget to put them back on. There was a story on "Texas Country Reporter" about it just yesterday.
 
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Just saw this thread after doing a search for Austin in the forums...fyi I picked up that Barrage from the state surplus...thanks for not buying it before me...
 
Pretty stoked. Went there today and got 2 Kershaw Leeks in really good condition, for 40 dollars. I was amazed at the variety and quantity of knives here.

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