Then there are estate sales, pawn shops where a knife is somewhat more than it appears.
Any stories out there?
(Bumping an old thread, and going to the other end of the "finds" spectrum)
Made two deals at a flea market last weekend.
First, traded a well worn 3" yellow Colonial with stamped scales and $8 for a nice, ivory Delrin handled Frontier three blade Stockman. Nice handles and nice powderhorn shield. I had $3 in the Colonial, so that's $11 in the Frontier.
Second was a $5 purchase of two junkers. One was an Imperial Ranger, black handles, missing two bolsters. If I can find those two bolsters somewhere.... Even if I don't it's a great carbon steel blade work knife.
The other knife was the bargain. A three blade folder, no maker's name, just a model number (5383) on the tang, carbon steel blades. The once beautiful multicolored yellow/orange/burgandy handles were held on only by the center pin, and they were about to fall off. The blades were rusted solid.
Re-attached the handles with 50 minute epoxy, drove the loose pins back in with a tiny drift, clamped them overnight, soaked the blades in 3-in-1, cleaned them up, polished the brass liners, back, and handles. Now it's got good walk and talk, sharp edges, and is pleasant to see.
Anytime I can get that nice of a knife and that much enjoyment over three evenings of work out of a $5 purchase, it's a GREAT knife deal.