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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
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Yardsale slip-joint.
- Thread starter Grateful
- Start date
Grateful, I hardly ever visit yard sales (my wife won't let me--she's afraid I'm going to bring home junk). And, I'm afraid that she's probably right--I like to accumulate things. 
However, it's my dream to someday "accidentally" end up at a yard sale and find a rare, high-end, custom folder being sold for a song. Okay, you can say it now, "Dream on, toothed, you fool!"
Realistically, I hope to find myself in a situation similar to yours where I'm surprised with a folder that has been overlooked by others. It's the hunt (for that special folder) that is exciting for me.
Back to the topic: According to a knife collector's guide I have, the Western States Cutlery Co. started in 1920 in Boulder, Colorado. About 1950, the company dropped "States" from its name and their stamping was also changed to "Western USA." The guide does not say when the company changed its stamp again so one could only surmise that your knife may have been made as early as 1950 or as late as ____ ? I'm just quoting from the guide and don't really know the accuracy of this information but hopefully it will be a start for you.
However, it's my dream to someday "accidentally" end up at a yard sale and find a rare, high-end, custom folder being sold for a song. Okay, you can say it now, "Dream on, toothed, you fool!"
Realistically, I hope to find myself in a situation similar to yours where I'm surprised with a folder that has been overlooked by others. It's the hunt (for that special folder) that is exciting for me.
Back to the topic: According to a knife collector's guide I have, the Western States Cutlery Co. started in 1920 in Boulder, Colorado. About 1950, the company dropped "States" from its name and their stamping was also changed to "Western USA." The guide does not say when the company changed its stamp again so one could only surmise that your knife may have been made as early as 1950 or as late as ____ ? I'm just quoting from the guide and don't really know the accuracy of this information but hopefully it will be a start for you.
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2001
- Messages
- 26,713
It took me 20 years to find one at a garage sale that blew my socks off. $3.50 (Finally took it to a well known Case XX expert at Blade this year.)
This puppy is "as mint as a 50 or 60 year old knife is going to be."
If you have the time stop and take a look ya never know. It is not for sale but I would think that at a minimum 650.00 would be about right. I went home and called dad, feeling a little guilty, to talk about it. Was actually thinking about going back and telling them what it was. He asked me if I stole it or paid what they wanted for it.
(I told him both, but I did not go back.)
This puppy is "as mint as a 50 or 60 year old knife is going to be."
If you have the time stop and take a look ya never know. It is not for sale but I would think that at a minimum 650.00 would be about right. I went home and called dad, feeling a little guilty, to talk about it. Was actually thinking about going back and telling them what it was. He asked me if I stole it or paid what they wanted for it.
(I told him both, but I did not go back.)
