[MatthewVanitas]

Impulse last-minute bid. I mainly wanted the Mercator ($25 new, and the new ones are said to be inferior to the old).

Averages out to about $8 per knife, shipped.

Linky: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330057363580&rd=1&rd=1


Was this a really dumb buy for $63 shipped?

Big honk'en lot of old estate sale finds. One is a US Navy WW2 knife, ones a Mercato Solingen k55 lock blade, big 1900's 10" bowie, pearl handled 7" Case xc11 twin blade, old scary skining knife, and a double edge silver 8" straight this is one of the most awsome vintage blades I have ever seen. A must have. All these knives are old some very old 100 plus years. With one exception the Zippo gaming knife is newer.

-MV

[carterbeauford]

Hosed? I doubt it! Those aren't exactly the knives they sell on late night cable.

[Brian Williams]

http://i9.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/7c/42/8d27_1.JPG
How much do you want for this one???

[MatthewVanitas]

I'm thinking to hang on to the Navy knife and the bowie until I figure out if I like them. Definitely keeping the Mercator.

Probably selling all the rest, so PM me if you want any of the other stuff.

I forsee some quality time spent with Flitz and some old T-shirts.

It's funny, I really don't enjoy cleaning guns after shooting them (thus my preference for stainless, easy to clean). But I do love cleaning up really, really grungy stuff. There's just something cool about busting rust and polishing away old grime, get it looking "used but good".

Pretty pleased about the Mercator now, provided it's in decent shape. Not as cool as the Douks, but still neat.


I reached one of those Geek Crisis moments recently: a package came in the mail, and I was paralyzed for about 30 seconds with the indecisions as to which of a dozen knives to use to open the package. Can't recall whether I ended up using the Superknife or the Opinel Serpette.

-MV

[Sharpdogs]

Reminds me of my grandfather's knives from WWII. I would say you did very well.

[1 old 0311]

That Bowie looks like a Bill Bagwell style.

[JShirley]

Was this a really dumb buy for $63 shipped?

No...if you're okay with collecting. Don't know if I'd actually carry any of them, but value wise, you did well.

J

[MatthewVanitas]

Don't know if I'd actually carry any of them

What's wrong with a K55K Mercator? Seems a neat little folder.

-MV

[Sistema1927]

Sounds more like a brag than a complaint.

[MatthewVanitas]

Sounds more like a brag than a complaint.


I dunno, of the four only two are recognizable brand names (Mercator and Case), the bowie and the USN knife might be 3d World ripoffs, and the rest is just random gear that could really go either way.

Will see when they arrive.

-MV

[Brian Williams]

Did you get them yet and what do they look like????

[MatthewVanitas]

Shipper mucked up the order and had to resend; they arrived at my TX place while I'm here visiting family in WA. Will report on my return.

Just got a box of misc 30 SAK-copies @ 50c each off eBay, and just won an auction for another 50 more at 60c ea, both from TSA confiscations. Will be putting those into my Free Pocketknife Distribution Scheme.

Gave sharp/pointy things for Christmas presents to almost everyone. Will take a pic in the next day or so of the cousins (three girls, ages 7, 12, 14) and the knives they got for Christmas. Ended up giving the 7yr a pink Victorinox mini-SAK, 12yr got a Opinel #6, and 14yr got a Leatherman Micra. All were pretty stoked. 7yr has managed to give herself one light but 3" long cut, so she's learning quick.

Will update on the shipment of knives when I get back. Also might have Douk-Douks coming in a few weeks, and just bought myself a Spyderco Sypderfly balisong (butterfly knife). Will post reviews of all above.


-MV

[MatthewVanitas]

Okay, got back to Austin the 31st, went to see a rockabilly show, dance w/ some girls, and am now back to open and inspect package.

Two items are total write-offs:

-- the Case is actually some clone, only markings I can read are "EXCH" or something similar.

-- The pearloid-handled serrated knife is just trash

Couple decent items:

-- the skinner is a Henckels, in really solid shape except for patina
-- the bright stainless stripedy thing is cool, but unmarked.

@ Brian: no markings on the long knife, but looks pretty cool and has neat balance, PM me if interested.

The Mercator:

-- Wow, these are cool knives! This particular one is a little beat. Bail is broken off, blade patinaed, has zero side wobble but a little back-forth wobble when engaged. Will clean bearing surfaces and see if this helps.

Having seen the Mercator, I'm really stoked to get the French equivalent in. Should have (50) Douk-Douks arriving in a week or two from France, will post those here as a GB.

Now, the one sleeper of the bunch, and a real argument for why you should do at least some minimal homework before eBaying items:

The "USN"-stamped knife is a genuine WWII Robeson fighting knife ("Shuredge #20"), and worth $25-45 depending on market. In other words, seller really should have sold this one individually.

If anyone is interested in any of these knives, drop me a PM. Otherwise I'll play with them for a bit, and put the rest up on eBay with some other inexpensive pickups (Imperial Barlow, Schrade Old Timer, etc).

Just a follow-up, enjoy your New Year.

-MV