The News from ElephantToenails.com

Many of you many remember our fellow toenail collector, Russ Altamore. Russ passed away in 2005. Today, I was contacted by the executor of his estate about his knife book library.

It’s now on eBay. This set is an excellent jump start library.

Here’s the list-

* Pocketknife Trader’s Price Guide - Volume 5 by Jim Parker - very good condition with minor signs of wear
* Pocketknife Trader’s Price Guide - Volume 6 by Jim Parker - Looks to be in excellent condition
* American Premium Guide to Knives & Razors Identification and value guide by Jim Sargent - minor signs of wear
* The American Blade Collectors Association Price Guide to Antique Knives by J. Bruce Voyles - good condition - minor signs of wear
* Knife Album by Colonel Robert Mayes - great condition except for damage to front lower spine. Does not affect pages
* Price Guide to Pocket Knives 1890-1970 by Jacob N. Jarrett - Excellent condition
* Counterfeiting Antique Cutlery by Gerald Witcher - Used condition on front and rear cover - pages are in very good condition
* The Sword And Knife Makers Of Germany 1850-2000 - Vol 1 - A-L by Anthony Carter - Excellent condition
* The Knife Makers Who Went West by Harvey Platts - Excellent condition of book except for wear on the hard cover’s cover
* Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Identification And Values by Roy Ritchie & Ron Stewart - Excellent condition
* New England Cutlery by Philip R. Pankiewicz - Very good condition with light signs of wear
* The Best of Knife World Volume III  - Very good condition - very little signs of wear
* The Complete Book of Pocketknife Repair by Ben Kelley Jr. - Very good condition
* The Standard Knife Collector’s Guide Identification Values Fourth Edition by Roy Ritchie and Ron Stewart - Excellent condition
* The Standard Knife Collector’s Guide Third Edition Identification Values by Roy Ritchie and Ron Stewart - Torn front cover - pages are in good condition
* The International Price Guide To Antique Knives by J. Bruce Voyles - some wear - good condition
* Big Book Of pocket Knives Identication & Values by Ron Stewart & Roy Ritchie - Excellent condition
* International Blade Collector’s Association Price Guide to Commemorative Knives - 1960-1990 by J. Bruce Voyles - Excellent condition
* Levine’s Guide To Knives And Their Values - 4th Edition - torn front cover on lower side - 2 small tears in the botton first 2 pages.
* The Official 1981 Price Guide To Collector Knives - Third Edition by James F. parker and J. Bruce Voyles - Very good condition
* Twelfth Official Price Guide To Collector Knives by C. Houston Price - good condition but cover and some pages are bent. These can be pressed out

Over the last several months I’ve been watching and listening to collectible experts, including several from the knife collecting world.

As it relates to values of our collectibles, they are all in agreement that the best condition collectible is going to hold its own. It may or may not increase in value, but its value should be stable during our current period of economic uncertainty. However, collectibles that don’t qualify as “the best” will take it on the chin until the recovery takes hold.

This Case Bros stag brought 66% of its 2007 price

Yesterday, we got a real time example of a hit to the chin.

In November of 2007, a stag handled Case Brothers (5250) sold for $770.

Yesterday, May of 2009, that same knife sold for $510.

Without getting into the sellers’ reputation, condition (it was the same for both sales) descriptions/disclosures, a November vs a May auction date, a pre-Thanksgiving vs. a Memorial weekend auction closing date and other fine nuisances, what we saw was the same knife bring 66% of what it sold for a year and a half earlier. Both auctions were on eBay.

The agony of defeat. Moments ago, I lost a knife I wanted, but just not enough.

I am talking about being runner up in an auction. I just didn’t want to pay retail price. While I do have several already, I didn’t have a pearl with XX stamped out on the blade, in this condition.

In case you haven’t been out prospecting for toenails over the last week and didn’t know there was a Case Brothers pearl toenail up for auction. It was being sold for the executor of an estate in Michigan.

Less than a minute ago the bidding closed. While the number of bidders was limited to 7, it narrowed down to two once the bidding got over $1000. Me and the eventual winner.

Guys, this knife was a keeper. It was an Excellent + to Near Mint example of a 100 year old Case Brothers pearl toenail.

While I wallow in my grief, I’ll close with its picture. Oh yeah, I almost forgot- it sold for $3439.99. It was worth it too. Congratulations to the winner!

When my wounds heal, I’ll post in under Recent Sales here at ET.com. The post about its pearl handles were shown here earlier today.

Just found out we have a toenail going up for auction this weekend. It is a creation by Mike DuBois of W R Case. The auction is March 21 at the Prime Retail Outlet Mall in Birch Run, Michigan at 1:00. If you are in the area grab this beauty. Mike’s work is excellent and is known by Case fans.

I’m still waiting on the Catt expert to step forward and clear up the handle pin mystery.

In the meantime, Cindy & Jim Taylor are offering a nice 3 pin (counting center pin) Catt on eBay.

I’m of the opinion the 3 pin is the older model with the 5 pin coming before Catt closed up. Again, that is my guess based on looking at the age signs of the different knives. It is possible the 5 pins were assembled by the parts sold off after the factory closed.

Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Identification and Values by Roy Ritchie and Ron Stewart and The IBCA Price Guide to Antique Knives 2nd Ed. by Bruce Voyles both show a 3 pinned toenail in their books.

If you are an eBay watcher then you have undoubtly noticed the decent quality toenails going off there lately. Late today, another knife friend passed on one to me that has just been added.

While Camillus doesn’t seem to rank up there with Platts, Case Brothers, Napanoch and W R Case & SON and the other grade A Brands, Camillus is still a fine brand and one that should move up a notch or two with them shutting down in 2006.

While I do I a number of them, I am not a Camillus expert, but from what I have read it seems the 4 line is the older model.

This one is worth checking out-

Roger Cunningham, the ETCC Vice President, pointed out a Jumbo Swellcenter is being auctioned on eBay right now.

Here’s what the seller has to say about it-

“I have a great old sunfish knife up for bid.  It is a W.R. Case and Sons, winterbottom bone with full blades and excellent condition.  This knife is built on the old Platts frame, and I am dating it at about 1903.  These knives book at 3500 if you can find one .  This one is in great condition.  It takes a thick thumbnail to open it, the backspring is that strong.  Nice winterbottom bone handles make this an extremely rare piece.”

I’m not sure about the date being able to be pinned down to a single year.

Too bad the seller dictated a starting bid of right at $2000 to get into it. Personally, I am convinced an item will bring its worth without forcing buyers to start at a wholesale price. Plus, the market is deep enough (sufficient demand) that it would have brought what it was worth. We may have been willing to spend $2000- $5000 after being caught up in the fever, but he is asking us to commit to spend $2000 cold.

It will be interesting to watch a quality knife sell today via eBay. Before I bid, however, I would ask for additional close-ups of the handles and stamps, for sure. These are my favorite swellcenter handles. I don’t know they are technically Winterbottom. I was told by Joe Seale they called Platts Bone. But, I’m OK with Winterbottom bone if you are.

One of the charter members of the Elephant Toenail Collectors Club found him a jewel recently on eBay.

Again I’m reminded as I write this that toenails are out there, we just have to look for them. Rarely will a rare toenail land in our lap, but they are out there to be found. Personally, I think there will be some come back into circulation over the next couple of years so be ready.

Anyway, this particular knife was headed ” Old, rare knife Tidioute.” See what I mean about seeking…

No mention of “Toenail,” or “Sunfish,” instead the seller simply referred to it as a “folding knife.”

While the knife did sell for better than $700, my guess is only the Tidioute (Union Cutlery Co brand) buyers were in on this, and not the toenail collectors in general (save one). It probably would have brought even more had it been labeled for what it was- a Toenail.

For an extra bonus- it is one of the rarer of the Union stamps- Union Razor (1902- 1909!

I know many of you watch eBay, but in case you missed this one-

Case Brothers Toenail

Yesterday the auction closed on a nice looking Case Brothers wormgroove bone handled toenail. The bidding was active with 11 bids and the final bid price was $415.

In the end, the seller’s reserve was not met. But for my purpose here, let’s look at a couple things-

From the photos put up the knife looked good and the seller’s description was good.

I always have to look at what the seller didn’t say. In this case, I don’t see anything about the degree of legibility of the stamps. 

Also, the seller says “the snap is good,” but does this mean “acceptable” or did he mean really good? Probably only “good” as in acceptable.

The masterblade was reshaped. Interesting. Makes me wonder if it had broken at some point, or if someone just wanted to make it a clip blade for the heck of it….who knows. Yes, the masterblade is very short too.

The question is did the reshaping and length of the masterblade “set” the price or was it the lack of info on the clarity of the stamps? Or a combo.

We know a Excellent condition or better Case Brothers can command a price above $2000. We saw several sales in 2008/07 to support this fact. So, what “set” the price here at under $500? (I am not grading this particular knife as Excellent. If the stamps were poor and the snap is only acceptable, then considering the length and reshaped masterblade it is probably only Fair.)

Also, a “reserve” auction affects the final price negatively. In our auction business, an unreserved auction brings more money because bidders know it will sale. This could have been a factor.

Or is this price a reflection of the market conditions at this time?? Or did it bring all it was worth?

I’d love to hear comments back from any of you who actually bid on this knife as to why it was judged to have only been worth this price.