This is why

[WestKentucky]

Sad to say it but a lot of the stuff I have will probably be put on the chop saw or e cases in resin before I pass. Even more of it will likely be going that route if I keep up the junk-gun hobby, and keep rebuilding antiques. I’m honestly thinking that 1/4 of my collection is stuff I would shoot or use but not let my kids shoot or use so I would not want them sold off to somebody as a ticking time bomb. The unsafe ones are pretty obvious for now, and stay disassembled unless I’m playing, and that does include knives. I have a really pretty but junk Bowie that I take the handle off of and put the knife in the locked toolbox... small hands need not get opportunity. I have trashed a bunch of true junk recently.

 

[bikerdoc]

Good on you for stepping up and helping the widow.
The local gun store I work at part time will do consignments free for widows. It is a lot of work researching and maximizing proceeds to the widow.

My collect is a meager 4 dozen.

Junk knife that find there way to me are kept separate. All are inspected for safety. Some get rescaled and sharpened and gifted. I keep a small box for screws and the bits and pieces I like, the rest gets trashed.

 

[22-rimfire]

It is a good idea to maintain a spread sheet for valuables, knives and guns in this case. As the years pass, I personally forget that I own things and I certainly forget what I paid for them. So, the spread sheet is good documentation even if the current values do not approach current values. Personally, I don't really care what the present value of my knives is. It's a hobby. But the spread sheet helps me keep a bit more organized.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

You'll be surprised, but for what you paid for that Crooked River you could have had a real custom fixed blade. There are a lot of unknown/less known knifemakers out there in the $250 and under range that you can find.

What you learn after the fact... still that's good to know for the future thank you.

 

[hso]

I raised $3,100 for the family today off of 5 knives! I'll see what I can pull from the show tomorrow.