Anyone interested in a $500,000 Bowie knife

[knifegnome]

I don't know much about Bowie knives , but they always seem to be out of my price range. What are your opinions on the knife?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Bowie ... r&LH_BIN=1

[New_Windsor_NY]

I don't.....

That's just the opening bid. You can buy it now for $700,000 with FREE ECONOMY shipping.

[cody6268]

YIKES! Yes, it appears to be an original from the 1800s, but where I live $700000, that's a house on 100+ acres, and that still leaves a large amount of cash. If I had that much disposable income, it would not be on this knife. I'd be living in a nice house and own a new Porsche, not living with my folks and owning a twenty-three year old Dodge truck. For me right now, I'm lucky if I have $700 in the bank total. I feel this knife may be worth no more than a couple thousand bucks, and that's stretching it.

Honestly, I've given up my search for an "original" Bowie, due to their having been considered mainstream antiques. Currently, I'm looking at the Ontario SP10 and Western L77. May have a custom one made in the style of the antiques; and have the design modified to suit me. At present, my Ontario SP1 and Camillus USA Marine Combat are perfect "Bowies" and I use them a lot working.

[Gunsil]

I recognized it a a Bell without reading the ebay title, and his price is over five times it's value I believe. I have also happen to have had the opportunity to handle five genuine Samuel Bell bowies and I doubt that was 1/5 of those known so I think seller is way mistaken on his statement that it is one of 25 known. Mark Zelesky, publisher of Knife Magazine has at least two of Bell's superb knives. They are spectacular knives and very pricey but I doubt this guy will get any bids.

[herbva]

“A Fool And His Money Are Soon Parted”

[kootenay joe]

Gunsil, if his price is five times over it's value, then it's value is in the range of $100,000. I did not know that any knife in existence has a value this high. To get anywhere close to this amount you would need at least 2 wealthy collectors who really want it. The same would be true for $50,000 or even $20,000.
Are there really enough wealthy knife collectors to support a value of $100,000 ?
kj

[cody6268]

This is my question--for something that is supposedly so rare and valuable (still, $100,000 is a LOT), why eBay? The average eBay user will obviously not spend that, or even a tiny fraction of that. You'd think they'd have consigned it to Sotheby's or another auction house specializing in high-dollar antiques where the average buyer has that kind of cash to throw around.

[kootenay joe]

Here is a Samuel Bell Bowie for $950: https://www.ebay.com/itm/BOWIE-KNIFE-SA ... Sw3v5Yr2Nm
The tang stamping looks modern to me.
kj

[jwwood]

I believe that is his "I don't want to sell it price"

[peanut740]

Here is a Samuel Bell Bowie for $950: https://www.ebay.com/itm/BOWIE-KNIFE-SA ... Sw3v5Yr2Nm
The tang stamping looks modern to me.
kj

You better jump on that Roland!You may want to pay for it with Monopoly money.

[Gunsil]

Gunsil, if his price is five times over it's value, then it's value is in the range of $100,000. I did not know that any knife in existence has a value this high. To get anywhere close to this amount you would need at least 2 wealthy collectors who really want it. The same would be true for $50,000 or even $20,000.
Are there really enough wealthy knife collectors to support a value of $100,000 ?
kj

Roland, one of them I had my mitts on fifteen years ago was priced at forty grand, it was not as spectacular as the OP knife and it did sell although I don't know the actual selling price. American made bowies are in a league of their own, and have sold for that hundred grand. The one you posted is a modern poor quality fake and looks nothing like a Bell bowie. Bell's knives have a distinct style, many in the "Spanish" style as the OP knife is. Yes, there are wealthy collectors of American bowies who actually pay over 50,000 dollars for one knife.

[kootenay joe]

Thanks Gunsil. I live in a 'small world', sheltered life, or more, limited to local experiences. I did not know there is a world 'out there' with people spending $50,000 or even $100,000 for one knife.
I did know the $950 'Bell' is a modern knife and the style is likely not at all accurate. It does not look like it was made with intention of fooling anyone except perhaps a real fool.
kj

[OLDE CUTLER]

That is a Bowie knife? It looks more like something used to cut cake with. (Well to me anyway).

[dlr110]

I just found the same knife, same picture on a different website for $950.00, big difference.

https://www.fleetwoodmac.net/vintage/Bo ... 90326.html

[bighomer]

That is a Bowie knife? It looks more like something used to cut cake with. (Well to me anyway).

I'm with you OC the Jim Bowie of my childhood wouldn't be caught dead with no sissy a$$ knife like that.
the only interest I have in it is looking at it and wondering about how it could ever in anyone wildest dreams be worth that amount of money.

[btrwtr]

All the classic look of a Samuel Bell Bowie knife. Don't underestimate the value of the real deal. These knives are hens teeth to big money American Bowie collectors. The other knife at $950 isn't even in the same solar system as a Bell knife. Beautiful but way out of my league at any rate.

[RobesonsRme.com]

Looks very much like the Samuel Bell pictured in LG-IV.
Cannot recall how he valued it.

Charlie

[knifegnome]

It is the same Bowie in Levines guide 3rd edition 1993 on page 321 , value estimate $10,000 and up.

[toomanyknives]

If I didn't already have two just like it, I'd be all over it...

[toomanyknives]

Ha! I had to share this.

I just showed this to my wife, and her reply was, "I didn't know David Bowie made knives, I hope he made it by hand"..

That's priceless!

[1967redrider]

I could see the original Jim Bowie Natchez sandbar knife selling for that much or more, but I don't see it in this knife, unless there's platinum/gold/etc.

[Madmarco]

That is a Bowie knife? It looks more like something used to cut cake with. (Well to me anyway).

I'm with you OC the Jim Bowie of my childhood wouldn't be caught dead with no sissy a$$ knife like that.
the only interest I have in it is looking at it and wondering about how it could ever in anyone wildest dreams be worth that amount of money.

Ditto!

[Madmarco]

Ha! I had to share this.

I just showed this to my wife, and her reply was, "I didn't know David Bowie made knives, I hope he made it by hand"..

That's priceless!

[edge213]

If I didn't already have two just like it, I'd be all over it...

[1967redrider]

Ha! I had to share this.

I just showed this to my wife, and her reply was, "I didn't know David Bowie made knives, I hope he made it by hand"..

That's priceless!