Final Camillus Cutlery Auction 4/5/08

colada · Post by **colada** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:26 pm

The company holding the note on Camillus has just released the last 65,000 new, boxed knives to be auctioned off by Stampler Auctions (Stamplerauctions.com) on April 5th, 2008. They were held back from the auction of the machinery, work in process & office furniture this past Sept. 17th, 18th & 19th. I plan on being there to buy more & to see friends! Mark

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 4:36 am

Thankyou for the input . could you advise any more information or a place to check it out. Or is Stampler simply all that is needed or will it be at the old plant last time you saved some money by being there Thankyou LT

ea42 · Post by **ea42** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 4:52 am

LT, according to the site it's April 5th, 11AM at 54 Main St (is that the plant addy?). That's all they have as far as info.

Eric

colada · Post by **colada** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:20 am

The sale is APRIL 5th, 2008 at the Camillus Cutlery. The item by item or Lot list/brochure, should be available within a week or so at Stamplerauctions.com so you can see the amount of knives in each lot & the type. They will probably use a company called Bidspotter (bidspotter.com) to accomodate online/real-time bidding for those that can't make it "live" on site. Good luck & have fun! MG

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 4:30 pm

Is it March 5th or April 5th???? As usual I am confused I appreciate the help. LT PS Thankyou

colada · Post by **colada** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:18 pm

APRIL 5th. NO doubt at all. I talked with the auctioneer's staff & see ithe date posted on his website. See you there. Just look for the guy wearing some Pittsburgh Steelers hats/shirts! MG

ea42 · Post by **ea42** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:40 pm

Geez!

Sorry guys, I was checking out the calendar while I was typing and suffered a serious brain fart. I fixed the above thread as well. Maybe I shouldn't attempt the trip, if my directional skills are as good as my date reading skills, I might wind up in Maine.

Eric

PS- LT, obviously you're not as confused as me!

colada · Post by **colada** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:42 am

Come to the sale Eric! Bidder paddle up is a bid, down is no bid....Maybe we all can split some lots & save some money!.....

Mountainwind · Post by **Mountainwind** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:51 am

It's 1300 miles for me, but I am planning on making the trip if I can get the time off. I don't have a calender on hand, what day of the week is the auction on?

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:03 am

April 5th is the first Saturday in April.

colada · Post by **colada** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:39 pm

Long ride for me also from the Ft. Lauderdale area. Waiting to see the inventory list, item by item pics & descriptions to be posted on Bidspotter & Stampler's site shortly before I decide to fly up or bid online. Buyers Premium is 15% on top of your winning bids if you're there live in person. I think 20% using bidspotter plus any packing/handling & shipping costs.

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:32 pm

I just thought I would remark on this subject as some of you might remember I went to the last Camillus auction. I had a great time and Tom Williams was as always a gentleman and great help. Now I am only around 250 miles away and I have a camper RV ( self contained ). That makes it about as easy as possible for me to do this still it was a fairly expensive and tiring trip . I did make it more expensive by going to Turning stone casino after the auction.

The best part of the trip was the people that I met and if that is why you want to go I say do it. All the big names were there including Phil Gibbs, Dave Swinden, owners and reps from all over alot of people you hear about but never see. Most are pretty nice folks. Again if this experience is what your are looking for it may dang well be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Especially since there are not that many US knife firms left.

That being said you might want to consider some other aspects. First it is a long and no matter how you get there costly experience. Next many of the lots are cut and dry deals ( don't kid your self ) a lot of things go on at these things. Auctioneers do not want to sell 65000 individual knives and the big boys ( Blue Ridge Smokey and a few others are in there lots get pulled and things happen ) OK so what, that is part of the game still, if you are there for something specific and are a little guy you may not get the gold mine but only the shaft. Now unless this deal is different some of the things to remember are that you are on your feet no chairs ( perhapes a box in a corner if you can intimidate someone to get up ) I sat on any box I wanted. I kept feigning a heart attack. I think I was feigning. Then do not think you will be casually lifting your card like it was at Sothbys. More like a cattle auction ( with you as the cattle ). Lots of josling missed bids people breathing and in your face ( Oh yes and keep checking your wallet ( with all them people around. ) Another thing the prices were nuts they had about a zillion lots of TL-29 type knives which went for outrageous prices ( I would not have paid that price for one let alone a whole lot ). That was because a lot of the people josling around were newbys playing at being knife dealers and wanting to get in the game. Like I said most of the stuff worth anything was already cut and dry. ( Have you noticed a lot of Camillus TL-29 knives on Ebay lately I have ).

Now I am not a big Camillus collector I went to the first auction to mainly keep the old artifacts from the company from ending up in TENN which for the most part with some help we did. This auction as I understand it really does not have artifacts or antiques . I guess we will not know until the list is out. In any event I am not in the knife business and do not need 100s of any one style. Usually if I do sell knives it is because i bought a collection and am weeding out what I do not want, need, or have already. At the first auction I at first did not realize that even though present you had to pay an additional percentage which while less than on bid pay is not free. Also If you do go and buy be prepared to stay another day since you might not be able to pick up you stuff that day. This no problem for me since there is a great bar right behind the factory and I can park my RV in the lot behind the factory. Some nice people in camillus some are even girls.

All this being said if you are just looking for a lot or two or something special you might want to consider Bid pay. It is just a thought and my ( I realize ) Unsolicited opinion. Either way Good Hunting. LT

CAMCO · Post by **CAMCO** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:45 pm

LT,
I hope to see you at the April 5th auction at Camillus Cutlery Co. I have the 2 knife parts display boards that belong to you at my house.
You can park your camper at my house.

Tom Williams

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:02 pm

Thanks Tom you are the best I really do not know at this point. I am in no hurry on the boards. I am so far behind that it will be awhile for them. However I am glad to touch base since I might want to impose on your opinion on some of the lots and what you think of them . Hope your mom ect are all OK. Stay well amigo. LT

colada · Post by **colada** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:31 pm

Lt, I regret that I don't remember you from the auction. I'm sorry that I just was outbid on your Kissing Crane stilletto, if that was yours. Mostly I'm sorry that you feel that way about the auction.
You might remember me. My name is Mark G & I was one of the auctioneers (the slightly heavy, young 50 yr old one). I was intrigued by your comments & you have every right to your opinions. I started with Stampler Auctions in the mid 80's with Harry Stampler's father, who started Stampler Auctions in NY in the '60's & just left this past Dec... I can assure you that your conspiricy theories are dead wrong. Interesting, but wrong. There were no prior deals made with any bidders, regarding any lots, of knives or otherwise. The only deals I was aware of were amongst bidders who wanted to NOT bid against each other & split the lots afterwards or being sold out of a security guards trunk at checkout. NO lots were pulled prior to, or during the auction. The knives that Stampler is selling this April were not on the premises during the auction. The 15% buyers premium is used to offset the expenses of the auction compnay not covered by the client we were selling for & is a common industry standard & which was announced often as well as on numerous signs posted in the registration area & through out the cutlery. We like to eat & raise our families also. Stampler is a commercial auction firm. It's a whole different type than the prissy art auctions where everyone sits, sips champagne & bidspotters parade the Lots in front of the crowd. Yes, many of the prices did go crazy. Some overzealous bidders did catch the "auction fever" & refused to be outbid. Would anyone out there working on a commission stop his selling to tell people that in their opinion that they were paying too much? I really doubt it. There are always a few smart asses at every auction trying to kill the prices or get their name in the paper as a quasi-celebrity or expert. For example, look at the joker (nicer word than I would like to use) who started off the bidding on the company name & website for ten bucks that sold for way, way more than that. I just urge bidders to do their research & take advantage of the inspection times offered. It should be a great auction for all. I looked over the lots on Stamplers website & bidspotter & see that they are fit for all bidders, both large & small, with knives in all styles & amounts. Have fun & see ya there. I'll be the one wearing a Steeler hat. I'll also buy the first round at the bar! Mark

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:43 pm

First it was not my kissing Crane stilleto hope you did good on it. Second I had a great time at the auction. I really do not understand what "that way" alludes to . I had a good time and i think you did a professional job. One instance I was referring to was when during the first part of the auction ( with the bulk stuff upstairs ) when the auctioneer asked Mr Koonz directly since the bidding on one lot was not moving quickly, to give him an offer I forget how much a dollar or two ( per piece on a lot ) and take it away. He KOONZ did not take it and the bidding did start it then went above the offered price and in fact Blue Ridge MR KOONZ did buy it. The autioneer then quipted see I told you to take it for that price.

I have no conspiracy theorys about your auction however it just appeared the big boys sometimes get to make some larger deals if you recall during the auction suddenly offers to combine lots also happened that really does not help the little guy and originally there were some smaller lots which I for one was interested in which were combined. As far as what else went on I have no reason to doubt you nor did I intend to impune you or your firm. Things did go on at the Schrade auction however I have no information other than what I just recanted regarding yours .

As far as the 15 percent buyers premium the fact that I did not realize it certainly is not your fault it was mine I go to enough auctions to know that it is normal practice it simply did not occur to me. Also I think it is fair premium. Also I have no desire to deprive you or you family of anything. My entire point in the reference is that if someone does not wish to travel to the auction and is not planning to buy alot of items it might be worth there while to stay home and pay 20 percent by bidding from the comfort of home. It in no way was said to demean or challange your procedures. As I also stated even though by not being there you must pay shipping I wanted to point out that one might want to consider the bidspotter alternative.

I agree it is a commercial auction and again was simply pointing out that another benefit of bidding at home is that I can be a prissy as I feel like if you want to call sitting in a ripped T shirt and swiling boiler makers while bidding in a knife auction prissy. The analogy being that unless going to socialize ( which was great ) or just to be at the show ( which also was great ) it may actually cost less to bid from home ( which I why I like the venue and thank you for using it .

I think it is great that your response and prices were good whenever knife prices go up it helps guys like myself who have been collecting for 50 years. I love to see an old display case go for 2000 dollars when I have 6 sitting on a shelf that I paid 50 bucks for. I simply do not have to be standing there to watch those lots since while someone will pay it I won't and can be getting a beer and waiting for a lot which might be more to my liking. That was my motivation and the point I was addressing in my comments. You are correct it should be a great auction I do not know if i will be there since a week or two before I have a stud tournament and may have to recouperate or refinance. I understand why you may not have recognized me I was the slightly, built short , good looking younger fellow, so am easy to miss, I believe I was in front of you for a while.

Once again I did not wish to Defame accuse or in any way cast any aspirsions on you or your firm . I am sorry you took it that way I was simply pointing the benefits of both options bidding at home or on site. Good Luck on the auction, your family, and the future. LT PS Just kidding on my looks, Fat not slight, tall not short, Old not young .

druger · Post by **druger** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:14 am

colada i might have gotten this wrong but in your first three posts on this subject you said you were a buyer and in your last post you state you are the auctioner if this is true you are allready showing me that you are not honest alot of things go on at auctions i have seen a few auctioners pulling scams myself i have no dought what rich stated is true it is too easy for auctioners to cheat they need more regulation

colada · Post by **colada** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:30 am

Drug, You have a legit concern. Yes, I was at Camillus. I set the sale up by myself in 10 days, 2500+ lots. Yes, I was one of the auctioneers as a freelance/independant contractor to Stampler. I also do the set-ups for about six auctioneers firms all along the East Coast & westwards towards the Mississippi. "Lotting" is my specialty. I have my own company, Four Star Auctions Inc. I also do personal property apraissals for the courts & am licensed in many States, bonded & insured. Yes, I will be at the auction as a buyer. Just as engineers, bookeepers & taxi drivers can be buyers as well as educated knife collectors where it can be argued that they have inside info. Regretably, I no longer work with Stampler Auctions & have not since last December. So I have every right to be a buyer & make some money. As far as more regulation I think we should try to enforce the laws we already have. We should start with the politicians, lawyers & special interests....

knifeswapper · Post by **knifeswapper** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:58 pm

Is it just my imagination or did almost all Cold Steel items disappear from the lots? They had 10-12 Cold Steel Boxed lots a couple weeks ago, now I see one lot of mixed stuff.

colada · Post by **colada** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:23 pm

I don't know. I haven't talked with Stampler in a while. Not since I offered my resignation. It seems that an ex Camillus employee had nothing better to do (like getting on with his life) than complain to the company that holds the note on the cutlery that I was selling knives on Ebay & it cast negative aspersions upon Stampler. That was all me & Stampler Auctions had nothing to do with it. The ex employee should have contacted me first. I had every legal, moral & ethical right to sell knives that were given to me as tips. Some buyers who bought more than they needed sold me knives, others tipped me with knives for use of the forklift or for coming in early & staying later than scheduled. Other buyers, especially one from way up north in Ontario, bought whole offices, took what they wanted & gave me & their local helpers the balance, which we split up. One couple bought a 2 door cabinet & didn't want what they called Satanic looking knives that were in a big box on the bottom shelf. The head of security on the jobsite even gave me a handful the day I left from the trunk of his car as he offered a "Knife" buyer from Buffalo hundreds of brand new boxed ones. But then again, he was more interested in selling water & jerky & planning his scams on salvage rights than doing a good job at checkout. And dumb me wondered why we had tp recount each lot before we sold it. The counts were off & we had no access to the building between set-up & the last auction. Im surviving quite well but look forward to having a little talk in private with the self important snitch this coming weekend. I found out who it was & it did surprise me as I thought we were friends. Just goes to show ya! Anyway, sorry for rambling. I am glad that most of us capitalize & use periods as its always easier to understand. I hope that they didn't change the lots but I'll see this weekend. Good luck & hope to see ya there!

Phil Gibbs · Post by **Phil Gibbs** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:30 pm

Mark,

Sorry to hear of your troubles, I hope things work out for you.

Say hi to everyone there for me, I can't make it to this one.

Phil

colada · Post by **colada** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:57 pm

Thanks Phil! No problems here. I just signed up to work with the biggest competitor. More per diem & more days. You were & still are a true gentleman & hope that all is going well for you in Arkansas. It was a true pleasure working with you! You were very honorable. I will say hi to Wallace when I'm there also! Thanks again! Mark (colada@bellsouth.net)

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