Remington bullet knife collection 1982-2007

[crsides]

I have this collection that includes all years from the first 1982 through 2007, I think that's 26 or 27 ? Want to know the best way to sell these? Individually on ebay sounds like a lot of work but might generate the most money. Collectors like to collect things, rather than buy them all at one time.

The 1982 and 84 knives have cracks at the lanyard hole, there are two with tortoise shell handles that are tarnished a bit. All the others are mint, all are in original boxes and all but a few have the original paper work and plastic sleeves.

If yours, how would you go about selling them.

thanks

 

[k22fan]

First tell us what handle side covers they have. The most common are brown Delrin that looks a little like jigged bone. The majority of the Camillus made knives were also hafted with jigged & dyed brown real bone, given a real silver bullet shield, a serial number and a box that displays them with the blade(s) part way open. Others got laminated wood, solid wood, smooth bone and, I just learned from you, tortoise shell. Is that real or imitation shell? As far as I know they all have Camillus' standard 440 A stainless blades. Remember, Remington did not make a knife after they sold their knife making operation to PAL in 1939. Fortunately, all of yours were made by Camillus. The only year there might be any doubt about that would be 2007, the year Camillus went out of business.

Now to your question. As a collector, I see lot offerings as forcing me to buy wholesale quantities and usually forcing me to buy a mix of what I'm looking for and others that I do not want to duplicate. Paying what would be the total of the top value of the individual knives is not going to happen. However, getting them all sold at once is a lot less work for you and that has value.

 

[Fiddler1537]

I'm looking for photos

Sent from my VS996 using Tapatalk

 

[steveno]

I started collecting these knives when they first came out. for the first 5 or 6 years they didn't make that many of them and were worth some money to collectors. after that they started issuing a LOT more of them and collector value went down considerably.

I think they were a very well made knife and I sometimes carry the mini trapper or tracker as an every day carry knife. the large trapper is a pretty knife but too thick to carry in the pocket.

I think the quality of the tracker and mini trapper that I have are just as good as the Case large trapper that I have

 

[sheppard]

The value goes up if you have the boxes they came in.

 

[s&wchad]

Charlie,
I’d start by researching sold listings on ebay. Determine which knives are the most valuable and list those separately. Some seem to bring $200-$300. Bundle the less valuable knives in groups of 3-5.

Start with low opening bids and no reserve and run your auctions for 7 days. It can be a bit scary, but this strategy generates the most interest. I like to start my auctions on Sunday at 7pm Pacific time (10pm EST). I figure that more people are home Sunday evening compared to other days of the week and most people are done with dinner and still awake between 7-10pm.

Take lots of photos and offer combined shipping on multiple purchases. You can fit a lot of knives in a small flat rate Priority box. Good luck!

 

[holo]

I use to be heavy into the Remington bullet knives, like mentioned above the value has dropped. I remember getting $800 for a 1982 back when OGCA was still at the I X center., it now looks like the can be had for $200

 

[pawngal]

EBay is probably your best option.

Also Bruce Voyles does consignments and online knife auctions, the website states that 15% commission is most common. I have not done business with him but he has been a prominent figure in the knife collecting world for many years.

Values on nearly all vintage/antique pocketknives have tanked in recent years. In going thru late hubby's records, knives that he paid $100 to $200 for in the '80s and early '90s now sell in the $40-$60 range. Ouch!

 

[crsides]

thanks guys. Lots of great ideas.

Yes, all are boxed. Most are in their plastic tube wrapper. All are boxed.
I'll have pics, eventually.

Charlie

 

[k22fan]

While I'm new to collecting Camillus made Remington Bullet knives these values are hard to believe.

I use to be heavy into the Remington bullet knives, like mentioned above the value has dropped. I remember getting $800 for a 1982 back when OGCA was still at the I X center., it now looks like the can be had for $200

My 1982 Delrin Tracker that would be as new in box except for the age crack that most of them have in the Delrin at the lanyard hole and a little fading and wear on the outside of the box sold for a $28 bid & $4 shipping off eBay. I have watched other 1982 Trackers sell for about the same price but won't buy one until I spot one without the crack. For any of them $50 is high and $75 is a buy it now seller's unattainable dream. Also from eBay auctions I have four New in Box 1990 real bone and sterling silver bullet Trackers. They all cost under $50. Did Camillus make really special Trakers in 1982 that I am unaware of?

Pre-WW II Bullet knives that were actually made by Remington are in a different league.

 

[pawngal]

While I'm new to collecting Camillus made Remington Bullet knives these values are hard to believe.
My 1982 Delrin Tracker that would be as new in box except for the age crack that most of them have in the Delrin at the lanyard hole and a little fading and wear on the outside of the box sold for a $28 bid & $4 shipping off eBay. I have watched other 1982 Trackers sell for about the same price but won't buy one until I spot one without the crack. For any of them $50 is high and $75 is a buy it now seller's unattainable dream. Also from eBay auctions I have four New in Box 1990 real bone and sterling silver bullet Trackers. They all cost under $50. Did Camillus make really special Trakers in 1982 that I am unaware of?

Pre-WW II Bullet knives that were actually made by Remington are in a different league.

I don't think the Tracker series was started until 1990.

The 1982 Bullet knife made by Camillus is the most desirable of the Camillus made era.

Bear & Son Cutlery began making the Bullet knives in 2006.

I believe I read somewhere that Buck is now producing the Bullet knives.

 

[eveled]

The ones with tortoise shell you say are tarnished? They might be celluloid and off gassing. Keep them away from the others.

 

[crsides]

Both were in the plastic tube sleeve, so I guessed also that the simulated Tortoise shell was gassing up.

The tracker was made in 1990. The 1982 knife has always sold in the $200- 400 range, the blade marked for the Rem four and six rifles, came in the first box, top left pic'd below.

 

[k22fan]

I stand corrected on the 1982 knife. However, R1306 Trackers were the knife for two years. Since I recall the box for my early Tracker is light green like the third box down in crside's left column it looks like the first year for R1306 Trackers was 1984. I have not had mine out in a while. All the R1306 Trackers with real jigged bone and sterling silver bullets that I've seen were dated 1990. Their boxes are printed "one of 5,000."

FWIW, not much, I've been carrying one of the Delrin 1994 R4243 Bullet Camp knives in a pouch. It has a good selection of tools for my summer time back yard duty. However, it is very lonely advocating for R4243s. All of them that I've seen for sale have been NIB or nearly new condition. It appears the model was not used much. In contrast it is common for members to write that they carry their R1306 Trackers for really important stuff like summer time back yard duty.

 

[pawngal]

The 1984 Bullet knife was R1303 and there was also a smaller version R1173L. I can find no record of a Tracker Bullet knife other than the 1990 issue. But you are welcome to prove me wrong

The R1303 pattern was used either 2 or 3 times for the Bullet yearly knife

 

[k22fan]

Pawngal,
If we're splitting hairs you are correct again. In pre-WW II Remingtons R=folding, 130=the pattern number and the final number was the handle material. The only difference between original R1303 and R1306 was the handle material, 3=bone & 6= genuine stag. As reproduced by Camillus in their lower cost line both had Delrin handles. 1984 R1303s had Delrin decorated to look like jigged bone and 1990 R1306s had Delrin decorated to look like stag. Oddly, the more expensive version of the 1990 Tracker with real jigged bone that is not intended to look like anything other than what it is was stamped R1306 and sold in boxes imprinted R1306. Since I do not collect pre-WWII knives and Camillus was inconsistent I do not pay much attention to the last number. The difference between 1984 Delrin and 1990 Delrin is only worth a yawn. I do not recall if my 1984 R1303's box or leaflet include the name Tracker. They are not where I'm at so I can not check on that. Apparently the original poster here, crsides, has his close at hand and could look.

When the Delrin used on 1990 Trackers was used on Camillus branded knives it was called Indian stag, a play on the name India Stag. Some of the Camillus made Remington patterns were also sold branded Camillus. Maybe they all were?