UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons SA & NSKK Dagger Forum Where are the buyers

I visited Allentown show In PA and it seemed to me that very few people were interested in daggers. May be it is just my opinion, but the slow down is effecting the hobby as well.
Any one has opinion on that?
BTW I have not seen any single Russian there and it was unusual.

It always happens this time of year. Everybody is keying up for the SOS.
JMO,
Ron Weinand

I have spent a small fortune the last few months!!

Ron:

I think that you are correct. Even the activity on dealer sites slows down at this time of the year. Everyone is saving up their dollars and their items for Louisville.

See you there! Two weeks to go.

John

It is very interesting right now. MORE calls for special items, more eBay sales and my biggest two weeks in the past 4 months with USP this past two weeks. Go figure!
Maybe collectibles are in more demand with the slippage of the economy or maybe people are going to collectibles rather than cash or stocks.
Ron Weinand

I think people are ALLWAYS after good stuff. Just sometimes the timing ****s, it is like waiting for a bus. None for ages then they all come together. If someone said to me last month I was going to get an SA High leaders and an SS full Rohm in one month of eachother after looking for a year, I would have laughed out loud!.

Fact is they both came along and I have managed to bag both of them even if im broke for a bit now...

If you are talking about buyers for average conditioned daggers or "experienced daggers" as a friend call them , especially Luftwaffe, Army, or SA, times are tough.

Key currencies, the pound, euro, and rouble have declined so those buyers are more cautious. Canadian Dollar is down too

What I hear from selected US dealers is that sales are not that bad. No records being set, but not doom either. Customers are mostly Americans and going after the very well conditioned items. Not neccessarily the high end or high $$$ stuff, but the items in top condition.

Me? I am in pursuit of a what might be a great SS dagger. Might be a fake, a dud, or a rework, but .............

Gun sales are up thanks to Obama and the fear that if people don't get 'em now they may not be able to get 'em later.

Lance

Interesting . . . bankruptcies are way up . . . foreclosures are way up . . . the big three auto makers are receiving a massive bailout . . . the central bank or as I think it is referred to in the US as the FED is cutting its interest rate and all financial institutions and media are describing these events as a major Recession and we in our "hobby" aren't seeing any reduction in sales . . . except what is normal for this time of the year? ~ Ian

quote:

Originally posted by lmrobil:
Gun sales are up thanks to Obama and the fear that if people don't get 'em now they may not be able to get 'em later.

Lance

It is usually the case when a Democrat gets in office.
However to these "get em now before it's too late" crowd, do you think that "they" will actually let you keep what you bought if they restrict future sales?
Well that didn't happen in California with Assualt rifles from what I remember.

Best,
-serge-

The prices were pumped up by Russians and Europians buyers due to weak USD. From what I hear happening in Russia and Europe, very unlikely that many Russians willbe attending SOS show this year. High end unique staff will not be affected most likely, but the avarage SA will and already is. JMO

Serge,
Assault rifles were grandfathered into the plan in California. I know because I owned them before the ban, during the ban. I only sold them within the last year or so.

But, who knows if they get control of the supreme court.

for those of you who still think that the economy is not affecting the hobby, look in FOR SALE section of the forum. I would say that 6 to 8 months ago those swords and sa daggers would be gone pretty fast but now they are still for sale.

Great time to be buying IMO providing you buy it in your local currency . Dont be afraid to ask for a deal .

quote:

Gun sales are up thanks to Obama and the fear that if people don't get 'em now they may not be able to get 'em later.

Eric Holder, the US Attorney general of the US was on the TV in the last couple of days and said that the Obama administration had just a few gun control items in mind which included the 'ban on importation of "assault weapons"'

quote:

Originally posted by Texasuberalles:

quote:

Gun sales are up thanks to Obama and the fear that if people don't get 'em now they may not be able to get 'em later.

Eric Holder, the US Attorney general of the US was on the TV in the last couple of days and said that the Obama administration had just a few gun control items in mind which included the 'ban on importation of "assault weapons"'

....along with ammo.

http://virginiashootingsportsa...ing-ammo-import.html

Oleg1,
You are absolutely right and count me in as one who will not be buying any militaria stuff for awhile, wednsday i just found out i'm on layoff from work so the hobby is on hold. I live in Michigan and finding a job is next to zero, i don't want to think about what will happen when unemployment runs out in a year, i was in manufacturing and our employer has gone through 5 layoffs in the last year and a half, from 350 employees to around 49 now, i was lucky until yesterday and seems no one will be running my department. Mostly it's office staff running the place now, Funny thing is i just got employee of the year in december and employee of the month in feburary. The last layoff i seen like this the company closed it's doors for good 6 months later, nothing can be done when the big three keep the work usually outsourced in house. I personally blame the free trade agreement for our current situation but that is going in the direction of politics so i'll stop there.
In short it will be a long time before i buy again and most likely will be selling some items i thought i'd never sell. I have never been more scared than i am right now, for those of you who still have a job count your blessings, be happy you still work and have medical insurance, for those who don't need to work or are retired please say a prayer for those of us who need to work. I'll be a member here until my membership runs out and after that i cannot guarantee i'll be able to afford the membership fee even though it's small, money will have to go elsewhere.
I was planning on going to the SOS show for the first time this year but now that's not in the picture.

Sincerely,
Eric

Sorry to hear of you situation Eric. From my standpoint I will be investing more in militaria due to the new administrations stance on the wealthy. His tax increase on the wealthy does not bode well for the stock market.Also decreasing mortgage interest deductions will not bode well for the real estate market. I have been waiting on the sidelines for the last few months to see just how bad he was going to be for the economy. I can now rest assured that collectibles is probabaly one of the better places to invest.

Sorry to hear that Eric.
Your a good guy and I wish you all the best finding another job.

I hear this everywhere now. Some areas are not as bad hit as Michigan...yet. But this is the new reality.
You guys recall that three years ago were no SS chained daggers avaliable. Both "Tom's" had waiting lists of collectors wanting to buy. Now there are over sixty out there and they for the most part are not selling. The big demand has evaporated along with the Big Ticket prices.

Regards,
-serge-

Yes , the economy isnt affecting the dagger market at all. Us collectors dont care that times are tough as all heck and we still want our daggers....give me a break the market is down now. Go look at Military Collectibles. You can find just about anything there and they are hard to move.Daggers that are top notch will move because they are lower cost and people with money are the only ones buying them. I think now is a bad time to buy since it may be at the bottom but still who wants to buy a dag thats potentially going to loose some value at this economic rate anyway? Its so hard to sell a dagger now ,even if you just want it for your collection , you better plan on keeping it long term-when I see a reasonable buy now I still pass as Id much rather have cash than a stagnant investment of a dagger.Wells Fargo doesnt except daggers!

Interest on deposit here is 0 so cash is being eroded by inflation.

So buying a few bits is still good if you ask me. Some stuff like SAs 33s 36s still seems to be going up at the moment??

I dont care as I am buying because they give me pleasure rather than for short term gain.

quote:

Originally posted by mongobongo:
Interest on deposit here is 0 so cash is being eroded by inflation.

So buying a few bits is still good if you ask me. Some stuff like SAs 33s 36s still seems to be going up at the moment??

I dont care as I am buying because they give me pleasure rather than for short term gain.

I AGREE WITH MONGOBONGO ......PURE PLEASURE & ITS A NICE INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE

I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your job Eric and the best of luck in the future. I added a lot of high end pieces to my collection in 08 and will do very little this year.

I pulled a couple of posts on modern politics that had nothing to do with the topic.

Eric - sorry to hear about your job. I wish you the best of luck in your search for another.

And, daggers are moving, but slowly. The top quality or rare stuff above all. Look at our For Sale forum.

Dave

Dave/Guy's,
Thanks all hope is not lost i just might be going back to a former employer with better pay and future, keeping my fingers crossed.

Eric

Eric,

Sorry to hear about your job, I wish you all the best in your search for a new one.

As Dick Winters always says "Hang Tough".

Chief

Looking for a buyer? Come to the SOS and the MAX. They will be there without question--and a whole lot of them.

Hopefully they will come

The Europeans called and told me to expect them, so I guess the recession is not stopping everyone.
Ron Weinand
PS: I will have a great selection, probably my best ever and Tom Johnson and I will be sharing tables, so see you all at the SOS.

The recession hasn't stopped me either but the currency exchange does.
The Canadian dollar has lost more than 30% in the last 3 months, that's enought for me to stay home until everything get's back to normal, which shouldn't be long.......I hope.
Whatever happens, I will definitively be at the Max show and if I do not buy anything over there, I will at least have the pleasure to meet my friends and have a few drinks..........especially with Serge and Johnny.

my Russian friends not coming unfortunately. The currency exchage and credit crunch is to blame. I am not coming either this year. Hopefully next year will be better.

Yes Oleg, the Russians and Brits used to snap everything up I had wanted to move- now its dead.

Pat, we always enjoy your company!
I'm sorry to hear that you will not be coming to the SOS this time. I will be there, but I will arrive late and don't intend to do any buying.
See you at the MAX!
Johnny

I can relate to the Big 3 Auto blues as I live in Ohio. Money is tight and the job losses % in Ohio are in the top 4 in the country. BUT the economy will come back, it will just take a while.

IMO the SOS will be a buyers market SOOOO if you have the $$$ you will do VERY well. Cash is king as people will be selling stuff that normally never come out of the collection.

Glad I bought Gold when it was @ $500.00 per oz! My dooms day fund.

See you all there!

I've always wondered how the doomsday gold bugs are going to spend their gold. I'd like to see how you are going to pay for your six pack and toilet paper with a one ounce Krugerrand.

Gold is pretty and glittery but when you buy it in a manufactured form, such as coins or ingots, you pay a premium and a dealer's mark up. When you go to sell because the local grocery store won't accept a gold doubloon, you have to sell it back to a dealer or metal transactor and they again charge a premium in the way of a lower buying amount.

You can also buy gold and other fine metals from a broker but the same concept being that you pay a premium both when buying and selling and liable for taxes being on paper.

Of course, the local store won’t accept a dagger for a loaf of bread either but we have the liquid asset aspect with no middle man involved. (most of the time)

In my opinion, investing in gold or buying to off set inflationary times is a myth and greatly hyped up today by coin and metal dealers. And jewelers who hype up their wares of gold as a good investment border on being a sin.

The attached is a prospective and view as published in ‘Money’ magazine, February 2008.

Fortunately for me most of you just don't know how and when to work it. I have been buying and selling precious metal for years and have always made more money than on military items persay.

quote:

Originally posted by Ed Sunday:
Fortunately for me most of you just don't know how and when to work it. I have been buying and selling precious metal for years and have always made more money than on military items persay.

No doubt there is money to be made in precious metals in normal times, I think John was referring more to a "SHTF" scenario, and how much practical good owning gold will do you then - And that is an open question that hopefully will not be answered with any certainty.
I know its discussed alot on PM forums such as GIM, which I haven't browsed in a while. I went there often when I was on a silver buying spree some months back.

Personally I think silver would be of much more practical use than gold in most situations.
You might offer 2 or 3 silver eagles for a can of spam ham in very hard times, but are you really going to trade that nice 1 oz round of gold for it ?

From my years of motel buys, I have accumulated a large supply of German silver coins from the veterans who sold their relics. The coins were always a throw in and I have just put them back for years.
Over the past few weeks I have been listing them on eBay and have been doing rather well.
Diversity is the key when markets change. These are just a little diversion for the upcoming SOS as I didn't want to list any militaria before the show on eBan.
Ron Weinand

If you got any in bulk [100+] you want to sell Ronald, let me know.

I used to sell Reichsmarks on ebay, some would do well, some would not even break even [actual loss].
With all the fees, hassles and labor packing and sending them, decided it was not worth it.