Backup100BLK

Nothing like a new eBay listing to light up the Inbox. Happy holidays. That is indeed a Field Grade Tanto, but would be more accurately identified as a Temple Guard. Part of the NorthWest Knives exclusive. If you search for Temple Guard, you'll see that there are three in this collection. And the price is very reasonable for a custom Lum. Should make for a great holiday present for someone.

A beautiful Lockback Folder just turned up on Ebay. Very beautiful piece, in outstanding condition. Good luck to the bidders. Update 5/4/15: Folder did not sell at the original price of $2250. Relisted at a lower $1850.

A Cranberry One of a Kind Spyderco Chinese Folder Prototype , was recently sold on Ebay for $1036.99. Good to see that the market for rare Lum related products is still strong.

Received a couple of emails this morning about the Chinese Folder listed yesterday on Ebay. On to the answers: 1) It's a Medium Field Grade. 2) The rub marks should not affect the value. Reason below. 3) The clip makes this early production piece. 4) Blade steel most likely ATS-34. 5) Yes, the Spyderco Hole is not that rare. I would guess it's pretty even between Spyderco Hole and Nail Nick for Chinese Folders. 6) Handle is more likely Linen Micarta than G10. 7) That cutout in the handle is Bob's signature Pinky Rest. Surprisingly effective for adding grip. Especially to a small folder like this one. Since this is an early folder for Bob, he was still working out the kinks for making folders. And some of them will develop liner rub. Hence the rub marks. I treat it as proof it's handmade. It's a wonderful carry piece (pre-broken in). Good luck to the seller and the bidders.

A rare and special one showed up on Ebay today. A Back Pocket Folder in Black Micarta with LAWKS (the lock safety mechanism that Ron Lake licensed to Bob to use). This is an extremely rare knife; only a few Back Pockets were made, and very few, if any other, had LAWKS installed. A personal note. Bob went ahead and did the Chinaman's Hat treatment for the pivot stud. However, given the size, it looks a little out of place. Good luck to any one bidding.

Newly listed today.  In Canvas Micarta, with a kydex sheath. Unfortunately, not sure if the sheath was made by Bob. Good hunting. Update: and it's sold, with an undisclosed Best Offer. Congrats to the new owner.

After being listed on Ebay for months, two of the Stag Lums sold. The Sgian Dhu and one of the Fighter were both sold for undisclosed Best Offers. Good luck to the new owner.

In a case of deja voo (no pun to the folder named for another of Bob's design),  the seller that is offering the Stag Sgian Dubh and Stag Boot Knife, has offered two more Stag Boot Knife. Same model as the previous offering. Rare to see three of the same model in someone's collection. Besides mine. :) Good luck to the bidders. Mixed emotions with this development. So happy to see such wonderful old school pieces. And sadden that I can't take advantage of the opportunity to add any of them to my collection.

Happy 2014!! Looks like I was wrong in my last post. The same seller did in fact post another Lum for sale before the end of 2013. And it's a real beaut. An asymmetrical Stag Deluxe Boot Knife. Beautiful double hollow ground with LUM stamp, and includes a sole authorship sheath. Date of origin around the same time as the Sgian Dubh. Good luck to all the bidders.

What a way to end 2013. Unless another one pops up between now and 11:59PM tomorrow. A beautiful Deluxe Stag Sgian Dubh was just listed on Ebay. And on to the questions via email: 1) Bob would have called it a Sgian Dubh. He's a fan of the design. So, I would not call this a one-off. I know Bob has done a few Sgian Dubhs. As such, calling it a Spearpoint Dagger is not far off. 2) Sheath is definitely by Bob. As is the attached leather tassel at the end of the handle. 3) SS Bolsters and Stag = Deluxe 4) LUM stamp and satin finish on the blade (you can see the finish on the image with the LUM stamp), would place date of origin in the mid 1980's. 5) I'll reserve comment about the asking price. But I will say this: if I had the funds, I would make a very serious offer. Good luck to all the bidders.

Received several emails about the Lum Wharncliff currently on Ebay. And the answers are: 1) Bob would have called it a Deluxe (SS Bolster) Stag Wharncliff/Caper. 2) It's most likely a one-off. Either customer order, or just something Bob made because he wanted to. 3) The price is more than fair given the condition of the knife. But collectors would probably have an issue with that deep gash on the spine. 4) The sheath looks like a Lum original. Bob has been known to stamp decorate his sheaths. Not often, but they do exist. A quick email to the seller for a picture of the backside would confirm this. Good luck to all the bidders. Update on 12/06/13: Still there and price dropped to $695. Update on 12/18/13: Knife didn't sell, and was relisted. It was sold via an undisclosed Best Offer. Congrats to the new owner.

A Large Field Grade Tanto Fixed Blade was recently sold on Ebay. It was listed at $2195, but was sold with an accepted best offer. Congrats to the new owner. A couple of interesting notes. It came with a leather sheath that was made by Bob. More interesting is the angular tip, as compared to his standard hamagiri tip.  This would most likely place the tanto to around late 1990's. When Bob was intrigued by Massad Ayoob's theories of blade tip penetration, and made his tanto tips more angular. And in some cases, longer. I had gotten a couple of emails asking about the listed blade length of 6", wondering if it wouldn't then be listed as a XL Field Grade Tanto. Given that 1) the overall length was listed at 11.25", 2) Bob's Large Field Grade Tantos could have blade lengths as long as 5.5" (from the standard 5"), it's likely that the seller added the length of the choil to the total blade length. As such, I believe it is in fact a Large Field Grade T...

Two customs are now available on Ebay. 1) A Folding Pen Knife in Ti with Custom Pen Clip. This is re-listing with a drop in starting bid. The last auction started at $2000AU with no bidders. Can't tell, but it looks exactly like the one I sold a few years ago. 2) A Deluxe Skinner. The only issue is the leather sheath. The seller is asserting that the L stamp stood for "Lum", but the construction, especially the belt loop treatment, is not typical of how Bob would have made a sheath for that style knife. And Bob usually stamps the sheath with "LUM" if he signed it at all. Good luck to any one bidding. Update on 4/19/13: both did not sell. The Skinner has been relisted with a lower starting price.

Just ended was a 4" Deluxe Semi-Skinner with SS Bolster and Ivory Micarta. Sold for $790. The auction indicated that the knife was bought from Bob in 1984, with no idea which steel was used. Given the time frame, the blade steel would have most likely be ATS-34. And a belated report of a very unique 3.5" Boot Dagger. Also with Ivory micarta handle, with an unique integral bolster treatment. Asking price was $1250, but was sold via an unknown offer amount. Congratulations to the new owners.

A rare old Lum is currently on Ebay. The seller indicates that this was the 13th knife made by Bob. A couple of indicators to support that claim. 1) Maker's mark is the Chinese character for Lum hand etched. 2) The sheath is identically marked. 3) The sheath work is consistent with Bob's style. 4) Handle hardware is consistent with a knife from that period. 5) Mirror polish would be the standard finish for the period. 6) Taper tang with liner. Good luck to the seller and the new owner.

Ebay Item #130788718550. Just ended with asking price of $899. Serial #007. The Envoy is the smaller brother to the Temple Guard.

I've gotten a few emails asking about the "Linton Cutlery Patszland" folder that shows up on Ebay. Item #160839541445, as of 7/07/12. The common question is did Bob design the knife? The answer is NO!!! A brief history: Linton is a Taiwanese knife making company that one year, in the early 2000's, decided to show up at the NYCKS with several of their new models, asking show attendees to vote for their favorite design. Unfortunately, many of their models were too similar to popular designs being offered by custom knife makers, that their offerings were not well received. This specific model generated accusations of "design copy" of Bob's Chinese Folder. Bob was in attendance at the show, and was able to look at the design first hand. He said the design was not infringing on his Chinese Folder design, as it was closer to the original Chinese Shi-Lin folder design. But he did express a little concerned that the handle was very similar to the way he does the...

Very surprised it sold for only $1200 after being relisted again. That is a very good price for a Deluxe Stag Tanto. Bob's table price for something like it would be in the $800 to $850 range.

There was a Small Deluxe Tanto with Stag handle scales and steel bolster listed on Ebay recently. It was listed at $1500 with a BIN price of $2250. Unfortunately, it did not sell. The seller has re-listed it at a lower bid of $1300 and a BIN price of $1900. Hopefully someone would be able to score a great piece of Bob's work.

Looks like the Folding Tanto from the previous Ebay entry was relisted on Ebay for $1550. The auction ended without being sold, but the item was seen listed on some knife forums.