German Bonsa OTF gravity knives

[Monkeyleg]

Over on the SD auction is one of the German Bonsa chrome plated OTF gravity knives. I've only seen them for sale once on assistedknife.com, and the price wasn't cheap. The only other place I've seen them is on Bill DeShiv's site, and on the Latama site, although they were already sold there, so no price was given.

The description of it makes it sound like it's just about perfect, so I would imagine it's going to go for top dollar. Problem is, I don't know what the value is.

Further, if I were to buy this, I wouldn't have the money to get the Picklock Pat knife I've been planning to get.

So, I have two questions. First, what would be a fair price for the Bonsa? Second, which would be more collectible in the long run, the Bonsa or a Picklock Pat knife?

Thanks for any replies.

[Knifeguy420]

Not surewhat the value of a bonsa is but its gone now i hope you got it if you wanted it! But those picklokpat knives are real masterpeices id take one of his knives instead!!! if ya didnt win that bonsa on SD then assistedknife has one left at the same price the one on SD went for.

[Monkeyleg]

Well, $395. That's a lot of dough for a gravity knife, but I've been holding off on buying similar OTF gravity knives--the gold anodized finish ones, etc--because I think these chrome ones are really cool, with an antique look about them.

Just how collectible are those knives?

Picklock Pat said last week he'd send me photos of some horn scale samples to choose from. If it takes this long to send some photos, I figure I'll get the knife next year.

[Viking45]

One can see a German gravity knife at gun/knife shows far more often than a custom made Picklock Pat knife
For me there would no question the Pat Havlin is far more valuable and desirable.

[whippersnapper]

If it takes this long to send some photos, I figure I'll get the knife next year.

I'm sure he's busy but once things get decided on he is fast. At least from what I have seen.

And I think you will me much happier with one of Pat's customs than one of those Bonzas.

[redeye]

cant go wrong with a PLP knife I have one and I love it

[Tom19176]

You are not comparing like items here so it is hard to answer. The Bonsa OTFs are spring opening and gravity closing of sorts. They use to go for $100 years back, but as with the Rizzys they can sell for what anyone will pay for them. I would say $200 is a more at this point in time a price seeing as how many older Italians have decreased in value, but to me the Bonsa is a better made knife than the Rizzys and the OTF that recently went for over $500 so who knows what is fair. The Picklock Pat models are far above this knife in every way, so if you could only get one then the PLP seems to win the race....

[Viking45]

The Picklock Pat models are far above this knife in every way, so if you could only get one then the PLP seems to win the race....

Well said Tom. I see this as comparing a 1969 Trabant to a Rolls Royce.
(to be fair I used a pic of 69' Trabant and 69' Rolls

[BTB0923]

The Bonsa OTFs are spring opening and gravity closing of sorts.

I know the Bonsas you're thinking of Tom, but I believe the OP is actually referring to the "all gravity, no spring" otfs, like this one...



Ken's pic btw, hope he doesn't mind me borrowing it for this post.

Monkeyleg, if the knife you are talking about is the one in the pic above, then I can tell you they aren't as rare as you seem to let on. Careful not to overpay if you do decide to get one ($395 is WAAAY WAAAAAAYY out there IMO ). I think not all of these were stamped Bonsa, so maybe the stamp increases the value on this type of gravity knife??? I dunno.

I've never handled a PLP custom before, but if they live up to all that people say then I agree with above, you should def spring for that instead.

[Bill DeShivs]

BT- Bonsa never marketed that gravity knife. It was an Anton Wingen design.
The 4 on the bottom right are Bonsa OTFs.

[Monkeyleg]

It wasn't the waffle pattern knife, but the one that Bill pointed out. In fact, here's a better photo from his site. The one that sold is the top one in Bill's photo.



Anytime I've seen one sell, it's around $400. If I could find one for $200 I'd buy it in a split second.

[BTB0923]

Oops sorry Tom and Monkey, my bad...I was led astray by an auction on SD I thought you saw. Don't mind me The trapdoor Bonsa obviously does have a spring, and is more of a rarity. I did think it strange that one of those gravity knives would have a "Bonsa" stamp...makes sense now, none of them do .

Thanks for the correction Bill That is quite an impressive collection of otfs in that pic by the way.

[Monkeyleg]

That is quite an impressive collection of otfs in that pic by the way.

I'm particularly impressed by Bill's neatly organized display case.

[Belmont800]

Havlin --

[niceguy2]

i just picked one up .....for about what it`d cost for dinner for two and a movie