Am I crazy? (e-bay auction)

[SCOUTER]

Ok, I'll be the first to admit I don't understand people... E-Bay is a perfect example- Now if I take a BRAND NEW osborne head knife, beat it up, ding it and let it rust a little... It will fetch MORE on e-bay then before the treatment! Now am I crazy or is this e-bay item a doorknob on a stick?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...y0%3D%26fvi%3D1

[tonyc1]

Ok, I'll be the first to admit I don't understand people... E-Bay is a perfect example- Now if I take a BRAND NEW osborne head knife, beat it up, ding it and let it rust a little... It will fetch MORE on e-bay then before the treatment! Now am I crazy or is this e-bay item a doorknob on a stick?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...y0%3D%26fvi%3D1

You're dead right there, Scouter! I've seen old can openers and wall paper cutters described as "rare or vintage" leather tools!! They say that there's one born every day.

Tony.

[anne newkold]

Ok, I'll be the first to admit I don't understand people... E-Bay is a perfect example- Now if I take a BRAND NEW osborne head knife, beat it up, ding it and let it rust a little... It will fetch MORE on e-bay then before the treatment! Now am I crazy or is this e-bay item a doorknob on a stick?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...y0%3D%26fvi%3D1

I have not seen one in use but I do know people who look for those door knobs at auctions to use on their leather work. Some thing for saddles I think i heard mention

[leatheroo]

what a piece of crap, i cant believe people are bidding on that!!!!!

[Beaverslayer]

Well I'll tell you what!!! I'm going out to find me some of those door knobs and make some of those.....$182.00 so far and 25 bidders, there seems to be a market for them.

Ken (Beaverslayer CUSTOM Door Knod Tools)

[Clay]

I have seen several of these in different saddle shops. I am sure that some of the saddle makers on here can better explain what they are used for but I think that they are used to form the seat and cantle of a saddle. Bruce am I right?

ClayM

[Spider]

Well I'll tell you what!!! I'm going out to find me some of those door knobs and make some of those.....$182.00 so far and 25 bidders, there seems to be a market for them.

Ken (Beaverslayer CUSTOM Door Knod Tools)

Dude I'll supply the door knobs. Kwikset ok? I've got a broom I can chop up too for the stick....

[JohnD]

After Clay's post I can see how this would be useful , But this thing definitly started life as a way to get into a room.

Dude I'll supply the door knobs. Kwikset ok? I've got a broom I can chop up too for the stick....

I think the real issue here is will it " Beaverslayer and Spider's Doorknob tools" or "Spider and Beaverslayer's Doorknob Tools" ?

Edited March 22, 2008 by JohnD

[Mike Craw]

They are commonly called "bouncers" and they are made from glass or porcelain door knobs. or turned from very hard, tight-grained wood like lignum vaite. They are used most often once a flat piece of skirting leather has been cased over night and is being forced down into position to form a seat. When it is pulled down on the sides over the ground seat behind the hand-hold area, it naturally does not want to bend and stretch the opposite way over the back of the cantle and down into the dish of the cantle. The bouncer is used to form the leather down into the dish. There is usually a bubble of leather right over the dish on the cantle, and if you work it properly with the bouncer, the leather can actually be forced to come together in the middle and the bubble disapears. The bouncer has to be absolutely smooth, because the cased leather will accept and hold (forever) any marks placed on it by a scarred-up bouncer.

That said, it seems like anybody who is talented enough to make a saddle ought to be talented enough to attach a door knob to a stick, so the price does seem a tad high...

[bruce johnson]

Mike described the function well. I used to buy them by the 6's at the local architectural salvage place. I made nice handles, and then watched them roll off the bench, hit the floor, and break. I got to where I just wrapped the square metal stem that went through the door with duct tape. They broke just as easily, I just had less labor in them. A couple years ago Norm Lynds made me one that hat has two ends on it. One is smaller and has more curve to it. Like all of Norm's tools, nicely made and very functional. I'll attach a pic of Norm's.

[barra]

They are also known as a smasher on the other side of the pond. I have even heard them called pompey's. They are just the handiest thing. Makers of English saddles use them to assist in the shaping of the panel (padding for the horse) by smashing the 7 colours of crap out of the stuffing. Collar makers do likewise. They can be picked up and because of the shape they can get into all sorts of nooks and crannies for burnishing. Mine has had a piece of the small domed end knocked off to form a flat surface on the end. Like Bruce said they will find a way to roll off the bench.

Barra

Edited March 22, 2008 by barra

[ArtS]

I made mine out of an old door knob i bought off eBay for about 3 dollars. Actually that was for 2 door knobs. eBay is getting ridiculous. You can't get good deals anymore because some buyers are bidding way over what something is worth. A couple of years ago they had a set of "vintage" bridle rosettes for sale. You can buy them from Weavers or I also find a web site that sold them for about $25. This set went for $68!

ArtS

[Don101]

I would love one of those door knobs they are rare to find here, i dont have a bouncer but not for those silly preices im still looking, Bruce i love your tool, Don

[Beaverslayer]

Finally selling price for the one on E-Bay was $227.50 US, that's just crazy. I'm off to the garage sales today...LOL

Ken