Why

[dilling]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VINTA...QQcmdZViewItem


is bid so high

[Korey Wood]

Apparently the bid isn't the only thing that's high

[Jeff Nelson]

The Proto/Plomb 1427 is highly sought after. The cheapest I've seen them go for on ebay is $40. I think because it is Christmas shopping time this hammer is on someones wish list and the gift giver is willing to pay whatever it takes to get it. One recently sold for $138.40!

I think that Ron Fournier's praise for this hammer in his book has something to do with its popularity. It also appeared as a must-have on a tool list that appears at the Metalshapers site. You'll also see it in Kent White's hand in just about all his videos. It is a nicely balanced hammer.

[Gonejunking]

Yes it's a nice hammer, but Martin makes one just like it for under $30.

The only difference is the shape of the handle. Plumb has flat's on the handle, Martin, Mac, and Snap-on, have rounded handle's.

I have the Plumb, and the Mac. I use the Plumb the most, just because of the handle, but for under $20, you can have a new handle put on the other's. The handle on my Plumb is about 3" longer then the Mac, and has a little more meat where my hand holds it. But at this price, maybe I should list mine on ebay!!

[captainkirk]

Lets see $30 for the hammer and another $20 for the handle plus shipping and fondling lets say $10 well there you have it a pretty good copy of an original for say $60 plus of course the time to put on the handle roughly half the asking price of an "original"
My rather "different look of things" says I would rather save my money and have an original. It goes along the same lines as any other highly sought after object being able to say it's an original has major value.
Ask yourself what would you rather have a shop full of copies of famous tools or a shop full of famous tools.....it's a no brainer.
Nothings is realy worth anything, everything is based on perception. Even the "money" we all take for granted as having value is nothing but small pieces of paper with pictures of dead people on them, and were all trading our lives for as many as we can get. Life is very much about how we "see things" rarely ever about reality.
Everything is about how it makes us feel.
The secret of success is to be able to tap into those feelings in large numbers, only if you buy into the concept of the little green pieces of paper.
Reminds me of the old saying "I'm going to be a happy fool and struggle for the legal tender" :smile:

[jlrussell4]

I'm with Jeffery. Seriously considering listing mine. $130 +? Mine is nice, but.....

[Spanky]

WOW!! looks like I need to thin out my hammer rack! I much rather prefer the balance of my snap on/martin hammers copared to my proto's.
supply vs demand I guess.

[rookie]

I guess, put it in a book by someone famous, and it's GOSPEL. (Shouldn't say it) kind of like the AK deal. Personally I don't really care what I use, money's so tight here I use whatever I can afford. Had a couple friends build me a few slappers, like em better than my Snap-on or Martain hammers for general body work. Thanks again, by the way.


Phil

[Gonejunking]

Yes, some of these old hammer's are worth alot to a collector, and some even more to people that use them! I've only bought one body hammer new. Paid $40 for it, then reshaped the head on Gully's beltsander at MM5.
I like the older hammer's because of the steel in them, but if I have to pay more then $20 for one, I'll send my money to Gully, and get a Martin. That said, I've been lucky enough to find over 30 of the Plumb, Proto, Porter-Ferguson, hammer's around here for under $5 each. I still have a want list, and after the first of the year, I'm going to try and quit being so cheap, and just order them new!!!

[Todd H]

As the saying goes " A good deal is a state of mind". TODD