JJ. Martinez ???

[Pàdruig]

Some time early last year, I went into an antique shop. Now I don't go to antique stores all that frequently since dealers usually know what they have and it can be difficult to find a "bargain", especially when it comes to the items that I tend to be on the lookout for. I usually seek out the finer things: knives, tobacco pipes, tools, books, quirky Americana stuff, etc. This particular visit was interesting because I came across a knife I was not familiar with and was even intrigued by. Though traditional patterns were not my main focus at that time, I still enjoyed knives of any kind and I usually would try and scoop up something that was particularly pleasing to me. This particular example was such a knife. I found it to be a handsome piece and were it not for what I thought at the time to be an obscenely high price, I would have left the store with it. Instead, I took a bunch of pictures for reference, asked the clerk if there was any wiggle room, and discovered that I was in a antique "mall" and the owner of said knife was unavailable to haggle with...

So now that I am cultivating far more of an interest in traditional patterns, I remembered that I took pictures of this knife and now I cannot help but wonder if I should be kicking myself for not biting the bullet and shelling out the $50-$60 asking price at the time. The only info I have is what you see in the pictures - JJ. Martinez | Santa Cruz Inox | Made in Spain

So, should I be kicking myself? Other than the cost, I was also a bit put off by some of the fit and finish issues as well.

 

[Arathol]

J.J. Martinez has been making nice knives since 1951. Look up the name. That one you should have brought home.

 

[netguy1999]

After doing a bit of quick research, including what a knife in much better shape than this recently sold for (on the large auction site), no you should not be kicking yourself.

 

[KBA]

I'm not an expert by any means but I have shopped for knives made in Spain. You can find JJ knives for $12 to $150 it seems. The individual piece you have shown appears to be closer to the $12 dollar mark imo. The upper end knives of his are easily noticed as higher build quality and are often of classic style. I would not have bought the one pictured.

 

[Arathol]

After doing a bit of quick research, including what a knife in much better shape than this recently sold for (on the large auction site), no you should not be kicking yourself.

A quick bit of on line research doesn't really tell you much. The Martinez knife I have is very well made. $50 for a Martinez Cabritera is not out of line.

 

[Jolipapa]

I'm not an expert by any means but I have shopped for knives made in Spain. You can find JJ knives for $12 to $150 it seems. The individual piece you have shown appears to be closer to the $12 dollar mark imo. The upper end knives of his are easily noticed as higher build quality and are often of classic style. I would not have bought the one pictured.

+1 :thumbup: The Cabritera pattern is a copy of the French Cevenol, a pattern that sold very successfully in Spain mainly by 108 Girodias of Thiers, now extinct. You can get new ones from JJ Martinez and else, but it still will be worth what a Rough Rider stockman is to a Case stockman. i e perhaps a good knife, but not the real McCoy.

A very desirable one:

 

[netguy1999]

After a bit more research, you can find that knife BNIB from the manufacturer. As such, I would say you did well buy not spending purchasing it. JJ Martinez does make a wide range of knives, ranging in quality and price. This is their entry level. If you like, PM me and I will send you the link to the company's website.

 

[Peregrin]

OK guys, enough price discussion. I know that was one of the original questions by the OP. It was borderline then but has crossed the line now. If you want to talk about the knives cool, otherwise I'll close this.

 

[Pàdruig]

I apologize, I was not intending to bend or break the rules with my initial query. I probably could have worded it differently. I was mostly intending to get info on the knife itself as I had not seen the pattern before and if I were to come across it again in the future, is it a knife of a quality worth getting. To add further clarification, I do not own the knife, nor was I seeking to get a value on it in order to sell.

I do appreciate everyone's input though, looks like I dodged a bullet as it appears to be a knife more in line with the value offered by Opinels.

 

[Llasi]

JJ Martinez, mod. Cabritera.
Knife cheap, in Spain that model does not exceed 1/3, 1/2 of what they ask for it.

 

[netguy1999]

OK guys, enough price discussion. I know that was one of the original questions by the OP. It was borderline then but has crossed the line now. If you want to talk about the knives cool, otherwise I'll close this.

Apologies if I have transgressed. Any price reference I may have made has been removed.