Buying silver at yardsales?

[klava]

I have always been a big yardsale goer. My question is about buying silver "silverware" lol. Hows the best way to buy and whats paying to much. I have a small pocket digital scale and have a good grip on silver prices and such. i guess my biggest question is about silver knifes. i have heard they are reinforced? If so what is the most I should pay for silver knifes.

Also any general info for buying metals at yardsales ie. gold, silver, coins, scrap etc. that you may have ideas or recommendations on I am all ears. Thanks a bunch I plan to hit the yardsales and fleamarkets hardcore this year:-)

-K

[EDDE]

i bought 5-6 Big pieces of silver serving ware once at an auction for like a dollar a piece (was in a mixed lot they let me put together 10 bucks was whole gig)
3 were plated crap
3 were SOLID sterling about a 1 1/2 - 2 pounds of silver for 3 bucks
also carry your car keys in your hand
if a item is questionable scratch a small spot to see if its solid or plated
also learn the different wording/makers marks for plated
some will say silver plated copper thats a plus toss it in a copper pile
always chew them down,if they are selling it ,they don't want it !
loss the scale that denotes you're up to something
also solid silver spoons and forks(?) will be much lighter then say a plated item
they also sound different they dont go TING if you rap it against something
they go TONG slightly lower pitch then plated
go for the SOLID items
ill check back to see what others toss to you 8)
25 cents an item is to much in my opinion say for silverware
depends if its large sure a baby spoon ugh ahh depends on the # of items you will buy/want
always low ball at sales they want 2 bucks say a buck you know the drill

[gold fish]

It really depends if you are buying for the collectible value or not. My wife deals in silverware(semi-professionally, she does make money), and we have made several buys for less than $20, that have contained pieces worth over $300, as a collectible, not in weight. It takes a lot of reasearch to make monet doing it, but it is a pretty cool hobby.

[billjustbill]

I've started looking at garage sales this Spring for Sterling Silverware... Saturday, I found 13 pieces ( 3 table knives, 3 tea spoon, 3 dinner forks, and 4 salad forks) for only $8.00, total.

I got home and did a search to see if what I found was really sterling silver... I think I can get back my $8.00 ;>)

One silverware company has offered $103 for the silverware...
If sold to them, Profit is about $90.

http://www.antiquecupboard.com/ShowPattern.asp?Pattern=Flower+Lane&PatternID=229& Mfg=Oneida

Bill