Stanley ORIGINAL chisel handles

[Gregory of Sherwood Forest]

SO, after completing that last commission, I now have all these vintage Stanley 720 and 750 handles left over. The previous owner let me keep them as part of our deal for making those custom handles.

Now I have to choose...

Do I sell this lot, or keep them and accrue the chisel irons for them to get them restored?

I've seen these handles sell anywhere from $10-$40 each depending on condition, but of course, I do enjoy restoring tools, so...

I'm perplexed.

Suggestions?

[Philip1231]

Keep them, and mate them to the appropriate chisel as you acquire them.

[rayknight]

you are unlikely to acquire that many chisels with no handles, but likely will some. if I were in your circumstance, I would keep a set or two and sell the rest.  There is a market for them, but your estimate may be a bit high.  I have 3 sets of 750s, and have kept a handful of extra handles. On the other hand you could made puppets out of them for xmas show for grandkids.   
Ray

[Admiral]

Keep 'em.  You can always sell them later.  These things are not being made anymore and are a limited resource for those so inclined, and will not drop in value.

[Stwood_]

Keep 'em.  You can always sell them later.  These things are not being made anymore and are a limited resource for those so inclined, and will not drop in value.

+1

[Gregory of Sherwood Forest]

Ray, I just need to mull it all over a bit. Not sure if I want to try collecting more full sets of these. I have 2 full sets of each already. As for the estimate of value, that wasn't my estimate, that's actual prices they've sold for across many sites in the past year. I don't expect to get the high end of that IF I decide to sell. I've sold thousands of vintage tools, and don't ask what I see others priced at. I mostly sell local. Not always, but usually.

[EricU]

funny, I always end up with these kind of conundrums, and it usually ends up with me hoarding something I never do anything with.  

Your work with the chisels was so nice that for some reason I thought they were the ones currently being sold, but looking at the handles, that doesn't seem to be the case.

[Gregory of Sherwood Forest]

You are correct, Eric. The chisel irons that were part of the sets I made custom handles for were old, vintage irons. Not the current Sweetheart versions.

Many folks still use the vintage ones. They are good, solid users. I have a few sets myself, including two mint full sets of 750's and 720's that I restored. My regular users are a set of the Lee Valley Veritas PM-V11 chisels, which are the best on the market currently, in my opinion. I also have Japanese white and blue steel chisels, German chisels, and what I consider to be the best vintage chisels ever made, EA Berg Eskilstuna's. The Bergs were made using the top technology and processes of their time.

[JJO]

Think you are high on your estimates for the handles.....The 750s are great chisels

[Downwindtracker2]

Gregory just what about Bergs impressed you so much. BTW I have Bergs as well.