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I was at a yard sale over the wknd where the seller had a box of silver forks knives and spoons and wanted $1 for each piece. Sounded steep to me. What do you guys think, so I know for next time?

Sterling? missed out on a super buy...just flatware...IDK, I would prefer new.

*just so u know...knives are usually hollow handles with stainless blades....not all sterling.

Yeah, buddy, if that was sterling you should go knock on their door.

If it was silverplate? Not worth it.

fasteddy wrote:Sterling? missed out on a super buy.

thecrazyone wrote:I was at a yard sale over the wknd where the seller had a box of silver forks knives and spoons and wanted $1 for each piece. Sounded steep to me. What do you guys think, so I know for next time?

Look for a mark 925 or sterling on the piece. If it was silver plate could be plated over copper or brass.

hobo finds wrote:

thecrazyone wrote:I was at a yard sale over the wknd where the seller had a box of silver forks knives and spoons and wanted $1 for each piece. Sounded steep to me. What do you guys think, so I know for next time?

Look for a mark 925 or sterling on the piece. If it was silver plate could be plated over copper or brass.

Regarding tableware, I have also seen plating over zinc and plating over stainless. I do agree that copper and brass are the most common I have found. Other markings common in earlier European flatware include .800, .750, and .700, which I found on many individual pieces from family in Europe (Denmark, Sweden, Germany, England, Scotland, Norway). I have seen these, and a wide variety of makers and assay marks without a number. All, when genuine, denote purity of silver.

How were the pieces you saw marked?

Time for more coffee.

You can also occasionally find silverware (legit .925 stuff) at places like Goodwill. I wouldn’t go out of my way to look for it though.

galenrog wrote:

hobo finds wrote:

thecrazyone wrote:I was at a yard sale over the wknd where the seller had a box of silver forks knives and spoons and wanted $1 for each piece. Sounded steep to me. What do you guys think, so I know for next time?

Look for a mark 925 or sterling on the piece. If it was silver plate could be plated over copper or brass.

Regarding tableware, I have also seen plating over zinc and plating over stainless. I do agree that copper and brass are the most common I have found. Other markings common in earlier European flatware include .800, .750, and .700, which I found on many individual pieces from family in Europe (Denmark, Sweden, Germany, England, Scotland, Norway). I have seen these, and a wide variety of makers and assay marks without a number. All, when genuine, denote purity of silver.

How were the pieces you saw marked?

Time for more coffee.

I had no magnifying glass on me, and the pieces I (briefly) looked at had letters that were too small for me to identify.

Always have 10x loupe in your pocket. Makes life so much easier.

Time for more coffee.