Silverplate Forks

[oktyabyr]

Any worthwhile value to silverplated forks? The thrift store has a bunch of them for cheap, just not sure if they are even worth picking up.

[justoneguy]

no cask value, however, they are anti-microbial

[Dr. Cadmium]

Check them very carefully. Many times pieces of solid silver find their way into lots of silverplated untensils.

Then check for unusual patterns and makers. Some patterns are worth a lot of money to collectors and people looking for a replacement. This is especially true with serving pieces.

Crafters also will buy large lots of silverplated utensils to make interesting decorations out of, such as wind chimes.

As scrap, silverplate is valued by whatever the base metal is. Usually for utensils it's brass or "nickel silver" (aka cupronickel).

[oktyabyr]

Yeah, checked 'em all for silver. All were labeled silverplate. A few were labeled Extra Silverplate.

[Coppercrazy]

I have an antique and vintage shop here in new orleans,I sell "junk" silverplate flatware for $1 a piece.Better patterns can bring more.If you look on ebay,misc. mixed lots bring about 50 cents per or more,again depending on pattern.If you do flea markets or ebay,they are worth picking up for cheap

[byro007]

Most of the thrift store around here have tons of forks, knifes and spoons and they usually want a dime or a quarter a piece and what I do is say to them how much for all of them if I take them off your hands. Most of them are super happy to get rid of them and you can pick them up for about 3 or 4 cents a piece. You can either sell them on ebay or you can take them to the scrap yard and get paid for junk stainless steel which is usually about .70-.80 a lb.
Coppercrazy-
I wish i had someone around here that would paid a buck a piece. I would be selling to here all day for a profit like that.