KSA ---> PSA

Onlypsahockey

Has anyone had any problems crossing KSA to PSA?

Would a KSA 8.5 likely come back a PSA 8?

Is it best to crack it out of the KSA slab before sending it to PSA?


Any experiences would be helpful. Thanks, Bob

ArtRossLives

Crack them out. From my experience KSA will grade the same to down one grade for the most part.

doncherry

The only advice i can offer is that KSA will grade sheet cuts without rejecting them for "evid of trimming"

aro13

Examine the card really closely before you crack it out. In my experiences PSA grades 1 to 2 grades lower than the given KSA grade.

Knuckles

I don't hold KSA very highly.. Here are my experiances.

- I bought a KSA graded OPC Gretzky RC graded KSA 8 it looked like a 10.. Sent it to SGC and it came back a 4. (It had a bad surface wrinkle)
- KSA 9 OPC Roy RC went to a PSA 7

eh..

Knuckles

I forgot one.. a Bobby Hull rookie card.. It was graded a KSA 8. Came back from SGC as TRIMMED. Buying KSA cards is a huge gamble.

Onlypsahockey

thanks guys...sounds best to stay away.

thanks for the input.

Bob

yawie99

I wouldn't just summarily reject KSA cards, Bob, but would certainly bid with caution. The sheet-cut issue can be a problem, especially with more recently graded KSA cards (black ink on flips) and with cards from the prime sheet-cut years. Of course, sheeters sometimes sneak by graders at PSA, but if you're looking at four edges as sharp as Ginsu knives and 50-50 centering all around, you'd do well to pass.

As far as legitimate factory-cut cards go, I'm not sure that I've ever had a KSA card cross equally to PSA, but I have had a few 8.5's maintain an 8 with PSA, including one on a relatively tough '53 Parkie common, which was nice. I haven't bid on a KSA card in ages - well that's not true since I bid on the C56 Taylor that's now running - but I'd almost always adjust my bid by at least one grade. For example, the Cyclone Taylor on eBay is a KSA 6, I think, but I'm not going to bid higher than a PSA 4 price on it.

Onlypsahockey

Thanks Yaw,

It makes sense, if the card comes back a grade lower plus the grading expense, you would have to factor it all into your bidding.

I may just pass on the whole KSA idea and stick with old faithful.

Even though it'll be tuff pasing up all the KSA's in Toronto.

Bob

tripoli

I've crossed (after cracking them out) 17 KSA cards to PSA. The average was a .9 drop after PSA graded them. That's probably pretty representative of what you will experience, and I have to agree with the final PSA grades.

I find KSA less tougher on the corners than PSA.

dan

ezyshooter

I used to have all my cards graded by KSA because of the hassle at the border. Now that there is no hassle at the border i get my cards graded by PSA. I find that as long as the KSA card is in the newer holder you chances of crossing is better. KSA was alot more lienient in the past. If somebody has a card graded at a show they usually get a a half to a a full grade higher then what the card would get if sent in through the mailing system. I have had 7.5's come back as 8's but i have had 9's come back as 8's I have never had a newer graded KSA card come back 2 grades lower. Maybe i'm just lucky that way but then again i blow up the scan the best i can do to see for imperfections.
As for the trimming, yeah KSA lets cards slip through, but nowhere like BGS/BVG. Then again so does every grading company out there including PSA. Best to check twice bid once. If card is a 8.5 chances are it is a PSA 8 but if you want to play safe bid as if it was a high end 7.
Just my opinion and experience. I will be sending 4 KSA graded cards whenever PSA has a decent deal on 50's hockey They are all commons for my 52 set but i'll post the results once i get them back. I'll be sending in over 20 cards for that set. All card were purchased from A.J. Sports and Gerry's cards with the exception of the the 4 KSA cards which i owned from the start.
Steve

Hockeybonkers99

as an above member said, watch for the trimming/sheet cut cards. All pre 1989 stuff stick with PSA

Knuckles

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