Thoughts on KSA

ugaskidawg

Any thoughts on KSA cards and how reputable they are. Do they crossover well? Ive never really had any cards graded by them, but some have come available. I want to see if it is worth it, before I engage in the sale.

charrigan

Hit/miss, mostly miss. Buy the card, not the holder, but watch for surface issues. Typically cross 1-2 grades less. Lots of old threads on them.

ugaskidawg

How are they with authentication? I can look at the cards and they look good, but you can never tell if things are real inside a case and through photos.

MULLINS5

I'm more comfortable now buying KSA than I was many years ago. All companies make errors, but the percentage is relatively low.

charrigan

They are fine with authentication, in my experience.

addicted2ebay

100% authentic but I had a ksa 66 Orr 6 come back as altered.

stanforddude

I tried to cross a KSA 9.5 Gretzky RC, which came back evidence of trimming.

Tried a KSA 6.5 Hull RC, which came back as PSA 4. Sent back in for review because I thought a 4 was harsh...still a 4.

PWCC recently auctioned a KSA 10 Gretzky rookie, which had an obvious wrinkle. Might've been PSA 4 or 5 quality.

KSA is pretty crappy.

ugaskidawg

I know they do more hockey cards then anything else. These cards are on the baseball side. So I will take a hard look at the cards and make an offer accordingly. Thanks CU guys

Arsenal83

Anyone have a link to the KSA10 Gretzky with the wrinkle?

ugaskidawg

http://www.pwccauctions.com/item.php?item_no=1202092

Arsenal83

Makes you wonder what the high bidder is planning on doing with that card. Bust the slab and try to press out that wrinkle and get it in another slab with 7 or an 8? It's a sheet cut, so PSA is out.

ga5150

My only experience was a crack out KSA 8 that came back PSA 8. It was a '72 Topps FB card.

ugaskidawg

So here is the question. One of these cards is a 52 bowman Mantle. I know KSA is not necessarily known for their baseball cards. The one that is being offered is this...







Here is another one of the same card I found online...







To me a few things jump out:

The black inserts are different in both of these cases
The finish on them looks different (granted different light for each picture)
The plastic in one looks to have gotten that ripple effect like some old PSA slabs.

Thoughts on these?

LarkinCollector

First one appears to be too narrow, likely trimmed R/L. Second may have a shot, but I'd want much larger scans before taking a gamble. Looks like some sort of surface issue under his chin that would keep it well short of a 6 for PSA.

charrigan

No comment on the cards. The differences in the holder are not an issue, KSA has had, like most companies, many iterations of design and those are both fine.

Autos4Alex

Have bought a few KSA cards and subsequently had them signed and graded by PSA. Most psa grades were the same or 1 less than the KSA grade.


One big exception was I bought a KSA Jean Beliveau rookie and got it signed. When I went to get it authenticated by PSA red flip it came back as not authentic. I sent it in for a blue flip and the autograph came back authentic but listed as 'trading card'. I assume that means the card itself is some sort of a reprint? I'm not sure how to tell, I guess it's possible the first failure was because of the autograph. Anyhow, shortly after Mr Beliveau passed away and now it's pretty tough to find a signed rookie by him. I have avoided KSA since that experience.

ugaskidawg

Thanks everyone for the comments! Before proceeding the seller has been asked to provide high res scans as I usually ask before higher profile cards. We'll see what it looks like when I get those. Thanks again!