I agree with you, it is a lot of money for a knife. But, "a lot" to us ain't much to some, it's all relative. If the "if's and speculations" were sewn up with solid provenance, it would have sold for a lot more.

I think the buyer paid for a very rare knife. There aren't many collectors / buyers in this price range that throw down on b.s. stories and / or empty promises.