What gives more profit?

Just selling a Maple Knuckle or upgrading it to the Maple Golden Claw and then sell it?

I don't know, but I can tell you that if you upgrade to a Maple Golden Claw yourself, and it turns out better than average, that's more money for you! Of course, it could turn out under average, in which case, that's worse.

So it depends on luck....

Well, if it turns out underaverage you can always hoarde it - eventually it will be worth a few mil more than it is now.

So it depends on luck....

Nothing more, nothing less.

My personal observation has been that the lvl 64 weapons are more desirable than the lvl 35 or 43 ones. At the lower levels, they ultimately have less attack, where the lvl 64 ones can be used for a longer period of time. Some people manage to scroll something like a 109 att lvl 64 spear, and that very valuable.

Whatever you do, don't sell it right now. This is the time to hunt for more of them. Find out where a highly sought lvl 64 weapon is (not axe, polearm or blunt weapon) buy 2x drop and farm there until the end of the event. The magician shield lvl 64 +2 to int is probably a very good bet, because there's a spomegranateload of magicians that want good shield. Lvl 64 claw is probably even better because nearly all nightlords are rich stat whores. Wait for a few months till after the event, you can sell them for much more then, and you'll be able to buy something REALLY nice with the mesos you get back.