All About Pocket Knives

If I find a really nice old knife I usually don't clean it, except get the dirt off and oil the joints. What are your ideas on this? Today I looked at some knives on the computer all old all high value, almost all had been cleaned. It was easy to tell. These knives are owned by a big time dealer. It is hard to find some knives that has not been messed with to some degree. What do you think.

Stockman

Me, for knives of value, I would leave them as they are. Clean them as I would if I were cleaning then after using an EDC.

I would not use a buffer or some potent cleaning fluids that would ruin the charm of the knife. Keep that well earned patina, a 100 year old knife all shiny and pretty just raises questions. Just keep it as is.

However if that knife were on it's last legs with cracked scales, blade wobble, big belly in the blade and other such stuff (basically falling apart) that would devalue the knife drastically, I might go so far as to fix it all up, maybe even make a blade so I can carry it occassionally. I would make some sort of change in addition to marking (deep etch my name in the blade and inside the liner) so that someone could not try and sell it for the real McCoy.

A cleaned knife is what it is,a cleaned knife.After a knife has been cleaned,you can't go back.All of the origanal finish will be gone.All of the character and most of the cisp corners will be softened.On the other hand,some knives are rust buckets.these old girls can use all the help they can get.If the bades have original finish I would leave it alone.There are people who can refinish a blade that will look so original it will not be noticed by ninety eight percent of the people.Rmember you can clean it later.Just my opinion.

stockman When you ask about cleaning.

I look at it 2 ways.

1>Cleaning to the point of using a buffing wheel to me is more than a cleaning job.
Then you just want the knife to shine because shinny knives sell better.
Like most can tell by looking at it.

2> Cleaning a knife with a polishing cream and rag rubbing by hand and then Ren Wax is the only way I clean a knife. Except if it is super dirty, (like sand or welding grit) then I will spray BREAK FREE clp and then rinse with DW-40.

So if you want to CLEAN a knife that has panta on it and you want to remove it 1>. will work and 2> will not. The value of the knife could go down.

Just my opinion...

I agree with Bill and Hukk as far as what I like to see in a knife but here is the problem. An older knife that is cleaned will bring a lot more on Ebay or at a show than a knife that has not been cleaned. You can look at Tony Foster's Case knives on his web-site, practically every one has been,"cleaned to look mint". These knives are priced a lot more than an old knife that shows use and looks old will bring on the open market. So I guess it depends on whether you intend to resell the knife. If you do, it is my opinion that the clening will pay large dividends. You guys tell me if I am wrong but that is what I see on Ebay and at the Knife Shows.
Tom

Yeah, I can see what you are saying Tom and that's one of those things that can drive a person nuts. First they would have to evaluate the knife to see if it will fetch a better price by cleaning, some will some won't is how I look at it.

Well, Ken won't like this...

I would NEVER clean bone, stag or wood scales with a polishing cream like Flitz or Simichrome...NEVER.

I use mineral oil, lemon oil, or Howard's Feed 'N' Wax. I don't care about all the other cleaners when it comes to natural handle material. These cleaners contain only natural ingredients...like the makeup of the handle materials. Over 40 years of caring for knives has given me this opinion.

As always, JMO.

Bill

very good answers, Bill I like your ideas on the bone and stag. My thinking is about the same as everyone else on the heavy cleaning of the knives. The problem as I see it is in the buying of old knives at shows and ebay there is no way to tell what has been done to the knife. Some knives are not even close to what they started out to be. We have got to really read the knife and sometimes we will still make a bad buy, I have done that in the past I try to guard against doing that but it will happen again sometime.

Stockman

El Lobo; Nice to see you have good feeling towards me.

I think you said it the way you feel.
That's kool with me man and you are a kind gentleman.

I had a thought after reading your feelings. To me its like vitamins.
Some feel natural vitamins are better than man made ones.
All thought one can not show the difference except in cost.
I hope this does not open up a new can of natural worms...

As to knife care there are many ways and reasons people do things differently.
This is USA and any time you want to jump in and give your opinions please do so.
I can still learn even at my old age...

Ken,
Just to be sure here...there was nothing personal in the expression of my opinion. That's all it was...my opinion.


I agree with the general feeling here, in that it can be problematic regarding "cleaned" knives. One thing I feel very strongly about, is that a knife can only be "MINT" one time...and some knives that come from a maker, or a factory, might be "NEW," and still have a flaw or two that might keep folks from ever calling them "MINT" or "BEST EXAMPLE."

IMO, you can't clean a knife back to mint...only to cleaner than it was...and this can be harmful to the original surface of the knife, if done too aggressively. ::blah:: ::blah::

For the knives I choose to carry, I try to clean them up as soon as possible when they get messy or after hard use. That way they aging process is a gradual thing, and the knife develops style and character...just like a classy REDhead...

Next Player!

Bill

Hey Guys,I hate to be the odd ball but I like my knives NICE & SHINY!!
I like buying or trading for those old knives and making them look like brand new again..

johnnierotten wrote:Hey Guys,I hate to be the odd ball but I like my knives NICE & SHINY!!
I like buying or trading for those old knives and making them look like brand new again..

Hey j-r...
Not passing judgement here. So those that like them cleaned are A-OK with me as well. Nothing wrong with a cleaned knife if you are using it or collecting it yourself.

I personally just don't like seeing them then pop up on that auction site as "Mint" or "Cleaned to Mint," all buffed to Hades, with the fall line gone and everything "softened," as edgy46 mentioned.
I think that's a crock.

As I mentioned, I too clean my own knives...but they aren't going to show up somewhere as "Dead Mint" and all that ::blah:: ::blah:: .

Bill

I agree,Bill. I hate when they say "Cleaned to Mint" also....IMO,a cleaned knife is not mint and can never be.