MINT???? Must be something I am missing

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 11:21 am

Gang!

I check out the ebay sales each day in order to look at as many knives as possible and I try to learn from each of them.

This link goes to a PA knife that I have been interested in buying for a number of years. They seem to come up often. That being said I am REALLY concerned about the use of the word "MINT".

Folks mint means just that. Dead out of the factory condition.

Feel free to use near mint, excellent plus or any of the other million ways of saying it is darn close, but PLEASE don't over use the term MINT.

This knife isn't even near mint.

The difference in priceing between mint and near mint is usually 50%. So if a mint knife sells for $400 then a near mint should be $200. I know that marketing is the key. In OLD antique knives a particularly nice example in not so great condition still sells for a high dollar. But a mint example of the same knife should bring nearly twice that. You all may recall my article on Mint verses Everything Else, which Byran has on this site. I don't mind used knives from my area of collecting due to the rarity of a mint knife from the 1800's or early 1900's, But for Gosh sakes if it is not mint then admit it.

OK I am done, here is the link

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-MINT-PLUMB- ... dZViewItem

If I am wrong, tell me, If I am right, tell the world.

4ever3 · Post by **4ever3** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 11:26 am

Your right, so, I'm headed out to the sidewalk to start yelling

stockman · Post by **stockman** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 12:00 pm

PA you are RIGHT and there is no such thing as cleaned to mint. This is a term that is used at the shows by some big time dealers.

Stockman

knifeswapper · Post by **knifeswapper** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 12:14 pm

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that once it has been put to a stone grinding wheel at 3700rpm it can no longer officially be considered mint; I will check my resources

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 1:47 pm

Could it have been used to cut MINT candy? I did not lick it so I can not tell if it’s mint yet.

Look’s like she was used hard and put away wet. That’s what I told the SELLER lol

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 2:32 pm

Mint is a word that is used far too much and used inaccurately. A knife cannot be cleaned to be mint, either it is or isn't from the get go. Mint, isn't that where they make money?

9ball · Post by **9ball** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 7:03 pm

Here is a good link for grading a knife and it is close to home.

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/res ... rading.php

I believe a written description on the web is best, rather than a "Grade".

9ball

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 7:39 pm

Great resource 9ball, I bookmarked that one. That one is dead on, "black and white," not much room for "gray areas" that I've seen on many other grading systems.

knife-nut · Post by **knife-nut** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 12:44 am

I wholeheartedly agree. No cleaned to mint. Either it is mint, or its not. Way to much useage of this term. True mint knives are extremely Rare.

olderdogs1 · Post by **olderdogs1** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 1:00 am

I agree that a mint knife is rare. I myself feel that a knife that has rub marks from opening is not true mint. To me a true mint knife should not have rub marks or any sign of aging. I have bought some knives that were called mint when in my opinion they were not. Truly a term that is overused. I prefer the knife described instead of graded if there is any question. The problem is that a seller gets a higher price if he calls it mint, so he is inclined to use the term. As was stated, even some of the highly respected guys say "cleaned to mint", clearly a problem.

Blade Runner · Post by **Blade Runner** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 2:38 am

I have often thought to my self. I says self that word "mint" is used way too much. Other words like "red bone" and "red stag" get drawed like a gun too. What say ye???
Gary

stockman · Post by **stockman** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 8:29 pm

Blade Runner wrote:I have often thought to my self. I says self that word "mint" is used way too much. Other words like "red bone" and "red stag" get drawed like a gun too. What say ye???
Gary

I agree with Blade Runner on the "red bone" and "red stag" that they are drawed like a gun. This happens by most dearlers selling older Case knives, Red bone and redish bone are not the same thing. True Red bone is hard to find compared to the redish bone found on many XX and USA Case knives. A Red bone handled knife is of higher value. Red stag is not anything that I see very often.
Stockman