Blade repair question

[buckkiller58]

Hello, just wondering as we do at times?..... I have a couple of vintage knives that someone in the past( and i dont know why!) used them! Anyway, They have bad scratches, file marks, Ect. Is it possible that you can (for lack of a better term) have the blade rebrushed? and blade recontoured properly without killing collector value? of course i would be referring to a blade that wouldnt hold much value because of the damage already there. BTW, this would not be done for fraudulent resale but to bring a valuable vintage knife back to its old glory, RED

[1967redrider]

"Cleaning" a knife really depends on the collector. There's plenty of buyers on eBay who prefer a well buffed knife and will pay top dollar. But I don't think the tried and true collectors go for this.

Just my 2 cents.

[Lars0729]

I would say too that it also depends on the vintage knife...the condition, not the brand. There is a difference between "normal wear & tear" on a collectible and abuse or lack of care. I'm always on the prowl for some vintage Gerber's and Kershaw's....and I have no problem paying a higher price for a "well loved" knife that has been cleaned up for sale. Well loved will show some wear and maybe a sctratch or two, but it was cared for, sharpened correctly, and not used as a toolbox pry bar.

When I find myself in your situation, I ask myself "what whould attract me to this knife?". Without a doubt, I will want it as prestine as possible, with a nice sheath, and any other goodies that may have come with it originally. Many times that is not possible, so I look for the best I can find.

Suffice it to say, any major effort - such as recontouring a blade - will have an impact on it's resale value. But if it's for your own collection and personal satisfaction, then it's worth it.

I hope this helps...

[Reverand]

Any grinding, sanding, or polishing on a blade can deteriorate the value, as you are removing metal.
If you are okay with that, it can improve the looks.
I had this Camillus Tip Top in my pocket today. When I got these blades they had been cleaned with a Dremel sanding drum and they looked horrible! I was able to sand out the divots and scratches, gave the blades a good patina, and they look like they should: old blades with moderate wear.

But you can also ruin blades the same way. I have caused grooves with the edge of a belt, and once the metal is removed you cannot put it back.
It is entirely up to you, and you can either improve them or make them worse.
If you choose to clean them up, I recommend using sand paper taped to some flat boards, and hand sanding them. It will take longer but you can expect better results.