Restore or not restore

[BestVintageKnives]

When it comes to cleaning a knife or restoring a knife some people just take it a little too far and it’s easy to go overboard and ruin a knife’s originality.

This is a 13” Coricama that was on auction and a friend got the knife and sent it to a mangler to repair. But can you believe the first repair guy took off the back handle and threw it away?? Yep took it off and replaced it because of a few small bug bites. Even if the handle wasn’t repaired it would have been more than acceptable as is.

When you start changing things a knife is forever changed and will never be original again.

I was able to get the original handle and I sent it to an incredible knife restoration doctor. As you can see the results are phenomenal. And both handles are original. End result is incredible.

Finally a shot of the original handle. Thankfully I got both the knife and handle and had it done right!

You have to wonder how many thousands have been ruined by poor judgement and replacing handles instead of trying to save them.

[BestVintageKnives]

13” Coricama

[JulesVane]

Just for the sake of conversation, I think the term "original" gets a bit hazy when it comes to cleaning a knife. When these knives came off a Maniago cutlers workbench, they were clean and shiny. The thoughts of cleaning a knife ruining its value because of not being original, would be a contradiction. You could polish a bolster until a genie appears, and it's still the same bolster, age and all, and be the way it originally came off the cutler's bench or displayed in a store's window back in the 50's. Now, I can understand "personal preference" being replaced for "original", that's different. I've seen comments on other forums about a knife "showing its age" because it's dirty. But I can assure anyone, that the knife is the same age whether dirty or clean If anyone has photos of a knife coming from a 1950's cutler's bench (ready for sale), or displayed brand new in a stores window for sale, being dirty instead of clean, I'll change my view on the term "original".

[BestVintageKnives]

Just for the sake of conversation, I think the term "original" gets a bit hazy when it comes to cleaning a knife. When these knives came off a Maniago cutlers workbench, they were clean and shiny. The thoughts of cleaning a knife ruining its value because of not being original, would be a contradiction. You could polish a bolster until a genie appears, and it's still the same bolster, age and all, and be the way it originally came off the cutler's bench or displayed in a store's window back in the 50's. Now, I can understand "personal preference" being replaced for "original", that's different. I've seen comments on other forums about a knife "showing its age" because it's dirty. But I can assure anyone, that the knife is the same age whether dirty or clean If anyone has photos of a knife coming from a 1950's cutler's bench (ready for sale), or displayed brand new in a stores window for sale, being dirty instead of clean, I'll change my view on the term "original".

I think you (“we”) are talking about two different things. A little cleaning with some non abrasive or abrasive things like Simichrome or steel wool etc, and without taking a knife apart. Versus completely changing parts and replacing otherwise decent parts.

Just as everyone would point fingers and say “don’t clean it” is going too far. While the opposite is true “let’s over clean it and let’s replace every part that isn’t perfect,” is going too far.

Every top high end antique auction house has rules and guidelines for grading antiques. Original, never repaired, minor repair, parts replaced. This is something every switchblade seller and buyer should be honest and open about. Sadly it’s a lost sense of honestly lost in the switchblade hobby.

[JulesVane]

I was more referring to the cleaning part, of course. I just don't feel anyone could "clean" the age off of a knife. I recall when first joining the forums, I would see so many comments about "Don't clean it.", and then everyone would post beautiful polished knives from their collection. I would be so confused because of, what appeared to be, contradictions. I just didn't get it. But, as far as cleaning alone, unless metal is somehow being removed (which I'd think near impossible, using a simple rag), I just don't feel you could clean it more than it "originally" was after the cutler's final polish, ready to display for sale. I just can't help but to think clean WAS original. I don't get how cleaning could ruin its originality.

[BestVintageKnives]

I was more referring to the cleaning part, of course. I just don't feel anyone could "clean" the age off of a knife. I recall when first joining the forums, I would see so many comments about "Don't clean it.", and then everyone would post beautiful polished knives from their collection. I would be so confused because of, what appeared to be, contradictions. I just didn't get it. But, as far as cleaning alone, unless metal is somehow being removed (which I'd think near impossible, using a simple rag), I just don't feel you could clean it more than it "originally" was after the cutler's final polish, ready to display for sale. I just can't help but to think clean WAS original. I don't get how cleaning could ruin its originality.

Some need a little cleaning sometimes. I try to judge each knife individually.

I got a flat guard recently and had the bolster had a nice even grey appearance I would hate to clean it. But it looked like it was near some rusty knives and the bolsters were red. I just thought it would look better with the red removed.

[JulesVane]

Absolutely, positively better!

[bestgear]

There’s good patina and bad patina and 1 of those must always go, good call Charley.

[BestVintageKnives]

There’s good patina and bad patina and 1 of those must always go, good call Charley.

Ty sir!

Yes it was in really nice shape otherwise. Sure the steel was dark and spotted but I left the blade and steel alone. Cleaning up the bottom bolsters really made the knife seem way nicer!

Now if that first knife’s back handle was on this knife and it was replaced it I would think they were crazy.

Cleaning is one thing…permanently altering a knife for eternity, unnecessarily, make it make sense.

[BestVintageKnives]

I left the top bolsters alone and pins where I could. Everything else was great except the bottom bolsters.

[1967redrider]

Looks awesome.