Why do YOU restores do this to knifes...

[brando090]

I love restoring things even tho i haven't done too many, and not any knifes, i still do like the history part (FYI they sadly dont teach anything like that in HS). I continuously see your restoration guys putting on NEW scales on knifes, straight razors, etc, etc. Why do you guys do this? Me as a history enthusiast likes to see original parts on a knife not a custom 50/50 knife of new and old! Maybe im missing something, so just help me understand.

[singin46]

Most of the time it's due to the handles being worn out or not fit to display anymore.
In the case of mine, it was because the celluloid was destroying the knife and would've ruined it in the end. In the case of my other 2 it was due to paint that had dried on the knife and made it unfit to use or display. Hate to see a perfectly good knife just wither away. You will find the case for most as well, hope that answers your question.

[tjmurphy]

In the case of my Camillus Boy Scout whittler, the original scales were shrunken, cracked and broken with pieces missing. I had Orvet rehandle it in smooth red bone in order to make it serviceable again. Why let a good knife go to waste?

cammilus boy scout.jpg (10.07 KiB) Viewed 3177 times

[knives-are-quiet]

If there is nothing mechanically wrong with a historical, vintage or antique knife then I'll leave it be as long as if I wanted to I could use it SAFELY.
But if the knife is worn out, unsafe to use or mechanically unusable "WHAT GOOD IS IT"
It's value is practically nothing. Repair it or restore it so it can be used.
TOOLS ARE MEANT TO BE USED AND NOT LOOKED AT.
It is an insult to the blade smiths who made them.
USE THEM!!!!!!!!!!! knives are quiet

[brando090]

Ok, i somewhat do understand what you guys mean when it has gotten shrunk overtime. But still (to at least me) if it is shrunk, yet in perfect condition, no cracks,etc, would you guys still keep it? In my mind yes. I see tho you guys change the scales to something you desire and not restoring it to its true glory with true scales (or as close as possible).

[Tom Hudson]

I love restoring things even tho i haven't done too many, and not any knifes, i still do like the history part (FYI they sadly dont teach anything like that in HS). I continuously see your restoration guys putting on NEW scales on knifes, straight razors, etc, etc. Why do you guys do this? Me as a history enthusiast likes to see original parts on a knife not a custom 50/50 knife of new and old! Maybe im missing something, so just help me understand.

It paid a major share of putting two of my kids through college

[knives-are-quiet]

Ok, i somewhat do understand what you guys mean when it has gotten shrunk overtime. But still (to at least me) if it is shrunk, yet in perfect condition, no cracks,etc, would you guys still keep it? In my mind yes. I see tho you guys change the scales to something you desire and not restoring it to its true glory with true scales (or as close as possible).

It depends if that particular handle material is still available or the rarity of the knife in question.
This is a 1892 Thomas Wilton Farrier's knife from Sheffield I restored to as close as possible.
I used English stag which is the same as the original. No two stag antler looks the same.The broken corkscrew I had to hand forge myself because the original was broke short . I did a lot of research trying to find another knife just like this for parts but every one I asked said they never seen another like it from Thomas Wilton. This knife cost me 50 dollars and was in unusable condition with severely damaged scales and the rest of the knife quite worn out. It now operates like a brand new knife but it still shows some of it's age. I wouldn't let this knife go for anything less than 350. If the knife was in good shape when I bought it and never restored it would be worth twice that.
knives are quiet






BEFORE

AFTER

[Elvis]

A lot of people like their knives embellished. While I prefer repair and restoration, I try to give the owner what they want. In fact, I MUCH prefer repair and restoration. A lot of the knives I work on have been in the same family for years and being able to restore it to be passed on to another generation is extremely gratifying. I know how much the knives I own that belonged to my Dad mean to me, and helping others have that same feeling makes what I do worth the time spent. However with that said, if someone wants to turn a knife with broken handles into a Mother-of-Pearl show-piece, who am I to say they can't.

[singin46]

Ok, i somewhat do understand what you guys mean when it has gotten shrunk overtime. But still (to at least me) if it is shrunk, yet in perfect condition, no cracks,etc, would you guys still keep it? In my mind yes. I see tho you guys change the scales to something you desire and not restoring it to its true glory with true scales (or as close as possible).

Uhhhh, I have 2 that have only shrunk and I will never change the way they look because
I like them this way. Shrinking and totally destroyed are 2 very different thing indeed.

[tjmurphy]

In the case of my Camillus it was either replace and repair or wait for the handles to completly fall off and throw the knife in the junk pile. I opted to repair and replace. GLAD I DID! And, I believe it increased the value of the knife.

[hephaestus]

hi everybody, i'm new here.
so what it looks like to me is to a point, you're better off leaving it alone for fear of grinding off some of the value, but if the thing is in bad enough shape one can actually better the condition enough to actually improve it's worth. i don't mean to sound crass about squilching every penny out of my meager investment, but i already have my stash of modern users and have been getting into collecting vintage blades now for their own antique sake.
in this relatively new area of my experience with knives, i live in dread of ignorantly polishing some old blade to later find out; "you. did. what?!?!? " from someone who knows these things better than I, and thought i might check before i inadvertantly take $50 worth of rust off of a nice miller bro. folder that i got a good deal on.

Specifically, does anyone know of any guidelines to follow when deciding whether to restore or preserve a knife? will sharpening it, say, take value or improve it? is there some kind of function like rarity versus condition that would help delinneate in some cases? am i asking altogether too many questions?
any advice that might help a new collector get started and prevent doing something really stupid to a nice find would be greatly appreciated.
thanks.

[singin46]

While I would never dream of touching a piece like an old Miller Bros knife, if your plan is to sharpen it, do it properly as to not remove any of the patina from the blade. Sharpening doesn't harm the value if done right. Consult the many threads on here concerning sharpening.

[orvet]

I think there are some knives that are rare enough that they should be left alone, aside from stopping active rust or removing off gassing celluloid handles. If rust & celluloid are ignored, the knife will eventually be a pile of rusty dust with no historical significance. Some knives need to be preserved for historical reasons.

I believe in restoring and repairing knives, especially if the knife is to be used. As someone said, there is no reason to use an unsafe tool (knife). If I decide to use an eighty-year-old knife, and I do have a number of knives I carry in the 50 to 80 year age range, then I want a safe knife. That may mean that I (or someone) must repair the knife first.

Why would I want to carry a knife made by New York Knife Co, who went out of business in 1931, (making all of their knives 80+ years in age)? I carry them for a varsity of reasons:
-They are well made and have excellent steel.
-They hold an edge better than many modern knives.
-I like the feel, style & design of the knife.
-I carry them so I can better appreciate the historical significance of my knife and other historical knives.

Carrying an antique knife that will perform any task I ask of it in the modern world, helps me feel more connected to history, and to realize that people who were born 100-150 years ago were no different than me.


Sometimes I will customize a knife; usually it a knife made in the last 30 years. I like to add my own personal touch to tools I use a lot and enjoy. Other people ask me to personalize their knives for them. I enjoy the task & they enjoy the result of my labor. It is a win-win situation.

If the knife someone wants me to customize is a priceless knife of great historical value, I will inform them that to work on that knife will probably decrease the value. Usually they decide to customize another knife. I have had customers who want the knife fixed or customized for sentimental reasons i.e., it was the knife of a close family member. They usually want the knife repaired so they can use it, as that makes them feel closer to their loved ones.

There are as many different reasons to repair or customize knives, as there are people who want them repaired or customized. It is a very individual thing, just as knives are individuals to people who love and collect them.