All About Pocket Knives

Please no flame war here, just your definition of mint. I have noticed several posts with what is mint to different people from an advertising perspective and from a buying perspective maybe this will help newbie’s better understand the term and how it is used.

What do you personally define as mint? Please don’t comment on others definition just you own personal definition.

To us we define MINT as the same condition as it would have came from the factory, not buffed, not cleaned, not polished, no replaced blades, no replaced pins, no replaced scales, no cracks in the scales, minimal blade scratches and no blade loss, and intact etch if one should be there, you know the same condition you would expect it to be in if you purchased it new from the factory.

Please be nice to each other on this one, were all here to learn.

kiferbros said:

To us we define MINT as the same condition as it would have came from the factory, not buffed, not cleaned, not polished, no replaced blades, no replaced pins, no replaced scales, no cracks in the scales, minimal blade scratches and no blade loss, and intact etch if one should be there, you know the same condition you would expect it to be in if you purchased it new from the factory.

imo, that says it all. period.

Kiferbros wrote:....To us we define MINT as the same condition as it would have came from the factory...

Considering the knives that some factories turn out sometimes, I would describe mint as the condition as it should have come from the factory.
But in an imperfect world, I suppose I could settle for never used.

I personally go a bit further, in that MINT, to me, means a NEW, top notch, pick of the litter, best of the best example of a particular knife.
Anything less, I describe as New...or Like New, if it is old stock.

JMO.

Bill

EDITED for one more thought.
Any knife that has at the least been carried, can't be mint.

To me Factory new is mint in almost all cases, where the problem lies is in a very old knife. Finding one in mint condition (factory new and perfect) would be an improbable find. So those in near mint condition (showing minor wear) would be the best available. Now the dilemma, if I am selling it do I hurt my profit and call it near mint knowing full well it is the best example of a knife this age? On the other hand if I am the buyer am I expecting a very old knife to be perfect or would I expect it to be near mint (showing minor wear). Truthfully I would call it Near Mint if selling and expect a Mint one to be Near Mint when buying and bid accordingly.

If a 100 year old knife is described as mint, that raises some questions for me as a buyer. The phrase 'too good to be true....' comes to mind. As a seller, I would avoid the term altogether as various threads have shown the term is somewhat ambiguous and open to interpetation. I would prefer to describe the knife as unused, unharpened, like new, very minor blemish etc.. My 2p s-k

To me, MINT means never used, carried and otherwise in perfect shape. Which is how it should have left the factory in the first place. I dont like "only this" and "only that, otherwise mint". Mint means MINT.

useem wrote:To me, MINT means never used, carried and otherwise in perfect shape. Which is how it should have left the factory in the first place. I dont like "only this" and "only that, otherwise mint". Mint means MINT.

I agree with this definition. Also I think this would

be a very good example of "MINT"

I've found Ebay the best place to show you variation in the term mint.

Mint to me means pretty much perfect.

I purchased a nice pearl Fight'n Rooster described as dead mint. Pictures did not show the significant amount of light scratchin on the bolsters. That amount, though everything else was perfect, made it near mint to me.

I appreciate those sellers that actually take the time to evaluate the knives. I can see where some may a little different opinion on what is mint but if they take the time to describe the knife I can make my on decision. There are some sellers on Ebay describing everything in detail. They are telling blade conditon (light scuffs), bolsters(a few very light marks from handling, handle(no chips, cracks,etc.). I've purchased a few from these guys and found them to be spot on. They called the knives I purchased "mint" (bolsters clean, no cracks, very light blade scuffs) and I think they described them accurately. I don't know how you avoid some blade scuffs if a factory knife has been opened and closed.

MITCH RAPP wrote:

Also I think this would
be a very good example of "MINT"

And these are NOT mint...because much like rebuilding a nice old knife, the original product has been lost in the transition.

Bill

P. S.
Just a slight detour, not meant as a hijack. We now return to the question at hand.

To me, MINT means that the knife is perfect, as in, this is how the knife came from the shop. The first time you open the box, that knife is mint. Once you start playing with it, storing it with other knives, bumping the bolsters, etc., the knife is no longer mint. That is why, in my ebay descriptions, I almost NEVER describe a knife as "mint." If you look close enough, you can find something wrong with almost any knife that isn't "new in the box." There WILL be a scratch, a nick, less snap, or SOMETHING that makes the knife NOT mint. That is why I almost always say, "near mint," because I know a discerning eye will always be able to see a flaw.

Additionally, as a hobbyist seller, I don't want to give customers ANY chance to have a complaint. So I use the term "mint" sparingly, even though other sellers throw the term around liberally.

IMO, The word "mint" is greatly over-used. I also agree that this word should mean factory new regardless of the age of the knife. We must resign ourselves to the fact that very few 100 yr old knives are in mint condition. An un-sharpened specimen with a couple of spots or blemishes on the blades, but orherwise in sound condition is near mint in my opinion. A knife that does not have the factory edge is not mint no matter how shiney it is. These are my opinions, but it is the only opinion that matters when its my money we're talking about.
take care
Gary

Hi:
Have read with great interest the various definitions of mint. Then I went to the only tome on knives that I have and read the NKCA grading charts. My understanding is that the term NIB is not a grading term, it is simply put just another way of saying mint. They are one and the same literally and mint is the proper term. Again. this is my understanding.
moss