All About Pocket Knives

Hi there. I'm new to this forum. Been browsing, and it looks like there's a lot of knowledgeable people in here. So maybe I can get some solid advice. We have a number of older pocket knives, and have begun collecting new ones as well. With the help of this forum I was able to identify 1 particular knife as being a laguiole: Arbalete G. David, 3 piece with 2 bolsters, horn handle. It has the crossbow on the blade, as well as the name G. David, and the word "veritable"

So now that I know what I have (1 at least) I have a couple questions:

1) Do I want to clean it up, or will doing that detract from the value?
2) If I want to clean it up, what is the best method for doing that?
3) Without looking at a picture (my camera's charging) what would a ballpark value for this type of "woman's leg" knife be?

I will be able to submit a picture soon, just not at the moment.
Any advice offered here is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance

Hello pequaref and welcome to a grate web sit about knives.

You ask a question that can open a can of worms. (1) Do I want to clean it up, or will doing that detract from the value?

I will try to help you and others here will too.
First what do you mean by clean it up ?
Just removing dirt, grease, and gunk, and rust ?
OR do you mean buffing it so that all the black stuff off the blades ?

Some will say just clean the gunk of only. By buffing it you will lose some value. To the real collector.

I like shiny blades. I do not buff I just use a polishing cream and rag. Then I use Ren-Wax to preserve it.

I find if the blades are shiny then it will sell better, but I do not sell knives.

So let others here help you out and you have to make up you own mind. I gave you my opinion and I hope this helps.

Hope you do not feel bad it can be a touche subject.

sounds like agreat looking knife
welcome to the site
and a good picture is worth a thousand words
in my opinion some oil on the joints sure wont hurt nothing .
and there is different levels of cleaning for sure..

pictures of G. David Laguiole - does anyone have an idea of it's value?

That is super knife you have and good thing you asked here before you cleaned her.

Buffing is out of the Question.

If she was mine I would only use Flitz or Simichrome polish on a clean rag just to clean her up. Then use Ren-Wax to preserve her.

No need to make her all shiny like new.

Very nice knife you have keep her happy...

The VALUE is what will you be willing it let her come to my house $$$ ?

Me? I'd be very hesitant to clean it even as lightly as everyone else recommends unless I was keeping it and wanted to clean it.
If selling 'no'.
I would oil it.
I have pictures of many LAGUIOLE knives but I would not care to guess your knives value. Consider having it appraised. It would probably be worth it.

Thanks for the advice. I do plan on keeping it. Would you happen to know if anyone on Long Island does appraisals?

Thanks again everyone. I'll eventually be putting up pictures of others I have. unfortunately, I think most are not as unique as this one.