Cleaned Antique Bridge Cutlery Bone Knife - What would you do???

[junkfan04]

I picked up the coolest bone handled Bridge Cutlery (about 100 years old) folder at the local gun/knife show this weekend. In the light of the building, I couldn't tell anything except the knife looked like it was nearly new. After I purchased it and got it out in the light (later in the day), I realized it had been cleaned and there was still rouge in the bone handle and not only that, but the blade was wavy which is the sign of a poor job cleaning the blade.

The show is over and I really like the knife but would like to have the blade fixed. I know when Jim Fox of Knoxville, Tn cleans one, there is nothing even resembling a wave on the blade. I am wondering if he could fix this and if so, would it be any more detremental to the knifes value than having a wavy blade from a poorly done job?

Would you try and have the blade redone or would you simply leave it like it is? I will never carry it, I purchased it to go in one of my hanging displays of antique bone handled slipjoints that I have.

 

[tltt]

I'd leave it, you can't undue it and anymore attempts to "fix" it just lead to more trouble. I'd leave it alone and hope it mellows a bit with age.

Enjoy it, and take it as a lesson.

 

[junkfan04]

I don't know... I have owned several that were cleaned improperly over the years and they typically don't flatten back out. I am fairly certain Fox can fix it but it might take too much metal out of the blade doing it, thats what this post is about.

From a collectors point of view, how many of you would ever know if a blade was too thin if it still had a full deep tang stamp when you purchased the knife? Espeically on one that would be somewhat scarce and you couldn't just come up with the specs right off the top of your head? Not only that, but would you care or know to even look?????

 

[tirod3]

Experienced collectors know where to look. Taking the waves out isn't cleaning, it's restoration - and that always lowers the selling price. A Mint knife loses half it's value. A Good knife cleaned up only sells for more to those who don't know what they are buying.

All those "cleaned" knives and refinished Chippendale dressers just add value to the ones that haven't been. It makes them obviously rarer.