Corrosion in collector's tins?

[ohen cepel]

Some other posts here have me concerned about the collector's tins that I have set back for my sons.

Will likely be 10 years before I give them to them. Should I take that gamble that they will still be mint in 10 years if left unopened. Or, should I open them now (2005 and 2007 versions) so that I can check them out and keep an eye on them over the years?

 

[imafritz]

I'd say dont open them, there are enough guys on this forum that have collector tins who have opened them nd can check, me being one. I'll be glad to go back in and check. I had mine out about 6 months ago to take a pic and it was perfectly fine. Al Buck signature 110 25th anny.



of course on the other hand, those clamshells close back up like they've never been opened...so whatever you feel comfortable with.

 

[ItsTooEarly]

I think it's only the Nickel Silver so far that's having the problem... ITE

 

[wolfdog]

those clamshells close back up like they've never been opened...so whatever you feel comfortable with.

If this is true you can have the best of both worlds. Take the knives out of the tin and store them in an archival cardboard box or sleeve for jewelry, until you're ready to present the gift. At that time you will see whether the display liner in the tin has deteriorated or not. If it has, you can come up with some other thing to fill out the tin with.

I took all of my founders knives out of the clamshells, but I kept one knife in the tin with the liner. Looking at it, it has tarnished on the felt side and there are two places where it looked like corrosion was starting to form, but it polished off and so-far there is no pitting.

This is coming from a book conservator who is familiar with museum storage. I like to err on the safe side.

 

[BG42EDGE]

+1 to erring on the safe side.

:thumbup:

 

[110 Dave]

+1 to erring on the safe side.

:thumbup:

+ 2 error on safe side!!
by the time it can happen it is too late..

 

[ohen cepel]

Bump this up before I make a final call on what to do.

Thanks!

 

[THE_LONGBOW]

Irrelevant

 

[chickentrax]

Here is a thought to add to the controversy...there are some hard-core collectors (not accumulators like me, mind you) who contend that the patina that brass (and "nickel silver" is actually brass) collects is a natural and desirable aspect of the alloy and should not be removed...

... ...

 

[tom19176]

I have 50+ unopened tins from the years they were sold. I don't plan on opening them. I did open one to use the knife that was sealed for almost three years, and it was perfect!

 

[stockdog]

I bought a couple of founders day knives from WW and one of them had a reaction to the black liner, it was like melted to the brass and tarnished with no sign on the other knife.
A vote to remove or at least inspect them.

 

[edbeau]

Trax, I like that term "accumulators". Folks at work always give me a hard time because I have more knives than I can "use".

 

[imafritz]

Here is a thought to add to the controversy...there are some hard-core collectors (not accumulators like me, mind you) who contend that the patina that brass (and "nickel silver" is actually brass) collects is a natural and desirable aspect of the alloy and should not be removed...

... ...

I just opened mine again to check and no sign of anything but patina. I have heard and seen that as well trax. As long as it doesnt get too thick/dull or green I'd agree. Mine is a nice copper color at this time and evenly colored. I know trying to keep up with cleaning it off is a headache and I dont trust the chemical or my dexterity to clear laquer the bolsters and especially te liners.