Grading knives for sale

[hilltopper]

Greetings, I have bought and sold several knives. I always have a question as to how to list knives for sale. These are a few listings I have observed,NIB-Mint-Perfect-Used-Parts. If I buy at retail, and resale without using can I say NIB or should I say Mint, or Perfect. If the blades a opened and closed, but never sharpened or carried, is it still new -mint-NiB .I understand that used is used, but the NIB-Mint-Perfect has me confused. Thanks

 

[Troop]

Don't get too crazy with the designations. When you sell, just disclose everything; list all the imperfections just so there'll be no misunderstandings down the road.

 

[Cougar Allen]

Just describe and picture the knife and let the buyer decide which of the grades in the values books he thinks it belongs in.

Let’s see if we can find the right forum …

 

[Bob W]

I agree. "Mint" or "Ex" or "Ex+" are vague and rather useless terms. Here's what I'd like to read:
"Never carried."
"Never sharpened."
"Bought new and never taken from box."
"Antique knife that I ruined by buffing the heck out of."

Stuff like that tells me exactly what's happened or not happened to the knife since it was purchased.

 

[Bill Siegle]

pictures go a long way in helping with the descriptions too. In this day and age I can't fathom how to sell online without decent pics. They make "vague" descriptions clear to everyone with sight.

 

[IamMatt]

I care much less about what you have done since you bought it, or whether it has never been sharpened than I do about the actual condition of the knife.

I think some sellers use the "history" approach as a way of avoiding responsibility for a knife's condition. I have bought MANY knives that were described as unused, unsharpened, never carried, etc., but they had scratches, gouges, scrapes, or whatever, and it doesn't mean a lot to me if the seller says, "well, that's how it was when I bought it and I never carried it."

I want to know what if any imperfections the knife has, regardless of its heritage, history, storage location, etc. Desribe the knife--HONESTLY AND OBJECTIVELY--and take clear, descriptive photos and don't worry about a one-word "rating."