Nichols Knife restoration advice

[trogdorr]

I came in contact with a man a few days back, and he has this old knife. He shows me this blade and it has obviously been worked on by someone with little skill and little regard to finish. Grind marks all up and down the edge and the sharpened swedge. They are deeper than they appear in the picture. Upon further research i discovered that this knife was made by a man named Floyd Nichols in 1928. This particular knife in good condition can be worth over 4 grand.

He wants me to "clean up the blade" (get rid of the scratches/shine up the blade)

I'm afraid to do anything to this knife. On one hand i understand that under normal circumstances shining up an old knife is a no go, because it has to "earn its patina" and whatnot. But at the same time the scratches that are on it are really quite unsightly as well as a bit of rust. i feel it would be a shame to leave a knife of this significance with such a shoddy finish.

Here are some pictures

Any advice about this would be appreciated.

Are the grind marks on this blade more depreciating than a smooth new finish?

I would hate to ruin the value of this historically important knife, and if it would depreciate the knife to re-finish the blade i would definitely like to know so I can relay that information to him, and see how he would like to proceed.

Please Help.

Thanks,
Trogdorr

 

[golfer1]

I would suggest you have a good talk with you client and explain that any thing you do to the knife may/will reduce its value, and that the owner will hold you not responsible in any way, then put that in writing for him to sign. These things have a way of coming back to bite you.
He may just be wanting it to look nicer and is not concerned about how the value might change.

 

[tltt]

Oil the blade, and give it back to him. This is one of those no win situations. Right now it's a bit beat, but it isn't beat up enough that cleaning it up wouldn't matter much. Any work would harm it in the eyes of most collectors, and even in rough shape the value of WWII Nichols knives isn't inconsiderable.

 

[jpm2]

If that knife has unusual value, I agree with just oiling it. All that should be done is stop the rust, period.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

As a professional cutlery restorer, my advice is to oil it and leave it alone.