Questions about these old tongs

[Kingdom]

Okay so first off I got these from my uncle, he claims they are really old (he estimates 75 years give or take). So my first question is, can they be used? Also should I use them? If they are as old as my uncle thinks then they might be antique and be worth something (thou I doubt it). Also if they can be used somehow how do I go about cleaning them? It might not look it in the pictures but these things are filthy. They are covered in grime and all sorts of crap. My first guess would be chuck them in a fire, but would that cause unwanted tampering of any type? Any info you can give me is good.

~Jonah

 

[Raymond Richard]

I wouldn't be concerned even if they were antiques. There just tongs. I'd just go ahead and use them as is. They can also be reshaped so they can work better for you.

 

[Bill Burke]

what Ray said. Also you can throw them in a fire and not hurt them. most tongs especially old ones are made from mild steel or wrought iron anyway and old tongs aren't worth any more than new tongs unless they have someone's name stamped into them who was famous as a blacksmith ie. James Black.

 

[12345678910]

You can buy new tongs everyday and they all look the same as the "antiques"
$40 or so the the best new ones...


http://www.blacksmithsdepot.com/Templates/cart_templates/cart_browse.php?theLocation=/Resources/Products/Tongs_and_Pliers

 

[Kingdom]

Okay good to know. I just wondered if they were worth anything so that I wasn't potentially ruining some expensive tongs.

~Jonah

 

[deker]

Okay good to know. I just wondered if they were worth anything so that I wasn't potentially ruining some expensive tongs.

Nope, scrape the crud off with a wire brush and get forging!

-d