Vintage Slipjoints: To Deep Clean or Not To Deep Clean?

[The Burgh]

Trying to assemble a very small sub-collection of vintage pocket knives (no celluloids), one or two each from Schrade, Camillus, Colonial, Eye Brand, Keen Kutter, etc.. Not looking for high-cost, rare or pristine, just nice representative samples of each maker without acquiring the "spendy" examples. My goal is to preserve them for my Grandsons, so proper lubrication, Renaissance Wax and appropriate storage are a given for me.

Have had some small successes on the Bay and here on BF of finding good working examples (which do not require dis-assembly). However, they usually arrive with a few pepper spots, deep/uneven patina, blade marks and scratches, brass tarnish, and dirt/grime in the jigging. I'd guess that, using polish, soap/water, and 1000/2000/3000 grit sandpaper and buffing, I could get them to look pretty nice before storage.

I'm asking for your opinions because I see many posts here on BF where the poster shows pictures of vintage knives in "rough" condition. I also see adds, here and elsewhere, for vintage knives where the dealer/collector is very specific about whether the knife had been cleaned or not cleaned.

Soooooooooooooooo, does deep cleaning diminish the value of vintage slipjoints?

 

[ConBon]

Since you say you arent looking for super pristine or rare, amd something for your kin, I would say taking off the deep corrosion spots, oxidation, etc. would be a good thing. I use scotch brite on all of my slippies, for cleaning everything except the scales (unless they're smooth derlin, which I like a rough finish on.) I say go ahead and scotch Brite all of the springs, blades, and bolsters, work up through the grits, polish with some more aggressive polish, sharpen blades up to point of stropping, then give it a bath in some mineral oil while working the joints and scrubbing ever crevice clean. A wipe down while you sit back and watch TV or something, followed by another bath to get all the grit out. Finally, strop and put on a liberal amount of chapstick on each blade and rub it around to form a food safe protective layer.

Connor

 

[lutejones]

Soooooooooooooooo, does deep cleaning diminish the value of vintage slipjoints?

Yes
But...
This kind of topic often shows in refinishing furniture or not, and in most cases is worthy doing it because you stop the deterioration of the piece, and unless you have a rare antique the loss of value is no big deal.
I see it the same way with knives, clean all the rust and grime off the knife maybe not polishing like new but a good refurbishing and you and your family will enjoy fabulous knives for a lot of years. If you don't clean them the rust keeps acting and the bacteria could make the bone go bad.
Just my point of view though
Mateo

 

[killgar]

If you are acquiring knives to keep them then their value will be determined by you, and they are yours to do with as you like.

But if you think that you might sell them one day, then you don't want to do anything that might remove ANY amount of metal, or any patina. The collectors who tend to pay the largest sums of money for antique knives often prefer the knives to be in "antique" condition, as in- unrestored, and with years/decades/centuries of patina.

Many years ago I had a girlfriend who worked for an antique dealer who bought and sold antique knives/guns/swords/etc. I heard several horror stories of people ruining the value of something they were trying to sell by trying to "restore" it or clean it up. In some cases they reduced the dollar value of the item by thousands of dollars, not by causing damage, but just by cleaning it and removing the patina. And in some cases, the item was declined because it had been "restored" or cleaned to the point that no serious collector would want it.

If a collector (the ones who pay top dollar) want an item restored, they will take it to a professional restorer whom they trust. They don't want Joe Sixpack restoring the item themselves.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Just buy knives that are already in decent condition, oil them, and store them.