What to expect from a “Like New” knife

What do you expect from a "Like New" Knife

  • Perfect condition, handled and properly opened a few times at most

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Lightly carried a few times w/ maybe a very small sign of use but a near perfect factory edge

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Lightly Touched Up, some scratches here and there

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Did I buy this from Stevie Wonder?

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I don’t care, Im gonna whoop it anyway.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
dericdesmond

dericdesmond

Gold Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2007
Messages
15,596
Hello everyone, was hoping to get a consensus of what a buyer or trader should expect from a knife described as “Like New”

From my own experiences, I have noticed that the term “Like New” or “Mint” is often misplaced. Instead of the person taking a few seconds to give the EXPENSIVE knife a few good looks over, they take more concern in getting an extra buck. Often, my own users are in better shape than some knives I have bought as “Like New”

If a trader does indeed state an item as, “like new” with no other specifics (carried a week, one light scratch, etc etc) then is it ok for the item to have obvious signs of carry and use such as, pocket lint in the handle, light scratches, edge burs, light touch-ups or anything that someone knows better can spot? I know machine made knives will never be perfect, but let’s get real; some of the stuff I have seen along with some of the excuses I have heard is simply unacceptable. I can’t be alone in this matter.

What do you expect from a knife descibed as "like new" w/ no other specifics?
 
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I think carrying is ok but it better have the factory edge. Sometimes I'll want to carry a knife to see how it feels and decide to sell it if I don't like how it rides. Also, always ask for specifics because it looks like everyone has their own definition.
 
I always took "like new" as a step down from LNIB.

I mean if it is THAT GREAT why not just say NIB or LNIB?

NIB #1
LNIB #2
Like new#3
 
Like New should be exactly what it states. Like New.
It should look like new, should not have been carried and only fondled with care.
If it has been carried or used, it can not be like new. Near new or near mint would be a more accurate therm.

If it has been sharpened or has minor scuffs/dings - it is excellent.
 
If it's been carried, used, or sharpened, it's not "like new."

"Like new" also implies that it is complete with all original packaging, accessories, and paperwork.

I would expect that if buying from an individual seller it would have been opened and closed a few times. But if it's been overly-fondled, stored improperly or carelessly, or shows use/wear then the term "like new" would be inaccurate.
 
I've got so I hate to buy or trade with private individuals, because "near mint" so often means carried and scratched up.
I don't use many of my knives and I only want ones in NIB condition.
While many people are very honest about the condition of their knives, there's a few that want to ignore handling marks and blade scratches. It happens often enough to cause me to NOT trade or buy as much as I was.
One "near mint" trade I received had so many scratches on it's blade I put it on eBay sold it and lost money. Maybe I should have returned it, but I just am about done with swapping any of my good stuff.
 
IMHO "like new" means no sign of use at all. It might show some sign of handling like dust or lint or finger print, but nothing I can't wipe off with a moist cloth. Any scratch or alteration (visible without the aid of magnifying glass) downgrades the condition to "excellent".

Going the other way, I expect a "New in box" item to show no sign of use nor handling. If you describe it as NIB, I expect it to look like it's fresh out of the manufacturer's carton.
 
I am glad to say that.. 9/10 deals I do .. Are exactly as described.. and the like new items are lightly carried and used to cut at the most... But the edge is factory or near it
 
To me, Like New means that you could lie if you wanted to and claim that it's never been handled, but you're honest so you don't. But in fact it has been handled, but never been carried or cut anything. Or maybe it's only cut a piece of paper or two to test the factory edge.
 
Why is being carried such a big deal? Are you guys wearing pants made of gravel or something? After I test carry a knife for a day it looks immaculate and has no signs of any use. I also don't carry my keys or anything else in the same pocket just in case though.
 
To me:

1. New (NIB) = From the manufacturer, or dealer where you are the first "Owner"

2. Like new (LNIB/NIB*) = Anywhere else along the line, as long as it looks in every respect (packaging included) like it did in line 1.
*I will accept (and probably have myself used), "NIB" in this state, but it better be perfect.

3. Mint = somewhere along the line of ownerships where knife is whole, and has not been used, but might be missing some, or all original packaging. Also some allowances as to condition of knife can be made for age. A 40 year old bolster just aint gonna shine like it's 1967.

4. Any other description = Caveat emptor
 
to me, mint and NIB are the same.

in any other collector venue, mint means perfect, unhandled, etc.

LNIB, i accept as lightly carried, but shows no signs of use. like mongomondo, i carry everything (with few exceptions), at least once to see if i like it. it may cut paper or open mail, but that's it. every knife i buy gets fondled/handled.

but these terms are all relative and mean different things to different people. we know who is honest and who is not. always ask for pics and get specifics if necessary.
 
In most cases when I’m buying a used knife, I don’t mind if the handle has a few light scratches and such. However I seriously expect the knife to be described accurately.
 
To me, like new means exactly that. It's "like" new. It's in the same condition that I would receive it from the dealer....just maybe without a box, and most certainly it should have a brand spankin' new factory edge that hasn't cut more than air. Otherwise it's "like new except for slicing a sheet of paper" or whatever the case may be.

That doesn't mean I won't buy a beater, a knife that was carried, sharpened, or otherwise, but I expect to receive the item as it's described. No problem if a knife has been carried a few times; I just prefer that it's stated as such so I don't have to wonder "what else was this knife used for?" when I find pocket lint in a liner.

That said....different phrases mean different things to different people...it's not necessarily a question of honest/dishonesty...just a different vernacular. There's a simple solution to this in regard to sales and trades....The deal isn't final until both parties are satisfied. :thumbup:
 
Bastid said:
Like New should be exactly what it states. Like New.
It should look like new, should not have been carried and only fondled with care.
If it has been carried or used, it can not be like new. Near new or near mint would be a more accurate therm.

If it has been sharpened or has minor scuffs/dings - it is excellent.
Click to expand...

This is how I see it as well.
 
Carried is ok but no lock wearing and no blade usage.
Morimotom said it best.
 
Okay - I'll let you guys critique me. This was the first knife I've traded on BF. BTW knife trade went successful and both of us are happy with the result. So I'm putting this up to test whether "the user" in question was described adequately.

Unfortunately - all my knives look like this after about 1 hr from opening them up......I'm just hard on 'em....

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=627765
 
Okay - I'll let you guys critique me. This was the first knife I've traded on BF. BTW knife trade went successful and both of us are happy with the result. So I'm putting this up to test whether "the user" in question was described adequately.

Unfortunately - all my knives look like this after about 1 hr from opening them up......I'm just hard on 'em....
Click to expand...

Disclosure. This knife has been used and there are wear some marks on the coating at the corner of the spine and some rubbing/flattening of the coating in the middle of the blade. Additional shots are given to show these in detail. The flash makes them seem a bit more pronounced then they are. The marks are cosmetic only. This knife was touched up on a sharpmaker, the original 20 degree angle was maintained. It is nice and sharp. The tip is in great condition.
Click to expand...

I think that's an excellent example of a GOOD description. Instead of misused and vague words like "near mint," "like new," and "NIB," simply state what has and has not been done to the knife. :thumbup:
 
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