Why Can't I Clean My Knives?

P

popcornpicker

Joined
Apr 3, 2007
Messages
625
For some reason, it seems to be a sin to clean a knife. What is the sense of having a ratty old piece of crap? Sometimes, I find an old knife that has been forgotten, abused or neglected. Why would it ruin the value of it, if it was worked over and looked like new? I spend quite a bit of time on knife rehab and find it to be a rewarding pastime, but am I devaluing a treasure?
 
From what I've read, yeah, by reworking an old knife and making it look "new", you've essentially taken away the value that comes with time and age. That's what I've heard. I guess the idea is to preserve the knife in it's original state. Anyone else wanna elaborate on this?
 
I like my knives to be sharp, clean, working well, and shiny. What I don't want to do is remove any 'reminders' of significant events.
I'm not into any value except their value to me, (and I plan on taking them with me when I die) so my heirs can do what they want with what is left.
I say: make them the way you want them, and enjoy them.
Greg
 
I like to tinker with them. I keep busy checking on penetrating oil and polishing. Sometimes a blade with no snap can get crisp.
 
I think Greg has it right. What's their value to you? If you're looking to sell them at some time into the collector community then leave them be because collectors like the knives to be "as is" and consider any work done as devaluing them. I'm not saying they're wrong, but if you like to smarten them up & know what you're doing (which you clearly do) then that's one of the ways you enjoy knives and you should keep on doing it. I would guess that there's a lot of people out there might be interested in your services to clean up their old tatty looking knives. David
 
popcornpicker said:
For some reason, it seems to be a sin to clean a knife. What is the sense of having a ratty old piece of crap? Sometimes, I find an old knife that has been forgotten, abused or neglected. Why would it ruin the value of it, if it was worked over and looked like new? I spend quite a bit of time on knife rehab and find it to be a rewarding pastime, but am I devaluing a treasure?
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If you want to invest, buy mutual funds. Knives are about a million miles away from being a smart "investment." However, if you derive pleasure from rehabbing old knives, that IS a smart investment - meaning: You have a 100% guaranteed return on satisfaction for your investment (both $ and time). Go for it and to heck with conventional wisdom and naysayers!
 
Well I cleaned up this one:

clamknife5vz.jpg


This was my old man's knife. I wanted this knife since I was 6 years old. It was the neatest, shiniest, sharpest thing I had ever seen. He would NOT give it to me. He would NOT trade it to me. When he got older he used it for his BAIT knife opening clams and rusting like a mofo. Left it outside and didn't care what happened to it.
Finally when my mother died he married a floozie who sold the silverware and they got that one annulled.
Then he found another floozie who took most of the rest. She sold off all his "valuable" stuff, but put this old hunka junk in a cigar box "for me."

I can't TELL ya how glad I was to get that ole junker. I know I've taken off all the surface (half the "surface" was clam scum) and it's STILL pitted all to hell. But it's "better" now (to me) and it looks a BIT like it used to.

I even got it a new sheath.

:)
 
I spend quite a bit of time on knife rehab and find it to be a rewarding pastime, but am I devaluing a treasure?
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Removing the patina from a carbon blade or polishing the metal parts destroys any potential historical interest and much of the value for serious collectors. Like refinishing an antique chair or sanding a historic wood floor.

If it's your knife and you bought it for using, then it doesn't matter.

-Bob
 
I have been told it ruins the value, just like cleaning old coins. But I think your knife has a more personal value, It should be cleaned and used. I just can`t stand seeing a neglected knife.
 
The question is what is it that you are cleaning? A cleaned 1960's low end export knife with a rusty blade has more value as a user, so cleaning won't hurt it.

Meanwhile, a Will & Finck that's been beat to crap still has more value in that state than a newly cleaned one.
 
If you are anything like me, none of the knives I find would have enough value clean or dirty, so I say have at it.

For example, I picked up a Case Amber Bone Stockman in CV at a small local knife shop for $10. It wasn't but a couple years old, but there is a tobacco farmer that comes in every year or so and trades knives with the guy. His used one toward a new one. It was dull, scratched, and full of gunk, but had never been sharpened and all the blades were in good shape. I cleaned it up and carried it for a while.



I now carry (wow, almost a year now) a Buck 303 that was made roughly late 70's-early 80's. I found it in the bottom of a $1 yard sale box with the tip of the sheepsfoot blade broken off. After cleaning it up, sharpening it and reworking the blade, it came out pretty okay.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=423927&highlight=303

I enjoy carrying knives that have somewhat of a story behind them.
 
I hate people telling others that they're fools for cleaning and polishing an old pocket knife, and that a patina is the cat's ass and everything. I absolutely hate a patina, and I hate a ratty old beat up knife. I love to tinker around with pocket knives, and get no greater satisfaction than sitting down for a few hours with a beat up nasty patina covered knife, some sandpaper, steel wool, maybe a Dremel tool and making that knife look better than brand new. It's great meditation, and a great hobby, and I believe that it shows great respect for your tools to take care of them this way.
 
Gentleman - Antique Sammuri swords sell for 6 and 7 figures in UK Pounds Srterling. They are ocassionally cleaned by experts with no loss in value
 
An expensive (collector's) knife should only be restored if it is in bad condition. The restoration should be done by an expert. It will require more than sandpaper, steel wool, and a Dremel.
Bill
www.billdeshivs.com
 
For the knives i work on (relatively common, inexpensive slipjoints and fixed blades) Sandpaper, steel wool and a Dremel tool, WD-40, a fine scotch brite wheel, a buffing wheel with various compunds and Flitz work wonders for me.

I dont know what classifies someone as an "expert" at this stuff, but I've been doing this very meticulously for a very long time, and have always gotten uniform and great looking results.
 
I agree with all that has been said here. I will add this, though.

If a knife has strong sentimental value, such as a favorite knife of a loved one that has died, then you may not want to alter it's appearance other than to keep it clean and free from corrosion. Knives like these tend to tell a story by how they were used and cared for, like ones where the blades have been sharpened darn near down to toothpicks.

In Lavan's case, the memories that the knife held were more important than maintaining the looks of the knife itself.

I like to keep knives like these safe and tucked away. I clean and alter other knives instead, that hold no attachment for me.

So the key is....buy lots of knives!

Glenn
 
greater satisfaction than sitting down for a few hours with a beat up nasty patina covered knife, some sandpaper, steel wool, maybe a Dremel tool and making that knife look better than brand new.
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I'm with ya 100% brother!!!!
I try and shy away from the Dremel for now
I messed up my first Rambo Style POS taiwainese knife that way when I was 13 yrs old
I tried to take off the "black matte" finish :eek:
I got a couple knives off Ebay were you could tell some chump tried to use a Dremel
I don't want to be THAT chump.........................;)
 
psycho78 said:
For the knives i work on (relatively common, inexpensive slipjoints and fixed blades) Sandpaper, steel wool and a Dremel tool, WD-40, a fine scotch brite wheel, a buffing wheel with various compunds and Flitz work wonders for me.

I dont know what classifies someone as an "expert" at this stuff, but I've been doing this very meticulously for a very long time, and have always gotten uniform and great looking results.
Click to expand...

Hi psycho,

As i'm not a metalworker could you be so kind to chime in and let this dumb ass know which EUR/Us iso sandpapers i should use for restoring very badly scratched blades. A Dremel i would be very careful with as not wanting to reck the HRC by overheating the blade while working it.

I'm thinking of 800 to 3000 sandpapers and Flitz or Metalglow with a microfabre cloth after the elbowsweat. LOL;)

But i don't agree on your point concerning rare historic collecting knives metal objects. Making antiques look brand new deminshes their value....(post 14)
 
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