Collectible Condition Part II- What about Reconditioned, Restored & Reworked Toenails?
We started the discussion of collectible condition with previous post on “What is the basis of value for an old knife?” While the overall theme was how Brand should have a greater weight than condition when determining the value of an antique knife, we saw one of the byproducts of an overemphasis on condition is knives being “made” to resemble original condition knives.
Today I’d like to discuss what I am going to call “What about knives with the three R’s (Reconditioned, Restored & Reworked) do they qualify as Collectible Condition?”
For us here at ET.com, we have voted on our definition of Collectible Condition and the results may surprise some of you.
POLL RESULTS
Our membership is divided into three groups on this when analyzing the official results of the ET.com Poll-
- 41.2% collect toenails that had been restored with original parts to the pattern and era;
- 35.3% only collect 100% original toenails
- 23.5% will buy any toenail they like (regardless of if it had been restored, original or reworked- even if parts weren’t original).
The poll results show the largest percentage of collectors will accept as collectible condition a knife that has been restored with original parts (which is still a reworked knife). And when you add in the members who buy what they like regardless, then the majority- 64.7% said a knife that has been worked on still qualifies as Collectible Condition.
TWO CAMPS OF COLLECTORS
For the purposes of our discussion of “What is Collectible Condition for an antique toenail?” I am taking the liberty of grouping collectors into two camps: 1) the “Purist” and 2) the “Practicalist.” The purist obviously will only collect 100% original toenails, while the practicalist will purchase a knife that has been worked on (taken apart, repaired).
As a side note here, let’s keep in mind, as we discuss this further, that the knife we collect was made and used for hard manual labor.
You know the Purist stance -a knife that has been taken apart, for any reason, even if to clean, does not meet the “standard” and is therefore not the same as an authentic 100% original knife. Clearly, they say a knife that has been taken apart or had parts replaced with “original to that knife” parts are classified as “reworked knives” and again fail to meet the “standard.” To me these collectors have drawn the line- an easily distinguishable black and white line. A collectible knife is an authentic knife in its original condition, never repaired, never taken apart (even if just for cleaning the knife).
The Practicalist, on the other hand, is willing to accept a knife that has been taken apart to clean or restore (repair/fix). The Practicalist point of view is that a knife that has been taken apart to clean or repair is as collectible as an original. Therefore, from their perspective these knives do meet the standard as authentic and don’t stigmatize the knife. Furthermore, they accept, without question, a knife that has been professionally cleaned (taken apart to clean).
EXPERT OPINIONS ON THE MATTER
Well known and respected authorities hold collectible condition as a matter of personal preference, instead of there being a right or wrong- black or white industry rule in seems. Mr. Houston Price in his book, Official Price Guide to Collector Knives writes, “While very few collectors would want a rusty piece of junk, the preference often leans towards that finely made piece seasoned with patina, mild pitting or signs of handle wear instead of a shinny piece that has had the flavor buffed away, though it is a matter of personal taste.”
In American Premium Guide to Knives and Razors, Mr. Jim Sargent writes, “There is absolutely nothing wrong with restoring a knife by using original parts, most of the time it makes the knife even more desirable than one in worn condition. We can draw a parallel here with the restoration of antique and classic automobiles. When one of these is restored with original parts you can be sure it is more valuable, so don’t worry whether a knife has been restored.”
One of the challenges we face when we accept reworked (I know that word has negative connotations, so maybe we should use- restored or reconditioned) knives as meeting the standard of collectible condition is our ability to know in no uncertain terms what qualifies as “original parts.” This opens the door for counterfeits and fakes to become accepted as Collectible Condition because we simply can’t tell what is original or not. Can one determine if the handles of a Crandall are original? How about if the pen blade of a Dwight Divine, Maher & Grosh, or McIntosh Heather is original? Also, if a Case Brothers toenail needs a blade, how many are floating around out there to be used. How about Platts shields? I don’t mean to be difficult here, just a little practical.
Traditionally, a knife that had parts NOT original to the knife is a counterfeit. It is not authentic. It is made to copy. Additionally, some actually say the intent of the person doing the work plays into this too. Mr. Bernard Levine in Levine’s Guide to Knives and their Values, 4th edition states a fake knife is “A counterfeit is a careful copy or imitation of a genuine items, one that was intentionally made to deceive the buyer.”
Restoring a knife back to its “original” condition has been generally accepted practice in the knife industry. To me disclosure is also an issue here- I don’t mind buying a restored knife, as long as I am told upfront, but I don’t want the seller to try to pass it off as original when he knew it had been reworked- even if with original parts. Overall, though I personally tend to agree with the position taken by Mr. Price and Mr. Sargent. In fact, Mr. Sargent goes on to say that a “..properly restored knife is certainly acceptable in the marketplace….”
THE PARTING SHOT
I am not sure how one verifies the parts as original to the knife and era (like knowing when a toenail was only produced with brass pins, instead of Nickel Silver pins, for example), but that is really a different topic for another day. And a parting shot too is this- if the majority of us accept a knife that has been taken apart as still being in collectible condition (to clean or repair) then we must accept the fact that in most cases the bolster pins will be visible or even have evidence of being taken out; like potentially gouge marks when the pins were dug out and the pin hole is no longer nice round circle (duh….). We can’t have it both ways, ya know.
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:16 am
Toenails being working knives, I see a good percentage that have had some degree of restoration, you just have to take that into consideration as of value.
A knife that had a bent MB pin that otherwise may be in excellent condition, do you hurt it by replacing the pin?
Does putting new scales on a rare brand (not a Case brand) that were badly damaged or missing hurt value?
I believe all knives that have been restored, value is affected, some times to the positive.
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:32 am
On the working knives concept- that is why I pointed that out, if they were pen or gentlemen knives it would be a different consideration. I know there are other “work knives” (ie Cattleman, Congress, Trappers, etc), however, to me the toenail was made for “harder” work than any knife I can think of….but i am sure there are a few others……
I intentionally didn’t get into if value was affected on restored knives, but to me if the parts are original then I’d value that knife the same as an original, BUT we do know that to many hard core collectors a cleaned original knife doesn’t hold the same value as an original condition (uncleaned) knife does. Therefore, it would seem to me that a reworked knife value could be less, (more than its previous condition, but less than an authentic original) BUT, in the end, value is in the eye of the beholder.
I also think the BRAND, as the primary consideration of value, will offset some of these factors