S&W Survival Knife Value: If Cleaned and re-lacquered?

[sirrduke2010]

I have the S&W Survival knife and the brass on the end of the handle has some green corrosion as well as some lacquer that is worn. If you clean this up, get the corrosion off and fix the lacquer will it lower the value of the knife?

[holo]

yes collectors do not want restored knives

[opoefc]

Depends. Cleaning a little green corrosion off brass and a careful relacquering job should not be detectable, if done correctly. However, if the object is to sell it to a collector, that restoration should be revealed. If the buyer is a hunter or outdoorsman, etc., and not a collector, they would not care about any restoration, only the utility of the knife. Ed.

[Janx11]

What year and model is the knife? I've got some old S&W knives , and most all older ones bring some cash, but the newer knives, like late 1990's and up aren't made anything like the older ones.

[sirrduke2010]

The knife is from the 1970s and I think it is the survival knife.

[Texas Star]

I don't think cleaning verdegris off the brass hurts anything.

Not sure about re-lacquering. Also not sure how many really collect S&W knives.

[sirrduke2010]

I just wanted to express my gratitude for those that got back to me to help me with my question.

[S&W Blade]

I collect the original Blackie Collins designs. Cleaning the brass with polish is fine but if you are worried about collector value I would pass on redoing the wood. I will tell you, these are getting harder to find in mint condition and a good used knife still has collector value. There were only 17,500 made.

[one eye joe]

A nicely restored knife will still have collector value.......

[sirrduke2010]

Thank you for the continued responses about the knife.

[jimc00]

What are the survival knives worth if NIB?

[GARMASTERS]

I'd like to know also. I have 4 NIB and one w/o a box. I bought mine about 1978 for $50 a knife.