I just want to pass something on to members here who might happen to have an antique in the family that has been collecting dust for years.

I collect antiques and I'm sure others here do as well... However..., you'd be surprised at how people (unknowingly) destroy the value of an antique item.

I was just looking at an auction for a mint condition civil war era black powder revolver. BEAUTIFUL FIREARM! It still has a very visible engraved scene on the cylinder too. However, this knucklehead selling the firearm just DESTROYED the value of that old Colt (probably reducing its value by more than half). Looking at the pictures it was obvious the guy polished the brass, and polished the wood grips!!!!! OMG! He has no idea what he just did to the value of that firearm. Collectors look for signs of "natural aging". An old firearm that has 140+ years of petina on the grips and brass is a GOOD THING. You can lightly oil the frame, and bar..., but for the love of all that is holy.., DON'T POLISH THE BLOODY BRASS OR WOOD GRIPS!

People for some reason get the urge to CLEAN old things or refinish/stain them if it's furniture. DO NOT..., I'll say again DO NOT DO THIS. So many valuable antiques lose more than half of their value because of this.

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 12-11-2008).]