Featured Opinions on replacing knife blades

My flatware is from 1895-ish and the knife blades are silverplated and quite corroded, some rusted. The blades bear the makers mark of George Shiebler. I’ve read that replacing the blades with stainless reduces value and that you can’t replate. But they are so unappealing this way and it keeps me from using the silver. (I think my guests would worry they’d need a tetanus shot after dinner!) Has anyone here replaced blades and did you regret it? Thanks.

 

Welcome to the boards.
Be sure to check back in a day or so if no one answers today.

I've never done this. I just keep scrubbing the rust off.
You're just getting extra iron not tetanus. That's from items found in the ground where cattle grazed.
But agree it is ugly.

 

Hi, ATB, and welcome!

The thing with worn, rusty plated blades is that they're not usable OR desirable - and you're right: in most cases, they cannot be re-plated. I don't see how replacing the blades with something functional would reduce the value of the knives you have.

Shiebler had some gorgeous sterling patterns, and I'm going to assume that yours is one of them. Sometimes, buyers are looking for pieces in pretty, old patterns, but generally, they only want them if the pieces are usable.

Sadly, the recent trend is to sell silver at melt value. The "value" of a knife with a plated blade is in the weight of the handle, which is the part that is sterling. For melting, the blade is immaterial, as it is removed & usually tossed.

Were they MY knives, I definitely would have the blades replaced with stainless, no question. The process is not cheap, however, and you might want to get quotes from several sources before you go ahead with the project.

I'd say it's your choice: hold onto unusable silver, send it to a smelter (eek!), or pay the money to make it usable again... It depends on your circumstances, of course, but I know which one I would choose!

 

I can understand why you’re on edge about this, I don’t get the point of replacing knife blades either. But maybe you can cut your losses by doing it. I’m guessing some sharp person on the web has carved this out as his or her area of expertise. If you decide to take a stab at it ...

 

Welcome AtTheBeach.
I think you are saying that you like the pattern, and plan to keep it and use it yourself. As mentioned, you can have the blades replaced if it is cost effective. You might also consider checking with some of the online dealers in old patterns; it is possible you could buy replacement knives with decent blades for less money than it would cost to replace your blades.

 

Yes, the silver has been in the family since purchase so I would never melt or sell it. I have more modern stuff that eventually needs to go to a niece who is the rightful owner, and she is getting to the age where she will use it. So I have turned my attention to mine — Sandringham by George Shieber — which was always sort of onerous but maybe with fresh blades it would feel less so. I live in Florida so the formality is a little daunting. But it is lovely.

 

ATB, as soon as you said "1895", I thought it would be Sandringham!

Unfortunately - or fortunately, depending on your perspective - it isn't just in Florida where "formality" is a thing of the past.

 

Truly sharp puns there, springfield...I counted 6 in one short paragraph!

 

truly, but those were the easy ones..

 

I like Sandringham - it's an elegant pattern, simple enough to look nice with modern china patterns, fancy enough for ornate antique china (and I'm a sucker for beaded edges).

Where are you in Florida? I'm in Orlando and there is a local silversmith who replaces the blades in hollow handle knives for a reasonable price (or used to anyway) - it's not a difficult process...

~Cheryl

 

Do I detect incisive wit at work here?

 

Maybe not cutting edge but definitely to the point.

 

Very sharp!

 

I’m in Miami but think I’d have a better chance finding a good silversmith in the Palm Beach area.

 

About 10 years ago I had the damaged blades replaced on the hollow handled knives of an 1886 set of silverplated flatware that was my wedding gift to a niece. The firm I used here in Seattle specializes in the maintenance and repair of silver and plated tableware. The new blades (stainless, but in the proper shape for the age of the set) were $75 each (labor included.)

 

Very helpful, thank you so much!

 

Hi Bakergma,
I think 75 dollars for replacing a blade is horrifying. 5 years ago I had 6 blades replaced on an old set for 80 dollars. It took a month but they did a wonderful job.
greg

 

Geez. You are absolutely right, Greg. I checked my records, such as they are and the 75 dollars included replating the handles, which were also quite worn.

 

That's why I'm not fond of silver items. People mostly see them as "just silver" or money and that eclipses any and every aesthetic aspect.

I have a set of knives with silver-plated handles, the blade is stainless (very stained though!) steel. I only used them once and had enough after nearly vomiting because of the pungeant iron flavor the knives left in the food.