Previous owner's marks and tool value

[David Jackson]

I would imagine this question has been asked and answered over the years so please forgive me for asking it again.

I am wondering how much value is lost when a previous owner has scribed his or her initials on a tool, ground a bit off for identification, etc. etc.

I used to be a pistol collector and that sort of thing will kill the value of a collector quality pistol. Occaisionally you fine a driver's license number burned into a pistol's frame, horrors! That's about as bad as a reblue!

Thanks,

David Jackson

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Zero loss in value to me.
I like being reminded that the tool I'm using was used by someone else. If it was a relative or someone I knew it brings back good memories.
If it's someone I didn't know I imagine them building or working on something they were proud of.
I think of a guy enjoying the work, unless it's a plumbing tool. Then I think of how creative they may have gotten with language.

 

[designer485]

I won't buy a tool with previous owner's marks. Most of the time, the mark is done in such a poor fashion, it just looks terrible. Personally, it devalues the tool significantly. On the flip side, because the marks have nothing to do with performance, there may be some good deals to be had for those who don't care.

 

[dodge610]

If it doesnt affect the performance of the tool who cares. Most prev. owners marks can be removed i have found with a little finesse and talent.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Is it a working tool or a show piece ? I'm of the all tools have to be able to work school so no loss to me. In fact I'm like previous poster. Sometimes it's amusing, I have a fleamarket find wrench with BCFS on it, BC Forest Service.

 

[KenC]

There was a huge bunch of Snap On stuff locally several years ago with grind marks on them. They were military surplus that were donated to a local charity and resold at auction. hundreds of the same socket size etc. I have a few. no loss of user value. But they were sold cheap because of the grinding as it was poorly done. So, yes and no, lots of devaluation if reselling, none if you are the end user.

 

[David Jackson]

Thanks for all the replies to my post about previous owner's initials, marks, etc. I am not really a tool collector (yet, though it's hard not to sucuumb) and have bought tools over the years with the idea that I will use them. I find that now that I am elderly I am unlikely to ever use many of them and there are some which have been kind of defaced; I think of a nice set of Cornwell angle wrenches I have; all have been scribed with a previous owner's initials. I can imagine that in a multi person shop some form of ID might be a necessity, particularly if that same set is owned by a few techs. Tools can grow legs.
If a person wanted to remove such marks as I mention, how would that be done?
And, on the other hand, if the idea is to use the tool then the initials make no difference of course, as has been said.
I am a recovered pistol collector who lost most sleep for a week when I dropped an '02 Swiss Parabellum and bent the trigger guard on the rim around the vault door. Coming from that kind of background I would be more like Designer 485, kind of picky; but that's a collector's attitude not a tech's.

 

[joe_padavano]

I'm buying tools to use. I couldn't care less if there are owner's marks on the, so long as they don't effect the functionality of the tool. I'm not buying art or jewelry.

 

[Slednut]

I have a bunch of tools with someone's SSN on them. Bought them at a garage sale.

 

[bonneyman]

Is it a working tool or a show piece ? I'm of the all tools have to be able to work school so no loss to me. In fact I'm like previous poster. Sometimes it's amusing, I have a fleamarket find wrench with BCFS on it, BC Forest Service.

That's why I want two of everything! One for showing off, and one for getting the work done.

 

[Rickster]

Depends on the marking. Light engraving can take out 10-20%. Big ugly grind mark’s like X’s and notches more depending on how bad it looks.

 

[Honest Bob]

If there were two identical tools in front of me with the same price I'm picking the one without the owners marks.

Would I pay the same price if there was only one with marks on it? Probably.

 

[jshillin]

In my experience, owners marks devalue the item about 50%. Sightly less for light marks on highly desirable pieces. A lot more, maybe even 90% on common, easy to find stuff. Almost nobody will take a marked piece if they can get an unmarked one for similar price, or even twice the price.

I agree... I have bought some over the years with marks on them, but generally avoid them.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I'd tend to agree with Dave on this one.
I avoid anything marked if possible, even if it's a rare and hard-to-find item.

I recently received a 1/4" drive kit, the spinner in which is marked up. If it hadn't been so cheap, I would have returned it to the seller and asked for a refund.
Hopefully I'll be able to find an un-marked spinner at a reasonable price, as the full set really won't have that great a collector value anyway.

 

[The Fall]

It doesn't matter to me, although I expect to pay a little less if they exist.

I bought a very large lot off a friend whose father passed away. He was a lifelong mechanic. All his tools bear his name. Every time I use them -- I'll see his initials -- I'm glad I'm keeping them in use.

 

[GTO]

If you're OCD,I'm sure it would bother you.
Not me,if I can use it and I can buy it @ the right price...

 

[seber]

One thing I avoid like the plague is owner's marks that expose raw steel on an otherwise plated tool. Rust is a tool killer.

 

[larry_g]

In all my years of twisting wrenches I have yet to hear a fastener complain that the tool was marked in some way. That said I understand that collectors have a whole different set of rules to go by that tool users tend to ignore. I have no compunction in modifying any tool to do the job at hand if the downtime loss is worth more than the tool. The residual value of the marked or modified tool is of little importance. Getting the job done is.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[WNYflyer]

For the most part these days I only buy used tools at garage & estate sales. That said, owners marks don't bother me unless the tools are Snap-On, Mac etc. which folks typically want a premium dollar for. Around here I have found the spread in cost between marked and unmarked tool truck brands usually small enough that I typically won't buy those marked. Other brands that really don't hold much value, owners marked don't bother me as long as the price is right.

 

[richfinn]

A tool that doesn't get used is worthless, If people want to collect tools thats fine and a nice little hobby, but dont kid yourself its any kind of investment, they only have value in fixing stuff in my eyes

 

[nickthebandit]

I am looking for some Snap-On Stromberg carburetor tools to replace those as well as several Vernier calipers that went missing when we moved. My wife and I looked in our cellar, garage, and storage garage 3 times each. One of the movers helpers looked a little shady, but I can't prove anything. I would be happy to be able to replace those tools, as I use them to do carburetor work. I wouldn't care if they had a previous owners I D on them. I want them for work, not for show.

 

[dacan23]

For hand tools its no big deal, but with newer power tools someone selling something with a name on it is usually a red flag its stolen.

 

[PugetDude]

I wouldn't want to screw a girl with a previous boyfriend's name tattooed on her chest; not interested in his tool, either.

 

[2oolhound]

Here's one of my dislikes of owner marking from another thread , post 11, (I didn't want to double post)


https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=406524

 

[Shelbylex]

I prefer not to have tools with marks from previous owners. I used to get rid of them. However, I have some tools which have some marks. If it's very faint and I can barely see it, it does not bother me. If it's good thick grind/mark through the chrome, this annoys me more.

The way I look at it - if the price is dirt cheap, get it and wait till you find a replacement for a good price. Then you get rid of the first one.

P.S. for some reason a 4 digit numbers which I sometimes see (probably last of SS) bother me less than full names...

 

[skulldrinker]

You're not gonna want my tools. Everything is painted red or blue.

 

[woody 73]

I am not a lover of marked tools yet I do own a lot of them. I figure if the tool gets the job done marks and all no big deal; but like I said I would prefer no marks first.

 

[Parrothead]

You're not gonna want my tools. Everything is painted red or blue.

5 minutes and some lacquer thinner...problem solved.

I don’t buy tools with owners marks

 

[hop up]

I wouldn't want to screw a girl with a previous boyfriend's name tattooed on her chest; not interested in his tool, either.

Ha ha ha I have to agree unless it’s a tool pre 1930s and earlier the better. I enjoy having a tool with early history ..

 

[BrandoJames]

I don't mind buying a used quality tool that has some scuff & scratches. But carved initials is just a deal-breaker for me. I just don't like it, can't explain why. I suppose it has something to do with pride of ownership. Hard to be proud of something when a stranger's initials are carved into it. If the initials are from a family member or friend who gave me the tool, that would be fine.

 

[TailGunner3000]

I have to say I'm of two minds on this subject. And I guess both of them go against the consensus here.

For user tools, I prefer not to have previous user marks. It may be irrational, but I think of them as mine. That's not to say I would never buy a user tool with a previous owner's name on it, but I would prefer not to.

But I also collect and display antique, old, and unique tools. And since I don't sell these tools, I tend to want to preserve their history, including owner's marks. Some collectors would prefer NOS shiny tools, but I prefer tools with the nicks, scratches and wear of honest work. Every mark is a chapter in this history of the tool. I don't really care about the monetary value of the collection. In fact, the value of these tools lies in the story they tell, and that story includes all the previous owners.

 

[Jason280]

Makes absolutely no difference to me.

 

[16again]

I prefer no previous owner markings. That said, they are tools used to get a job done. I own tools that have previous owners initials lightly inscribed in them. Doesn’t bother me in the least bit. [emoji1303]


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[davethorik]

If given the choice between 2 identical tools, one with an owner's mark and one without. I think I know what most people here would choose.

Markings in most cases do not affect a tool's use, but not always. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if most people who felt the need to mark their stuff with an engraver didn't have such universally sloppy handwriting, but it seems like they always do, and it sticks out like a sore thumb.

 

[fatfillup]

I have a used tool store and it all depends on the buyer. OCD types want no parts of marked tools, mismatched logos, one snap on socket on a rail of macs to complete a set, and often tools that look used. They normally want perfection, so to that type of buyer, it makes a huge difference and often a deal breaker. But they will often pay a premium to get what they want.

Non OCD types often don't care, don't notice or will only need a minor price adjustment to deal with owner marks.

On ebay, (which I don't use) owners marks can devalue by 10 to 20% as Rickster stated, possibly more.

 

[orangeblood]

if the OP's definition of value is "utility" previous owner marks do not have an impact

if the OP's definition of value is "monetary" previous owner marks DO HAVE an impact

ebay, offer up, pawn shops, et al provide pretty compelling evidence

just my $0.02

 

[Parrothead]

I don't mind buying a used quality tool that has some scuff & scratches. But carved initials is just a deal-breaker for me. I just don't like it, can't explain why. I suppose it has something to do with pride of ownership. Hard to be proud of something when a stranger's initials are carved into it. If the initials are from a family member or friend who gave me the tool, that would be fine.

^ This ^

I have tools from my grandfather, doesn’t bother me at all. Kinda cool really. That said, a strangers tools? Na.

 

[DFB]

I wouldn't want to screw a girl with a previous boyfriend's name tattooed on her chest

Thats cracks me up




As for the OP ya owner marks can be a big detraction to me, but only for aesthetic reasons

 

[glenmore]

I have plenty of marked tools and they are just fine if you buy them cheap enough.

But try selling something nice on ebay without disclosing previous owner marks and I guarantee you a 100% rejection rate.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I wouldn't want to screw a girl with a previous boyfriend's name tattooed on her chest; not interested in his tool, either.

You cowboys ,Where do they brand cattle ?

Tools walk. A story about a saw. I was working on as a carpenter on a large dam project. Our hand saws were sharpened by the company, so they got sent out in a saw box. I had a Sandvik #290, a black plastic handled $4.99 saw, a lowly "sheet metal" saw fit only for rough formwork. In those years Sandvik also sold the #280 , may be the finest saw available, at $47, they should have been. They were also black plastic handled, but had chrome plated side plates. My cheap saw went missing, it had a chip out of the thin hollow handle and my initials engraved near the handle top.

A year later on another big job, I noticed the saw coming back sharpened in a saw box. The chip in the handle gave it away, but there was another piece missing from the flimsy handle and my initials were carefully ground off, leaving a mark. It went missing again. I had a chuckle about that. I replaced it with an on sale Craftsman Kromedge saw. Being a Craftsman it was safe.

But when you see initial or even grinder slash marks , remember my mistaken identity "sheet metal" Sandvik saw !