Like you, I am a collector of old knives and guns,
plus antique fishing tackle. In all three of those collecting disciplines, it is considered evil taboo to repaint or replate anything at all. But I am also a vintage car collector
(for all of my life), and tool collectors look upon tool restorations/modifications much like car collectors do.
Many of us love to restore vises, power tools, equipment, etc, to a much better appearance than it EVER was when new. Others prefer unrestored original paint...and will often just clean up and oil an old vise, rather than lose the remaining 60% original paint. What we ALL agree on is that it's
your garage, and
your equipment.
Just do whatever fits with your decor or "theme," to suit your taste. There isn't an unspoken "rule" of how you are "supposed" to do it.
My personal garage is loaded with a mixture of nostalgic stuff from both the antique era, and the 50's-thru-muscle car era. I have brass headlights and bulb horns with rich patina, counter-top displays from auto parts stores, porcelain signs with brand names or services offered, and hot rod parts. So I prefer to leave many items in their old patina
(I can always restore them later, but I can never "un-restore" the original paint or patina).
Other folks have beautiful painted floors, clean modern cabinets to hide everything, and mostly brand new tools. These folks will normally restore any old vises or equipment to like-new condition.
BOTH ways are deeply appreciated here.
Again....
WELCOME!
