To open, or not to open: that is the question

[gerleatherberman]

I'd open it.  Keeping it in pristine packaging for collection purposes and possible future value makes sense.  This packaging is not pristine and opening it carefully would not damage the tool plus packaging value IMO.  The fact that you do not plan on selling it mean any future value is someone else's.  I ask myself if more pleasure is derived from holding a tool confined in packing or the tool itself having opened the package. 

It all came down to the condition of that packaging for my vote.

Thank you, Aloha! That is kind of where I am at. But, knowing the rarity, I thought a thread would be in order. Nix's idea for a pole was great. I shall abide by the numbers as a gesture to the MT collecting community.

I voted open it up and enjoy it. How much will you enjoy it closed up ?

Thank you, Steve!
As eluded to above, all of this stems from the scarcity more than anything. If I hadn't mentioned the tool in the "what do we have on the way" thread, and not read gregozedobe's reasoning, I would have already opened it.

This pole should help make the decision, either way it goes, less daunting. And I know this isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but MT collectors are few, and extremely rare examples should not be taken lightly. I had some reservations about opening the MP700 that I thought was going to arrive sealed, but it had already been cut into by someone else, so the decision was easy on that one.

My vote: Don’t open
 

Thank you, CeHo!
You know I really appreciate the condition of the tools in your collection. But, that said, I don't collect at that high of a level usually. It is hard for me to envision perfection in my collection, factoring in my low income. I settle on imperfect examples quite often as a direct result.

I will say that I really wish the Trailrider had only been sold in box packaging. 

[CeHo]

Thank you, Aloha! That is kind of where I am at. But, knowing the rarity, I thought a thread would be in order. Nix's idea for a pole was great. I shall abide by the numbers as a gesture to the MT collecting community.
Thank you, Steve!
As eluded to above, all of this stems from the scarcity more than anything. If I hadn't mentioned the tool in the "what do we have on the way" thread, and not read gregozedobe's reasoning, I would have already opened it.

This pole should help make the decision, either way it goes, less daunting. And I know this isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but MT collectors are few, and extremely rare examples should not be taken lightly. I had some reservations about opening the MP700 that I thought was going to arrive sealed, but it had already been cut into by someone else, so the decision was easy on that one.
Thank you, CeHo!
You know I really appreciate the condition of the tools in your collection. But, that said, I don't collect at that high of a level usually. It is hard for me to envision perfection in my collection, factoring in my low income. I settle on imperfect examples quite often as a direct result.

I will say that I really wish the Trailrider had only been sold in box packaging. 

Hey, I think you collect on a very very high level with awesome items. It doesn’t matter if you open it or not - it’s a very rare tool in one of the best collections here 

I know this hard decisions - I had an PST from 1991 with a box in the same condition.

[Huntsman]

Interesting dilema
I personallly i) Don't like clamshells ii) Don't like tools I cannot fondle or even use !!
So open it is my vote.
Lots of great thoughts and advice here - And this is a real compliment to your MTo mates 

....... I shall abide by the numbers as a gesture to the MT collecting community.

- But don't do this ......

Do what you want to do based on your collection/using/MT philosophy !
I guess unles you are genuinely 50:50 and need us to tip the balance 

[Steinar]

Do what you want to do based on your collection/using/MT philosophy !
I guess unles you are genuinely 50:50 and need us to tip the balance 

In that case, I think he should flip a coin and then choose based on what he found himself hoping the coin would tell him to (and ignore the actual coin flip). Great trick to figure out what you really want. 

[Don Pablo]

In that case, I think he should flip a coin and then choose based on what he found himself hoping the coin would tell him to (and ignore the actual coin flip). Great trick to figure out what you really want. 

[gerleatherberman]

Hey, I think you collect on a very very high level with awesome items. It doesn’t matter if you open it or not - it’s a very rare tool in one of the best collections here 

I know this hard decisions - I had an PST from 1991 with a box in the same condition.

Many thanks for the kind words, CeHo!

Well said too!

Interesting dilema
I personallly i) Don't like clamshells ii) Don't like tools I cannot fondle or even use !!
So open it is my vote.
Lots of great thoughts and advice here - And this is a real compliment to your MTo mates  - But don't do this ......

Do what you want to do based on your collection/using/MT philosophy !
I guess unles you are genuinely 50:50 and need us to tip the balance 

Many thanks for the well stated reply and kind words, Huntsman!

At this point, I am at 50/50. Well, more like 51/49. MT.o opinion has guided me through collecting mistakes and choices many times. Truth be told, I've only been collecting a few years and sometimes it helps to better understand certain aspects by reading what fellow collectors and/or user's personal philosophies are. 

In that case, I think he should flip a coin and then choose based on what he found himself hoping the coin would tell him to (and ignore the actual coin flip). Great trick to figure out what you really want. 

Great tip, Steinar!

[CeHo]

 

[Nix]

I'm impressed by the strong voting trend to 'open' the Gerber.  Normally I'm in favor of using a tool, but in this case it just seems a bit more collectible to leave it in it's original state. It's going to be hard to go backwards, but it can always be opened later.

Still, I'd change my vote to 'open' if that seemed like more fun for you, G-man. 

[gerleatherberman]

I'm impressed by the strong voting trend to 'open' the Gerber.  Normally I'm in favor of using a tool, but in this case it just seems a bit more collectible to leave it in it's original state. It's going to be hard to go backwards, but it can always be opened later.

Still, I'd change my vote to 'open' if that seemed like more fun for you, G-man. 

Many thanks, Nix!
Very true about reversing any opening efforts. However, I've hurt my brain figuring out some ways to perfectly preserve the clamshell if the vote stays in favor of opening. I've got a buddy who sells vintage toys and knows a lot about opening/resealing plastic packaging. It is amazing how dirty some toys get while in certain plastic packaging and require extraction, cleaning, and repackaging. Wil be paying him a visit soon.

[Wspeed]

Good idea GLBM I hope that he can help you 

[John Alexander]

More than half of everything I own is still in its original packaging. It's a disease.

[CeHo]

More than half of everything I own is still in its original packaging. It's a disease.

it’s a disease, and the love for the paperwork too

[Don Pablo]

15 to 10.
And it was 6-6 before I accidentally voted for open.

[Mechanickal]

You Pabloed the voting AND the packaging!

[gerleatherberman]

Packaging is already Pabloed with yellowness and cracked edges. So it wouldn't be like tearing into something pristine.

[SteveC]

Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It Open It

[SteveC]

Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It Use It

[SteveC]

 

[gerleatherberman]

Thank you for the subtle hint, Steve! 

One of those two may be happening on Wednesday.

[SirVicaLot]

Open it, then use the hell out of it.

  But i am not a collector, so what do i know 

[gerleatherberman]

Thank you, Steve and SirVic!

[gerleatherberman]

My buddy was able to remove the tool with minimal visual impact on the clamshell. I'm very happy to see the Trailrider out of the packaging. The early satin finish is always better looking than the newer satin finish. Thanks to everyone who voted and took the time to offer a viewpoint! 

It is a real beauty.















Clamshell will be stored with the other MT boxes and such.

[Mechanickal]

[gerleatherberman]

[magentus]

Sweet - now go find a horse to practise on 

[Wspeed]

Nice one GLBM glad that you got it out of its packaging 

[gerleatherberman]

Sweet - now go find a horse to practise on 

Thanks, Mags!

Nice one GLBM glad that you got it out of its packaging 

Thank you, W!

[CeHo]

A great tool 

[gerleatherberman]

A great tool 

Thank you, CeHo!

It has definitely become a jewel in the Gerber collection. I never even put it on my grail list, because I never thought I'd ever find one. Let alone an unused example with packing and papers.

[SteveC]

Nice !  It looks happy to be free