Re-Cutting Hand Cut Cards

[rdixon1208]

Do any of you ever trim up your hand cut cards? I was looking at a hand cut card in a SGC A holder that was bigger than the original border all the way around but with really rough/uneven edges. My thought was to buy it, crack it, and re-cut it at the borders the way it was originally intended to be. I've never really thought about taking a sharp object to a card before, but in this case I can kind of justify it. Thoughts?

[bigtrain]

I think we have all seen some horrible hand cuts especially on strip cards. I probably wouldn't crack one out of a holder but wouldn't have a problem re-cutting one that looks like it was cut by the town drunk with a grapefruit spoon.

[frankbmd]

Wow! I'll have to try that grapefruit spoon trick. Now where did I leave my drink.

[CobbSpikedMe]

I've often wondered the same thing. What are the members thoughts on this practice? The cards were always meant to be hand cut. So if the original owner really butchered the cut (or in many cases just ripped the cards apart) and there is plenty of border left, then why not cut it better the way it was meant to be cut in the first place?

I'm still not sure where I stand on this, but I am leaning to thinking it is ok to clean up a badly cut or torn strip card.

Thanks,

AndyH


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[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by rdixon1208

Do any of you ever trim up your hand cut cards? I was looking at a hand cut card in a SGC A holder that was bigger than the original border all the way around but with really rough/uneven edges. My thought was to buy it, crack it, and re-cut it at the borders the way it was originally intended to be. I've never really thought about taking a sharp object to a card before, but in this case I can kind of justify it. Thoughts?

Great question, would love to hear others thoughts on this. Very interesting. IMO why not, can't necessarily make it worse. But you could go with the side of it could be an original "cut" you are altering that has some history to it. I have a horribly cut card, but it gives some history to it. Did an excited kid go to town on the card? Who knows, but its worth the thought

[Jaybird]

When I see a cleanly cut strip card I assume it has been retrimmed. Because these were normally cut by children, I expect uneven borders.

[smtjoy]

I have done it a few times for more modern issues like Post and Bazooka so I dont see any issues with it. I just could not stand the uneven borders, it distracted from the card imo. I have seen a few Zeenuts where if I owned them it would drive me crazy but I have just passed on buying them instead of making that decision on a tough vintage card.

[rainier2004]

I have never cut a card personally, but I might lean to what my intentions with the card was. I know Id bust it out of the slab to start, and then eventually the edges would probably bother me enough to re-trim if I planned on keeping the card. To get the ethical nag off my back Id disclose that info if I ever did sell. There is the point already mentioned that the card was cut that way and you are altering history. In the end it your card and you have the right to do it as you please. Nice question.

[steve B]

It's a tough question.

I think the answer is that it's usually ok to do it, but I probably wouldn't.

There are a few things that would make me say it wouldn't be ok. If the cut was bad enough that it showed part of another card or some sort of markings from the edge of the sheet. Stuff like that I think would be wrong to trim off.

Steve B

[christopher.herman]

Originally Posted by Jaybird

When I see a cleanly cut strip card I assume it has been retrimmed. Because these were normally cut by children, I expect uneven borders.

Agreed.
In my opinion, when it comes to strip cards, aesthetics rule.
-Chris.

[drc]

My opinion is if the only reason to alter a antique is money, then it should be altered.

* Strip cards are a bit of an exception as they were designed be handcut.

[atx840]

I'd prefer printer scrap cards be left with the original cut, for me it's part of the history of the card.

[terjung]

I see no issue with recutting a hand cut card.