strip cards - cut or not to re-cut

[Copa7]

Looking for opinions on poorly cut strip cards. Would it be accepted to re-cut strip cards that are off cut or in strips to be sent to in for grading?

Yes
No
Depends

Thanks

[ullmandds]

why not?????

[itslarry]

If they can cut the wagner, you can cut your own. Def. Go psa for it.

[Copa7]

Originally Posted by itslarry

If they can cut the wagner, you can cut your own. Def. Go psa for it.

Lol. That's a fair point. They could write a book.

[bounce]

yes - make them look good

[Bigdaddy]

Yes, they were meant to be cut, and be cut straight.

[Section103]

Ive done it on an extremely poor cut (torn?) and oversized card before. It vastly improved the eye appeal, brought it into proper dimensions and did nothing to it that hasnt been done to others at different times in history.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

Yes, they were meant to be cut, and be cut straight.

+1

[steve B]

If it's a full strip, I'd leave it alone.
I'd probably leave a small panel like a pair or more alone.
Individual cards, I would probably leave them alone, but I don't see it as horrible to recut them a bit if It was poorly done.

Unless it's for resale, I don't get the attraction of cutting something apart just for grading. And even then, assuming I had the money, I'd prefer a full strip over a cut card. Full strips have always been sot of out of my range, so I do have a handful of cut strip cards.

[T206Collector]

I don't have a moral objection, but I think there is beauty in their crookedness and would leave them alone...

[triwak]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

I don't have a moral objection, but I think there is beauty in their crookedness and would leave them alone...

Agree.

[SMPEP]

Are there uncut strips?

If the layout of the cards is known - nothing is lost by cutting.

If the layout is unknown - cards that show more than one card would lose that information (forever).

If it we me ... I wouldn't cut cards if it meant losing information about the layout.

Cheers,
Patrick

[Leon]

I have never cut any strip cards. I just can't bring myself to do it.

[Exhibitman]

If they would look nicer, go for it. Just because some kid cut it first with a dull butter knife doesn't mean it has to stay that way forever. I've done it before and always been pleased with the outcome.

[T206Collector]

Which one would you rather have?

[steve B]

The one on the left.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

Which one would you rather have?

far left

[SMPEP]

Far left for me too

[T206Collector]

This one is mine, and I have no interest in cutting it squarely. But thought it would be nice to have an example of what that progression might look like.

[GasHouseGang]

Do you think a little trim on this would give it a higher grade? The card only has the one rough side. I have never collected these strip cards so I don't know what they really look at for grading.

[Bugsy]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

Do you think a little trim on this would give it a higher grade? The card only has the one rough side. I have never collected these strip cards so I don't know what they really look at for grading.

I would leave that one alone. If the margins are too narrow, they get an A.

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by Bugsy

I would leave that one alone. If the margins are too narrow, they get an A.

Thanks Chris. That's what I expected.

[Leon]

+1. It would be a shame for that not to get a number...(always with a hand cut designation too)

Originally Posted by Bugsy

I would leave that one alone. If the margins are too narrow, they get an A.

[Copa7]

I would agree that if the cards are in rough shape (like those Ruths) and already short of designated dimension, I would not re-cut.

However, if the cards are beyond the allowed specs, and it could be trimmed up, I would do so as they are graded as "hand cut" anyway.

[Leon]

Yeap...and they can't tell when it was cut.

Originally Posted by Copa7

I would agree that if the cards are in rough shape (like those Ruths) and already short of designated dimension, I would not re-cut.

However, if the cards are beyond the allowed specs, and it could be trimmed up, I would do so as they are graded as "hand cut" anyway.

[Exhibitman]

Regardless of what the graders do, if you are pleased with the outcome that is all that counts. I cleaned up the edges on this one before PSA got it and I am happy with how it looks:

[Knoxy24]

I just posted a poll in one of the facebook groups about the same thing with a lot of W-UNC notebook cards I just aquired for my set. The poll there showed people would choose to leave the cards be and appreciate them as they were cut years ago. As for me, I will probably take that advice, I prefer my cards a little beat up and showing their age.

[Leon]

I like the Ruth cut like it is. It came out of a newspaper anyway, why not make it look nice, right? When I was doing types I had to have one from each of the different newspapers that put them out. They are fun and cheap to collect, relatively speaking.

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Regardless of what the graders do, if you are pleased with the outcome that is all that counts. I cleaned up the edges on this one before PSA got it and I am happy with how it looks: