To paige 16 Yes it is true that most of those items really have no place on current tables for most of us. I think that collecting is so important rather than just melting the stuff down. I have bought items in my set because they were available for purchase. I did not expect to have the number of place pieces or serving pieces that I have. That is why I am thankful that Ebay does exist. I am sure that it it did not, I would not have had the set that I was abel to put together. The writes of the silver books said it was a hard pattern to collect. It really would have been had it not been for Ebay. This is our history and heritage. It is beautiful art as well. Just remember that some companies have given up trying to reproduce some of the "vintage patterns". Its because those men that created those early pieces were craftsmen. Just think, the silver companies as we knew them vitrually don't exist any more. They have been sucked up into holes and are no more than another part of a holding company. The people that own them at this point really don't understand or appreciate good American Silver. The younger people are there just because it is a job. Replacements does think it is doing the customer a favor by buying their silver. They are not all that honest either. I have tried selling there and found that they do try to take advantage of the original owner but make pretty good profits off of what you have sold to them. Be careful when you negotiate value with some of the folks out there.

Did an eBay search for this pattern in sterling. Did not see a butter knife, but here is a description for the regular knife.Can we assume if the regular knife is marked, the butter should be too? "This is Vintage Oneida Sterling Silver Modern Hollow Knives in the "Michelangelo" pattern. I recently acquired these at a local estate auction. They are lightly marked Sterling Handle on the side of the blade. They are in good condition with only minor surface marks from use and no monogram or engraving (or removal.) The stainless steel blades appear to be the originals and are firmly attached to the handles. Each knife measures 9 inches in length."

Adding to this older thread - make sure the knife will sit across the edge of the plate. I was given some steak knives years ago that were modern with a gentle curve. They would always fall off the plate, so I got rid of them. Much of the newer stainless is not marked 18/8 or 18/10, so be aware that it might stain over time. I would not buy any of those. I have my original Paul Revere used 25 yrs, then put away for 20 yrs. in favor of Oneida Michelangelo, one of the Heirloom patterns. I have a complete service for 12 including shrimp forks, butter spreaders, iced tea spoons, etc. in Michelangelo. Last year I bought a new Reed & Barton set from Costco (18/10) because I wanted the larger pieces which I thought looked more current. I've used them a couple of times with company, but they are big and heavy. I'm thinking of putting away the Michelangelo and going back to the Paul Revere for a change.

Marisany, I have purchased a LOT of sterling flatware. I'm a collector and have also changed my pattern a time or two. I will be selling off some of it on ebay in the next year. I have found many bargains on ebay, but you have to watch the auctions for awhile to get a feel for price. You may get the best deal by buying a place setting at a time. If you want a lot at once, consider buying it by the place setting, but different auctions. You may come out better than buying a whole set. Good luck, the search is half the fun! Most American sterling is high quality. See if you can check out a book at the library about sterling flatware. Two that I like are "Sterling Flatware" by Tere Hagan and "American Sterling Silver Flatware" by Maryanne Dolan. You can see all the patterns that way. And by buying estate silver, you are not limited to patterns currently in production. Some of the older classic patterns are so lovely, especially after they had developed a patina. It is so hard to settle on one pattern! That's why I've become a collector. Some of the more popular patterns, like Wallace Grande Baroque and Reed and Barton Francis will sell at a higher price because demand is high. Expect to pay an average of $25-30 per piece (or $100-120 for a 4 pc. place setting) on ebay for those patterns, perhaps more before the holidays. Another thing to watch for is whether the knives and forks are "place" or "dinner." There is quite a difference in price between the two, as dinner is larger and heavier, thus adding to the price. Other patterns can be had for $60-80 each per place setting. So you should be able to get service for eight for less than a thousand, but no more than $1500. Of course serving pieces and soup spoons and the like will add to that amount. I have not checked prices on ebay for a few months, but I would think that prices have not increased all that much due to the economy. And keep in mind that prices may come down after the holidays. Right now people are adding a place setting or two for their Christmas table. American sterling is marked "sterling" on the back of the handle. If a listing does not say it is marked sterling or does not show a pic of the marking on the back, beware. If it's not marked, it is nearly always silver plate. Some uneducated sellers may have picked up a set at an estate sale and think it is sterling (when it is actually plate) and list it as such without knowing the difference. My experience has been that on average, you can find much better prices at ebay than Replacements. And as a rule, estate sales are higher yet, in my area. People tend to over-value it and ask $4000 for a set that could be had on Ebay for a third of that. Good luck, the search is half the fun!