Joe Starck posted- I only value a hand-worked frame if it's finished well. Gacky contours, file marks and brazing goobers are like a crooked wood object that wasn't sanded and shows glue comin' outta the seams. Oooh, hand-made. Nice. And "silliness of file marks" comes from the many misguided on this list who actually equate file marks with "charm." File marks are marks of laziness and a measure of the maker's craftsmanship integrity.
My reply-
Well said Joe. I'm not quite as hard lined about file marks but I don't like them either. Some might argue that at least you know they used them. Fair enough but a trained eye can see file use even with the lack of file marks. I think a vocal few love their 70's Masi and anything but is junk. They're welcome to love them but to give somebody that doesn't feel that way a what I'd call a dress down is lame. As William Shatner so aptly crooned in his latest CD "I can't get behind that!"
Curt Goodrich
Minneapolis, MN