What years are considered "vintage" MX Blacks?

[hvontres]

I came across some potential donors for older MX Black switches. I was just wondering what year is considered the cut-off for "vintage" Blacks. These are from 1994-1997.

[Darthbaggins]

I think those are considered as a "Vintage" version, but I have seen some from back in the mid to late 80's as well which I would definitely consider Vintage. 

[hwood34]

The dates and methods of identifying "vintage" cherry switches aren't really set (logo used to be the easiest tell, but people have found some not so great, newer-feeling big logo switches) but the dates you list are ehhh. MX browns weren't even introduced til '94, so vintage browns had to have existed at least that late, but most vintage blacks come from 80s and some early 90s boards. Then again, people have pulled great switches out of some mid/late '90s boards. While I'm sure it has lots to do with molds and material, I'm also sure that decades of use contribute as well so it's not really an exact science anyway.

[tp4tissue]

I've done my own blind test, I couldn't tell vintage black from broken in modern blacks.

The additional smoothness also comes from the worn in Housing, not the stem.

[treeleaf64]

1983 - 1995

Just see if they are smooth or not
Doesnt matter about vintage or not vintage

[tp4tissue]

1983 - 1995

Just see if they are smooth or not
Doesnt matter about vintage or not vintage

It matters only in the sense that, the Older it is,  The more Specialness you can brag about to your friends..  In the end, perhaps that's what this whole hobby is about,  who are we dressing up for ?

[rxc92]

1983 - 1995

Just see if they are smooth or not
Doesnt matter about vintage or not vintage

It matters only in the sense that, the Older it is,  The more Specialness you can brag about to your friends..  In the end, perhaps that's what this whole hobby is about,  who are we dressing up for ?

Tp, you can’t just say that vintage is the same as worn in. What if you hurt the feelings of the people who spent hundreds of bucks on their 40 year old switches?

[tp4tissue]

Tp, you can’t just say that vintage is the same as worn in. What if you hurt the feelings of the people who spent hundreds of bucks on their 40 year old switches?

Vintage will be special regardless of how they perform. They represent nexus points in keeb-excellence.

Tp is only saying that in terms of _smoothness performance_ ,  worn in housings (From any color switch new or old) are just as good.