Ben,
I have several knives in a collection. My favorites are older ones with lots of wear. Who knows what you have or what some of the knives were used for over the years. Clean them up, repair what you can and sharpen. Leave the patina from years of use. Maybe do a little internet research about the brands and models (there is a ton of info out there about the history of knives). I am sure there are some stories in what you have. I would love to see some pictures.
take care,
brian