Old, New and Used Wands

[amanitamuscaria1]

No: HPFGUIDX 95910

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Ms Mo Me <fauntine_80 at y...> 
wrote:
> Someone else posted on Voldemort getting a new wand,
> and this kind of made me want to post this.  I have
> thought about it for a while, but never bothered to
> post.
> 
> 
> LV has obviously had only one wand his entire life.
> 
> Wands can break and be replaced.
> 
> However, Olivander makes sure he gives his buyers the
> best wand for them.  Now, I know that more than one
> wand can be suitable per wizard, but wouldn't you
> spend time looking for the BEST wand?  So, if that
> wand ever broke, would the wizard be able to find a
> suitable replacement?

AmanitaMuscaria now : I should imagine Gregorovitch and whoever 
created Fleur's wand might also claim to pick the best wand for their 
respective clients. Ollivander's being the best wandmaker is POV, not 
fact, I believe.

> 
> We know Ron has a hand-me-down wand in PS/SS, which
> gets broken in CoS.  Why would a wizard choose to get
> rid of their wand for an upgrade if it was the want
> specifically picked for them?  Ron was at a severe
> disadvantage in SS/PS not having a personal wand.  

AmanitaMuscaria again : Ron had Charlie's old wand - I imagine 
Charlie had it second-hand as well, so he'd have gotten himself a 
wand which chose him once he started earning. The odd thing is that 
Neville had his father's wand - now, Neville obviously has needed all 
the help he can get, so why would his Grandmother not get him a new 
wand? The Longbottoms don't appear to be very poor like the Weasleys. 
I think it's the fact that wands are semi-sentient, so I guess old 
Mrs. Longbottom was hoping the power of the wand would help Neville. 
It seems strange that the family wouldn't have tried to see if there 
was a more suitable wand, though. 

> 
> It is also mentioned that the unicorn hair was poking
> out of Ron's wand because of the wear and tear of
> being a hand-me-down wand.  Well, back to LV's wand,
> he's had it for many years, wouldn't it be rather worn
> with all the usage?  And, does a wand work as well if
> it is worn down?

AmanitaMuscaria again : I suspect Tom would have been more like 
Cedric in looking after his wand. Ron's, as I indicate above, may be 
more than second-hand, and I doubt he or Charlie looked after it as 
carefully.
 
> 
> This is probably insignificant to the book, but I am
> curious about the treatment of wands.  I don't buy the
> whole "hand-me-down" wand thing.
> 
> ~Mo

AmanitaMuscaria again : I think the wands are another instance 
of 'not seeing where their brains are kept', I think they've got 
innate power, strengths, etc. I imagine wands also 'learn', and this 
may be somethingaround the Dark Magic/ Light Magic debate.
I think Lord Voldemort would love to find Grindelwald's old wand ...
Cheers. AmanitaMuscaria