Connotation of 年季の入った when describing things


I encountered the following line in volume 2 of ハクメイとミコチ:

> 鋭い目付きの男は、年季の入った道具を携え卓越した技術を振るった。

How does 年季の入った characterize the tools the man used? Does it mean that they
are reliable tools that stood the test of time, or just old worn-out tools?




年季の入った道具 means it's an old and well-used tool. That is, the tool has worked
sufficiently for a long time at least for this man, but this phrase does not
directly say it's a high-quality tool in a general sense. For example, even a
very cheap hammer can be 年季の入ったハンマー if someone used it for a long time.

**EDIT** : To clarify, when 年季の入った modifies a person or an action, it tends to
have a positive connotation similar to 円熟/熟練. But when 年季の入った modifies an
inanimate object, I think it just refers to something that has been used for a
long time and is showing its age, but is still perfectly usable. Depending on
the context, it may have a value as a vintage, though. See [this thesaurus
entry](https://thesaurus.weblio.jp/content/%E5%B9%B4%E5%AD%A3%E3%81%AE%E5%85%A5%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F),
too.




年季の入った道具 means it's an old and well-used tool. That is, the tool has worked
sufficiently for a long time at least for this man, but this phrase does not
directly say it's a high-quality tool in a general sense. For example, even a
very cheap hammer can be 年季の入ったハンマー if someone used it for a long time.

**EDIT** : To clarify, when 年季の入った modifies a person or an action, it tends to
have a positive connotation similar to 円熟/熟練. But when 年季の入った modifies an
inanimate object, I think it just refers to something that has been used for a
long time and is showing its age, but is still perfectly usable. Depending on
the context, it may have a value as a vintage, though. See [this thesaurus
entry](https://thesaurus.weblio.jp/content/%E5%B9%B4%E5%AD%A3%E3%81%AE%E5%85%A5%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F),
too.

