Question about 1/2 tape

[Deaaaath]

I got two rolls of Ampex 1/2 tape (456 and something else I can't recall.) I opened the box and about a foot or two of the tape had been unraveled off of the container(?) and was just hanging around all loosey goosey in the box. This caused the very end of the tape to be quite crinkled and grizzled looking. Is this something that I should just cut off with regular old scissors or just let it be?
Also, how can I tell how old the tape is? Clues in the serial number?

 

[Massive Master]

You can slice it. No particular way to tell the age of the tape -- Even the reel isn't a true indicator (of anything, including the brand itself) unless it's brand new.

 

[Dani Pace]

Don't worry about it, cut it off or just feed it into the take up reel. You should wrap several full turns of tape onto the reel anyway, then give the tape a few seconds of blank space before you start recording to be sure the tape is running smoothly before you start recording.