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Knife Repair, Modification, Restoration & Improvement

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Knife Repair, Modification, Restoration & Improvement

This group is hosted by D ale, for knife enthusiasts who are interested in repairing, modifiying, restoring or improving knives, including fixed blades, folders and automatics of all types.

Members: 198
Latest Activity: Jan 21

Discussion Forum

1972 Case repair

Started by Andy Larrison Jan 21. 0 Replies

This piece belonged to a friends Grandpa.  The main back spring was completely rounded off and there was no action left to it.  Both blades had been loved on quite a bit.I had the main blade tang tig welded and reshaped, lightly cleaned both blades…Continue

The first of the ulu refurbishes

Started by Kevin D. Last reply by Jan Carter Jan 15. 12 Replies

I recently was able acquire a small lot of ulu knives that all needed to be cleaned, restored, or refurbished.Here is a before photo of one that was missing a handle.…Continue

USN MK2

Started by Kevin D. Last reply by Kevin D Jan 14. 12 Replies

Good Evening!I just acquired a USN MK2 knife a couple of days ago.  The grip's leather discs were horribly dehydrated, and the guard was a bit bent; but for the most part, it was in pretty good shape.  It really needed some cleaning and just a touch…Continue

Another ulu - cleaning/restoration

Started by Kevin D. Last reply by Kevin D Jan 10. 1 Reply

Another ulu from the small lot of them I was able to purchase recently.This one only needed a thorough cleaning and some careful restoration.Before pics:…Continue

Case Three Blade Trapper Modification

Started by Andy Larrison Nov 19, 2024. 0 Replies

This Case trapper started out as a 2 bladed purple barnboard jigged bone knife.  Had a fella aske me to make it a 3 blade and add some filework to it.  I used a spey blade from a donor trapper and modified it into a wharncliffe blade for the 3rd…Continue

An old Rapala (Marttiini) fillet knife

Started by Kevin D Sep 21, 2024. 0 Replies

I found this old fillet knife literally in pieces.The blade was bent.  The tang was warped.  The handle was too small (in my opinion).  And the mechanical connection of the tang behind the handle was destroyed.  The edge being useless was an obvious…Continue

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In Memoriam
Comment by D ale on March 31, 2016 at 16:39

......... and, I agree w/ James .. from the backspring side to minimize damage to the liners.

Comment by James Cole on March 31, 2016 at 16:35

I used a screwdriver on the backspring side of the knife to avoid damaging the liners as much as possible.  I was able to save one candy stripe and one Christmas tree scale, but they are continuing to warp and crack. 

When you get your knife back from the hospital, please post a picture or two.


In Memoriam
Comment by D ale on March 31, 2016 at 16:34

Richard Schuchman .. I believe it's safe to assume to do NOT wish to "save" the scales. Therefore .. might I suggest .. a wood chisel. A wooden mallet would also be handy .. w/ the wood chisel. ...OR... wood chisel implemented similar to the aforementioned "screwdriver & twist" approach.

Comment by Richard Schuchman on March 31, 2016 at 16:14

What's the best way to remove the scales? Insert screwdriver and twist? Strike a match and stand back?

Comment by James Cole on March 31, 2016 at 16:08

Christmas tree celluloid is painfully beautiful and I can understand your attraction to that knife.  The "painfully beautiful" part is very much like hitting my thumb with a hammer: it stops me dead in my tracks.  Of course with the celluloid I don't have to deal with real pain.  

I removed the scales from all three knives in order to save the frames.  I suggest you do the same, even before sending it for re-handling.

Comment by Richard Schuchman on March 31, 2016 at 5:56

Well put. I love the grind on the blade, too, but it was the handles that drew me in. It's one of those "It'll never happen to me" things. People keep saying, "Oh, I had 30 knives and only one gassed out so far." Well, I only own ONE celluloid knife. Figures it'd be one with an intestinal problem.

Comment by James Cole on March 31, 2016 at 1:48

Richard,

I've lost three knives to outgassing.  Celluloid is "Pretty Poison."

Jim

Comment by Richard Schuchman on March 26, 2016 at 8:08

The more I looked into it, the more I realized that, even without having to mess with the blade and backspring, I was probably out of my depth. I'm a graphic artist by trade, so I'm used to measurements and tight tolerances, but in the end I'd drive myself nuts trying to get it perfect without the proper tools or knowledge.

When I first looked at Garett's site, I saw all the $200 and up price tags and figured "Forget it", but then he had an $80 Kershaw in malachite that looked very nice and figured, "Doesn't hurt to ask". I was hoping for acrylic oyster, but to get REAL abalone AND the blade filed for that price...

I also reached out to Case with the specifics and am waiting for an answer from their warranty and repair dept. Free, or next to free, is always good, too.

Thanks for the well wishes. I'll post the results.


In Memoriam
Comment by D ale on March 26, 2016 at 6:16

Richard 

I was unaware it was already beginning to deteriorate.
That's a completely different situation.
.

I've no personal experience with Garret Finney

...however...

He has an online presence (nice website) & if you've received positive feedback from satisfied customers .. I'd highly recommend that approach

... as opposed to ...

attempting it as a first time project yourself.

.

There's no polite way to state .. as a first go round .. you'd f it up.

Re-scaling is not as simple as it might seem !!!

.

Take a look at the discussions in this group .. I've modified a few knives .. I know the time involved is even a "simple" re-scaling project. The quoted $80 IS reasonable.

.

I'm glad to hear you're ready to hand it over to an experienced individual with a proven track record of success @ doing exactly what you wish done. imo .. you'll be much happier with the result !!

.

Best of luck w/ your endeavor.

Dale

Comment by Richard Schuchman on March 26, 2016 at 0:39

Hey guys! Thanks for the advice! There's a lively thorough discussion of this going on here: http://iknifecollector.com/forum/topics/case-celluliod

The knife is already displaying signs of gassing out. The blade and bolsters are pitted and discolored (look at the far right at the bottom bolster and, though it's tough to see, on the blade, that rounded rectangle shape isn't a reflection, it's a smooth area surrounded by a pitted area), and if I were to show on end pics, you see shrinkage and the ends of the celluloid are warping out.Hold your hands out in front of you as if you're asking me, "Why are you doing this?" and you'll get the idea.

Someone posted a link to a discussion of gassing and ways to stop it, of which there are none. Storing it in a sealed environment would just concentrate whatever fumes were released and hasten the end and corrosion of the metal, though it would save my other blades. BUT I think you've dissuaded me from attempting an amateurish attempt at restoration in a cheap material (wood).

Someone ELSE sent me a link to Garrett Finney's custom knife place and for $80 (which I think is reasonable) he said he'd put genuine abalone scales AND filework the blade. So as pretty as the current scales are, I think I'll be going with letting a pro replace them with a much more stable and just as pretty, if not more so, material.

 
 
 

White River Knives

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