Knife restoration question

[Jim Jackson]

Dana Holman's post on restoring a knife got me thinking about a project I've been mulling over in my mind for 10 years or more.

I was 17 when I first started getting interested in hunting.  A guy at the car dealership where I was working was an avid hunter and showed me the ropes.  He answered all my newbie questions with patience.  After I killed my first deer, he gave me an old knife.  I knew it had a history behind it, but didn't really realize the full depth until my late twenties.  I did some research then and learned it is a WWII service issue knife.  I stopped carrying it into the woods after I figured out what history was behind it and its been in a storage box for the last decade.  Dana's post inspired me to dig it back out and take a look again on some of the historic knife websites.

From what I've been able to determine based on the butt cap and tang stamp it is an army aircorp survival knife built early 1940's by Camillus.  Its obviously had some wear and tear.  I don't believe the sheath is original.  Its been stitched back together at some point with copper wire.  Overall I think its in good shape all things considered, but I'd like to give it a good restoration to honor the thought behind the gift.  I only wish that I had fully appreciated it then instead of twenty years later...

So my question is:  What is the best way to restore and preserve this knife and sheath to hopefully pass on to my nephews or my own kids if I am so blessed someday?  

     


   

[DANA HOLMAN]

Andrew
that knife would be easy to restore, I can't see the buttcap, but I bet it has a brass screw plug in the end. Just unscrew the brass plug and take it all apart, resand the blade ( I normaly take them back to 220 or 320 grit) take it to what ever grit you want, if you want a mirror finsh take it to 1500 or 2000 grit. You can buy leather pieces to replace the handle or you can put a wood handle on it. Clean up the brass and buttcap and reinstall.
Take your time, you can bring alot of life back to that knife.
Dana

[Jim Jackson]

Thanks Dana.  The butt cap fastening looks more like what is found on an axe head.  Looks like a pin driven down into a brass bushing.  I'll dig around and see if it unscrews or not.  Thanks.

[tippit]

I have my Dad' Marble hunting knife from 1936.  The sheath looks to be in the same condition as your knife.  All I've done is kept the leather sheath and handle from drying out with pitch blend.  As to the blade, I've just car waxed it to remove oxidation and prevent rust.  

I could make it look new...but it is my most prized knife and I want it just as it is...Doc

[Jim Jackson]

Well, through the generosity of two guys here on tradgang, the restoration is complete.  I want to say thanks to Sam Koger and Robin Severe for helping me honor the story behind this knife.   I decided to say thanks publicly on the powwow forum to reach a larger audience.  It may get moved over here, but in the meantime here is the    link  to the post and a pic of the completed project.

   

[DANA HOLMAN]

They did a fine job on that knife and sheath, I'm sure your proud
Dana

[Stumpkiller]

Seeing that knife takes me back.  The father of my first hunting buddy carried a twin to that knife.  He was in Korea, but he was an AAA gunner.  (Knowing him it might have been in a poker kitty).    :D  

Looks great all spiffied up!  Congrats.    

[skullworks]

Beautiful restoration!

[OconeeDan]

That is a very nice restoration. An heirloom for sure.  Dna

[amar911]

The knife looks better than new. What a neat thing to do. It would have been a shame for such a great old knife to go into the junk heap when it could be restored like that. Sometimes precious items are right in front of us and we just can't recognize their worth because of some age and damage. I know some people that are sort of like that old knife. It is amazing what lies beneath the surface.

Dan -- it's interesting that when you rearrange the letters of your name you can still spell something important to life: DNA.

Allan

[Nala]

That knife is absolutely gorgeous!  I want one just like it!

I too had a special knife that was rehabbed by generous TG members.  It turned out beautiful too.  It was my first knife bought for me by my late Dad and was a total mess when I found it.  Beautiful now though.

Congrats.

Nalajr

[Steve Nuckels]

WoW!  Beautiful!

Steve
-------
Potomac Forge