Questions about restoring a blade
- Thread starter 2trapper
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And here I have the results after the first rough cleaning. (A lot of ) sandpaper and also the beech handle was removed. The edge is very blunt and I might solve this problem and the cleaning one with the aid of a cutlery (unfortunately I have no proper stones to sharpen it myself)
For Tat2trev: I noticed your knife, showed in belt rig thread, has a very nice patina on the back of the blade. I recognize the same patina on this blade gut I'm afraid after polishing it will disappear. How can I create it again?
For Tat2trev: I noticed your knife, showed in belt rig thread, has a very nice patina on the back of the blade. I recognize the same patina on this blade gut I'm afraid after polishing it will disappear. How can I create it again?
And here I have the results after the first rough cleaning. (A lot of ) sandpaper and also the beech handle was removed. The edge is very blunt and I might solve this problem and the cleaning one with the aid of a cutlery (unfortunately I have no proper stones to sharpen it myself)
For Tat2trev: I noticed your knife, showed in belt rig thread, has a very nice patina on the back of the blade. I recognize the same patina on this blade gut I'm afraid after polishing it will disappear. How can I create it again?
Cover it in tomato sauce bud and leave it a few hours
You also at this stage have the opportunity to do some filework before you replace the new scales
See I'm of the view if it had filework originally then during the restoration process tidy up the file work.
If its not got it then the original maker didn't intend it to have it.
A respectful restoration of the original piece is a better approach.
I know that my grandfather is happy when I restore/re handle or sharpen the green wood working tools he gives me, I also know he would give me hell if I did something that wasnt in keeping with the tools he used for his livelihood.
All of the above is just my opinion (apart from bit bout me granddad)
If its not got it then the original maker didn't intend it to have it.
A respectful restoration of the original piece is a better approach.
I know that my grandfather is happy when I restore/re handle or sharpen the green wood working tools he gives me, I also know he would give me hell if I did something that wasnt in keeping with the tools he used for his livelihood.
All of the above is just my opinion (apart from bit bout me granddad)
But it's 80 yr old and passed onto him why should he not add his bit of history to the blade so it can be passed onto another family member with his mark on it showing how generations change throughout the years .
From my point of view because restoring is one thing.
Drastic alteration is another.
One day I hope to pass on my grandfather's tools to my son. I've got leather working tools from my great great great grandfather that he'd still recognise. History for me is more important than a passing fancy.
Drastic alteration is another.
One day I hope to pass on my grandfather's tools to my son. I've got leather working tools from my great great great grandfather that he'd still recognise. History for me is more important than a passing fancy.
Fair point but removing the scales and patina is not restoration in my eyes
Should have been left alone and sharpend then .
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Remember trigs brush in only fools and horses its the same brush its just had three new handles and four new heads.
Or the dwarf king in the fifth elephant by terry pratchett referring to his granfathers axe havin new handles.
Repairs and the replacement of parts in this case scales are part of restoring it to a working tool imho.
Or the dwarf king in the fifth elephant by terry pratchett referring to his granfathers axe havin new handles.
Repairs and the replacement of parts in this case scales are part of restoring it to a working tool imho.
There's also something about showing respect to the original maker.
Unless it's been done sympathetically and skillfully by someone who not only knows when to stop but whether it's appropriate for the knife in the first place the appearance and look of blades are more often that not ruined by the filework.
I don't understand this fascination for file work on a working knife. Yes it looks good and shows some skills but for something that's a show piece.
To me the spine of a knife is used for scraping my ferro rod, scraping bark and if needed to be battoned it will also make it harder to clean all of which file work will make it harder to do.
To me the spine of a knife is used for scraping my ferro rod, scraping bark and if needed to be battoned it will also make it harder to clean all of which file work will make it harder to do.
Still works with a ferro rod and certainly not harder to clean scraps bark and still batons wood
In my experience I beg to differ. Some of the cuts used for file work removes the sharp edge that's needed for scraping the ferro and removing bark. I have owned and still own file worked blades and love them. If you batton with file work it acts as a toothy edge which rips the batton piece to shreds. How many times do you see people being advised to sharpen the spine for scraping. I'm fully aware of the fact that you do file work but after many years of using my knives for these tasks it's what I have found.
So what now I'm supposed to give up filework and engraving as it clearly does blades no favours good job I didn't pay to become maker plus then cheers fella for the advice you saved me some serious money .
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