restoring old folding pocket knives

[Kevin]

I've got a couple old pocket knives. I know it isn't feasible to get these restored to factory "new" condition. However, is there anything I could do to get them in better shape than they are right now? Or any guess as to what it might cost to get them back to like new condition? I've done this with a pair of Navy binoculars, and 10 years ago those were $350. But they are "as new" and really just amazing.

I've got the Cub Scout Camillus knife, but I can't find it at the moment. I think it's in the other room. I'll look later.

I'm sure the world if full of beat up, old greasy pocket knives, these are just a couple of them.

Thoughts?

First an Imperial Knife from Rhode Island.

And in better shape, a Camillus knife from New York:

 

[Ed T]

A nice pair of older knives.
Many would discourage altering them in favor of preserving their character. Clean them well and oil the joints.
I have had a ton of them in my collection at one time or another.

If you want to clean them up and try to turn back the clock on their story like an aging actress, here are some tips:

Removing Patina from Your Knife

A Simple Guide to Removing Patina from Your Carbon Steel Knife Many kitchen knives are usually made from carbon steel. Carbon steel has its advantages. It is a harder steel type and the blade stays sharp for a longer duration of time than a blade made from stainless steel which has to be...

www.koiknives.com

Whatever you do, have fun and enjoy. If you like, PM me your mailing address and I can send you a few more to experiment on.

 

[Kevin]

Thanks, that's an interesting article.

I started looking online for some knife maker that restores older knives.

I actually have a very old Eastwing Rock hammer that was my dad's hammer back in the day. (He's a geologist.)

But I found a guy online, I didn't realize it, but he is in England. I emailed him and he said he could fix this hammer up.

Here are a couple pictures of the hammer I'm talking about.

 

[Kevin]

as you can see the hammer needs a new handle and the hammer face is pretty gouged and chipped. So it needs flattened and squared off.

 

[Hvymax]

For crying out loud!!! Those are the simplest restorations I've ever seen!!! Those knives need about 5 minutes with a buffer. The hammer 30 seconds with a grinder would straighten out the head and 3 minutes with a buffer would have it like new. You can order leather washers. Take a Dremel and buzz the heads off the rivets holding the cap on, slide on new washers and cap then reset the rivets. You will probably have to sand the leather washers smooth and soak with Shellac!!! How hard is that!!!
Here's 2 of my Pap Pap's old pocket knives. They're slightly used. I ordered replacement blades that are generic and oversized. I'm going to have to knock out the pins, configure the back of each blade to match the spring interface, then shape each blade to the original configuration and sharpen them. I'm planning on giving them to my nephews. I decided to take my 40 year old sheetmetal hammer into my cane which I was using until after my knee replacement. Drove it into a conduit after removing the cap and remaining washers, blued the steel, welded a washer onto the end and added a crutch tip.

 

[Ed T]

Nice rock hammer. I think the handle replacement would be pretty straightforward. As for the rest, some would argue that your dad put a lot character into the tool with the use. Cleaned and oiled with a new handle, it can be used and has a story. YMMV. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[Hvymax]

If your Dad uses a cane it's an easy conversion and great conversation piece.