Hello,
I have recently received my father's pocket knife collection. The collection includes name brand, no name and junk. There is old, really old, new, good condition, still in the box and some rusty messes.
Thanks to this site I'm slowly getting them identified and making some progress sorting them.
However, I'm not sure how to handle the rusty ones.
Do I clean them or leave them alone?
If I clean them, how?
Does cleaner hurt the handle?
For those in good shape, what's the best way to store them?
Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance for your help.

Welcome There's a lod of posts on here for all your questions with the answers. It will take some digging and a lot of reading so sit back and enjoy

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I measure my collection by the ton.
Whoever dies with the most tools wins......Now accepting donations.

Welcome to AAPK Lexus! The best advise I can give is post a pic or two of a couple of knives you'd like to start with and ask specific questions on how to handle it. There are a lot of knowledgable people here that are just good folk willing to help. After they help ya out on 2 or 3, you'll probably be able to figure out each of the others on your own. But, they'll still be here if you need 'em. Good luck and congrats on your new collection.

Separate any knife that looks like it has plastic handles. They could be celluloid which gives off gasses when it begins to break down that can corrode and rust the metals in the knife and others close to it. If there are plastic looking handled knives that have handles that have started to break up or discolor, separate them from the healthy knives that have similar handles. A soft abrasive such as Flitz or Brasso will clean up most nickel-silver parts just fine. Concern yourself only with active rust (initially) and remove it with the most gentle means possible. A fine steel wool is often a good start for the blades and backsprings (not the handles). A bit of oil from there should stop the rust from doing any further damage. Then it's up to you to decide which ones should be sent to have the remainder of the rust (or the remaining pits) removed. Muskrat Man here on AAPK is very good at this. Natural patina is not rust and not only isn't hurting the value, but actually helps it with most experienced collectors. A product called "Renaissance Wax" is widely acclaimed by knife collectors as the best protectant available. I use it and can't disagree. Personally, I wouldn't soak the knives in anything for fear of handle damage. While some bone handles may be just fine, I'd worry about synthetics breaking down in any type of solvent and it may very well discolor stag also. Best of luck!

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Bob

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

Thanks for the information. I might post a few pictures as I have already found out the hard way that WD40 will bleach out the handle on some knives.

Welcome Lexus5544 you found the best knife site on the web these are the most knowledgable and friendly people
and they are always very helpful,can't wait to see some pics.

All depends on what you're planning to do with the knives......If you don't care then toss 'em, or sell them as a "lot" on eBay!

Congrats on the new collection though!

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SCOTT

http://www.pocketknivesblog.com

Thinking of you johnnierotten! Hang tight bro!

Thanks for past information - I've just started getting into the collection - Thought I would post a few pictures - any comments, thoughts, ideas, etc. are welome. There are many more knives- will post additional pictures in the future.

Thanks

And more:

Welcome Lexus! First off, you need to keep that candy stripe "Tobacco Jack" and the Fight'n Rooster away from your other knives! Looks like they're both genuine celluloid and dying horrible deaths by out gassing, in other words, the celluloid is destroying the knives. You don't want your other knives to be effected by this out gassing.

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A Fistfull Of Value-Grip One

This is it for today - will post ONLY case knives tomorrow

Nice collection, especially like that leg knife !

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A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.
Bruce Lee

Looks like your father had a nicely balanced and varied interest in pocket knives. Some real nice USA dandies there(case, camillus,, etc) along with a few of the better imported knives(parker, kissing crane,wiss(boker), etc. If I were you I`d start right back up where he left off! You have a real nice starter collection....now just get you a good book and start learning all the great stuff there is to know and you`ll be addicted just like the rest of us!!!

Bob

Thanks all

Bob, there are hundreds of these. I don't know that I will be adding any to the collection. Will be lucky if I manage to get through them in my life time. I’m certainly willing to get a good book and spend some time on the internet. That is down the road another year. Which is why I’m concerned about storage.

Can you all give me more words around signin46's comments about 'genuine celluloid and dying horrible deaths by out gassing'. All of these knives are and have been stored in a box, yes cardboard box, together for their entire life. Several have boxes but most don't. Some are rusted closed; others had never been out of the original box until I got them and took them out to catalog.

We separated out the no name or Pakistan made ones and they are going.

A friend of mine told me to get them all out of plastic. Many were in plastic sleeves or still in the plastic sleeve in the original box. I've done that. Problem is that leaves me with tons of knives all tossed in a box and I can't imagine that is good for them.

My current solution is, the ones with boxes are in them and stacked. The ones without boxes are layered within a sheet. Something in me wants to clean them or oil them before I put them up for another year or two.

There has to be a better way to store them.

You should trade me that Case leg knife for some knife rolls/cases.....
Then wipe down the knives with Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish (careful around
any blade etches) and then oil with 'clean' oil. Maybe Renwax the valuable ones.
The celluloid knives need to be stored in a diff room or garage. Sounds like you
have a large task in front of you......if it becomes too much, there are storefronts
here on AAPK that buy whole collections......i.e. Sanders Knives....and others.


IM