Keen Kutter 2203

[OLDE CUTLER]

I found this 3 1/2" Keen Kutter coffin handle jack at our local fleamarket a while back, and just got it back into shape for EDC. It had a broken spring on the smaller pen blade, and some pieces of bone missing on the pile side cover. Some 1095 high carbon took care of the spring and the bone was repaired with Acra-Glas.

It has blade loss from sharpening, but still some left.

Broken spring

Pile side showing bone loss

Acra-Glas repair to replace lost bone

The butt end spring had a somewhat unusual shape, old and newly made replacement springs shown

Back together

Pile side showning repair

There were some other cracks in the bone handle material, both front and back and this was stabilized by forcing cynoacrylate glue into the cracks.
What I like the most about this Keen Kutter is the stamping into the bolsters and the coffin handle shape. Ready for EDC. It sure took a great edge from the Lansky, some good steel in this one.

[Beavertail]

That's a beautiful old knife!
Nice job saving it.

[Meridian_Mike]

Great job on the restore!
Man, that is one beautiful knife! I LIKE the style of that one!

2 thumbs up!

[orvet]

Nice save! That is a beautiful old knife and those stamped bolsters are the ice cream with a cherry on top!

[doglegg]

Great save OC!!! Not every pocket worthy of that sweet old cutter.

[glennbad]

Nice old pattern. I had the privilege of working on one similar some time back. Nice save!

[Doc B]

OC...that turned out great!!!

[OLDE CUTLER]

Nice old pattern. I had the privilege of working on one similar some time back. Nice save!

Thanks
Do you have any ideas as to why the spring for the pen blade is shaped the way it is? Kind of a combination spring, filler. that when pinned into the knife stiffens the whole unit?

[Byrd]

Nicely done OC! You put some life back into that fine HOK! I love the way the Acraglas restored the look to the old bone.

[1967redrider]

Great finished product, awesome restore of a hard to find pattern!

[glennbad]

Nice old pattern. I had the privilege of working on one similar some time back. Nice save!

Thanks
Do you have any ideas as to why the spring for the pen blade is shaped the way it is? Kind of a combination spring, filler. that when pinned into the knife stiffens the whole unit?

I'm not sure if there was a mechanical reason for it. I do see this on some of the fancier knives though, I think it's like getting leather interior on your car.

[Reverand]

I love it! That one now has got plenty of years and good memories left in it, thanks to your hard work!

[Jeffinn]

What a great style knife! I haven’t seen one like it before. Did you have to heat treat the new spring before you installed it?
Jeff

[herbva]

Very nice work! I am especially impressed with the replacement spring that you made. I would really like to hear about how you go about doing that.