Resto/Mods of 2 Vintage Folding Hunters - Keenwell & Westaco

[herbva]

Just finished up on 2 folding hunters from a collection of oldies that I bought a few months ago. Both of these, along with several others I have posted in the past few weeks from this collection, had celluloid scales that were in that advanced stage of disintegration where the stuff was just falling off in small pieces. As you can see, the blades did get a bit pitted from the celluloid outgassing, but no too bad. New scales on the Keenwell are OD canvas micarta and the Westaco (Western Cutlery) is done in sonoran desert ironwood. After going through the whole collection, I realized that I have 2 of the Keenwell hunters in similar condition. The last pic is the other Keenwell that I have done nothing with other than removing the remnants of the celluloid. I find it interesting that both of these Keenwells have the letter "K" worn off the tang stamp. (I actually put a post on AAPK a while back to find out what "Eenwel" knives were.) Also interesting is the name in my reference books is "Keenwell" but the tang stamp clearly just has one "L". I'm not sure what I will do with the other Keenwell, but I may have just enough desert ironwood left for that one.

[treefarmer]

Very nice! They’ll make some great Bambi skinners.
Treefarmer

[doglegg]

Great job Herb. Looks great.

[glennbad]

Those look nice, great saves!

[Meridian_Mike]

Very nice work Herb!
Those are some interesting knives. Glad you filled us in on the Keenwell knives. That coke-bottle design is KILLER!
Throw some bone on that other Keenwell..... (Just a suggestion)...
Great save!!

[Doc B]

Those are nice Herb! The grain and pattern, on both of those, is very nice!

[Jeffinn]

Those both turned out great!
I’ve got a few blocks of desert ironwood stashed somewhere in my shop (someone sent it to me free a while ago).
I’m going to have to track it down and put it to use.
Someone told me it smells pretty bad when you’re working it so I may have to cut it outside.
Jeff

[herbva]

Those both turned out great!
I’ve got a few blocks of desert ironwood stashed somewhere in my shop (someone sent it to me free a while ago).
I’m going to have to track it down and put it to use.
Someone told me it smells pretty bad when you’re working it so I may have to cut it outside.
Jeff

Jeff, it does have an odd smell when you are cutting and sanding it, but not that bad. Nothing like the odor I've noticed when sanding buffalo horn.

[Reverand]

LOVE the desert ironwood! That is a wonderful look for that old knife.
You really do great work!