A.B.L. Belgian Army 1951 "Rigging" Knife Resto

[herbva]

I picked up 2 of these quite a while back for a total of $9.50 and thought they would be an interesting restoration challenge someday, and just completed them. I have found that "A.B.L.'" is short for "Armee Belgique, Belgisch Leger", which means Belgian Army, and the 1951 stamp is the date of issue. The other stamp appears to perhaps be "LIBERT", and I haven't found a translation for that word. Maybe "liberty"? As you can see in the first 3 pictures, whatever the checkered black handle material on them was, it didn't hold up too well in storage. I know that they were in storage because they were coated with a solidified grease, perhaps something I think is that is called cosmoline, and the sheepfoot blade had not been sharpened. I couldn't find a suitable checkered composite scale material, so I went with OD green micarta on this one. What look like brass washers under the pivot pin heads are interesting little gadgets that actually go all the way through to the liners, but are a much wider diameter on the part you see on the outside. (I suspect there is a name for these gadgets.) All 3 blades have very strong snap, but as you can see, the very sturdy spike rides on both springs, giving it a vicious snap. There are 2 rocker pins because the ends of the springs are compressed in one direction for the 2 blades, and in the opposite direction on the other end for the spike. It's actually a great design, but it did take me a while to figure out how to compress the springs when I was reassembling. I finally figured out that doing the end with the blades and fitting that rocker pin first, and then the end with the spike was the ticket!

[edge213]

WOW! What a save!

[Jeffinn]

That turned out great!

[glennbad]

Looking good! I have modded a few of these, and they are stout knives no doubt

[1967redrider]

Those turned out amazing, Herb! Great choice of scale material too!

[Doc B]

Man, that turned out nice, Herb! I've seen these knives and thought they were cool. I like OD micarta and it really looks good on a knife like this!!!
You said the washer-looking thing went all the way through. I usually would use a razor blade to split the blade pins. Did that require taking apart differently than other knives? What did you use to replace that piece...or did you just drill out the pin and reuse that piece?
Nice work!!!

[herbva]

Man, that turned out nice, Herb! I've seen these knives and thought they were cool. I like OD micarta and it really looks good on a knife like this!!!
You said the washer-looking thing went all the way through. I usually would use a razor blade to split the blade pins. Did that require taking apart differently than other knives? What did you use to replace that piece...or did you just drill out the pin and reuse that piece?
Nice work!!!

Thanks for the kind words Doc, and everyone else! I have always liked these rigging knives, and have a few that I have saved. I really like the "marlin spike" because you can use it for everything else that you shouldn't be using a blade for, and don't have to worry about breaking a blade. Well, that's just my excuse. I really just think they are cool. On this knife, since I didn't need to worry about saving the scales, I ground off the pin heads with a round bur, tapped out the pins, and reused the little brass washer thingies (whatever they are called). I'm still hoping to find some kind of checkered black composition material to use for the other one. Everything I have looked at is for pistol grips and is quite expensive.

[Doc B]

[rustyoldknife]

That's a great looking job, the OD Micarta really sets it off.

[Reverand]

That does look really good. I hadn't expected the Micarta to look that good on that knife, but it sure does!

[cody6268]

Great job! I've got a really big WWI era British Army Knife (about 5" closed!), and am going to put micarta on it, since the "pressed horn" handles crumbled and fell off. It surprised me how that it didn't look too modern, or out of place. And, I'll keep that in mind with the backsprings. That's saved me a ton of headache knowing it in advance that there are two rocker pins.