What to do with a junker Colonial pilot's knife????

[Meridian_Mike]

Well, while I was waiting for the epoxy to dry on my 8OT project, I decided I would try to make a purse out of a Colonial sow's ear.
I got this Pilot's knife years ago and it was mostly a rusted up piece of junk.
I took it apart and this is what I found......

Rust pits that were VERY deep....

What a HUGE mess..... and I do mean HUGE.... these knives are really large.

SO..... I got myself a piece of yellow micarta for covers.
Then, I sanded and ground away rust until I was tired of chasing it.
I only put the main blade back in and after I got it somewhat finished, it actually feels pretty good in your hand.
This is going to be my "under the seat" knife. It took a pretty good edge.

It is not a silk purse..... more like a paper sack.....

Well..... it ain't much but it was something to do.....LOL.

[doglegg]

Very knice Mike. You're too modest. You turned it into a very serviceable knife. And it looks good.

[Beavertail]

From what you had to work with I think it turned out great!
I've been looking for one for awhile.

[FRJ]

I think that looks pretty cool!

I have one and it is a handful. A great knife.

Nice work, Mike.

[herbva]

Nice save Mike! I also have several and it is great to see these old warriors being saved.

[eveled]

That came out great!

[Nev52]

Great Job Mike. How long is that knife it looks Huge

Nev

[orvet]

That was great Mike! I have a couple of those, two to make one sort of thing.
I wouldn't have believed that I would like yellow my card on there but it doesn't look bad!
That gives me a couple of ideas...

Great job as usual!
And thank you for the inspiration!

[gordonjohn]

Great job I have one also but mine has a saw blade along with the main blade, I love the yellow shows very nice.

[Meridian_Mike]

Thanks for those complements everyone!!

To answer a couple of questions......

Nev, this guy is 6" long CLOSED!... YES, it is a whopper!
This knife was made by the Colonial cutlery company as a survival tool for pilots during WWII. It originally had a saw blade and a HEAVY main blade that could be used for light chopping. The handle covers were some sort of plastic and they were secured to the liners with screws. You can still find these but many times the saw blade is broken... (like this one was).

Here is my only complete example...
(It isn't a real beauty but it is complete)

Dale..... I originally wanted to have the micarta be that original BRIGHT YELLOW (or so I thought.....LOL) until I was getting close to finishing. I decided I didn't like the brightness of the yellow so I decided I would try something. I polished this micarta with a DIRTY buffing wheel. I was about to change it when I noticed that the dirty wheel was satining the micarta! WOW... what a "happy accident" as Bob Ross would say. I loved the way it as turning out so I dirtied the wheel even more and this is the result.

It was fun. Sometimes just having fun can yield some nice results.....LOL.

[glennbad]

Nice! I have one of those in parts that I have been thinking of what to do with it.

[TripleF]

Very well done!!

[Samb]

Looks really good to me, nice job on it!

[eveled]

I keep coming back to admire it, I can’t believe how slender it became. Great job Mike.

[jerryd6818]

Good save on that one, Mike. I'm sure you'll be happy with it.

I wanted one of those for a loooong time and finally got one from Scott (thanks again Scott). I'm happy to have it.

[Colonel26]

That’s awesome Mike. I’d definitely tote that one in my overalls pocket! To my eye, it’s better that original, you did well.

[Reverand]

I have two of them, neither having the saw blade. One has broken handles and the blade had been "bench-grindered". I have often wondered what type of handle material that I should use when I eventually restore it, and I have to say that the yellow micarta looks great!
I love what you did with that one.

[Bloodhound]

WOW That turned out fine...you really saved that tired old wreck and gave it a new life. Very nice