Knife dipped in Bees wax

[fullpint47]

Guys.
I picked up a pocket knife today completely encased in beeswax. The only thing I can make out on the knife is 3 dots on the little round disk like a smiley face. (Still learning). Can anyone tell me why it is encased? I do not want to open it if it depreciates value but also wont know the maker or anything.
Thanks in advance for the replys.

[jerryd6818]

Welcome to AAPK. Glad to have you aboard.

Good, bright, clear, in focus pictures would help us help you. Can you cut us a huss?

[Mumbleypeg]

That's a new one on me. Can't imagine what purpose that would serve. Can you post some pictures? I'm curious what it looks like.

Ken

[orvet]

The only reason I can think of for dipping an entire knife in beeswax would be if you were trying to protect carbon steel from moisture and perhaps corrosion like one would find in the tropics or at sea.
You have essentially sealed the knife in its own container and it should stay untouched by moisture in salt as long as the wax coating stays intact.

[fullpint47]

Here are a couple pics of the wax

Hope they open correctly.

[rmsize]

It looks like cosmoline to me, not beeswax. Possibaly a millitary issued knife, they covered everything in cosmoline.

[1967redrider]

It looks like cosmoline to me, not beeswax. Possibaly a millitary issued knife, they covered everything in cosmoline.

I think you're on to something. Looks like my Mosin Nagant when I first bought it.

[Miller Bro's]

Very interesting, I wouldn't open it.

[royal0014]

yup ... cosmoline, or some derivative there of ...
Never seen a knife packed like that. Interesting. ....

[Steve Warden]

Very interesting, I wouldn't open it.

Why not?

[espn77]

I'm with MB, if that knife was in my collection I'd do more research to find out more on the knife and leave it in the casing. Hard to believe that knife has lasted this long and no one has unwrapped it. Very cool piece to display. It probably isn't a highly valuable knife once unwrapped but the way it is.....find another one. I like it.

[glennbad]

Very interesting, I wouldn't open it.

I also agree with Dimitri. It's an interesting piece, much like finding a knife new in the package.

[Steve Warden]

I'm with MB, if that knife was in my collection I'd do more research to find out more on the knife and leave it in the casing. Hard to believe that knife has lasted this long and no one has unwrapped it. Very cool piece to display. It probably isn't a highly valuable knife once unwrapped but the way it is.....find another one. I like it.

And there's the difference between a collector and an accumulator!
I'm an accumulator; I use what I get. I also collect toy GTOs (my first car was a '67 LeMans, the GTO wanna-be). They've all been taken out of their packaging and put on display. That's just me and how I like it. Nothing that I collect, correction, accumulate, will ever become an investment for me to retire with, so I enjoy 'em for the time I have 'em.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

I'm with MB, if that knife was in my collection I'd do more research to find out more on the knife and leave it in the casing. Hard to believe that knife has lasted this long and no one has unwrapped it. Very cool piece to display. It probably isn't a highly valuable knife once unwrapped but the way it is.....find another one. I like it.

And there's the difference between a collector and an accumulator!
I'm an accumulator; I use what I get. I also collect toy GTOs (my first car was a '67 LeMans, the GTO wanna-be). They've all been taken out of their packaging and put on display. That's just me and how I like it. Nothing that I collect, correction, accumulate, will ever become an investment for me to retire with, so I enjoy 'em for the time I have 'em.

I’m w/ Steve on this one. How will you know what you have unless you take it out? I would think that cosmoline will be hard to get off of that knife.
Plus you can always reseal it after you get it cleaned and ready for show. Even 100 year old knives aren’t so delicate that you can’t handle them, I don’t see the harm in seeing what is underneath.
We want to see pictures when you get it done, if you do it.
SSk

[djknife13]

I found a black handled Korean era Schrade Auto still packed in cosmoline with the cord attached. I cleaned off the knife and enjoyed being the first to actually touch the knife since it was stored when new. It has still never been snapped open, just gently eased open and is stored in a safe environment. I've never regretted cleaning off the cosmoline. ____Dave

[LongBlade]

Excellent find - whatever is underneath and I assume possibly a rope knife, maybe a military utility knife based on what looks like a brass bail is no doubt mint! The question of whether to open it is indeed something I would struggle with in terms of deciding ... if you knew what was underneath the Cosmoline and could get another I wouldn’t open it... I struggle with not knowing what is inside but I would probably keep it encased because once the seal is broken it can not be sealed again and considered mint in as found condition - that’s from a collector standpoint ... in the sealed Cosmoline you have a very rare find for sure - just my 2 cents and not worth much ..

[samb1955]

I've had some M14 mags caked in that stuff, took alot to get them clean!

[jerryd6818]

I've had some M14 mags caked in that stuff, took alot to get them clean!

Cosmoline is easy to get off. My Boot Camp Platoon was one of the first to have the M-14 issued to us (instead of the M-1) and they were still covered in cosmoline. The Drill Instructors set up 2 or 3 GI cans out by the wash racks with immersion heaters in them. Heated up the water nice and hot and we dipped our (partially?) disassembled rifles in the hot water. Cosmoline came right off and we were able to start the standard cleaning routine immediately. Throughout Boot Camp, when we were not sitting on our buckets, cleaning our rifles, we were rubbing linseed oil into the stock with our bare hand. Some of those rifles had some of the most beautiful wood you'd ever want to see but they all shined like a diamond in a goat's ...... Well you know the saying.

[samb1955]

I put the mags in a toaster oven but it was still a pain getting it all off the mags.

[samb1955]

I put the mags in a toaster oven but it was still a pain getting it all off the mags.

[Miller Bro's]

The coating on that knife is not cosmoline, it is some type of wax most likely artificial wax.

Leave it in its original state

[LongBlade]

Good advice Dimitri - any guess what type of knife is under that wax?? ... I am just guessing based on what looks like a brass bail perhaps a rope knife or other military knife?? BTW - I had read that Cosmoline though a viscous petroleum substance when first used becomes wax-like after it dries and was used as a rust inhibitor... perhaps it looks different though than the wax you refer to on this knife as I have never seen Cosmoline...

[philco]

If that were my knife I'd have to remove that coating (whatever the heck it is) and see what lies beneath. Having an unidentifiable blob in my collection would provide me zero satisfaction.

[Shearer]

I have purchased router bits with the same coating.It's put there to stop rust or damaging the item.the knife is a electrician knife or trades man knife ( radio knife depends which country you come from ).If you don't want to use it leave the protection on.This is the first knife I have seen with this protection.As a collectors item it is a conversation piece when you have guests.I would leave the protections on.
When will you get another the some.
Just my opinion, I live in the country down under and we collect things which come collectable later.
The spelling might be a bit different to USA but as we where sent out as convicts ( a different word for slaves )and trying to use the English language when my ancient came from Ireland.
We love to beat the English in any sports.
Enjoy the knife.That's what it's all about.

Grant

[jerryd6818]

I have purchased router bits with the same coating.It's put there to stop rust or damaging the item.

Grant

Bingo. I knew there was something familiar about that stuff. It can be a pain to peel off (and other times it comes right off ) but does a good job of protecting the cutting edges.

BTW, It's not wax. It's more of a soft plastic that is more the consistency of wax. Cut it with a utility knife (or pocket knife) and peel it off.