What I did with a rusty TL-29

[Meridian_Mike]

I got out in my shop for a while during the long holiday weekend and cleaned up some knives.
I have this Craftsman TL-29 I have been putting off cleaning for a while. SO... I started with it. After it was clean, I looked in my knife box and saw another. I pulled it out and TRIED to open it. WHAT A TRAINWRECK.... The blades were so rusted and pitted that it probably should have been pitched. I looked at it a few minutes and decided I would TRY to do something with it. The screw drive blade was broken off about half way, so I started with it. I thinned it some and the shinny metal began to appear. I shaped to what you can see below and then went to the main blade. I couldn't get all of the rust pits out without making the blade too thin. This is what I wound up with after a couple of hours work on it.

I put both of the Craftmans (craftsmen...??.. LOL) together for the photo.

I think maybe it's useful again.
Mike

[doglegg]

Mike I think you did well with that old knife. I like that mod, I have one from Glennbad like that. Just a wonderful save.

[Meridian_Mike]

Thanks for the complement.....

I should have taken a "before" but I guess I was just interested to see if I could save it.

Mike

[glennbad]

That looks great, and quite serviceable!

[Meridian_Mike]

That looks great, and quite serviceable!

Thanks!
It seems like it will be a good user.

[orvet]

Nice job Mike!
I usually forget to take before pictures too, I'm usually too much "in the moment", focused on the knife and what time hoping to do with it to remember to stop and take pictures.

Nice job of shaping the blades also, I really like the shape of the master blade, better shape than some factory Wharncliffe blades, IMO!

[Meridian_Mike]

Thanks Dale....
Yep, that was the way I was....."In the moment"....
That moment turned into a couple of hours before I knew it.....LOL.

[Meridian_Mike]

Nice job of shaping the blades also, I really like the shape of the master blade, better shape than some factory Wharncliffe blades, IMO!

Well, as far as the shape of the master blade, I just shaped it until I was pleased with it I guess. Thanks for that complement!

[Byrd]

That turned out really nice! It's a lot more useable now than in it's original shape. Good idea and good job. You've given me an idea on what to do with a Camillus TL29 that I have. I appreciate it!

[Meridian_Mike]

You've given me an idea on what to do with a Camillus TL29 that I have. I appreciate it!

Good deal... glad I could help. Seems like there was a thread once about TL-29 mods.....
Make sure to show us the result of your laboratory experiment.....

[#goldpan]

Nice save on those knives Mike! They cleaned right nice like! I think that the TL has been one of my favorite knives to mod.

[Doc B]

I like what you did on both of those blades! Nice save!!!

[tongueriver]

Nobody likes to hear those sheepfoot, lambfoot, pig hoof, wharncliffe blades called box cutters. Ha ha ha (aka ). I LOVE what you did to that knife, Mike!

[Meridian_Mike]

Thanks for the complements everyone. I hope this thread helps someone see the potential in a rusty old pocket knife. Try to save 'em if you can.

Nobody likes to hear those sheepfoot, lambfoot, pig hoof, wharncliffe blades called box cutters. Ha ha ha (aka ). I LOVE what you did to that knife, Mike!

LOL..... yep... just call it some sort of a foot..... just not a box cutter....

[Steve Warden]

Looking good, Mike!
Great job!!