I am sure that this knife was a war veteran because the spine and pommel were apparently used to bludgeon a Panzer Mk IV into submission. The knife had been poorly sharpened on a very rough stone for decades and has all of the scratches to prove it. The edge was round and chipped. The leather on the handle and on the sheath was as dry as a popcorn fart. Other than that, the knife was in "like new" condition!
I normally do not alter war artifacts, but I have decided to use this as my woods knife so I began an "altering" process. I would call it restorative, but that would offend a purist. The leather was treated with Pecard's Antique leather dressing (A product that I buy in the quart size can) It has returned some pliability and extended the life of the leather while adding a little water protection. I spent some hours with mild abrasives polishing out the really ugly scratches and filed off the metal that had mushroomed on the spine from the abuse of the Panzer. I finished it by applying a 30 degree blade bevel and sharpening and polishing the edge. It is now sharp enough to chop wood, open a K ration or cut a Nazi's nasty throat. The knife will never be a thing of beauty that brings ooohs and ahhhs from museum goers or collectors, but it will serve me well for the rest of my life and will travel into the future a little more dignity and functionality.
One might have called that a 'Catt O' Nine Tales.'
