Fun Victorinox restore

[Reverand]

This was the first time that I had worked with a Victorinox, and was surprised that I really like the knife.
Previously I had only used the smaller versions (with a blade & nail file), and a couple of knock-offs, and I'd had the opinion that they were all cheap junk. I think that the chintzy red plastic handles only reinforced that image in my mind.

Luckily this one only had one handle, so re-covering it helped me to realize how well-made they really are.

I have been coon-fingering it for about a week, and love these Cocobolo handles, but I finally put the finishing touch on it yesterday with a USMC shield, and will be gifting it to a buddy of mine.

[Meridian_Mike]

Nice work Reverand!

Yes, there is certain times that I like the "Swiss Army" knives because of all the tools.

Those covers move that knife on UP to a better category of knives! "Those USEFUL knives that look GOOD" category!

[dlr110]

That is a great job Reverand! Whoever you're gifting that to will love it....

[herbva]

Ditto, great job Reverand! Those cocobolo scales and the USMC shield really dress it up nicely!

[cody6268]

Great job!

I love the cocobolo scales! Victorinox's own hardwood (I think some variety of walnut), in person, has always looked underwhelming; no matter how they look in SMKW catalogs and online. First time I saw them at a local knife store, they looked kinda dried out and too light.

I really dislike Cellidor, which is chemically a modified cellulose acetate that neither shrinks nor outgasses. It breaks easily (especially modern scales; which are hollowed out), scratches easily, and is really susceptible to various common solvents. Pulling my knife out when I had diesel fuel residue on my hands always results in places where it ate the Cellidor. Have seen a lot of them that are warped also. I've been switching my Cellidor over to the nylon plastic handles which are a thousand times better. Aside from the Stayglow, you can't get 58mm scales in nylon; but 84mm and 91mm are common, and it's standard on 111mm.

[Jeffinn]

Man, those wood handles really dressed it up!
Great choice of materials.
Jeff

[Rdubya21]

Now it looks like a nice knife !

[Reverand]

Thanks guys!
I bought the Cocobolo a couple of years back from a Woodcraft store, in the "offcut/scrap" bin for $1.25/lb. It was about 2 ft long and 1/8" thick, and the same width as the knife!
I chose it because it was easy, and am glad that I did.

[rustyoldknife]

Thanks guys!
I bought the Cocobolo a couple of years back from a Woodcraft store, in the "offcut/scrap" bin for $1.25/lb. It was about 2 ft long and 1/8" thick, and the same width as the knife!
I chose it because it was easy, and am glad that I did.

Great Job, the Cocobolo turned a dull looking Victorinox into a good looking knife.

[glennbad]

Way better than the original, nice!