All About Pocket Knives

I snagged a nice little Camillus lockback off the bay awhile back (Jim "Catfish" Hunter" model #4) and it came all original, with box and papers and sheath. Bad news is that it seems to have been stored in the sheath all these years. (1980's) Theres noticable rubbing on the brass bolster, directly opposite the snap for the sheath.

Am I better off just leaving it be ? It has that nice patina now, and i'll lose it if I try to rub out the scratches. Also, at this point, should I bother storing the knife separate from the sheath ?

Thanks !

Let her shine!!!

i would shine it up also. i own the complete set of camillus wildlife. it looks great when all shiney...also, should never store a knife in the sheath. leather has moisture.

Good to know, i had a feeling the sheath would transfer something, just didn't know what.

chetr1200c wrote:i would shine it up also. i own the complete set of camillus wildlife. it looks great when all shiney...also, should never store a knife in the sheath. leather has moisture.

Toejammer wrote:Good to know, i had a feeling the sheath would transfer something, just didn't know what.

Are you thinking of verdus, (sp) the green waxy substance that forms on the brass of a knife where it is in contact with the leather?

IIRC, chemicals in the leather cause this. I understand vegetable tanned leather does not have the same effect.
If I need to store a knife long term in a sheath I wrap it in plastic bag to keep it from contact with the leather.

Do not store a knife in a leather sheath.

You will get a green layer of scum called Verdigris that will build up where it comes in contact with the metal.

Leather is Tanned using Tanic Acid, this will also corrode carbon steel.

Moisture in the leather is not the main reason to keep knives away from leather.

thanks dale and dimitri,
i knew there were chemicals,, just didn't know the names. i just refer to it as moisture, and detrimental to the knife

Works for me, consider them segregated now ! Thanks for the info guys

orvet wrote:
If I need to store a knife long term in a sheath I wrap it in plastic bag to keep it from contact with the leather.

In addition to that I put one of the small silica packets removed from
supplements bottle in bag w/knife or at least in sheath or box.

I vote clean 'er up too. Not it's fault somebody scratched it up already.
In a few months/years it will have patina again but w/o the scratches.
I usually apply mink oil to the leather to protect it.
Sure kept a leather jacket nice for about 25 years until it
shrunk too small for me to wear it anymore.

yeppers, that happened to mine also wosey.