Congress restoration

[Bearbear]

Hi from Australia, apart from a few earlier questions this is basically my first post. I recently bought a 3 & 5/8" Hen and Rooster Congress Folder on Ebay. I am really happy with the knife. however it is really dirty. I like a clean knife! I wish to take it apart and clean it, that is probably easy for you guys LOL. How would I clean the tarnish & light rust off the blades obviously I do not want to remove the stamps. I presume it is "pin through" pins? Eventhough I cannot see the pins. Or do they use that hidden system (can't remember the name s------) where the pin is only through the liners? Also what size pin material would I need for the blade pins & where can I get it? At some stage after I have had a bit more experience I would like to use antler for th scales as being a taxidermist I have plenty on hand. What size pin material would I need to repin the scales please? One last question what is the best glue to use on the little Hen & Rooster logo which I will need to put back on the new antler scales? Thank you guys and have a great weekend.

[orvet]

Welcome aboard Bear!
The knife should be through pin construction, as far as I know.
I can’t speak to the size of the pins; I usually measure them when I take them out.

For scale pins I generally use 1/16” brass pins stock.
As to the best glue; I can only speak to the glue I use that is available in the US.
Here is a link to the glue I use. It is professional grade glue and not a “homeowner” grade. There is a big difference.
http://usaknifemaker.com/epoxy-2-part-q ... inute.html

I hope this helps.

[Bearbear]

Thanks for that Dale. I will post a couple of images when I finish.

[Chief RID]

I'll be interested to watch your progress. I would love to make deer antler handles for a knife one day and install them on a special knife. For now until you get ready for the project, there are many ways to clean knife without taking it apart?

[Bearbear]

I'll be interested to watch your progress. I would love to make deer antler handles for a knife one day and install them on a special knife. For now until you get ready for the project, there are many ways to clean knife without taking it apart?

As I still cannot see the pins in the bolsters even after lightly scratching the bolsters and looking at them with 20x I have my doubts that they are in fact "pin through". What I need to know before I possibly ruin anything trying, is, if it is "through pins". I have searched the internet and cannot find any info. What I did find is that the knife is aged between 1945 - 1980. I tried to clean the tarnished blades yesterday by using (as suggested here) lemon juice and baking powder. It did very little! Any suggestions?

[Chief RID]

Pictures now would be well worth the while. Without them it will be hard to pontificate.

[Bearbear]

Ok I will see what I can do tomorrow in the day light with a macro setting, thanks Bear.

[Bearbear]

Ok here is a couple of images. As I said I find it very difficult to see those pins. Oh and by the way I am surprised by the amount of scratched etc. on the bolster.

[Chief RID]

Oops! I believe I see a pin in that last pic. That is a really great knife. It should clean up great without taking it apart. Does it have good snap as is? If it does , I would leave it alone but if you want to put on new handles, it will have to come apart.

[Bearbear]

Ok who am I to doubt you? I am waiting on another magnifier so when it arrives I should be able to see something? Whatever happens it will be coming apart. I do want to clean it right up and put on some stag scales. Yes it has excellent snap on all blades. The knife has no wear on the blades I doubt it has been sharpened before I got it, but now I shave with it every morning .

[Chief RID]

I believe I read on here one time a method to make the pins more visible. I will be watching. I have never done a rehandle. It should be a very nice knife when done.

[Bearbear]

Well dont hold back I am still wondering..........LOL

[Chief RID]

I did a search on the word visible in the restoration section but did not see anything other than using a punch and giving the thing a wack to try and make the pin start to partrude a little. One thing I have learned after a couple repairs. Keeping things as square as possible during disassemble is very important for getting a good fit on reassembly. I also went back and looked at the pics again. Like you, I still see no sign of a pin.

[orvet]

I sincerely doubt that that knife is made without a pin through the bolsters as most German knives are made with pin through bolster construction.
Once you get the knife apart you can easily locate the pins from the inside.

This tutorial shows you how to take a knife apart-
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... =38&t=5236

The steps in this tutorial should get you through the process of rebuilding the knife-
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 38&t=13147


Trevor,
watch for a PM on getting some pins.

[Bearbear]

Dale,

Thank you and i will be watching