Restoring an old Imperial fixed blade

[orvet]

The last couple months have been pretty busy for me, getting ready for the OKCA show last weekend and for knee surgery next Monday. I thought I would take a little time to catch you up on some of the things I had been doing in my shop.

Some of these may fall in the category of restoration and others in the category of customizing. I will post to both forums and endeavored to separate the knives and the proper categories.

This is one of those inexpensive fixed blade patterns that were popular several decades ago. This knife came to me with broken handles. I removed the old handles and the blade and guard kicked around my shop for several years. I decided I would put the whole thing together because these really are made with good carbon steel.

Several years ago I began to experiment with dying my own bone handles. The bone on this handle was dyed with tobacco. I picked up two or three cheap or dried out cans of chewing tobacco, the finer cut kind like Skoal or Copenhagen, and let the bone soak in a slurry of water and chewing tobacco. I also added a little rubbing alcohol, though I didn't notice that having any effect. The bone set in the slurry for about two or three months. I remove the bone from the slurry and put it on the shelf where it dried out for several years.

When I put the handle on this knife I made a new guard of brass to replace the old one made of steel, because I think it looks nicer on this knife. As you can see I use mosaic pens. I didn't sand the bone down to where it removed all of the scratches because that would have removed too much of the color and I thought a few fine scratches would be more in keeping with the condition of this blade.

All in all I was rather pleased with the results. It looks like a well-used old knife with a lot of character.


Note- After viewing these pictures I think the gloves were a poor choice for background. The handles show with more of an orange cast than they really have.

[glennbad]

Very cool! Looks kinda like a labor of love. I have some projects like that kicking around in my shop that are laying in pieces.

The bone is very interesting, definitely a way to get creative.

I've never used the mosaic pins before. How do they work? Do you peen them or just glue them???

Do you have the sheath for the knife as well?

I like it!

[orvet]

Very cool! Looks kinda like a labor of love. I have some projects like that kicking around in my shop that are laying in pieces.

The bone is very interesting, definitely a way to get creative.

I've never used the mosaic pins before. How do they work? Do you peen them or just glue them???

Do you have the sheath for the knife as well?

I like it!

Definitely a labor of love! I doubt it would sell for $40.
As you know Glenn, knife repair is one of the places you can make less than minimum wage if you are trying to make money at it!
For me it is a hobby that helps to pay for itself.

Yes, the mosaic pins are just glued in.

I have to eventually make a sheath................................ "one of these days."

Thanks, Glenn. I am gkad you like it.

[Ramrod]

Very cool Dale!
Mark

[TripleF]

Love it!!