All About Pocket Knives

Does anyone have a good method, short of sanding, of removing OLD cosmoline? I have a beautiful old WWII era(?) UTICA jack that has old cosmoline on the blades. I've tried Brasso, Semi-Chrome and those Cape Cod Metal Polishing cloths, nothing works. I tried to get pics of the cosmoline on the blades and you can see some of the spotting. The knife has never been used, carried or sharpened, steel bolsters and liners with brass or nickel-silver pins and bone handles with UTICA jigging. Any help would be appreciated.

TJ, There's a bunch of info on line about removing cosmoline. I read for a few minutes and noticed WD-40 mentioned in several articles. Also hot soapy water and of all kinds solvents, even gasoline and mineral spirits. Mostly mentioned cosmoline on surplus firearms. Went a step further and added "knife" to the search and it pointed me to AAPK and there was your post, just a few minutes old asking the question ! Full circle without a good answer . Biggest issue would seem to not create a problem with them purty handles .
Treefarmer

On old vintage guns I've had to clean out old set up cosmoline. Here's some things I've had good luck with: WD-40, Kroil, Ballistol, 91% Alcohol.

Treefarmer beat me to it, lol.

I would think any of the above suggestions combined with some #0000 steel wool might work. The wool should speed the process and if you go lightly it won't hurt the blade finish.

Wayne

As Cosmolene is a petroleum based product I would use any solvent that is used to remove wax and grease that will not affect synthetic(plastic)material.This would include mineral spirits and commercial wax and grease removers that are readily available in body shop supply stores.
If there is no synthetic material on the knife I would recommend using either carburetor or brake cleaner;the former being more suited to petroleum based products.I would soak it in the solvent overnight and then use a toothpick and/or Q-tips to clean the inside and then re-soak and blow out the inside with compressed air.If you do this be sure to wear protective eye wear(good safety glasses)and direct the blast away from you.The outside can be cleaned with a nylon bristled brush.

Fingernail polish remover. Ask your wife.

Charlie Noyes

Thanks fellers In addition to the three products I mentioned in the OP, I tried "GOOF OFF" and fingernail polish remover, both acetone base, neither worked. Also tried boiling water I think that I have some mineral spirits and brake fluid in the garage, so they will be next in line. Should have some WD-40 too. Too bad you can't use duct tape!

TJ I'm a telling ya, it ain't much as a lube, but plain ol WD-40 is much underrated as a cleaner/degreaser.

tjmurphy wrote:Does anyone have a good method, short of sanding, of removing OLD cosmoline? I have a beautiful old WWII era(?) UTICA jack that has old cosmoline on the blades. I've tried Brasso, Semi-Chrome and those Cape Cod Metal Polishing cloths, nothing works. I tried to get pics of the cosmoline on the blades and you can see some of the spotting. The knife has never been used, carried or sharpened, steel bolsters and liners with brass or nickel-silver pins and bone handles with UTICA jigging. Any help would be appreciated.

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That is a great old knife.

Colonel26 wrote:TJ I'm a telling ya, it ain't much as a lube, but plain ol WD-40 is much underrated as a cleaner/degreaser.

I'm going to try it Col. I've used WD-40 for the last 40 or so years for just about everything.

knifetime wrote:

tjmurphy wrote:Does anyone have a good method, short of sanding, of removing OLD cosmoline? I have a beautiful old WWII era(?) UTICA jack that has old cosmoline on the blades. I've tried Brasso, Semi-Chrome and those Cape Cod Metal Polishing cloths, nothing works. I tried to get pics of the cosmoline on the blades and you can see some of the spotting. The knife has never been used, carried or sharpened, steel bolsters and liners with brass or nickel-silver pins and bone handles with UTICA jigging. Any help would be appreciated.

100_0796.JPG

100_0797.JPG

That is a great old knife.

Thanks KT. I really like the UTICA knives, especially the older one's. They're jigging was very distinctive. It's really a shame if I can't get this stuff off, since the knife is so nice - not carried, used or sharpened. Blades are perfect except for.......

I use Wenol metal polish available on line and it takes it right off. It won't hurt the knife, even celuloid. It is amazing on pearl. I cleaned up a Colonial military survival knife that was wrapped in the paper and covered with cosmoline and it only took a few minutes.

Well, as it turns out, what I thought was old, solidified cosmoline, is actually PITTING!!! Guess I should have looked more closely! I've never seen pitting like this before. The blades are a mirror finish with absolutely no signs of cleaning, yet, there is no rusty red or black coloring and the affected areas actually look to be raised up off the surface. Even on the secondary pen blade, where the affected area runs the length of the blade, there's no discoloration. Could this be flaws in the steel used for the blades??? I'm disappointed that I could not clean the blades. I guess you never, ever see it all. Reckon what's next to confuse and confound me?? Sorry to have put you guys on a "wild goose chase" but I really thought that it was dried up cosmoline. Thanks for your efforts

Aww shucks.

Aww, T.J. We all get fooled now and then. Seems like the older we get it's more now than it is then.

Dollar store Oven Cleaner .99 cent a can you can spray it right down your barrel bore on guns cuts it rite off works gooder than engine cleaner too when ever I pull an engine I hose it down with oven cleaner before touchin it---