An old friend of mine sent me an "Old Cutler"

[dewman]

Not a bad knife as old, inexpensive knives go. Clean, full blades with very minor scuff marks on the nickel silver bolsters. I buffed them out carefully and they shine like a new penny. My question now is....how would one polish the (?) plastic (?) handles on it? I know if you use a buffing wheel with any pressure at all to speak of, heat will literally melt it. So....what would you guys suggest? Possibly some rotten stone and oil mixture with a soft cotton cloth?

Also....another question. The main blade has good snap when opening, but upon closing, it almost has to be pushed closed. What's up with that....and what remedy if any is there to this malady? Would I be correct in assuming there is something binding the choil (sp?) or the liner is binding the blade just enough to cause the problem?

I realize this is an old, virtually worthless knife, but I'd like to shine it up and make it into a user and remember my old friend every time I use it.

Thanks for any advice or tips you might have.
Dewman

[redferd]

Can you take some photos of it? Sounds like it is destined to be a nice knife. I use jeweler's rouge and a clean buffing wheel chucked in my variable speed electric drill which I have mounted on a board that I clamp to the table. I don't hold the drill and it leaves both hands free to hold the work. Plastic will heat up like you said, so slow speed and light pressure is what I use also. Still I am always looking for better ways of doing things.