All About Pocket Knives

I'm the biggest greenhorn in the world when it comes to repairing/restoring knives, but I'm learning more and more as I make more and more mistakes!

Pictured is my latest "victim" It's a Jacksonville, Alabama Parker-Edwards trapper, about 4 1/4" long. Nice knife overall, great spring action....but, as you can see....some of the most butt ugly scales imaginable. Also, someone had buffed the bolsters down and the pins were obviously harder than the bolster material and they stood proud of the surrounding material. Looked "not so good". So, I took some 320 grit wet or dry paper on a flat stick and "sanded" the bolsters flat again, then buffed them up nice and shiney.

I haven't decided what I'm going to rehandle it with. I have several options. A friend here in the valley collects elk antler "sheds" and he's offered me some if I want it. I'm thinking a piece that has some of the bumps and grooves, split in half and polished somewhat might be the ticket. But then again, there's a place in Boise that sells every kind of exotic wood imaginable, including some lilac burl! He caters mostly to custom furniture makers and guys who do wood turning and ink pen making. Not much he doesn't have. Last time I was there, he had some beautiful olive wood burl that would knock your eyes out. So....here goes nothin'!

Also....isnt this blade somewhat of a "Turkish clip" pattern?

G'morning, Dewman

In my exeperience, that blade would be closer to a "B" clip blade - the Turkish clip started diving down, about 1/2" in front of the run up, and they had to put the nail-nick out on the clip, instead of the spine. Of course, Parker built 'em the way "HE" wanted 'em.

One option you might consider for handles. Rejig your bone, using a rotatry grinder, into some sort of attractive pattern, then you can dye 'em and buff. That way, you don't even hafta take the knife apart.

Of course, if it's experience you're after, you picked a good candidate. While it's apart, you can put a little embellishment on the spring and liners, and buff the inside of the knife, and the blade.

Whichever way you go, it'll be worth more when you're thru !

JR

I had planned on waiting to rehandle the Parker knife till the next time I went into Boise and could buy something kinda' exotic, but with insomnia firmly in my grasp and boredom taking over, I rummaged around the shop last night at about 1:30 a.m. and found this piece of black walnut that had a little bit of flame in it. So, I set to work and....this is the semi-finished product.

Lookin' good so far.
The proud pivot pin may have come from the factory that way. I have seen it on a number of factory knives.

Keep up the good work,
Dale