Restoring/polishing bone & stag handles.

dewman · Post by **dewman** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 4:58 am

I have came into the possession of a Case XX red bone hawkbill. The blade had a fair amount of wear, but the bone handles look in great shape as far as no cracks or chips. However, they are dull and in good need of polishing to bring out some of they're long lost lustre. So....my question is, is it advisable to do this to an old, semi-antique knife or should I just clean it with some 409 or Comet and call it good?

Also, I have a nice trapper/razor that has stag scales than look as if they could use some polishing. How would you advise a person do such a thing?

Thanks for the advice.

Dewman

survivor711 · Post by **survivor711** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 2:39 am

I don't know alot about knives but I think folks might cringe at the Comet thought. Just me thinking. I would wait and read some more about cleaning knives. You should get some good answers though.

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 2:50 am

formbys lemon oil treatment, thats all, OOOO steel wool would be the most aggressive thing I would use.

Ringmaster · Post by **Ringmaster** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 7:34 am

They sound like they're worth investing a little time, and effort, Dewman.

I really don't think there are any hard and fast "rules", to achieve the best results, tho'. It sorta depends on the knife ?

Myself, I'd start with good ole' soap and water, and scrub with a toothbrush, to remove the gunk (if any). That won't restore the luster, but you'll remove the foreign matter, so that you can work on the bone itself.

After it's clean, I've had success (and failures), with different techniques. 4-ought steel wool is good - and, if you can find it, they also make a brass wool, that works, too. I've used a Dremel, with the itty-bitty muslin wheel (NO compound, just a bare wheel). I sometimes polish with Simichrome, IF I'm sure that I can get it all out, when I'm thru. I've never used the lemon-oil, but if MM uses it, that's good enough for me.

Paste wax, as a final step, will work too - just be sure to get it all off, after it dries.

Petroleum-based lubes should usually be avoided, I think. They penetrate the bone, in my experience. A dab of Vaseline, followed by some elbow grease will work, tho'.

That being said - use caution, with any buffer, even the small Dremel. I've washed-out some details and talked ugly to myself.

That's my experience, but I'm sure other folks have some good ideas, too.

JR