All About Pocket Knives

I have been (sort of) looking for a Fight'n Rooster to add to my collection for a while.
I found this Trapper that needs some clean-up to be acceptable.
It looks to be from the 1982-94 time frame.
Mike

Nice looking knife Mike. And I know with your skills, you'll be able to clean that right up. Hope to see some "after" photos later on.

_____________
Mike

I'm sure gonna try.
I am going to see if I can preserve the blade etch.... BUT... If I can't... then, oh well.
Blades are full.... sorta looks like somebody had this one in a box in their storage shed or something. The outside face of both blades have the rust.

Mike

I suspect it was next to a cell knife that gassed. The FRs of that era are notorious for gassing out (as are other German-made cell knives).

I think the blade etch is actually a shallow stamp. Obviously some of the coloration might be lost but I don't think you'll lose the texture.

Tsar Bomba wrote:I suspect it was next to a cell knife that gassed. The FRs of that era are notorious for gassing out (as are other German-made cell knives).

I think the blade etch is actually a shallow stamp. Obviously some of the coloration might be lost but I don't think you'll lose the texture.

Good deal!
I just hope the bad places on the blades aren't just too awful deep. We shall see.

I'd pop those handles off asap. There gassing. That's why the rust on top of blades and shield/ bolster discoloring.

Eye Brand Man wrote:I'd pop those handles off asap. There gassing. That's why the rust on top of blades and shield/ bolster discoloring.

Ohhhhhhh..... It took a little while for where the gassing was coming from to hit me.
So... This knives scales could be gassing!!

Now that I stop a minutes and think about it, THAT is probably why the discoloration is on the outside face of the blades.

WELL CRAP..... not just a simple clean-up anymore..... looks like new scales are in the offing.



MAN... I surely figured that cell was GONE by this time period.... dang Germans!!

You know..... I wasn't exactly crazy about those striped scales anyway......

I think I'm gonna put me some stag scales on it.

Borrowed pic from google images... Mike

Sorry to see your Rooster out-gassing Mike.
However, all is not lost.
Below is one of my Roosters that Flew The Coop a long time ago. When I found it, I was considering tossing it due to its condition. The gassing was so bad it had liquid on the handles. I thing I scrubbed my hands with "S.O.S. Brillo Pads".
It was one of my favorite Rooster Stockman's. A "Bumble Bee" from 1988. Very desirable for some Rooster stockman pattern collectors.
I put a lot of time and effort attempting to restore it to be at least "presentable".
I am happy with the results, but I now store it with the blades open and segregated from its friends.
I clean it occasionally with "Blue Magic" and "Renaissance Wax" at times.

If the Gassing and Deterioration ever creeps "Under" the handle material, I'll send it to you for a Stag Handle replacement.

BEFORE:
AFTER:

WOW.... Your Rooster looks GREAT!!

Was the etch on the main blade effected too? All the blades look fantastic!

Mike

Meridian_Mike wrote:WOW.... Your Rooster looks GREAT!!

Was the etch on the main blade effected too? All the blades look fantastic!

Mike

Surprisingly, the etching survived quite well. Perhaps due to its deep etching cut?

Old Folder wrote:
Surprisingly, the etching survived quite well. Perhaps due to its deep etching cut?

Heck yeah.... Now THAT is good to know.
NOW... If I can just clean up the metal as good as yours cleaned up.

Thanks Mike.
I found your Rooster in "Jim Parkers" Fight'n Rooster Knives book. Page #231.
He has it listed as:

"Black & White Stripe"
4 1/8" Two Blade Trapper with Black Etch.
Only 200 made.
Value in 1994: $100.00

Old Folder wrote:Thanks Mike.
I found your Rooster in "Jim Parkers" Fight'n Rooster Knives book. Page #231.
He has it listed as:

"Black & White Stripe"
4 1/8" Two Blade Trapper with Black Etch.
Only 200 made.
Value in 1994: $100.00

Thanks for looking my ole knife up! Only 200 made.... WOW.
MAN, it sure is a shame that the scales are gassing off like that. I guess that stuff is nothing but a dog gone time bomb. And made in 1994 (or so).... MAN.... I figured they had quit using that stuff by then.
(I still think it's gonna look nice with stag handles......)
We shall see.

Mike

Amazing they kept using Cel; when everyone else moved on? Did I miss why?