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Keen Kutter 2203

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 6:41 pm
by OLDE CUTLER
I found this 3 1/2" Keen Kutter coffin handle jack at our local fleamarket a while back, and just got it back into shape for EDC. It had a broken spring on the smaller pen blade, and some pieces of bone missing on the pile side cover. Some 1095 high carbon took care of the spring and the bone was repaired with Acra-Glas.
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It has blade loss from sharpening, but still some left.
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Broken spring
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Pile side showing bone loss
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Acra-Glas repair to replace lost bone
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The butt end spring had a somewhat unusual shape, old and newly made replacement springs shown
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Back together
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Pile side showning repair
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There were some other cracks in the bone handle material, both front and back and this was stabilized by forcing cynoacrylate glue into the cracks.
What I like the most about this Keen Kutter is the stamping into the bolsters and the coffin handle shape. Ready for EDC. It sure took a great edge from the Lansky, some good steel in this one.
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Re: Keen Kutter 2203

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 7:34 pm
by Beavertail
That's a beautiful old knife!
Nice job saving it. ::tu::

Re: Keen Kutter 2203

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 7:38 pm
by Meridian_Mike
Great job on the restore!
Man, that is one beautiful knife! I LIKE the style of that one!

2 thumbs up!
::tu:: ::tu::

Re: Keen Kutter 2203

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 7:59 pm
by orvet
Nice save! That is a beautiful old knife and those stamped bolsters are the ice cream with a cherry on top!

Re: Keen Kutter 2203

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 8:37 pm
by doglegg
Great save OC!!! Not every pocket worthy of that sweet old cutter. ::tu::

Re: Keen Kutter 2203

Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:38 pm
by glennbad
Nice old pattern. I had the privilege of working on one similar some time back. Nice save!

Re: Keen Kutter 2203

Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 2:21 pm
by Doc B
OC...that turned out great!!! ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::

Re: Keen Kutter 2203

Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 3:43 pm
by OLDE CUTLER
glennbad wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:38 pm Nice old pattern. I had the privilege of working on one similar some time back. Nice save!
Thanks
Do you have any ideas as to why the spring for the pen blade is shaped the way it is? Kind of a combination spring, filler. that when pinned into the knife stiffens the whole unit?

Re: Keen Kutter 2203

Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 4:35 pm
by Byrd
Nicely done OC! You put some life back into that fine HOK! I love the way the Acraglas restored the look to the old bone.

Re: Keen Kutter 2203

Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 8:05 pm
by 1967redrider
Great finished product, awesome restore of a hard to find pattern! ::tu:: ::tu::

Re: Keen Kutter 2203

Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 9:30 pm
by glennbad
OLDE CUTLER wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2020 3:43 pm
glennbad wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:38 pm Nice old pattern. I had the privilege of working on one similar some time back. Nice save!
Thanks
Do you have any ideas as to why the spring for the pen blade is shaped the way it is? Kind of a combination spring, filler. that when pinned into the knife stiffens the whole unit?
I'm not sure if there was a mechanical reason for it. I do see this on some of the fancier knives though, I think it's like getting leather interior on your car.

Re: Keen Kutter 2203

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 1:31 am
by Reverand
I love it! That one now has got plenty of years and good memories left in it, thanks to your hard work!

Re: Keen Kutter 2203

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 2:33 pm
by Jeffinn
What a great style knife! I haven’t seen one like it before. Did you have to heat treat the new spring before you installed it?
Jeff

Re: Keen Kutter 2203

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 3:49 pm
by herbva
Very nice work! I am especially impressed with the replacement spring that you made. I would really like to hear about how you go about doing that. ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::