All About Pocket Knives

I like to restore these "railsplitter" 99's and I fished this one off the bay recently. I just planned to keep this ugly beast for parts, but of course once I got everything apart and all the crud removed, I couldn't resist the challenge. Fortunately, I had a replacement spring in my parts stash, and decided to try some undyed canvas micarta I recently picked up. I know it's still a butt ugly knife, but it has terrific snap, no blade wobble and it might just have a spot in my EDC rotation.

You better just bring that ugly critter over to my place, Herb, before it bites you.

Natural Mycarta Has old timer look fitting replacement ,Nice EDC

Looks great Herb.

It doesn't look butt ugly any more!!!

That Micarta looks great on that knife! Great job!
Jeff

Great save!
Sometimes I just cannot part out a particular knife - it is like I feel too sorry for it and have to repair it!
You did a really great job on that knife, sir

I’d carry that all day long.

What Froe said and then some!
Great old knife reclaimed.
Treefarmer

herbva wrote: ↑Wed Oct 02, 2024 9:58 pm I like to restore these "railsplitter" 99's and I fished this one off the bay recently. I just planned to keep this ugly beast for parts, but of course once I got everything apart and all the crud removed, I couldn't resist the challenge. Fortunately, I had a replacement spring in my parts stash, and decided to try some undyed canvas micarta I recently picked up. I know it's still a butt ugly knife, but it has terrific snap, no blade wobble and it might just have a spot in my EDC rotation.

Wow, what an improvement. Looks like you did some excellent work on that. Really like the covers and saved another classic from deterioration and being left behind. Love seeing a good save, keep up the great work.

Nice job! Did you have an extra spring or did you make a new one?

Also, how are you spinning the main spring rivet so cleanly? I’ve always wondered how that was done. I’m not a fan of “jack” knives, but that sure came out great and I agree with the others that that style micarta looks good on these older patterns, I imagine it would look good on Barlow knives too.

Walleye wrote: ↑Thu Oct 03, 2024 5:44 am Nice job! Did you have an extra spring or did you make a new one?

Also, how are you spinning the main spring rivet so cleanly? I’ve always wondered how that was done. I’m not a fan of “jack” knives, but that sure came out great and I agree with the others that that style micarta looks good on these older patterns, I imagine it would look good on Barlow knives too.

Walleye, this time I was lucky and actually found a spring that was an exact match for the broken one. I've been saving springs and blades from old knives for quite a while and every once in a while I find one that I can use in a restoration project. As far as the pin heads go, I don't like the results when I've used a spinner. I still have the thing around here somewhere, but haven't used it for years. I can do a better job by hand peening and then polishing the pin heads with a buffer wheel loaded with tripoli. After some practice, you learn to peen the pin heads so that they come out with a uniform, round head. I hope this helps.

Great save!
I agree with everyone else, That micarta is a good match for that knife!

I just saw this...what a great save!