All About Pocket Knives

I have carried my Kickstart 6.5 Bone stag most days for the last couple of years. I don’t baby it. I have used it open boxes, cut rope, field-dress game, and so on. I clean and sharpen and oil it when it needs it. The cost of all this carrying and using is that the knife has lost some of its luster. The bolsters are hazy, the blade has some scratches, and the bone stag scales aren’t as bold.

I’d like to spruce it up a bit every year or so. Is there a recommended polishing compound and/or technique for the bolsters? Anything to brighten up the bone stag? I’m not looking to restore it to original condition- I just want to tidy it up every once in a while.

I'd start on the bolsters with some fine steel wool and Bar Keepers friend. Then some Flitz polish...
Mineral oil, like Chris said, for the handles, and you'll be nice and shiny!!!!

I use Flitz, or Simichrome polish on bolsters and the shield and just a small amount of mineral oil on bone.

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Thu Nov 28, 2024 4:28 pm I use Flitz, or Simichrome polish on bolsters and the shield and just a small amount of mineral oil on bone.

Same thing I do. With - IMHO - good results. I do follow those steps with a nice coating of Renaissance Wax too. I find bone and Stag love Renaissance Wax. And so do I.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

While I had the clip off to polish the bolsters, I noticed a big difference in the coloring of the scales. The scale covered by the clip seems to have been protected to some degree, while the other side has lost most of the accent colors.

Again, I recognize that a working knife that gets carried almost every day won’t look like the ones in my display case, but I’m surprised that so much of the color has worn off! Is this a common issue with bone-stag? Is there a preventative measure I could take with my other bone stag knives? Is there something I can do put some color back into this one?

You could try to dye it in the fine lines but I would just carry it if it were me. My gerber with g10 scales is clean and pretty under the clip, the outside is black with grease and oil from work.

It’s my understanding that for bonestag and some stag, after the handle covers are pinned to the liners they are torched (in other words burnt) which gives them darker colors. They’re then hafted (sanded) to form fit bone to bolsters. This removes the burnt portion of the bone from the “highest” areas. The burnt/color-tinted color remains in areas (typically the lower areas or “valleys”) that are not “sanded” by the hafting process because the hafting wheel doesn’t remove as much material in those lower areas.

Over time, pocket wear, moisture and sweat, etc can cause fading of the colors. I have examples of stag that has faded over time due to use and carry. My experience is if one side is typically carried closer to the skin, it gets more moisture and will fade quicker. FWIW I think re-torching the bone/stag could restore some color. Or you might try some dyes for wood or leather that you could apply and wipe off. JMO. Pocket wear doesn’t bother me so I haven’t tried it myself. You’re in charge of that research!

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Thu Dec 05, 2024 4:54 am FWIW I think re-torching the bone/stag could restore some color…. You’re in charge of that research!

Ken

Ken- when I first read your reply, it sounded like a terrible idea. But I lack impulse control, so I gave it a try with a little butane lighter I have. Here are the results from P_D R&D Garage:

Before After The torch did indeed add a little character back, but unlike the factory, it affected the higher areas rather than the low spots. I applied a thin coat of Renaissance Wax and honestly I’m happy with it. When this wears off, maybe I’ll try a different method. Would Flitz work to lighten the darkest high spots on the bone? Or should I use some other product?

One other thing- burning bone…that smell can’t be unsmelled.

On the contrary, what you've done is exactly what happens at the factory. The difference is you haven't hafted the knife, which removes material (and color) from the high areas, leaving most of it in the lower areas.

Looks good like it is to me. Pocket wear will remove the color from the high areas first.

Ken

Looks good!

Thanks y’all! Such great advice and ideas!

A definite improvement!