Cleaning up Grandpa's Traditional knives

[Toddwalla]

Hey all,

I have been using this forum for awhile as a guest, but I decided to join today because I have a project that I am hoping to get some help with. I have a small box of old pocket knives that belonged to my Grandpa (my personal hero), they are all well used and totally worn out, but I love them all. He passed in 1997 and I have had them all this time. Recently I have decided to clean them up and display them in my home. As I said, they are well worn and over the years have developed some rust in addition to the natural patina of age. I am looking to clean them up, not restore them, just remove and prevent further rusting. Any help would be sincerely appreciated.

Thanks

[knarfeng]

Howdy,
I'm going to move this to Maintenance. Most of the fellas here who give such good advice also post in Maintenance.

[OzarkCreekWalker]

Rub em down with a rag soaked with some oil. Keep them oiled with mineral oil too.

Whatever you do, do not soak them with vinegar like some people say. The backsprings will break.

[tonystl]

I cleaned up some of my grandfather's knives with Brasso and a lot of q-tips.

[Bigfattyt]

I cleaned up my Grandpa's barlow. It was fantastically dirty. I could not believe the amount of gunk in the channels.

Q tips, tooth picks, tooth brush, hot soap and water, through drying and then oiling. Repeat.

I took care not to remove any of the patina from mine.

[Bill DeShivs]

Scrub the rust gently with dry 0000 steel wool. Wash thoroughly with hot, soapy water. Then, flush with WD 40. Dry.

[Toddwalla]

Thanks everyone! I gave them a quick once over already and they're much improved. I am looking forward to spending some more time on them after picking up some supplies...

[rbeezy]

got pics?

[Wildog007]

Scrub the rust gently with dry 0000 steel wool. Wash thoroughly with hot, soapy water. Then, flush with WD 40. Dry.

This is how I treat most old knives I've "rescued." Works great unless the rust is severe.