Help with blade etch preservation

[Bob W]

Last week I picked this up for a reasonable price, knowing there was some sort of 'problem' with something coated on the blade.

Picture from auction listing:


Well it seems to be some sort of dried oil, WD40 if I had to guess (and I do have to), probably applied by a previous owner.

So the trick now is to remove the dried substance while leaving the etching intact. What I don't know, how durable are these etchings and how aggressive can I afford to be when removing the oil?
The only thing I've tried so far has been hot water and soap. That seemed to soften the dried oil a bit, but not dissolve it. And I was afraid to scrub too hard on it.

What would you guys do?

[Codger_64]

Dried oil (possibly factory or owner applied for storage?). I would use another oil like food grade mineral oil first and very gently rub it off with cotton or another soft cloth. It certainly won't hurt the etch. Then if it is still stuck, I would use a grime cutter like mechanics hand cleaner. Just be careful about rubbing it if it contains pumice.

[Bob W]

Codger, just the guy I wanted to ask: Exactly how are the blade markings done? Some more information would allow me to make a more educated decision. Are they laser etchings? Ink? Bleach or some sort of patina-inducing chemical? Something else?

I've seem some that have become very faded, which makes me especially hesitant to get rough with the cleaning.

What would happen if I used some sort of chemical to clean the oil off... gasoline, mineral spirits, paint stripper... for instance?

[Codger_64]

I believe it is an electro-chemical etch. Inked? I don't think so. But many Schrades were etched so lightly to begin with that any lessening of the image is noticible. Perhaps Eric can tell us the process used during that time period. I'd advise against any use of a chemical. A lot of cleaners use phosphoric or citric acid. I'd just look for someting to dissolve the oil. Dawn dishwashing liquid does a pretty good job usually.

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

I'm with Codger. You need to use a solvent or oil. More dissolving less rubbing is preferred obviously.

When I get knives like this I use WD40. I use it for most of my oil dissolving needs. Shower the blade with the WD40 while holding the knife over a garbage bag etc to catch the spill. Use lots, don't be stingy. A lot of the time "shower" does the trick without even having to rub the blade at all. If that doesn't do it then I use a WD40 soaked cotton ball to gently wipe the rest off the blade. When the gunk is gone I do a final wipe with dry cotton balls.

If the inside of the knife is dirty too then I might submerge the whole knife in hot water with dish-soap in the sink and use my finger only to wipe the blade while it is submerged. This will float off the crap for sure. When I have cleaned the knife completely by opening and closing the blade(s) many times underwater and using gauze folded over a piece of cardboard to clean inside the knife I drain the sink. I then fill it again with clean water (no soap) and submerge the knife again. I open/close the blade a few more times to rinse the pivot area and springs etc.

When it's all rinsed I remove it from the water and carefully dry it with soft cotton cloth. To drive out the water I once again use "W(ater)D(isplacement)40". I spray lots all over and inside the knife. I open and close the blades while doing this. Once again this is over a garbage bag to catch all the excess. I allow the knife dry and then I flood it again with WD40 and let it dry a second time. I then use cotton balls to remove the dried WD40 and then polish with my "Hagerty" jewellery polishing cloth. Finally, I then oil the pivots with a drop of 3-in-1 oil.

This rig-a-ma-roll produces a extra clean knife with a thin layer of WD40 on it and a well lubricated pivot. This won't scratch the knife or remove the etch in my experience and as long as you completely flood the knife twice with WD40 after washing then rust is never an issue either.

Good luck! Your problem isn't a huge one. Dissolving the crap somehow versus scrubbing it off is the way to go. Lots of ways to skin this cat.

[Bob W]

Thanks Dave and Codger. I'll try the WD40 later this afternoon and let you know how it goes.

Fortunately the rest of the knife is clean; only the etched blade is coated with dried oil, which is what makes me think it was intentionally done by a previous owner.

You need to use a solvent or oil. More dissolving less rubbing is preferred obviously.

So mineral spirits might not be a bad idea?

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

Thanks Dave and Codger. I'll try the WD40 later this afternoon and let you know how it goes.

Fortunately the rest of the knife is clean; only the etched blade is coated with dried oil, which is what makes me think it was intentionally done by a previous owner.


So mineral spirits might not be a bad idea?

Mineral spirits might work very well too and Codger sure knows his stuff. I personally haven't used it on black etches so I kept to what I have used successfully on many occasions: soap, water, WD40. Schrade recommended using WD40 on their knives (even included a small can with some of them) and it works for me so I haven't made the switch. I use food grade mineral oil (not mineral spirits) on knives I use to cut food.

Any type of "spirit" will be a stronger solvent than WD40 though. I can't speak to what that will do to an etch. I have never used it.

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

Rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball will do the trick too if you happen to have that on hand but once again, I don't know if it will dissolve the etch. I doubt it but try at your own risk. It might involve more scrubbing than I like to do.

[Bob W]

Well, the WD40 worked to remove the dried oil or whatever. Unfortunately whatever it was left the steel darkened like a deep patina, and the etch is no more legible than before.

Oh well. The knife will sit in my collection until a better example comes along.

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

Well, the WD40 worked to remove the dried oil or whatever. Unfortunately whatever it was left the steel darkened like a deep patina, and the etch is no more legible than before.

Oh well. The knife will sit in my collection until a better example comes along.

I guess it's a learning experience anyway. Carbon blades like to stain... Still a nice knife. Time to use it perhaps?

[Bob W]

Still a nice knife. Time to use it perhaps?

I think so.