What should I use to clean my 1943 mk2 Robeson Shuredge?

[Gassyerik911]

Hey guys. My dad just gave me a Robeson Shuredge mk2 from 1943 that was my great uncles, who was a Navy SEAL. It has a bunch of black gunk on the blade and would like to get it of without damaging the knife. Any recommendations for what to use to get the gunk off?

[Gassyerik911]

I recently got an mk2 by Robeson Shuredge made in 1943. There is a lot of black gunk on the blade and I would like to get it off somehow. And recommendations for what to use to get the gunk off?

[Karda]

My first instinct is to say get a bottle of "gunk off" from wallyworld and kill that gunk dead.....
But realistically we would need to see a pic of the knife and said "gunk" to try to figure out what type of "gunk" it is before we can tell you what to use to remove it.

[Gassyerik911]

It is very old dried on tree sap. Just asked my dad.

[CWL]

First thing, don't use any sort of abrasives on the knife. Leave all of that patina on the knife.

If you want to remove accumulated gunk, it is best to use just an oily rag, and slowly wipe any gunk and rust from the blade. You can also use kerosene or spray some WD40 on a rag to use. Try not to get any oil or chemicals on the leather, but you can wax that to help preserve it.

Was your great uncle in WWII/Korea or Vietnam? Prior to 1962, they were known as UDT.

[Gassyerik911]

He served towards the end of the Vietnam War with SEAL Team 3.

[Thomas Linton]

For tree sap, try kerosine on a rag. Mineral oil will remove some tree sap.

[sac troop]

WD-40 is a mild solvent. It won't hurt the finish either. I would use it with a course rag. If you need something more don't go any courser than 0000 steel wool and I would try ethyl alcohol and after that acetone if the other two won't take the grime off.

[wildmanh]

Tooj will know what to do. I say wait for his responce.