6" Pilot Knife

Z

zonaman

Joined
Jan 17, 2007
Messages
123
Recently I won a very nice 6" Camillus Pilot Knife. When I received it the blade guard was very loose. The seller failed to mention that even after I specifically asked if it, among others, was tight. He assured me it was. I contacted him and he agreed to take it back for a full refund including postage. Great! He did comment after he received it that all 6" Camillus Pilot knives had loose blade guards and handles. Where you live determines how loose they may be. I should not be so picky. My question is, are they all loose as he said?
 
If the leather shrinks, they do loosen.
It is only the pressure from the compressed leather washers that keep the guard tight.
 
I have had some success bringing back dried out leather handles by putting the knife in a zip lock bag and pouring in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of neats-foot oil in on the handle and letting the knife soak for months, even a year or longer.
It will really help, depending on how dry the leather is.

Dale
 
Thanks guys. It seems soaking the leather so long would ruin it. It would take forever for the leather to "dry" enough to carry/wear/store.
 
zonaman said:
Recently I won a very nice 6" Camillus Pilot Knife. When I received it the blade guard was very loose. The seller failed to mention that even after I specifically asked if it, among others, was tight. He assured me it was. I contacted him and he agreed to take it back for a full refund including postage. Great! He did comment after he received it that all 6" Camillus Pilot knives had loose blade guards and handles. Where you live determines how loose they may be. I should not be so picky. My question is, are they all loose as he said?
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I have 3 Camillus PSK's, and none are loose. I do have an Ontario version with a loose guard, but only a little.

Regardless of how frequently it happens, I'm glad you sent that one back. He said it was tight and it wasn't. Liars should not be allowed to profit from their lies. :thumbup:
 
zonaman said:
Thanks guys. It seems soaking the leather so long would ruin it. It would take forever for the leather to "dry" enough to carry/wear/store.
Click to expand...

Yes, be careful how long you soak handles. I did that with an Estwing hatchet, and the handle is still oozing oil months later. I'll brush it on in the future but will never soak one again. (It didn't tighten anything either. :mad:)
 
Thanks Blue, I agree with your comment regarding liars. Too bad, the knife was a beauty but in my eye worthless. I told him if and when you list it again, say the blade guard is loose. I wasted $13.00 to ship it back. I paid for ins. and had him sign that it was received.
 
Shrinkage is not the only reason for the many loose guards. Holding the knife by the handle and pounding nails, tent stakes, or hard heads, drives the leather washers toward the pommel and compresses them. I have fixed several loose guards by reversing the action: hold the knife tightly by the handle and stick it repeatedly into a hardwood block (trying NOT to break the point) to force the washers back down toward the guard. THEN oil it to help swell the washers and waterproof them.
 
Blue Sky said:
Yes, be careful how long you soak handles. I did that with an Estwing hatchet, and the handle is still oozing oil months later. I'll brush it on in the future but will never soak one again. (It didn't tighten anything either. :mad:)
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WOW, That really SUX! :eek: Good information though. :)
-Bruce
 
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