A question about restoration...

S

Steve V.

Joined
Mar 18, 2006
Messages
18
I'm pretty new to the knife world and have a question about restoring (to some degree) a knife that was my grandpa's. It's a Schrade/Uncle Henry 885UH. My grandpa was a builder and tinkerer and he used his knives for anything and everything. Needless to say, he broke many blades. It looks like he just took a file to reshape the blades on this knife. All three blades are worn to the point that they look like leather punches. The rest of the knife looks pretty good though. My question is, is there anyone (knifemaker or serious hobbyist) who has a stock of the old blades that could re-blade this knife for me?

Thanks,

Steve
 
Hiya Steve, welcome to our forum.

You could still buy a brand new old stock 885UH (made in usa) for $35-40, and yeah, someone could put those blades in your old one. But it would be expensive.

Here's my take on restoring an old knife that belonged to a favorite relative: dont to it. Value the fact that your Gramps obviously had good taste in knives and got full value out of them by using the heck out of the things, even if he was a little careless in the sharpening department. What you now hold in your hands was worked with in his hands. If you replaced all the blades, it would be a whole new knife... Not his. Enjoy what you have.

Regards,
Phil
 
Steve, I agree with Phil.

I was given my grandfathers two blade Case knife. A small amount of tip was broken off and it had been used/sharpened quite a bit. The blade has a recurve to it from use and abuse. I reshaped the blade to put a tip back on it, sharpened both blades and left it at that. I still use it around the house (because I'm sure he'd appreciate it) but won't risk losing it by carrying it.

Gramps must have really liked the design of that 885 to use it so long. Keep grandpas knife as-is and pick up another 885UH to use and pass on to your grandson/daughter along with their great-great grandpas knife. Maybe you'll gain an appreciation for the design as well and see what grandpa saw in it (which, IMO, is more important than the material items that one passes down [getting too philosophical, huh :o ]).

HTH,

Chris
 
Nope. Philosopy is intertwined with a real attraction to a good tool, which a Schrade is. People have known for many years that a Schrade knife was a good value, and indespensable to many people, not only for work, but as a dress item. I am one of those. The only places I don't carry a Schrade are a courtroon and on an airplane. Like people have done for a hundred years.

I am with Chris and Phil on Grandpa's knife. I might clean and oil it, then put it in a shadow box with a picture of him. And buy myself a new or lightly used one to see for myself just what his attraction was for this particular knife. Was it the fit in the hand? The combination or size of the blades? Or just the comfort of knowing a familiar friend was at hand when you absentmindedly pat your pocket.

Just another opinion

Codger
 
I agree with the others. I have knives from both of my Grandfathers and I won't do anything to restore them. I like Codger's idea of a Shadow box with the knife & his picture in it. :thumbup: I will have to try that.

Dale
 
suggested. I carry a Schrade 881 that I bought new several years ago but and UH 885 to rotate it with would be nice (I like the look). Thanks for the replies guys.

Steve
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top