Any ideas on how to clean this?

[GraysonK]

Hi all,
Okay, I'm gonna ask...how do I clean this knife. I think it's called a Hobo knife, have no idea who made it, know it's made in Japan, and it was in really, really bad condition when I found it. I don't have any pics of what it looked like before, but picture every metal surface covered in rust and grime and that about covers it. I've got most of gunk off and out of it, but I can't get into some of those nooks and crannies. I'd love to take it apart, but 1. I don't know how 2. I'd probably never get it back together again.
What I've done so far:
1. Soap and water with a toothbrush
2. 3 and 1 oil
3. Fine grit sand paper
4. Dremel tool with a flat metal brush thing (don't know what it's called), and another attachment that polishes things quite nicely.
I have found the Dremel attachments make this a much more efficient task. If there are any attachments out there that will help me get into the really awkward places let me know. Is there anything else I can do? There is some pitting and I know that won't come out, but the rest of it I'd like to try to really clean up. This tool belonged to my uncle and I found it in the bottom of an old trunk. I'd like to clean it up to give to my aunt, his widow. Thanks in advance, here's some pics of it.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Looks like you have done a good job so far.
Soak it with WD 40 for a few days, then dry it.
You can use toothpicks and 0000 steel wool to get into the tight places. If you have access to an ultrasonic cleaner, that will help. Anytime you get the knife wet, thoroughly soak it with WD 40 to displace any water left inside the knife.

 

[Spardoug]

There is a thing called a ultrasonic jewelry cleaner runs about 30$ My wife bought one to clean her wedding ring and i started to put my knives in it and it removes the gunk that you cant see. I had a rough looking Barlow that would open but broke nails to open and after 3 cycles it was opening fine. havent got the courage to soak it in CLR yet though. but try it ULTRA SONIC JEWELERY CLEANER

 

[SharpFella]

Ya know, maybe it would mean more to your aunt if it wasn't spotless. Sometimes when you clean an old knife too much it loses it's character.
Just my .02

 

[GraysonK]

Ya know, maybe it would mean more to your aunt if it wasn't spotless. Sometimes when you clean an old knife too much it loses it's character.
Just my .02

That's a very good point. I don't want to make it brand spanking new looking, I just want the rust and gunk off. For the most part it looks really nice now. I just want to polish it up a little bit. If i could get the other tools on it too look like the spoon and fork I'd be happy. That's all. but thanks for the reminder. I appreciate it.
Gray

 

[keithcarter]

Back in the 50's a guy was demonstrating the newly-invented ultrasonic cleaners. He had two pieces of frosted glass about an inch square. He drew a line on each with a pencil, then rubber-banded them together and put them in the machine. 20 minutes later ALL the pencil lead was gone. The bottom line: Those cleaners will get into anywhere, but it takes a while.