Blade etching and gilding

A

AlCelli

Joined
Jan 27, 2013
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I have been collecting Buck Model 500 folders having the waterfowl scenes etched into the blade and gilded by Aurum Co, which operated from 1974 - 1991 then was sold to Buck. I acquired a 500 which has the etched waterfowl scene that includes the Labrador Retriever running toward ducks in water. But no gold. I wonder if I could apply gold in an enduring manner into the etch marks.

I could phone Buck (idk if they still do gold etching or would tell me the process, etc). But does anyone here know how to apply gold into the blade etching? Buck still makes the Model 500 (aka Duke); currently their site specifies 420HC but idk what blade steel was used in my knife's year (not in front of me just now).

Again anyone have experience or a source for techniques to gild the etching in the stainless steel blade?
 
This is less of a "traditional knife" question and more of a "maintenance and tinkering" sort of thing.
I'm going to move the thread there...
 
You can gold plate the entire area, and then remove the plating from the surface-leaving it in the etching.
 
Thank you, that was my first thought. But am not aware if gold plating works for 420HC ("stainless").
 
It requires a light acid etch and a good cleaning first.
I can probably do it for you.
 
Hi Bill,

The waterfowl scene is well etched and is the only place I want the gold. Whatever gold plates outside the etched lines I would need to remove. And I need to maintain or re-polish the mirror finish. The scene is on only 1 side of the blade (blade measures 3" long). Is there a resist to avoid unwanted plating from happening?
 
Excellent idea! Thank you Bill! Rats!: will need to focus on getting a replacement compressor for my heatpump. Compressor seized and we are on emergency electric resistence-coils heat (expensive).
 
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